Tag Archives: Original Works Night

The Latest: Autumn 2022

April 2, 2023 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

I know, I know, I know. I’m desperately behind on the latest of the VW family exploits. Last week I posted about our trip to Scotland, but that’s not all the happened this past fall. Here’s the skinny on the rest.

It was a very difficult fall for my father. He is the younger of two brothers and my Uncle Bud was failing quickly in the fall. I took my folks up to my dad’s hometown of Le Mars to visit Bud in the hospital. I am so glad we made the trip. It would prove to be the final opportunity to see him this side of heaven.

Wendy and I continue to enjoy our local gathering of Jesus’ followers. We hosted a backyard barbecue in September along with our awesome backyard neighbors, the Garlands. Together, we hosted over 100 people for burgers, hot dogs, and a bouncy-house. The weather was perfect for the evening and it was awesome.

Of course, it’s not an official fall without American FOOTBALL (have to differentiate with kids and grandkids in the UK – GO MILO!)!!!!! We enjoyed watching our friend Nathan on the local Pella football field and watching our Vikings on the television.

My parents moved to Pella in October. They started in Wesley Life’s independent living at Pella Manor. Within a month, my mother would move into Memory Care at the Cottages of Hearthstone. It was a difficult transition, but God was so good, and the timing was perfect in so many ways. I’m so grateful that my mom got to meet her great-granddaughter, Sylvie.

Autumn is also a big time for our local community here in Pella. Our local gathering of Jesus’ followers does an Original Works Night to spotlight the artists and creatives in our midst. Original art, photography, poetry, music, and the like are presented in a fun coffeehouse atmosphere. I was asked to host the event again this year, and it was awesome. I loved the origami theme.

Our dear friends Mat and Anne McCullough-Kelly were inducted into Pella Community Theatre’s Walk-of-Fame. Wendy and I couldn’t not have been more thrilled, as Mat and Anne played a HUGE part in our own successes there over the years. They both always went above-and-beyond in so many ways, and they were more than deserving of the honor.

Wendy and I also participated, once again, in the annual Pella Tulip Queen Announcement Party. Wendy chaired the Committee this year along with her stellar directorial management of the event. I got to be the Master of Ceremonies. I’m always blown away by the incredible young ladies our community raises. There was not a single one in the final twelve who would not represent our community well (I say that every year), and I love getting to announce Court members and Tulip Queen.

So, there you go. A quick recap of Autumn. Next up: Holidays 2022.

Tom's Photos, Wayfarer's Journal

The Latest: Spring 2022

May 28, 2022 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

It’s been a while since I posted and caught friends and family up on the latest with Wendy and me. There are so many ups and downs on Life’s road. Some stretches of the journey are memorable for their intensity and/or for pinnacle events. Then there are stretches of the journey that are less than memorable. Life proceeds, the river continues to flow, and you simply surrender to the flow. That’s how the late winter and spring of 2022 feel to me. Relatively uneventful, but not necessarily unimportant. C’est la vie.

We continue to enjoy small moments of joy with loved ones like the night we went to the Des Moines’ nightclub, Noce, with friends to enjoy the Des Moines’ Big Band. “Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life,” said Art Blakey. He was right. In the depths of an Iowa winter, some good jazz warms both heart and soul.

But it’s not just jazz. The arts, in general, allow the Creator to infuse life with the joy and Life of new creation. Wendy and I are so blessed to be part of a local gathering of Jesus’ followers who celebrate this. I was asked, once again, to be the Master of Ceremony for an “Original Works Night” that featured amazing talent and original works from poets, artists, songwriters, and photographers. It was so good. There’s even a video of the entire evening.

We continue to enjoy the blessing of great meals with good friends and the life-giving conversation that accompanies them. May this always be a regular part of our lives, as it certainly was this spring.

St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated this year with our friends, Kev and Beck, at the Hall in old West Des Moines. We thought we’d beat the rush and arrive early, but forgot that the Iowa Hawkeyes were playing in the Big Dance that afternoon. We went with the flow and enjoyed the afternoon and evening with good friends, good food, and a joyous time together with friends.

