Katherine Legge makes a name for herself in the IZOD IndyCar Series

Katherine Legge is excited to try her hand at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photos by Jason Gaskins. Hair by Michele Raines of Tyler Mason Salon/Spa. Makeup by Jennifer Duncan of Adore Makeup Artistry.

It’s Valentine’s Day 2006, and Katherine Legge is sitting in a stylist’s chair at Ona Spa in Los Angeles. Wearing a white robe over her black polo shirt and jeans, Legge is undergoing a mini makeover of sorts, a pit stop, if you will, before being formally introduced that night as one of the newest drivers in the Champ Car World Series.

First comes an eyebrow wax, followed by makeup application and hair styling. When she finally leaves, Legge is tuned up like a true Hollywood star.

The pre-event pampering is just one of those things she’s had to deal with as a woman in a male-dominated sport. Although if it were up to her, she’d undoubtedly spend that time in her driver’s suit and helmet, strapped in a car and turning laps in excess of 200 mph.

After making waves in the Atlantic Championships and Champ Car World Series, Legge, 31, makes her IZOD IndyCar Series debut this season, driving the No. 6 TrueCar entry for Lotus Dragon Racing. Since she was a little girl, the driving force and the passion in her life has been racing. She’s never wanted anything more than to be behind a wheel.

Persistence pays off
Born July 12, 1980, Legge grew up in Guildford, England, a small city in Surrey about 30 miles southwest of London. The self-proclaimed tomboy was first introduced to the world of racing while on vacation in Spain. Legge, 9 at the time, tagged along as her father, Derek, and an uncle went to a go-karting event.

“I loved it,” she says.

Legendary Gasoline Alley is a fan favorite at the IMS.

Back home, an ad in the newspaper for a local karting facility caught Legge’s eye. She and her dad checked it out, but it was her father who drove while Legge acted as his “mechanic.” But racing captivated her, and she nagged her dad until she finally was given a chance as driver. She admits her first time in the kart was terrifying. Still, it was the start of what would become her obsession.

No one in her family had been involved in racing. But Legge’s “daredevil” and “adrenaline junkie” sides were immediately awakened for several reasons.

“The speed, obviously,” she explains. “The competitive part. The pure driving I love.”

Legge’s mother, Vivienne, was a bit skeptical.

“She says, ‘It’s noisy; it’s dirty; why do you like it so much?’” Legge says. Despite her mother’s hesitation (Legge knows Mom still gets nervous watching her race), she continued her fledgling karting career, often the only girl out on the track.

Legge eventually earned a scholarship to compete in Formula Ford, an entry-level open-wheel racing series. In 2000, she became the first woman to earn a pole position in that series.

She moved on to two developmental series: Formula Renault in 2001 and 2002, garnering a “Rising Star” honor from the British Racing Drivers’ Club, and Formula Three in 2003. In 2004, Legge came to the U.S. for a three-race stint in a Formula Renault mini-championship. But due to a lack of sponsors and the critical funding they provide, Legge never participated in a full season.

She tested with an Indy Lights team at Texas Motor Speedway to earn a ride in the Infiniti Pro Series, but before she could get behind the wheel, the team folded.

Constantly hearing “no” and running into dead ends was starting to take its toll. But Legge didn’t give up. She moved back to England and showed up unannounced at a meeting where one of the participants was Kevin Kalkhoven, then a co-owner of the Champ Car World Series. Legge wasn’t going to leave without his advice on how she could secure a ride in the Atlantic Championship series. With sponsors difficult to come by, Legge looked at it as her last chance to realize her dream.

Kalkhoven, impressed with Legge’s resume and dogged determination, got in touch with Jim Griffith, co-owner of Polestar Racing Group in Chardon, Ohio. Kalkhoven wanted Griffith to test Legge.

“(Griffith) said, ‘Can you be in Phoenix next week?’” Legge recalls. She was added to a list of drivers testing for the Atlantic Championship at Phoenix International Raceway, and her skills were obvious from the start.

“We had to slow her down a bit,” Griffith recalls. “She was pushing really hard from the beginning.”

Legge was impressive, and she landed a ride with Polestar –– but only for six races. She still had to prove herself in order to run the full season.

She made the move from England to the tiny town of Chardon to be at the team’s shop every day and learn as much as she could about racing. Not knowing anyone in the U.S., Legge stayed at the home of Griffith and his wife Pam for the duration of the season, about six months.

“They ended up being American parents to me,” Legge says. “They were really great.”

