WHAT A WEEK! COOKIES, LUNCHEON, THEATER

Indiana Bicentennial Commission members E. Rene Stanley, legacy project creator Patricia McDaniel and commission member Valeri Beamer, preparing to judge cookies representing every era in Indiana history. (photo for The Courier-Times)

What caught my eye about this plate of cookies in the competition was the little Indiana-shaped sugar cookie with the capital and Dublin marked as the only decorations. Perfect! (photo for The Courier-Times)

There were so many lovely aspects to Thursday's Hinsey-Brown luncheon that I don't know where to start but one was certainly artist Marilyn Witt (left) bringing the framed original painting of my cover, "That Sweet Place: At Home in the Heartland." It was the first time I saw the actual painting. Until now, and all through the publishing process, we worked only via email with jpeg photo attachments of the art. Also, a shout to my friend and one of the book's three editors, Debbie McCray, who drove over from Ohio. We enjoyed a catch-up session at Cafe Royal after the luncheon.

The CHURCHILL playbill from Friday night, next to my fancy little purse that went to the theater last night. Photos during the performance are prohibited. Shucks! It was great.

Actor, writer and producer Ron Keaton, who portrays Winston Churchill, left, with his mentor and high-school teacher, Dick Willis, who taught for many years at New Castle High School. Not many students over age 60 can have their school-days teachers watch them work! And Dick still teaches, now at the Indiana Academy in Muncie. I know this was a special moment for both men.

 After last weekend's leisure, my calendar exploded, but in a good way. I could certainly devote individual posts to everything that happened, but will go with a summary, mainly letting the camera do the talking.

TUESDAY I ventured to Lewisville to meet up with Rep. Tom Saunders and wife Sue who have turned their basically lifelong love of antiquing into a shop, Flatrock Mercantile, in back of their home.

The story and photos will be out in Sunday's Courier-Times. But in the meantime, make it a point to drop by and see what they've got.

Sue promises a changing inventory and offers both antiques and uniques. Sweet shop, just a chigger off U.S. 40 at the stoplight.

I was back down that way on WEDNESDAY as I headed to Dublin (as in Indiana, folks, on the far western side of Wayne County on U.S. 40).

Antiques proprietor and co-founder of the 824-mile Historic National Road Yard Sale, Patricia McDaniel, asked me to help judge a historic cookie contest, along with two members of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission.

The contest, and cookie cookbook, are part of her Bicentennial Legacy Project. Sesame seed cookies from 1830-1940 were the winners. Proceeds from the project go to several different Wayne County charities in support of pets, children and seniors.

I enjoyed visiting with the commission members and hearing about other statewide projects, along with enjoying the cookies. And, of course I did a story for the paper.

Cookbooks remain available at Old Storefront Antiques in Dublin.

Patricia is an interesting woman. Goes to show you never know what stories people have to tell. You might see some of the antiques she collects to resell on the big screen.

She sells all kinds of antiques and props to HOLLYWOOD for movie sets and staging. You might see her on Indy TV stations, too, as she promotes the annual sale and I've even seen her on Indy Style cooking recipes from some of her National Road cookbooks.

That brings us to THURSDAY and I'm still coming down from that high! Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service, and specifically owner Kevin Brown and aftercare coordinator and my friend Wanda Jones had me in for a community book-signing luncheon. So many wonderful friends attended and I am humbled and blessed by the experience.

Saying thank you is too small. It felt like the official launch to this little Hoosier book tour I'll be working on for a season of life.

On FRIDAY I headed to the pool for the first time this summer. Each year I love and look forward to the morning water exercise classes and I'm disappointed that this summer's schedule doesn't fit so well with mine.

I think I'll hit the open swims, though, and get my fill of water time under the summer sun.  With kids returning to school in August, the summer pool season is incredibly short here.

Maybe the water will actually warm up by then! I got in yesterday and initially thought it was too cold to take. But I endured and the old bod adjusted.

But then, it was home to get ready for the theater! New Castle native and graduate Ron Keaton, also a subject of a recent feature story I did, brought his one-man show, CHURCHILL, to Indy. I hitched a ride with my friend Mary Malone and two of her friends and we had a great time watching a great show.

I was delighted to see some 30 or so New Castle teachers, friends and classmates of Ron's that showed up to watch the delightful performance.

Bravo! I'm saving back the best pictures of the bunch from the after-show meet-and-greet with Ron for the paper, but here's a little preview, left.