SATURDAY'S SCRAPBOOK

Beautifully decorated sugar cookies from Saturday night's banquet at the Macedonia Christian Church in Okeana, Ohio, symbolize Saturday's spring day that began early in Spiceland, Indiana, and included some interesting stops.

I decided to make a full day of it on Saturday. New Castle English teacher, author, and friend Annette Goggin had an early-morning reading and book signing at the Spiceland, Indiana library, and invited me to attend.

I wanted to hear her speak and enjoy the company of those attending at this sweet little library so capably managed by Kathy Painter. The only problem was I had an early-evening banquet in Ohio, and the structure of the day would leave me with an odd amount of extra time, yet it didn't make sense to drive back home only to head in the opposite direction again so quickly.

So I decided to make a day of it, and meander my way to Ohio. And isn't extra time a beautiful and rare commodity, no matter the amount?

After Annette's enjoyable program, she and I enjoyed a nice catch-up lunch here, in Cambridge City.

Main Street Sweets Cafe & Ice Cream Parlor, formerly known as The Pour House, is an ideal spot for a soup-and-sandwich lunch. Thank you, Annette, for treating me! But you didn't need to.

As I looked around the cafe, moments before Annette arrived, I spotted her collection of life stories, Home: Three Houses, beautifully displayed (and for sale). And of course when she arrived, a photo was in order.

Annette with her book in Main Street Sweets in Cambridge City. What a lovely display.

After a nice lunch and even nicer chat, Annette headed home to get some things done, and of course, grade papers. An AP high school English teacher's work is never done! But OH! How I love English teachers. Some of my favorite people are English teachers.

If you haven't been to Cambridge City in a while, you should go. The downtown is absolutely charming and thriving with an abundance of quality antiques and gift shops as well as places to eat and visit. The downtown was hopping Saturday.

With the luxury of time on my hands, I slipped next door to one of my favorite stores, Building 125, and browsed around at the lovely displays created by owner and town benefactor Norma Bertsch. Whether buying antiques, accessories, or gathering inspiration, I always find those things here. Saturday, I picked up some of my perennial favorites from this store: beautiful vintage-inspired dish towels.

And outside, at the entryway, are twin urns so beautifully styled...

By the time I left Building 125, we were solidly into the afternoon. I could do more shopping before traveling on to Ohio, but I had other things on my mind. While I didn't have stacks of English papers to grade, I did have a tote bag in the back seat loaded with projects.

So I did what I often do when I have a chunk of alone time. (And here is my little secret.)  I found a quiet, sunny spot, preferably in a church parking lot somewhere, rolled down my windows, stretched out in my car's back seat, and (ahhhh!) got to work.

Here's why I like a quiet, remote spot. I prefer to revise my programs by reading them aloud. It's the best way to weed out wordiness. So I read and reworked the evening's program, Bloom Before You're Planted.

I had more work in that bag. There was the final lesson before summer break for Bible Study Fellowship, due Monday, and notes and photos that need condensed and placed in order for Wednesday's (6:30 a.m.!!) program to the New Castle Morning Optimists. This one is a debut of what it was like to cover the presidential inauguration. Unfortunately, time has a way of evaporating and I didn't get to those before I meandered on to ...

People think of Indiana as flat. Being from Union County, where it is suddenly not, I never thought of the Hoosier state that way until I moved farther west.

When you travel from non-flat Union County toward Brookville, and then southwest into Ohio, oh my! It is anything but flat. As per instructions from Judy Leary,  who invited me to speak at the Macedonia Christian Church's spring women's banquet, I took the back roads to get to the Macedonia Christian Church.

There was no good place to pull over to capture the beautiful views, the ribbons of road, and the emerging green that filled my windshield, but I sure did enjoy the drive, with Judy's instructions through the back roads landing me perfectly here ...

I know ... isn't it lovely?

And inside, the loveliness continued ...

And even a poster announcing my program ...

After a pitch-in meal featuring delicious soups, fresh vegetables, dips, and desserts, I presented my newly revised program to a wonderful group of attentive women with cheerful smiles and encouragement beaming from their faces.

Judy was in the front, and I watched her smiling face as I continued. They were all so kind and welcoming. In fact, a companion poster to the above, welcomed me personally!  It was so much fun.

Judy sent me home with this "purse" of succulents.

I left the church at 7 with the sun shining brightly as I enjoyed the peaceful evening drive back to Indiana, then northwest toward home. It was solidly dark by the time I rolled into home, dozed off during my evening bath, and was sleeping by 10.

Thank you Annette, Judy, and the Macedonia Church women for this scrapbook-look at the last Saturday in April. And thank you, Lord, for more memories to treasure from this season of life.