It is May, full and fabulous May 2026

 Work Hard, Rest hard....

Blog inspiration, poof....

Beautiful week, weekend, time in between blog posts...

It is Sunday, it was a magical weekend- Denison Commencement, Denison Regional Baseball, time with Joe and people we consider friends, Denisonians we met four plus years ago, last week...the Inn late night, the baseball field watching an amazing season...continue...https://denisonbigred.com/sports/baseball the magical walk-offs, the energy....it really is where I relax,kind of, but just love the time...and truly love how Denison celebrates Commencement.

Then there is time at the Hirsh Barn- Global Commerce Lunch with senior families, a grad party here, there and the Cidery...working Commencement- oh my shout out to our division for excellent work in prep and execution- calm, cool and staffed so well! What a treat to engage and support and share this milestone, Class of 2026- you will be missed but you are ALWAYS DENISONIANS...our paths will cross and thank you parents that want to remain involved- you inspire!

and reach out to 2030, and even athlete 2031 has started, so comforting this time of year...

Life on Newark-Granville Road, sad, grateful, comforted, celebrated...and then time to golf- 9 holes two Sundays in a row..flower delivery and making dinner with Joe...Sunday ah....the porch is ready, the plants are finally there! Church and honoring high school seniors, working on volunteer projects- Rotary Awards and FPC Nominating...

Life is full and rewarding, emotional and calm and oh so beautiful!

Last weekend's mother day, symphony, dinners downtown I could have blogged so many times but I've been involved and working and away from the blog...but Life on Newark-Granville Road soaks up the time and moment to relax and unwind and be in the moment with Denisonians and friends and us!

A few pics to document the week, weekend, etc...

The Journey to & Derby...2026

Monday- WEDDING planning Zoom Call with Clare, Caroline and Rachel! Interviews, FLC Remote Meeting! Nominating Meeting...I slept well!

Tuesday, interviews, Rotary, and Session

Wednesday- all day retreat, toured Knobel Hall and King Center (WOW!) and RETIREMENT fun- thank you Granville Concierge, Colleen, Amy and MG Team, and the Inn....we honored a dear colleague as he prepares to retire!  

Thursday- all day retreat, welcome Efriam- house guest from London! Nail appointment (wish I had gone to the musical- can't do it all)..Granville KiwanisTENT up!!  thanks!! Eve of Eve!

Friday- Derby Eve: Early Birds Breakfast- Tradition! Prep day, a bit of rewarding work....Jane Heller Art Exhibit opened at Otterbein, Sally home and Shabbat prayers...pick-ups: flowers, baked goods, kegs (Granville Brewing, hello Pinto and Yuengling of course!)

Saturday- Derby Party Day: Senior Day Baseball, Michael Kennedy Art Exhibit opened at Sullivan building, lunch delivery by Sally, Ann and Caroline making their deviled eggs, oh the eggs- fluffy with bacon, with caviar, on beautiful plates with Heisey and roses...so impressive! Cold year..but no rain..Everyone who came, thank you, thank you, thank you!!  We sang happy birthday to Philly Joe! You wore your pretty coats and dressed for the weather! Historic race. Great help: Reuben in from Texas to bartend and produce delicious mint juleps, mint delivered from neighbors, Sam on betting duty, delicious food- procured, picked up and all shared- baked goods, the country ham....Tammy the Whiskey fairy- a new addition- tastings of Highbanks and Joe's stash...BANDS- MUSIC- Millstone Group: a Denison Roots Music group, Austin Finley- so good!! Flowers procured Friday, placed Saturday, and brought in due to frost Saturday night. (oh and Clare ran the Indy Half Marathon that ended on the Speedway- very cool!) So fun to add the "she said yes, newly engaged into the mix...see earlier post!

We loved it, we loved it- thanks for the messages from those missing, we missed you too. 

Lucy Loved It Too- her Godmother lavishing her with love.

Sunday- minor clean-up, debrief, omelettes with country ham and cheddar cheese, frost with the horses!

Pictures share the story...look at this year's flowers, roses that opened as they were purchased for the retirement party, the moment of a first sip of a julep in the grad gift cup, strawberries the real ones, Jammie Dodgers, Brazil, global fun...Susan's Lily dress- designed for her! Another beautiful first Saturday in May in our life on Newark-Granville Road....

She Said Yes, Clare Proposes....

