Piping our way into summer!

Last night I invited friends into my garden to celebrate the beginning of summer! (I know the official date is June 21!) It was a long winter for those of us in the north so we decided to celebrate the ending of winter. What better place to celebrate than my garden.

We started the evening with poetry from James Whitcomb Riley, our Indiana poet laureate. My neighbor, Lee, and I read poetry while guests gathered under the maple tree.

A potluck followed and then my surprise for the evening arrived! My friend and buddy, Mark Gropp, came into the garden playing the pipes. It was a great surprise for everyone. Mark played and enjoyed conversation with everyone and then played some more.

Into the deep dusk of the evening, we set off a bright yellow sky lantern as Mark played his last tune. We watched it travel up into the sky following the path of the waxing moon.

It was a wonderful evening with music and merriment and good friends in my garden, of course.

Until tomorrow.

Mark Gropp, piper extraordinaire.

Rupert Brooke and my French Lilacs...

"Just now the lilac is in bloom,

All before my little room;"

Rupert Brooke

During these late spring days, not only do my peonies bloom, but so do my French lilacs. They are a bit different from the old-fashioned purple lilacs. They are more delicate in nature and a paler lavender as well.

My bushes are right outside my parlor window. (I like saying that better than living room!)

This past week I held two meetings during the twilight hours with the windows wide open, and the scent was so strong that several folks commented on it.

The bushes are probably too close to the house, too close to the windows, but nonetheless, I love living in a bit of a forest right here in Indiana at the House at White Picket Gardens.

Here is a photo from my French lilac tree. If only, if only you could smell it!

Until tomorrow.

The Peony Flower

Indiana's State Flower

This is the first bloom on my peony flower in my garden. I think it is one of my favorite blooms, and I know I wait and wait and wait patiently for this striking flower.

According to Wikipedia, "The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower"

It has been depicted in many art forms such as this painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir..

The General Assembly in Indiana chose it to be the state flower in 1957. This replaced the zinnia which had been the flower since 1931.

As for me, I just love it in my garden. It sits right outside my backdoor and permeates the entire garden with its scent. 

Just watch out when you pick a bouquet for your house as you will find a few ants crawling out of the petals!

Until tomorrow.

From patch to pie with John Fogarty...

Rhubarb in my garden.

My first rhubarb pie of the season.

This is the first year for my rhubarb in my garden. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't plant it earlier, but nonetheless, here it is now.

When I was a little girl, my sister, Jessie, and I used to sit out in our grandma's patch pulling up rhubarb and dipping it into little tin cups of sugar. My grandma would always tell us that we would get stomach aches, but I don't remember ever getting one!

Making my rhubarb pie in my kitchen made me think of my grandma. She froze the rhubarb and then, in the deepest part of the winter, she pulled it out and cooked it slowly on the back of the stove. The smell permeated her house along with the scent of her sugar cookies. I can still smell it today.

So, give rhubarb a chance, and if you don't like it, you can at least sing the song by John Fogarty!

Maya Angelou

"Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin — find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less." - Dr. Maya Angelou

I do not think any of us have enough words to express our grief on the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou. Her name is a household word. Who does not know of her and her work? It seems as if folks like Maya Angelou should live on and on sharing her wisdom with us who crave and need it so.

I posted this on my Facebook page this morning, and thought it was fitting I should also put it on my blog. And whereas I never met her, her words have carried me through many situations in my own life.

Perhaps she gives us a standard to strive for or live up to; perhaps her words from the above quote are enough to get us through. 

So, this we shall remember, we are all just human beings.

Until tomorrow.

Read Me a Story...

This is just one of the art pieces at the Fremont Library.

Last week I told stories at the Fremont Public Library as part of the summer reading program. The kids were able to walk over to the library from the elementary school, take a tour of the library, and hear a tale or two.

This statue is right out the front door and a great place to just sit and take in the sun while waiting for students.

This week's article is also attached. Just click and enjoy.

Thank you for reading.

Until tomorrow.

Make sure you sign up for summer reading - KPCNews: Kpcnews

Happy Memorial Day

I took this photo of my flag on my balcony.

Today is Memorial Day, and a day off for most Americans. Here in Northern Indiana, the day could not be more beautiful. 

I was up early taking a morning stroll around my neighborhood. It was peaceful and quiet.

It is a day of reflection for those who have come before us and how they have preserved our freedom. Let's not forget them on this day.

If your town has a ceremony, please make sure you are there. In my hometown we will gather on the Mound at 9:00.

Happy Memorial Day.

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