Surrounded by racing every day, Legge started learning what Griffith calls “mechanical sympathy.”

“So, if something is going wrong, they feel it,” he explains. “They don’t drive it until it breaks. Or, if it’s a handling issue, she’s more tuned in.”

Griffith saw daily how serious Legge was about succeeding.

“She really wanted to work on her race craft, understanding the car, how it needed to be driven into a certain corner and the gearing that needed to be right,” he says. “She was willing to sit for hours and go over data from the car. She was by no means a prima donna.

“She wanted to get it done.”

In between learning the ins and outs of mechanics, helping get the car suited to her driving style, and sticking to a training regimen, Legge was growing accustomed to a more “Americanized” lifestyle that included plenty of trips to the local Cold Stone Creamery.

Even more importantly, Legge was learning what it took to win. In her very first race with Polestar at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Legge took the checkered flag, making her the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America.

But she wasn’t done. Legge won the next race at Edmonton. And the next one in San Jose, Calif. At the end of what was essentially her rookie season, Legge had three wins and five podium finishes to her name.

“At that stage, I was younger, and I thought that I should win those,” Legge says. “They made me feel I was right and I was vindicated in thinking I was good. I was just very confident.”

In November 2005, Legge realized another dream when she tested a Formula One car for the Minardi team in Italy. After two laps, though, she hit the wall. If only for a little bit, she was following in the footsteps of Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian Formula One driver who was her racing hero while growing up.

The next level
In 2006, Legge jumped to the next level in open-wheel racing. After two strenuous days of testing, she earned a ride in the Champ Car World Series, driving for Kalkhoven’s team, PKV Racing.

She was the first woman to compete in the series full time. In June of that year, she became the first woman to lead a lap in Champ Car when she led 12 at the Milwaukee Mile. She ultimately finished in sixth that race.

On lap 46 of that year’s Grand Prix of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., the rear wing flap of Legge’s car flew off. The loss of rear downforce caused her car to slide up into the catch fence and go airborne. The engine and gearbox flew off, and the huge impact spread debris all over the immediate area. Legge was going about 160 mph at the time.

About all that remained in one piece was Legge herself. She ended up with just a few bumps and bruises.

The whole ordeal was “a bit scary,” Legge says, adding that her eyes were closed for most of it. In a post-race interview with the SPEED channel, Legge, proving her competitive grit, said she would have gotten back in the car and finished the race if she could.

Four days later, she was back in the driver’s seat.

“To me, it wasn’t an issue,” she says of the wreck. “It wasn’t anything I could control. If it had been my own responsibility, I would feel differently. I’ve always had respect for the dangers, but you have to put them aside.

“It did make me sad that my dad had to see it. He said, ‘Katherine, for 15 minutes, I wasn’t sure if you were even alive.’”

Legge finished her Champ Car career with four top-10 finishes. During the 2007 season, though, rumors circulated that Champ Car’s future was uncertain –– and the future of its drivers was equally up in the air. Rather than wait and see what would happen, Legge took the safe route, which, she points out, is quite unlike her, and moved back to Europe to compete in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series.

More commonly called DTM, the Germany-based series uses touring cars, which are basically heavily modified street cars. Legge calls it the “European version of NASCAR.”

For three years, she was a factory driver for Audi in the DTM series, all while keeping an eye on what was happening in the United States. By this time, Champ Car had merged with IndyCar. Legge’s goal of driving in the IndyCar Series was reignited.

Eyes on the prize
IndyCar is the premier open-wheel racing series in North America.

“You get to race some of the best drivers in the world,” Legge says. “You race on street courses, road courses and ovals –– high-speed and short. You’re tested everywhere you can be.

“When I did DTM, I missed driving these cars.”

Legge stands proudly in front of the Pagoda at the IMS.

The fan support, she adds, is vastly different from what she experienced in Europe.

“The atmosphere is really something special,” she says.

But before she could pursue an IndyCar ride, Legge had to take into consideration the thoughts of a special someone: her fiance, Peter Terting, a German sports car driver whom Legge met a few years ago at a racetrack.

“Racing is my life; it’s who I am 24/7,” she says. “I don’t get to meet anyone outside of racing. He was at one of the races, we got to talking, and fate brought us together because we met up the following weekend through a mutual friend. We had no idea who each other was.”

Legge and Terting agreed that taking a shot at IndyCar was the best move.

“I said, ‘I really want to do this; I think I can make a go of it,’” Legge recalls. “He could see it was a burning desire of mine.”

So Legge packed her bags and once again made the move back to America. Realizing her goal stalled when she couldn’t find a ride for the 2011 season.

