Looking back...October

I guess I didn't post the rest of Fall, after the important event of my birthday.  There really was more to the month:

 Storytelling.. in Indianapolis, at the Crown Hill Cemetery, to start the spooky story season.

 Cousins going on the artist studio tour in Brown County,

finding interesting and original places as well as art. 

 Hiking, admiring the leaves,

 and their reflections in the still lake.

 Happy to have family together.

 Then, the more mundane aspects of the month:

the house being painted,

 days downtown at work.

More storytelling, then--

Halloween.

a full October. 

Morning at the Lake House

The sun is just coming up when I leave the lovely Lake House

 where everyone else is still sleeping.

 I can't resist the call of the lake at the end of the street.

 I want to put my feet in the cool water and have waves wash against my ankles.

 It's a lovely morning to walk along the beach.

The "Blue Moon" from last night's beach walk is still in the morning sky.

After I admire the various shells, feathers, driftwood and stones that the waves splash against, I look up

and there is someone who has come to tell me that  everyone else is now awake 

and it is time for the activities of the day to begin!

Another Year Older

If it's October, it's time for a picnic with Mimi.

This year we went to Lake Monroe, and there really was more on that table than you see in this picture!

Only the first leaves were turning and falling, but it felt like fall anyway.

If it's October, it's time for a get-together with Hoosier Kitty -

(there was a sumptious breakfast involved but not pictured)

If it's October, it's time to visit the lake

and hike with a friend, even if it was pouring down rain.

If it's October, it's time for the Romantic Man 

to bring roses and take me out to dinner.

If it's October, it's time for a few unexpected treats --

flowers, visits, phone calls..

If it's October, it must be time for my birthday!

Quick glance back at Lotus weekend

There has been so much going on that I haven't told you about Lotus weekend!

The Ohio Cousins have made a tradition to come for this world Music Festival and we were delighted to have them again this year.

The Festival is more than the music, although there was plenty of that and very enjoyable too.

In fact, here is the first bit of music we heard - that fearless goldfinch eating seeds only a few feet away from the gathering crowds.

We began with a downtown feast at Uptown, 

  and then did the traditional hopping from venue to venue to catch a bit of a dozen sets -- here a Hungarian group gets set up in one of the hosting churches.

And when we were early for the Irish set at the theater, no worries --

waiting just gave everyone a chance to check their email.

Two nights of music..

and two days of exploring our town.

Got to visit the Farmer's Market

and talk to the vendors about the delicious fresh veggies we brought home.

Have to make a trip to Nashville...wait - haven't I taken this picture before??

Really, in the same store with the same couch.

The trip to Lake Monroe was a highlight

and we tasted the first ripe persimmons of the year.

So summer is ended and autumn begun.

On the lake in the morning

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.-- From The Complete Prose Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson 

 You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your element in each moment.-- Henry David Thoreau 

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. -- Kenneth Grahame (From The Wind in the Willows ) 

Non-stop action

What a time we are having!

We've been to town

and hiked around,

been out of town and hiked some more.

 

We've been in the water, 

and on the water,

we've been UP (some of us about 110 feet up)

and we've been down (but not for long!)

and it has all been a fabulous treat!

June Catch-up (including one hot dog)

Oh June was a full month and I didn't take nearly enough pictures and I didn't keep up the blog. 

Now I am inspired by the Bloomingtonauts (who did take lots of pictures!) to do a little catching up.

Our themes for June:  company and performance!

Granddad was delighted to have company on the front porch of Garden Villa, where he is now staying.

He was so happy that folks came such a long way just to see him!

Then the Bloomingtonauts arrived to begin several weeks of activity,

in which we managed to get in lots of typical Bloomington sights--

the Farmer's Market

the B-Line trail

Lake Griffy

and our old house, now completely redone.

Wow!  You should see inside!

Check out the article about it in Bloom Magazine.

(Scroll down, it's the "50's Ranch Reinvented near Bryan Park" )

We had celebrations --

Father's Day

and Midsummer.

There was storytelling

(we taught a two week course together)

and singing --

Granddad is even singing along, "Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts..."

In fact he is still telling us about the evening when the Bloomingtonaut played and sang songs that he actually knew!

And we got to hear the Bloomingtonaut's original songs performed on stage at Max's Place.

Okay, July, come on - can you top all this?