Castle Howard in Winter

Castle Howard

 

I found this photo early this morning. It is a spectacular view of Castle Howard. This was one of our favorite visits when Philip and I were in England. My mom and Dick took us there for the day to let us hike, roam around, and enjoy the beauty. We had tea and lunch there as well. Of course, Philip was thrilled and thought he should be Lord. Does that make me the Lady?

 

It sounds a bit like a John Denver song.

 

Alas we are back doing what we do in Ocracoke and in Indiana, but what a nice surprise to see this photo with all the snow! 

Making a blue snow cloud...

It is cold here in northern Indiana. The thermometer is still hovering between 4 and 6 degrees, so I decided to do an experiment outside with my grandson Matthew. (He is 11)

Actually I have tried this before with much the same rate of success.

First you boil up a pot of water. (I use my spaghetti sauce pot, not the spaghetti pot.) I added food coloring so that you could actually see the cloud. Blue was my choice.

With Matthew as my photographer we went outside to make a cloud of blue snow. Matthew was freezing, but he did a great job on the photo shoot. This video was actually our third try, and I can't say we did much in the way to improve science, but we had fun.

You could try this yourself at home if your temperatures dip below zero!

Please notice the giant coat I am wearing in the video, this is my "twice a winter when nothing else will keep me warm coat." Just saying. By the way, it appears to have a very loud volume. Either the wind was tossing my voice towards the camera or I was shouting in order to keep warm!

Enjoy.

A winter's morning in the Midwest...

My street

 

My house at White Picket Gardens

 

Art Out My Window

 

 

Dear Friends,

Winter has arrived in the Midwest. Wind, blowing snow and below zero temperatures blanketed my town this week.

We wait for this weather, even though everyone complains. In fact, most are joyous that cold weather has arrived. It is good for the fruit growers, the gardeners, the children (two hour delay at school), and for artists.

I was up before dawn sweeping off porches, letting the world wake up slowly. Most folks wanted to cozy down under those quilts with their sweeties, or babies, or household pets. Coffee does call us to the kitchen, however, sleepy eyed and shivering in old bathrobes.

I took these photos early this morning as the sun was coming up.

Enjoy. Winter is laced with beauty, don't miss it!

Lou Ann

Lincoln

Dear Friends,

Indeed we walked down to the circle to see the film "Lincoln". It was a cold walk even using my scarf as a muffler.

With all three movies in town, there was a nice crowd. Tickets for my theaters are reasonable, just $5.00 a ticket. Popcorn is a bargain as well and a must.

Both theaters, the Brokaw and the Strand, were built in 1932. Walking inside them is like walking into history. They are small theaters, and you always know the folks inside!

The seats are faded red velvet and do not swivel or bend much. They do not serve wine, nor had 3-D capabilities, or even your tickets. The truth is, I very seldom see movies anywhere else. Supporting our small towns and communities is very important to me.

"Lincoln" was stunning...the cast, the cinematography, the script. I began to cry at the beginning and was crying so hard at the end, that I had to just sit in my seat for a while.

Lincoln's words are haunting me still on this Inauguration Day and Dr. Martin Luther King Day. They are words we should live by in our personal lives, our communities, and our nation.

"Malice towards none,

Charity towards all."

 

Lou Ann

A funeral takes a look into my own past.

This week's column...a good read for a winter's day. (Click here)

Today is a cold winter's day here in the Midwest. We call each other to see what we can do today...movies? In my small town our two theaters (each built in 1932) are showing Lincoln, Les Mis, and Life of Pi. All three are academy award nominees and films I want to see. Today, I think it will be Lincoln. We, my friends and I, will wear our warmest clothes and walk down to the circle to spend the afternoon.

Days and nights like this bring out all the quilts for the beds. All the beds in my house are covered with quilts from my great-grandmother Chloe.

The one in the photo is one of my favorites. I love this quilt along with the others. (There is another one of her quilts on the chair by the curtains.)

So, let's tie together this week's column and the photo.

As always, thanks for reading.

Lou Ann

Chloe's Quilt

Bristling Old Man

Dear Friends,

A few weeks before Christmas I was notified that I had placed first runner up after the first three runner ups for a poem I submitted to the Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs. (?)

I had to read the letter a couple of times, and even though it actually meant I was fourth runner up, I got a nice letter from the society.

I love writing poetry and have an entire portfolio entitled "Knocking on a Glass Table." Maybe someday I will actually have them put into book form.

As for now I may just sprinkle them into my writing here and there.

So for this cold, snowy Monday in the Midwest here is my fourth runner up poem!

 

Bristling Old Man

 



Bristling old man

Caressing your newspaper

Like a lover

Sensually turning pages as if they were

Locks of hair.

 

Green is your color, old man

For when you put her down,

Someone else will pick her up

And she won't even remember you,

Bristling Old Man.

 

Lou Ann Homan

 

 

Upon watching a homeless man in a hotel in Indianapolis, sitting alone day after day.

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme....

Rosemary in my parlor

 

 

The weather in Indiana has been unusual this week. I arrived home to fields of snow and slippery streets. However, within a week all changed. The fishermen brought in their buckets and poles, the skaters hung up the skates, and the sleds are strewn in front yards and in mud rooms.

 

Yesterday was  the "January thaw" day that we often get in mid-winter. Everyone was outside...some in tank tops (well, it wasn't that warm), others on bikes, some strolling the neighborhood, and others perusing the gardens.

 

I am a gardener by nature, and by my grandmother Luella. Wearing my old rubber boots, jeans, and a ragged sweatshirt I was able to gain access to all the muddy gardens. I took note of things needing to be done. The raspberry cains need pruning as to the apple trees and my crab apple trees. My "white picket garden" fencing looked a bit forlorn as well, needing Tom Sawyer's hand at painting.

 

Needless to say, it is too early for all of that. When I strolled over to the herb beds I was rewarded with fresh parsley, thyme, sage and beautiful rosemary. Usually by now it is all dead and covered with snow. The ground was not frozen around the rosemary so I was able to actually dig up part of the plant and repot.

 

Rosemary is a great scent in the house and nicely replaces the pine which I finally took outside as well. My old Christmas tree is nestled by my bird feeders, gardens closed up once again as winter will return tonight. Welcome back Winter...we really need you!