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Rustling of leaves
I can’t imagine living in a part of the country that doesn’t have four seasons. I love the greenery and freshness of spring flowers and budding trees. Although I’m in the minority, I enjoy the snowy wonderland of winter with its stillness and beauty. I like the sunny, longer days of summer where I have energy long into the evening. I admit, however, that the autumn season and all that it entails, is my favorite time of year. There is something for all five senses. Sight – The beautiful fall colored leaves, in a variety of sizes and shapes, that dance across the road, get caught under my windshield wipers…
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Oh boy…!
Life is a journey, not a destination. So is my blog. Road leading to T. C. Steele’s workshop in Brown County, Indiana. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner Life got the better of me and I did not finish the Blogging A to Z Challenge. There, I said it. It’s out there. I’m a loser with a capital “L”! I am also excited because the Blogging A to Z Challenge is offering a second chance, of sorts, to 1) continue visiting bloggers who participated in the original 2014 challenge and 2) finish my own challenge. Since life is a journey and not a destination, I have a second chance. So, I…
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“L”ife in the country
I appreciate where I live, in Terre Haute, Ind. Recently I saw an episode of TNT’s Cold Justice where the prosecutor and detective reopened an old murder case and proceeded to solve the mystery, from our town. During the episode, they referred to us as a small town. Hmmm, I’d never considered Terre Haute a small town, even though I used to live in Denver, Colo., and knew it was quite different. The more I pondered this fact, the more I began thinking about those things that happen “in the country” that you don’t experience in a bigger city. These are just a few of my thoughts: 1. Roadside food.…
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“C”amera
Bales of hay are common around the midwest. They do remind me of Tootsie Rolls. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner It seems like I’ve always had a camera. Of course my first was a Ricoh film camera. I traipsed around Europe with 28 rolls of film and swapped them out as they filled up with memories. I then had to save up money in order to get them developed after I returned to the States. When I did finally have the money, and the gumption to fill out all those film envelopes, six months later, it was exciting. Through those developed photos, I relived the highlights of my vacation all…
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Winter wonders
It’s been a winter to remember, that’s for sure. As a transplant to Indiana from Colorado, having snowy winters is not new to me. However, this has been by far the snowiest winter we’ve had in our nine years in the Midwest. Here’s a recap of our winter thus far at the Weidenbenner home: To clarify, I love snow, whether it’s falling, drifting, being formed into cool snow sculptures and yard art, or adorning various trees, houses, and other outside structures. I am not in favor of, nor have I prayed for, freezing temperatures, ice, traffic accidents/rollovers or power outages. I think you can and should have one without the…
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It’s all about the journey
A few weekends ago, I watched the 2007 movie, “P.S. I Love You,” again. At one point in the movie, Holly has an argument with her husband, Gerry. Holly is a “planner” and she and her husband aren’t where she envisioned them to be. Their apartment is too small, they can’t decide when to have a baby, etc. At one point Holly says something like, “I’m waiting for my life to begin…” Sometimes I feel like Holly. When I was younger, I’d say, “When I finish college, I’ll fill in the blank.” Then it was “I don’t want to buy a house until I get married.” Lately, I’ve been thinking,…
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When it rains, it pours…
Do you see the lightpole and the white marked parking spaces going into the water? This is Raccoon Lake, flooded from the heavy rains that we’ve been getting in Indiana. Now imagine all that water on our city streets! Growing up, I’d hear people say, “when it rains, it pours,” when a situation went from bad to worse. This year, we’ve received quite a bit of rain and I’ve begun to understand the phrase, literally and figuratively. When it rains in Indiana, it pours. Inundates you like someone pouring large pitchers of water on your windshield every few seconds. Soaks you even if you just have to go a few…
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Happy Mother’s Day!
My husband, Joe’s, mother and father came up to visit us today, on Mother’s Day. They just entered their 80s but you wouldn’t know it – Bernie still mows the yards at their rental properties and they both are avid golfers. Dorothy attends church regularly and helps distribute the Eucharist to nursing homes. Dorothy is pictured above with Oliver, our 9-year-old Manx kitty. © Photo by Diane Weidenbenner Joe and I don’t have children but Dorothy has “adopted” our kitties and dog, Hershey, as her grandpets. She’s Grandma Dots. Dorothy was a district sales manager for Avon for 31 years and retired some time ago. She was a model…
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Beauty, in the eye of the beholder
We’ve had plenty of rain this spring and with the moisture comes gorgeous green grass and foliage … and dandelions. My friend and I talked about these hearty weeds recently, and how prevalent they are. No one plants dandelions and yet they grow, spread, blow beyond the borders of the yard and fluorish. I haven’t found Dandelion Food at my local greenhouse. And, I won’t be asking the master gardeners what pesticides are recommended to ward off buggy predators, for dandelions. Photo © Diane Weidenbenner There are plants that I want to grow in our yard and flower beds. My husband and I have worked for years to get a…
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“Q”uilts in the country
Photo © Diane Weidenbenner My dad and his family were from Allentown, Pa., and they were of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. The few times my dad’s Aunt Nora and Uncle Malcolm came to visit, Nora would make us a Shoo-Fly pie and other treats that my dad remembered as a kid. She’d also bring him Tastykakes. I first noticed barn quilts, another Pennsylvania Dutch tradition which began in the 1830s, when my ex-business partner and I traveled around Lancaster County during a business trip. Since moving to rural Indiana, large, colorfully patterned quilt blocks painted on the sides of barns, houses, sheds and businesses are a welcome surprise. It’s not uncommon…
