Let’s think about our hearts every month...

Let’s think about our hearts every month: 

My sister, Jessie, had a heart attack in September. She called me from the hospital and told me nonchalantly, as if she were at the movies or the mall. At first it didn’t register with me. She said it again, “I’m in the hospital. I just had a heart attack.”

Here is the link to this week's column. Just click on the top headline. I wrote about February and heart health month. This column is for all of you ladies out there. Enjoy, and as always, thank you for reading. Now go get those hearts healthy!!

Lou Ann

My luv is like a red, red rose...

On Wednesday evening, February 10th, my students will once again take to the stage reading the poems of Robert Burns. I love this evening watching my students share these poems.

Again this year the works of Burns will be paired with the lovely tunes of my piper friend, Mark Gropp. Mark and I met years and years ago and we have a great working arrangement. We also have a standing joke that if I die first he will play the pipes at my wake; and if he dies first, I will tell stories at his!

Please join us on Wednesday evening at 7:00 in Wells Theatre on the Trine University campus. It will make a great Valentine's Day date with no expense except perhaps purchasing a red rose for her hair!

Here I am with Mark after last year's performance!

My visit with an island legend...

My visit with an island legend: 

My bike swiftly moves past the lighthouse and on down the road toward the Sound side of Ocracoke Island. I turn right at the faded and frayed sign announcing Pamlico Gifts, the home of Roy and Elizabeth Parsons. Flowers are abundant although they are a bit droopy in this heat of summer as I park my bike near the back fender of their old station wagon. They don’t actually go anywhere in the car, but it is a great storage shed!

I bought this picture from Elizabeth a few years ago.

Dear Readers,

On Sunday I usually post my current column, but this week is different. I just heard of the death of Elizabeth Parsons on Ocracoke and decided to republish this article I wrote about Roy and Elizabeth. Just click on the above link...My visit with an island legend.

One of the saddest things about her death for me is that I have the loveliest letter from her on my desk. She was next in line for a letter from me and she never got that.  Her last lines to me were..."Write me. Would love to hear from you. Take care. God bless. Love, Elizabeth."

Lou Ann

House Concert

In case you missed my house concert here is a little video clip of the event. Thanks to Jennifer Decker for putting this together. Let me know if you are interested in being on my mailing list for my concerts!

Full moon, planets add to January’s beauty...

Full moon, planets add to January’s beauty

Photo by Ken Oguss

This weekend promises great beauty with the full Wolf Moon
and the five planets. For us in the Midwest the skies are
clear and as beautiful as ever!
As always, thank you for reading!!
Just click on the above link.

Five little planets all in a row....

Beginning this morning, January 20th, for an entire month five planets are visible during the pre-dawn hours. These planets are Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars.

It has been ten years since the five of these planets have shared the morning sky. So take time, at least one of these mornings, to make early coffee or build an early bonfire and go watch these beautiful event.

Photo from EarthSky.org.

House Party Line

House Party Line

 

Just in case you missed Lou Ann’s January 16 House Party, and especially if you have never come, it was grand, and we still hope you will make one or several as they continue to come up. In the meantime, let me fill you in:

 

Beside the regular crew and some newbies, we had three special guests: Michael Ronstadt (Linda’s nephew) and Serenity Fisher (partners currently residing in Cincinnati), and a longtime friend of Lou Ann's, Jeanne McDougall from Norfolk. Following a potluck dinner and conversation, these superb musicians first played a 45 minute set, and then initiated a freewheeling jam open to EVERYONE wanting to play; and many at ALL skill levels did play, beyond midnight. In addition, at least five took turns playing a djembe drum and bongo drums that I brought for anyone so inclined, and a multitude of non-instrumentalists sang along per folk-song-books that Lee Sauer had printed, or from memory... And all throughout, scores of interesting conversations in the background [you don’t have to play or sing, many don’t and still have great fun (like me)].

 

 About the special guests.

 

• Michael is a cello virtuoso trained at the Cincinnati Conservatory Of Music, and what a flexible, commanding, awesome instrument that cello is in his hands.
• Serenity plays a very groovy jazz keyboard, and her compositions and vocals are expressive and nuanced beyond imagining.
• Jeanne’s original songs of Rivers and Seas are transporting. She will take you there, and you will momentarily believe that Indiana cornfield really is the ocean! I know this sounds corny, but it is the TRUTH!
• And all these special people - so very, very nice, humane, and even humble.

 

But here’s THE MOST IMPORTANT thing:

 

Not all of the parties are this grand. Truthfully, this is the best I have seen to date. But the mere fact of this evening says so much about Lou Ann, her circle, and the POSSIBILITIES, if only you will join us now and then.

And when the next invitation from Lou Ann pops up, please do consider coming, you are genuinely welcome.

This was an email from my friend, Stephen, that I copied. Enjoy!