“We gave up a year to re-evaluate,” she says.

But this year, Legge is no longer left watching from the stands. In January, she signed a two-year deal with Lotus Dragon Racing to drive the No. 6 TrueCar entry in the IZOD IndyCar Series. She approached this season with a mix of excitement and nervousness, although it has gotten off to a somewhat slow start.

Unlike teams using Honda and Chevrolet engines, Lotus teams have dealt with a delay in delivering the new Lotus engine. Because of this, the team didn’t have nearly as much time to prepare the car and bring it up to speed –– literally. As a result, Legge spent very little time acclimating herself behind the wheel.

She admits she would have liked to be more confident before her IndyCar debut.

“Normally, you want to go into your rookie season with 12 test days,” she says. “We had less than a day in the car when we went to St. Petersburg.”

Legge started 25th in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Overheated fluids knocked her out of the race, and she finished in 23rd.

“We were plagued by engine management problems all weekend,” she says. “We were basically testing at the race.”

Unfortunately, the next race, the Grand Prix of Alabama, brought more of the same. Again hindered by a lack of engine availability, Legge and the Dragon team were still learning about the car during the actual race.

She started and finished in 23rd place after spinning out on lap 66.

Two weeks later, in the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Legge finished in 19th position.

Despite the slow and somewhat disappointing start, Legge keeps her head held high.

“This can be extremely frustrating for a driver, especially a driver trying to prove herself,” says Jay Penske, Dragon Racing team owner. “Yet Katherine has dealt with it in a very professional manner and has maintained the highest level of enthusiasm throughout the process. She remains focused on the big picture.”

Legge knows this season will be a learning experience, and that’s one reason she hasn’t set any specific goals.

“It’s a long journey, and we have to be realistic about how fast we’ll improve because we’re already so far behind the other teams in testing.”

But one thing she wants is noticeable improvement –– making strides this season and entering the 2013 season stronger than ever.

“As long as we’re improving, we’ll be happy,” she says.

Legge has additional strengths outside the car that give her “star potential,” Penske says.

“It’s not enough to simply be quick behind the wheel,” he says. “Drivers today also need to fulfill the increasing commercial responsibilities that go along with competing in a top-level series. Katherine has proven that she can engage sponsors, interact with fans and represent IndyCar in a manner that will make her successful for some years to come.”

Legge is especially anxious to try her hand at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She is well aware of the tradition and spectacle of the Indy 500, having attended in 2005 and again in 2011 for the 100th anniversary celebration. The latter was a huge motivating factor to be a part of it this year and cross it off her “bucket list.”

“I’ve seen plenty of them on TV,” she says. “But there’s nothing like actually being there. The first time especially was an amazing experience.”

The Indy 500, widely considered racing’s biggest stage, will be a test for Legge, who hasn’t had as much oval-racing experience.

“I’m going to take as much advice as I can from people who have been there and done it,” she says. “I just want to learn. I’m going to take it step by step and try to make as few mistakes as possible.”

Should she qualify, Legge would be the ninth woman in history to start an Indy 500.

At home
Legge and Terting, who live downtown, like to “switch off” by watching movies.

“Peter always seems to win the battle with some sort of action movie,” she says with a laugh.

Legge checks out the view from one of the luxury suites inside the Pagoda at the IMS.

Legge also enjoys shopping, especially at Keystone at the Crossing, and running along the canal as part of her training routine. The couple also enjoys skiing and hiking near Terting’s home in Bavaria, Germany.

Right now, Legge is 100 percent focused on racing, which doesn’t leave much time for planning a wedding.

“I do have a dress,” she laughs. The couple wants to tie the knot in a cozy ceremony in front of family and friends in England. The date hasn’t been set, but they’re aiming for some time at the end of this year or early 2013.

From a humble start in go-karts to the highly visible IndyCar Series, Legge’s competitive spirit and absolute commitment to winning have been her driving force.

“You can never really reach perfection,” she says of racing. “There’s always something you can do.”

Polestar’s Griffith says, “She doesn’t just want to be a female driver; she wants to be a driver –– and a winning driver.”

Why asparagus should find a place on your family’s dinner table

Beth and Izzy

Asparagus is a young edible shoot, commonly called a spear; the spear rises from an underground stem called a crown, which is capable of producing spears for 15-20 years. Botanically, asparagus is unusual in that there are distinct male and female plants—the male spears are skinny and the females plump. Their flavor depends upon freshness—not the sex—and only the young green shoots or spears should be eaten. If allowed to mature, a beautiful, but inedible fern develops; the asparagus fern is in fact a popular hanging plant.