Sweet Clare and Caroline, our dear daugther and future daugther-in-law...

There is so much to share:

-how much we love this dear couple, our daughter and of course and Caroline- see post on her ordination!

-the cute story of the proposal, well done Clare with a surprise, going early and beautiful ring selected!

-plans!!! They'll get married in Indy at their church- Second Pres, are looking into spring dates, with the understanding it will be a full season of milestones and blessings for us: four graduations in the Leithauser Stoner group!  The Monday after the news, the gals and the moms convened to start planning. C&C have great ideas to keep it simple. Rachel, Joe and I are looking forward to supporting this launch of their marriage!

-if you read the Derby Post you read that we added the fun of celebrating the engagement into the party! Just a nod, look to next year's party to encorporate wedding touches!!  We're so grateful C&C made the drive to be with us for the party and allow us to congratulate them in person!! Thank you to all who honored them, lots of bubbles˜!! Cheers to the love on Newark-Granville Road!

Fun pics:

Blooms, Friends and Family....April 2026

A post with a variety of happenings and feelings. I posted photos related to the ones here with the commitment to blog about what they represent.

Family- Family time- Clemson, sharing the Ring Ceremony- tradition and a reason to celebrate and a valuable offering by the University. We loved being with Caroline, Scott, Ann and Cate AND the family and families forged in this southern backdrop.  I always love to see a college campus and this was a treat! Plus a southern getaway always delights during a busy work/derby prep time. THANK YOU for the wonderful hospitality!!

Blooms! The bulbs purchased for Valentines Day have bloomed and they're beautiful. So many lessons there- patience, timing, beauty and the gifts of blooms. Bloom where planted, not even planted, created to be able to delight outside of soil, self contained with beautiful wax. Amazing to see how these have evolved. A friend gifted me one for Easter and wowza.  It is like our "insert holiday" cacti..my thanksgiving one is blooming again for Derby? Derby Cactus..could be a thing!

Make New Friends But Keep the Old....can you hear me singing, or the brownie troop singing....I was in Chicago for work (AMAZING events and valued time with families and alums) and added time to see Amanda Love's exhibit at https://thepatriciangallery.com/Patrcian in Wilmette. If in the area, please make time- you'll be so happy you did. It was special to unite a blend of friends- Denison, DePauw, North Shore Country Day,...the common denominator- education...thank you to each person able to connect, that Tuesday afternoon.  Being off of Newark-Granville Road was a delight! Amanda we missed you, Patricia, thank you for hospatality and offering what you do with your beautiful gallery in a special community! This pic of Diana and me...friends in 9th and 10th grade, reconnected many years later when I took on this role and started traveling.  

Surprise- thank you Julie for the pop into the Inn on Friday for a hug while you were in town! I miss you, I'm proud of you and I am grateful for your friendship.  Speaking of that Friday...wow what a wonderful week in Granville and at Denison! Grateful to Lauren- see pic on facebook- for her service on the board. Thank you families meeting with me at the Inn to share and reflect and learn about how to support the college.  Thank you Denison community for the Academic Awards Ceremony....always a treat...the cheers, the music from the organ this year (thank you WO)  Seeing the families- the families these students have forged here in our home on the hill....delightful.  As I reflect on this I think about Clemson's Ring ceremony and the banner presented with the rings...How will you Serve? The ceremony is about celebrating history, connection, belonging and call.

Life on Newark-Granville Road, the blog, our conversations and actions, the happenings I share here are about the same thing.  The Derby Party in a week...it is a call to offer hospitality, connect as community and have fun! The work we both do is a call and of course we love not only our alma mater but the instituions that nuture and support our own family. Our children are blooming beyond this life on Newark-Granville Road and it is beautiful. Our sweet village is blooming too- literally and figuratively. It is always a treat to come home.

Just a few of the pics....

I can't read your writing....

 I have a new favorite person and author. Helen Ellis, her article on the last page of this edition of Garden and Gun, made me swoon. I'm sending the photo of it far and wide and telling everyone to read it.