Speaking of friends, COVID robbed us of so many opportunities to be with friends and loved ones. Wendy and I took advantage of the waning pandemic to jet out to Palm Springs and spend time with dear friends in California. We enjoyed great meals, great conversation, and a jaunt out to Joshua Tree National Park. It was so good for our souls.

You never know when life will throw you a curveball. Wendy and I found ourselves at the lake this spring. We were preparing dinner. Wendy was slicing an avocado and ended up slicing her hand. An evening in the Emergency Room was followed by surgery and we continue in a season of rehab and recuperation. We’re at least enjoying the fact that she has a Harry Potter-worthy lightning-bolt scar on her palm. Trust me when I tell you that you’ve never truly experienced the breadth of humanity until you spend about six hours in an Emergency Room in the Ozarks.

We enjoyed a lovely visit from my parents. Dad continues to suffer the effects of cancer, bacterial infection, and the early symptoms of Parkinson’s. Mom’s Alzheimer’s continues to progress. Nevertheless, they continue to persevere in independent living in Des Moines as we plan for the next stages in their respective life journeys.

Wendy’s injury put a bit of a damper on our annual turn as the Dominie H.P. and Maria Scholte at Pella’s annual Tulip Time festivities. I spent some time each morning greeting visitors and tourists at the Scholte House Museum and we rode each afternoon in the Tulip Time parade. The three-day festival was a bit of a miracle this year. Right up until the day before the forecast was predicting rain for the first two days, but the first morning of the festival the rain stopped and the weather was perfect the rest of the time. The tulips were right at peak this year, as well. They looked spectacular.

The crew in Scotland is anxiously awaiting the arrival of our granddaughter. That didn’t stop them from making a vaca trip to Belgium this spring (yes, I’m jealous). Baby girl is scheduled for a summer solstice arrival on June 21. Big brother, Milo, has floated potential names for his sister ranging from “Julie” to “Harry Houdini.” We’ll trust mom and dad with making an apt choice.

We loved having Madison and Garrett (aka “G”) with us at the lake just a week or so ago. They flew into KC and we picked them up and transported them to the lake for a wonderful, long weekend. As always, the time was too short.

We also enjoyed dinner and a visit with our friends, the Burches, who were welcoming their daughter, Shanae, along with her husband and baby son back to the United States from their home in Cambodia. It was so fun to enjoy a Cambodian meal and spend an evening of love and laughter together. To watch my friend, Matthew, with his grandson was awesome.

We returned to Iowa, briefly. Wendy and I returned to KC the following weekend for an enjoyable getaway that included a visit with our friends, Matt and Tara. We then scooted back to the lake. Memorial Day weekend has finally arrived, which portends our annual VW, JP, and VL get-together. The official kick-off of summer has begun!

Wayfarer's Journal

“Ham Buns” Previewed at Original Works Night

May 12, 2012 Tom Vander Well 3 Comments

2012 05 12 OWN Tom and Megan LR — Megan Atkins was one of the eight actors who helped read four scenes from “Ham Buns and Potato Salad” at Original Works Night at Third Church in Pella, IA.

Tonight was Original Works Night (OWN) at Third Church in Pella. Once or twice a year the church’s auditorium is converted into a coffee house. A full night of original art work, photography, music, video is staged along with free food and coffee. I pulled four scenes from “Ham Buns and Potato Salad” to do a staged reading. A big thanks to Cyndi Atkins, Megan Atkins, Tammy Brice, Dave & Brystal Hopkins, Scott Sorheim, Chad Vande Lune and Wendy for reading. The scene readings went great and generated a lot of interest in the script from audience members who are dying to find out how the play ends. You can read it for yourself (or listen to it) here.

Tom's Photos, Wayfarer's Journal

Original Works Night

March 6, 2011 Tom Vander Well Leave a comment

Wendy and I had another fun weekend. On Friday night it was a theatre date as Theater Central produced a very interesting show called Amber Waves.

Last night was “Original Works Night” at our church. It’s pretty cool. Artists, Musicians, Poets, and Writers present their original works in a laid back, coffee house atmosphere. I grabbed my camera and took some pics. All of my photos are posted to my Picasa web album.