There are more than 300 varieties of asparagus, only 20 of which are edible. They are divided into three main categories: 1) Green, which is the most common type of asparagus. It is harvested at a height of about 8 inches. 2) White, which is grown in the dark covered with soil to keep it from turning green. White asparagus is harvested as soon as it emerges from the ground. Although more tender than the green variety, it tends to be less flavorful and is also more expensive, since more work is required to grow it. 3) Purple, which is has a fruity flavor and is harvested when only 2 or 3 inches high. The purple pigment adds an added health benefit through its antioxidant properties.

Asparagus is a nutrient-dense, low calorie and low sodium food. It is an excellent source of folate, which helps to protect and repair DNA along with decreasing the risk of developing neural tube defects in infants. Asparagus contains trace amounts of most vitamins and minerals, and contains higher amounts of calcium, potassium, beta-carotene and vitamin K. It also contains several phytochemicals, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, phytosterols and glutathione.

Avoid overcooking asparagus, as this causes it to lose flavor, color and nutrients. Steaming is the best cooking method. This method cooks the asparagus to perfection while preserving the nutrients. Asparagus pairs well with butter, extra virgin olive oil, dark sesame oil, roasted peanut oils, Parmesan, Fontina, eggs, parsley, basil, fresh sage, chervil, mint, tarragon, lemon, orange, capers, ginger, soy, peas, leeks, scallions, artichokes and fava beans.

Two of my favorite asparagus recipes are:

Couscous with Asparagus and Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup whole wheat couscous
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
• ¼ cup sliced white mushrooms
• 1 sprig of thyme, oregano, or rosemary
• 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and stalks cut in half
• Salt and pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
In a sauce pot, bring broth to a boil. Add the couscous, remove from heat, and cover with a lid. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until broth is absorbed.

In a large skillet melt 2 teaspoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for one minute. Add the mushrooms, herb sprig, and a pinch of salt, sauté for 5 minutes. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter, asparagus, and another pinch of salt, sauté for 5 minutes or until asparagus turns bright green. Remove herb sprig and season with freshly milled pepper.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the couscous and the mushroom/asparagus mixture, season with salt and pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Serves: 4

Local Lettuce with Asparagus and Cucumbers

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends removed, cut into 1 ½ inch lengths
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 or 3 basil leaves, finely chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1 ½ inch strips
• 1 head of local lettuce, washed, dried, and cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions:
Place a steamer basket in a saucepan filled with 1 inch water. Bring to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.

In a glass jar, combine vinegar, oil, basil, a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Shake until combined and thickened.

Divide the lettuce, asparagus, and cucumber among serving plates; drizzle with dressing.

Serves: 4

Elizabeth Blessing is co-owner of Green B.E.A.N. Delivery, a company that delivers organic produce and natural groceries to Midwest consumers’ doors. She contributes recipes and healthy living tips to the company’s new blog, the Healthy Times. Elizabeth is an accomplished whole foods nutritionist, speaker and curriculum writer. She has a Master of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University in Seattle, and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health-Dietetics from Indiana University.

Cool, creamy treats make summertime oh-so-sweet

Kelly McCall Beerbower and Meredith Kong

When the weather heats up, nothing cools off a summer day like sweet and creamy ice cream. Instead of the typical vanilla and chocolate, why not try a bowl of a delectable flavor like Gorgonzola Candied Pecan or Milk Chocolate Goat Cheese? Those are two favorites of sisters Meredith Kong and Kelly McCall Beerbower, co-founders and owners of Lick Ice Cream, served at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market starting May 5. They began dishing up their artisan herb- and spice-infused ice cream in 2010 after falling in love with making ice cream at home.

Kong, a baking and pastry student at Ivy Tech Community College, found a recipe for fennel ice cream on the Smitten Kitchen blog.

“I thought, We can start making herb-infused ice cream,” she says.

Kong and McCall Beerbower hosted an ice cream social to bring in friends and see what flavors they liked. With their support, the sisters began making more luscious, custard-based varieties in addition to the fennel ice cream that’s still prized for its “woodsy” taste.

“We are proud that we have a five-ingredient custard base of two parts Horizon organic cream, one part hormone-free milk, eggs, sugar and sea salt,” Kong says.

Lick uses local and organic ingredients as much as possible, such as lavender from the garden and sage from the farmers market.