Go get the magazine, you don't get the magazine you say? Let me know, next gift giving opportunity- guess what! And researching for this blog post, I found more I love about Helen Ellis. An article in, you guessed it G&G 2024....about Thank you Notes! 

https://gardenandgun.com/articles/can-one-text-a-thank-you-note-for-a-wedding-gift/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=March2024_facebook&utm_content=thankyoutext&fbclid=IwY2xjawRKcFBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6M1V5R09qN0pyYzJuZFlic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHukyNy7zCdGu-tn1OJhdZ8KtyWKhxpsEyBhZ-SRC8-e4LCA2JpDkDtQaxuWT_aem_nvDcLDNNtmk6Zob3D5CxUQ

This month's article is about illegible hand writing, yes yours truly, so of course I relate to the author. The title is-Illegible Me, Horrific pensmanship won't stop a handwriting fiend! G& G april May 2026 p. 192 Ellis (forgive if order is wrong).

I come by my poor handwriting honestly.  My father's wasn't great. I interned in an adjacent office one summer, people would seek me out to decipher his scribble.  There have been times I've felt badly about this. There are times I type my letters and print to be understood. One time I pushed back, you can't read my writing then I won't send the letter. A hand written thank you letter should be good enough..but of course it isn't. I do want you to know how I feel, how grateful I am and how I'll use the item you've bestowed to me/the organization for which I care. 

Even what is deemed the most beautiful handwriting now can be hard to read/understand. We're all so use to text and printing and these future generations can't even read cursive much less write it. My mother's writing can even be hard, but I know how to read it. I was raised reading it and at times trying to copy it. My children had to ask Nana to print when she sent mail to camp, they didn't read cursive. Sigh.

The kindest email came to me today. MY HWTY (hand written thank you) was called out as making a difference and greatly appreciated! Ahhh, yay!

I'm big fan of the "ps" on printed/typed, somewhat form letters, solicitations and acknowledgements. I don't get to do that as much any more.  I love to send a postcard, have slowed down on those...not sure why.

Anyway- Dear Ms. Ellis, I will be reading more of your writing. I'm adding you to summer reading, because a beach trip is in my future!

And guess what my texting isn't great either..oh well at least I can bring a smile- see the positive on Newark-Granville Road and keep writing and reading! Thanks for reading this today.

Leaving Legacies

 https://www.newarkadvocate.com/obituaries/pwoo1448570

This is the link to the obituary for Sarah Davison. Sarah's dedication to girls sports in Granville was like non-other. We're grateful for all Sarah and Tim did to support our girls, all of the teams before, during after our girls played. She set a beautiful example and provided love, care and cookies that mattered and made a difference.  Rest in Peace Sarah.

https://www.hendersonvanatta.com/obituaries/Linda-L-Dimon?obId=48049992

This is the link for Linda Dimon's obituary. Linda had a direct impact on me, by being welcoming and encouraging. She was always happy to see me and made me feel welcome. She encouraged my work at The Works and then beyond. She too set an example for the world, leaving a legacy and the world a better place.  She will be missed.  How can she be gone?  Prayers for those close to her, her family. Steve also always makes me smile...what a gift.

The beautiful sentiment "May Her Memory be a Blessing" comes to mind here for both of these women.

I'm not Jewish, but value and benefit from Jewish lessons and faith- Blessings of Skinned Knee example in our life on Newark-Granville Road...I found this article by Sharrona Pearl to help me apply it today: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/may-their-memory-be-for-a-blessing

Make someone feel seen, loved, affirmed, welcome today to honor these women, I will. And those that do so to me, thank you. Thank you Linda and Sarah for lives well lived. Your memory is a blessing, as was your life on Newark-Granville Road.  Thank you for living your faith and being truly philanthropic. You used the resources you had at your fingertips to make the world a better place (Melinda Gates), it worked!

Thank you Easter Bunny....Bwock Bwoack

 Stoner kid fave- Matt, Sarah, Susan- no suprise it was part of our family Easter text this year.  I sent the video of it to the full family group text as the next generation needed a reminder- so I believe.  I wonder what they think.

No real Easter Bunny to thank this year, new stage and phase and a lovely one! We were invited to church in Indy at Caroline's church- Second Presbyterian on Meridian- such a beautiful place, a big one too! It was a lovely service. Clare and Caroline did a great job with a lovely post church brunch, mimosa, waffle, casserole, fruit salad, Clare's sourdough, treats galore. Harper was such a good pup and we enjoyed time with Caroline's Mom and grandmother, and our Sally!

Drive time- up early and home not too late, podcasts and magazines and catch-up texts with pals and family. A simple and sweet Easter, making new memories in our life on Newark-Granville Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxe7pAeRA3s   And if you need smile here is the commercial! Bock Bock at the end!