Memorial Weekend in my Small Town...

Kathy and I with the King of Bluegrass, Greg Cahill

I know Memorial Day is a big event for everyone...parades, cookouts, services to name a few. I, however, wanted to show you how we celebrated the week end in my small town. The days were filled with lemonade stands, garage sales, a bluegrass festival, gardening, and, of course, a service on our town's center mound.

Jonah planting his sunflower seeds.  Avrie and Matthew selling lemonade!

The Mound

Memorial Day

I would love to share with you a touching story of my grandparents for this Memorial Day.

Just click on the site: 

http://www.fwdailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7916:A-little-piece-of-history-from-May-30,-1937&catid=96:lou-ann-homan-saylor&Itemid=136

Stories and photos from my small town will be entered later today!

Fairy Night

The full moon is May was so full of beauty. She, the  May moon, is known as the flower moon or the corn planting moon. By now all the crops should be in the ground and with the sun and moon adorning our hemisphere, you should be able to hear them growing in the night. Our weather has given way to a strong planting season with lots of rain and beautiful sunshine.

I decided on the full moon night to host a small fairy party in my backyard. It was short notice, but sometimes I just like to make fun creative choices at the last minute!

I made a couple of phone calls and decided it would be just fine if I had to call in the fairies myself. As it was, there were six of us including Matthew and Jonah.
They are used to my antics now so they just show up not knowing what to expect, but knowing it will be fun.

I dressed in my Renaissance dress and crown, lit candles all over the yard, prepared the poetry by Shakespeare and waited with a basket full of peony petals.  When my guests arrived, we shared the poetry, tossed petals onto the yard and asked the fairies to come and the banshees to flee! We sang White Coral Bells in a round and called it a night due to the mosquitoes!

It was a lovely way to spend a late spring evening under the light of the full moon!

Pippa Passes

I woke up to an absolute beautiful day, a perfect Midwestern spring morning. The flood waters are receding in the backyard, geraniums grace the front porch, and a house full of family. (The boys are all cooking the breakfast as well!)

Tonya and I sat out drinking coffee on the front porch after her early morning run and I happened to mention the poem Pippa Passes. I had to learn that in school, but she had never heard of it. So, for those of you who do not know of the poem, it was written by Robert Browning in 1841.

The year's at the spring,

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hill-side's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in his Heaven -

All's right with the world!

Late Night Dinner Table Talk

The rain deluge came as a great surprise. I know rain had been forecast, but not in the torrents that developed last night. With Matthew and Jonah as my guests, we watched on the summer porch as rain burst from the sky covering everything. In just an hour we had over two inches of rain.

Meanwhile, at the Fort Wayne airport, Adam and Tonya were arriving to spend the week end with me, visiting and gardening. They landed between the storms and stepped into the House at the White Picket Gardens as twilight and fog settled upon our area.

With the windows open, candles burning, and a late dinner on the table, we sat at the table long into the evening sharing stories. Matthew and Jonah sat and visited sharing stories as well with their auntie and uncle. They love them so much and always enjoy their visit!

As we talked, the candles burned low, the night sounds permeated the dining room with softness and late spring Indiana sweetness.

I pulled out my copy of "The Country I Come From" to read from our poet laureate, Robert Krafp.

It was a good evening for all of us and we all fell asleep to the gentle rain.
Now, just what to do with my garden?

Mengting's Going Away Party

All the girls assembled on my front stoop!

Girls pot luck is such a fun way to spend a Monday evening! Once a month I open up the doors of this old house to any girl (any age) who wants to celebrate an evening of great food, gossip, and stories!

I never know who will walk over the threshold of my kitchen, sometimes we have never met, but all are invited. What I really love about this group of women is that every decade (through the 60's) is represented on these evenings!

Mengting has been a member of this group for the past two years. This past Monday we celebrated her second year at Trine as we wished her farewell and sent her back to China for the summer. I wanted to send her back with a bouquet of flowers, but, of course, she could not carry the lovely bouquet with her, so we all presented her with packets of seeds to grow her own garden in China.

This year she told me she was actually ready to spend the summer here with all of us and enjoy the beauty of an Indiana summer. I will bet next summer she will be here for sure.

So, farewell to Mengting, come back to us soon!

Physical Therapy and Stories

I have physical therapy twice a week. I really look forward to it as I think it is just one step in getting back into my old life.

I chose to go to the local hospital for therapy because it was close, and I could walk if I wanted to. Most of the time I walk, have the therapy, stop at the local coffee shop, and then walk home. It is great! Karen put money on my coffee account so it is almost like a 'free meal.' Well, coffee anyway. Karen also took my picture in front of the hospital on my first day as well as she told me to do really well in school!

My therapist is Robert who is from Poland, as is his wife. Robert is very studious, follows the programs, even when I ask him to give me more 'homework.' I am also a good student following all his workouts and advice.

Today was different at therapy. After we got the heart rate up and settled down to the exercises, he said to me, "Do you want to hear a good story?"

Ah-hah, I thought. He is on to me and knows my love and gift for story. I know my head shot up and my eyes popped out. How could I refuse a great story? He spent the rest of the time (as we did all the workouts) telling me about the history of Kosciusko County. I had no idea, the stories flowed and soon the time was up.

I am thrilled, now I get double for my money...therapy and stories!