“I have been a big fan of (author) Michael Pollan for a long time,” Kong says. “His philosophy is eat real food and mostly plants.”

Kong and McCall Beerbower create flavors like Bourbon Bacon Maple Syrup (left) and Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Banana (right).

The duo reflects those values by providing customers with high-quality treats.

“By eating our ice cream, which is made from scratch, you can tell we have fun making it,” McCall Beerbower adds. “Every one of our flavors is something we have studied and perfected.”

Kong says they don’t feed customers anything they wouldn’t feed to her 5-year-old son Miles.

“He’s our biggest critic,” she says. “His favorites are Coconut Curry and Fennel (Vanilla Bean). He doesn’t care for our Bourbon Bacon and Maple Syrup, though.”

These ice cream divas have fun making their cool treats and bringing happiness to the lives of others at the same time.

“We couldn’t be happier creating anything else,” McCall Beerbower says. “Our faithful followers are our inspiration. There’s nothing in the world like making something that you love and seeing a stranger’s face light up as they taste it for the first time. They say so much without any words.

“Every time it happens, I say, ‘I know! That’s how I felt making it!’”

Fennel Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Makes 1 quart

Miles Kong, 5, loves Coconut Curry and Fennel Vanilla Bean ice cream.

This recipe takes 30 minutes of active work for a delicious dessert ready in two and a half hours.

2 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon fennel seeds, crushed in a food processor
1 cup whole milk
3⁄4 cup sugar, divided
4 large egg yolks
1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Bring cream and fennel seeds just to a simmer. Cover and let steep about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring milk, vanilla extract, vanilla bean, 1⁄2 cup sugar and salt to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring regularly.

Whisk together yolks and remaining 1⁄4 cup sugar in a large bowl, then add milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Return mixture to medium saucepan and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until mixture coats back of spoon and registers 175 degrees on an instant-read thermometer (do not let it boil). Immediately strain custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl, then quick-chill by setting bowl in an ice bath and stirring occasionally until cool, about 15 minutes.

Strain fennel cream through fine-mesh sieve into custard, pressing on solids. Continue to chill in ice bath until custard is very cold, then freeze in ice cream maker. Transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, about 1 hour.

Custard with fennel cream can be covered and chilled in a refrigerator up to 24 hours.

Get the Scoop

6 tips for delicious homemade ice cream success

1. Keep it clean. Make sure all your equipment has been washed thoroughly and stored properly to remain sanitary.

2. Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. Use raw milk if possible. You can get this from a local farmer. In-season fruits are best, but frozen fruit works well too.

3. Be ready to go. If your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl requires pre-freezing, store it in the freezer, tightly wrapped in plastic so it’s clean and ready for use.

4. Keep it cold. For faster freezing, make the ice cream mixture the day before. Then pour into a closed container and store in the refrigerator –– the colder the ingredients, the better.

5. Here’s a secret for custard-style ice cream: Temper eggs correctly for custard-based ice creams by slowly raising the temperature of the egg yolks up to the temperature of a hot liquid custard base you have on the stove. Never pour more than 3 or 4 tablespoons of hot cream into the yolks before whisking them back into the cream. Nothing is worse then causing eggs to become scrambled or undercooking eggs, which may cause salmonella.

6. Eat it up or store it tight. Keep ice crystals from forming on your homemade ice cream by limiting its exposure to air. Place plastic wrap or parchment paper over the surface and secure the lid tightly to keep it smooth and creamy. This will also keep your dessert from taking on other odors from your freezer.

Want to keep it simple?
Cuisinart’s Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker lets you make your favorites in about 20 minutes. Just add ingredients to the bowl and let the machine do the rest. $59.95; Crate & Barrel, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Sears, Macy’s and Williams-Sonoma.

Colorful picks just in time for swimsuit season

Summer is a time for bold, bright colors and patterns. Nowhere is that more evident than in the endless choices of swimsuits.

Sure, neutral-colored suits can be flattering, but isn’t it more fun to don a colorful suit that evokes the fun, carefree spirit of summer?

IW Assistant Editor Cassandra Orton shares a few pieces of her story

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. As a child, I’d curl up in a chair and compose imaginative mysteries and poems about the world around me.

The Orton family in our native Canada. Photo by John Brisbane, bayshorephotography.com.

Today, I’m a writer, storyteller, editor and web “master” by profession. I’m also a tea drinker, organizing junkie, IU grad and mom to a 1-year-old cat who wakes me up each morning with affectionate nose rubs.

There are many parts to my puzzle, but here are a few pieces of me. I am a …

Family girl
I like to spend as much time with my family and close friends as possible.

I’m blessed to be the daughter of John and Simone Orton, my loving, hardworking parents who dwell in the mountains of Roanoke, Va.; sister to Joshua Orton, a smart and caring physical therapy undergrad at James Madison University; and girlfriend to Ross Johnson, the supportive guy who’s got my back and throws a mean Frisbee.

Together, we enjoy hiking, playing board and card games, traveling, cooking, eating and laughing.

Runner
I’m happiest in a T-shirt and headband, sporting a pair of Brooks running shoes and a Garmin watch.

Enjoying the outdoors. Photo by Allison Correll.

I love exploring the world by foot and seeing the city from a different perspective. Whether on forested trails, country roads or urban greenways, my favorite runs are when I get lost in conversation and forget I’m running.

I started jogging with my dad as a child and fell in love with the sport during high school cross country. I’ve run countless 5Ks, a handful of half-marathons, and completed my first full in 3:50:39 at the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon last year.

Canadian
Although I consider myself an Indianapolis woman, I haven’t always been. I’m a Canadian citizen, born in Ottawa. I’ve also resided in Ann Arbor, Mich., Bloomington, Ind., and Boulder, Colo.

While I no longer pronounce “zee” as “zed,” I am proud of my roots and love “going home” to visit family.

My favorite Canada memories are summer days on Lake Muskoka, camping at Point Farms, Christmas at my uncle’s cottage, and family vacations to Prince Edward Island, Quebec and British Columbia.

And then there’s the food. I have a soft spot for Canadian sweets and goodies. Favorite delights? Crunchie bars, poutine, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, Timbits, Nestlé Smarties, beaver tails and ketchup chips. Yeah, that’s the short list.

Outdoor enthusiast
I’m most at peace in nature: hiking a fourteener (a peak above 14,000 feet in elevation) in Colorado, mountain biking at Brown County State Park or running trails in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Surrounded by Josh, Simone, Ross and Virginia's beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

On a weekend in Indianapolis, you may find me running the Monon, playing disc golf at Washington Park or geocaching at Fort Ben.

I am passionate about environmental and transportation issues, which go hand in hand with my love for the outdoors, as I work toward leaving a lighter footprint on our beautiful earth.

Thrillers, fillers and spillers for small spaces

Matt Irvin's shade combo with Coleus Gays Delight, salmon Impatiens and English Ivy.

Container gardening allows you to add color, texture and culinary delight to your backyard or balcony with little maintenance. It can even stretch your growing season.

“Containers allow you to have plant material in areas where you cannot plant in the ground, such as patios, decks or urban settings,” says Matt Irvin, vice president of nursery and retail operations for Salsbery Brothers Landscaping.

“It also allows you to grow plants such as cacti, succulents and acid-loving plants that may not be well suited to the soil in your garden and landscape beds,” he says.

For a well-rounded container, include fillers, plants that grow and spread to fill spaces between other greenery; spillers, which are vines and others plants that “spill over” to add vertical interest; and thrillers, which are plants that add eye-catching pizzazz.

To get you inspired, our garden and landscape experts share tips for growing ornamentals and veggies in small spaces.

5 Tips for Successful Container Gardening

To maximize rewards from your garden, make sure to select the right plants, Irvin says.

“Consider the size, habit, growth rate, sun/shade requirements and water requirements when choosing plants to group together in a container,” he advises.

One of his favorite sun plant combinations is Diamond Frost (Euphorbia graminea) with red geraniums because it plays off of the appeal of red roses and baby’s breath.

Hanging basket with Dichondra Silver Falls and Dragon Wing Red Begonias, growing in sun/partial shade.

Irvin suggests talking to experts about plant requirements to get the beauty and bounty you desire while considering the level of effort and time you want to commit to maintaining your container gardens.

1. Select the right plants. Group plant varieties according to the levels of moisture and sunlight they need to thrive. Observe hours of sun exposure so you can choose plants according to their individual requirements. Understand that plants are competing with one another to grow –– especially in containers.

2. Use a slow-release fertilizer at the time of planting. Mix a fertilizer, such as Osmocote®, into your soil to give plants a constant stream of nutrients over the three- to four-month growing season.

3. Apply a liquid fertilizer weekly. Doing so replenishes nutrients in the soil used by the plants. Use a quick-release fertilizer, such as the Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed® All-Purpose Plant Feeding System, for root and leaf feeding. It requires no mixing and delivers the right amount of fertilizer right from your garden hose.

4. Water properly and adequately. Container plants tend to dry out more quickly. Their need for water increases as the size of the plants and daily temperatures increase. During hot weather or windy days, you may need to water plants twice daily. The type of pot will affect this to a degree. Terra cotta dries out faster than glazed terra cotta, ceramic, plastic or metal containers. However, metal and dark-colored pots tend to heat up quicker. The bigger the pot, the slower the soil will dry out. Also make sure your pot has drainage holes for excess water.

5. Prune or deadhead. Most newer hybrid plant varieties have made pruning or deadheading less necessary. However, some spiller plants will grow long, spindly vines if not pruned after planting. Be proactive and prune the vines for a fuller look in your container garden.

Garden Edibles

Establish a moveable feast in a larger garden box right outside your kitchen.

Vegetables that grow well in containers include beets, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, green beans, cucumbers, radishes and peas.

Peppers and eggplants are a colorful combination that Rose Marie Nichols McGee, co-author of The Bountiful Container, says is both pleasing to the eye and palate.

“There are so many varieties of peppers out there,” she says. “Plant a hot one, such as a Thai chili, on one side and a sweet on the other –– like the heirloom Jimmy Nardello pepper. It’s often used for frying in Italian cuisine.”

She suggests a purple-colored eggplant such as the Ping Tung –– or other slender, flavorful Asian eggplant varieties –– planted in the center of the garden box flanked by the pepper plants.

“Put a stake or another support in with the eggplant because they can get pretty large,” McGee says.

Not a fan of eggplant? A semi-determinate tomato that does well in the Midwest is Celebrity. This variety continues to grow, limited only by the length of the season, and produces stems, leaves and fruit as long as it is alive.

Local women share the ups and downs of being mothers

Being a mom can be a joyous ride filled with adventure. Among the many uncertainties that motherhood brings, there is one sure thing: Each mom’s journey is different and beautiful in its own way.

The stories below reflect that, despite life’s difficulties, mothers provide comfort, security and, most of all, love.

Reason to Fight

My dad used to visit me once a week for lunch while I was in college. I remember it was during this time when I first told him, ‘Dad, I think I want to be a stay-at-home mom.’ Looking back, I’m not sure it’s what he wanted to hear after shelling out thousands of dollars to further my education. But to this day, it’s still one of his favorite memories of me.

A couple years after getting married, my husband and I felt ready for children. Instead, I was thrown a curveball that I never expected –– breast cancer. Doctors began preparing me for the possibility of never having children. But I knew I was meant to be a mother.

Finally, after a few years of remission, the time was right. We got pregnant right away and starting preparing for our new baby. But midway through the pregnancy, things started to go very wrong. Subsequent tests confirmed that, despite having a healthy baby, my cancer had returned to a most advanced stage.

Annaliese Hope was born soon after I was diagnosed, nine weeks before her due date. Being a mother with cancer is harder than I ever could have imagined. But it makes me a better mom. I don’t worry about the little things and instead enjoy every minute with her. Every morning that I get to wake up and give her a kiss is a gift. She is the reason I continue to fight. –– Sara Carpenter

Fostering a Unique Style

By the time my daughter was in kindergarten, she had figured out how to draw correct prismatic progressions of color. They showed up on almost every drawing she produced. ‘Mommy,’ Hannah once told me, ‘I see rainbows in my head.’

My daughter is also a self-dresser. If you’ve seen a Pippi-esque ragamuffin at the playground or the mall or a slightly disheveled fairy princess at a restaurant, you have not seen an ill-kept child; you have spotted a self-dresser. Other moms have looked at me, puzzled. ‘I just lay their outfits out on the bed and my girls put them on,’ one said. Me? I get to fold and refold all the castoffs that didn’t make it into the carefully constructed ‘mitch-matched’ (as Hannah called it) heap designated as tomorrow’s outfit.

Mitch-matched and Hannah-vetted means a different sock on each foot. It means purple-flowered arm-warmers that in a previous life served as knee socks. It means skirts of every color worn over pants of every color; stripes and polka dots with plaids, and hoodies over T-shirts over pajama tops.

It means fashion equations coordinated per the beautiful logic of a little girl who has not yet been burdened with the idea of fitting in. –– KimAnn Schultz

One Lucky Mom

Ahh, motherhood. Just saying the word brings to mind joys, fears, peace, total anxiety, answers and challenges. Motherhood means something different to me than most. I was adopted in 1976. Our generation grew high achievers –– high education and high careers. I had mentors for these areas. This left me deficient in just one little area –– motherhood.

I quickly realized when my first-known blood relatives (two beautiful daughters) were born, I knew little about motherhood. Despite the volumes written, there is no handbook. I can only speak to what has worked for us for eight years. Moms’ ways are best –– mothering instincts far outweigh the majority of societal research. Children mirror qualities. Our goal is to give them the gift of self-worth, love, confidence and compassion. Celebrate the best and be forgiving of the worst.

I often share with other mothers, ‘Hey, if we can just make one major decision better than the generation before us, then we’ve done good work.’ It is the mothers I’ve met along the way, the educators, the nurturers and the spouses that learn alongside these beautiful women who have inspired me to continue to embrace my gifts as a mother.

Our daughters, born in 2003 and 2007, are simple, beautiful and connected to me and each other in a way I never knew possible. Truly.

Growing up, I was told how lucky I was to have been adopted. I know now that’s not true, for it is because of motherhood that I am truly lucky. –– Carrie Abbott

Three Times the Love

I became a mother at 21 and again at 28 and 31. Three beautiful, perfect and wonderful little girls. My first daughter was the only one for a long time. After my divorce from her father, we were inseparable, and I couldn’t fathom loving anyone more than I loved her. Being an only child myself, I thought one was enough for me.

Life changed, and I fell in love with a man who loved my daughter as his own. Along came another perfect little angel, and I realized I loved her just as much as I loved my oldest daughter. How could this be possible? I felt naive and humbled because I never experienced love like that before. Life just couldn’t get any better. Then it did –– another gorgeous baby girl. My heart expanded to a capacity I never knew was possible.

With each birth, panic set in. I was responsible for these little lives and molding them to be good to people, save the world and bring equality to all humankind. It was my responsibility to teach them to be strong, independent women, yet be feminine and ladylike. Oh, the pressure!

Then one day I watched all three of them sleep together in one spot. I had given them something I never consciously planned –– I gave them each other. They will never be alone in life no matter what. –– Julia Rutland

Judgment-Free Mom

Mother’s Day is around the corner and most often this is the time of year when moms like me give ourselves an annual evaluation. All too often you begin with all of the things you did not do, and you begin to question yourself: Did I volunteer? Did we review enough for the ISTEP and IREAD? Were they engaged enough in extracurricular activities? Did I miss soccer sign-up?

Question by question, we deflate ourselves by thinking that we’ve failed them as parents, but what we fail to realize is that, if the children were to do the assessing, we would hear things like: ‘My mom works really hard for me and my brothers to have all that we ask for.’ ‘When there’s a storm coming, my mom lets me stay close to her until it passes.’ ‘When I played football, my mom attended every game, and she was my No. 1 cheerleader even when I didn’t play so well.’ ‘My mom makes the best lasagna in the world.’ ‘Everyone at my school knows my mom because she works at Girls Inc.’ ‘My mom loves me because I always do my best.’ ‘I love you Mom, because you are the greatest!’

As the saying goes, ‘the good always outweighs the bad,’ so this Mother’s Day, I will not judge myself by the number of things I did not do, but will take pride in the things my three sons remember I did. –– LaTasha Hudson

Inspiration to Help

I have been a ‘mother’ for many years, but it wasn’t until last June that my son arrived. After my husband and I were married, we immediately began trying to start our family, a journey that proved to be much more difficult than simply stopping birth control and lighting some candles. After months of trying to conceive on our own, we enlisted the services of a fertility specialist and endured countless procedures, tests, medications and heartaches before finally conceiving Charlie via in vitro fertilization.

Every single obstacle and heartache was worth it because they all led to Charlie. He is the most breathtaking, awe-inspiring, funny, adorable and loving baby I could have ever imagined. I never could have anticipated how perfectly and amazingly rewarding it is to be a mother. My worst days are still my happiest because, at the end of the day, I get to kiss his plump cheeks and receive the sloppiest, wettest kisses imaginable.

Charlie is also my inspiration. While in the midst of our struggle with infertility, my husband and I founded a nonprofit here in Indiana to support families struggling with infertility and to help them along their paths toward building their families –– whatever that might end up entailing. Every day that I get to spend with Charlie is a reminder of the parents who do not yet have their children and why we work to assist them. –– Macara Aloi

The Teacher as Student

I never could have imagined how many new directions my life would take 13 years ago when I became a mother. Going from an executive to a stay-at-home mom in one year seemed to give me emotional whiplash. But once I held that tiny baby boy in my hands, I knew I was hooked for life, and there was no looking back.

I tried for several years to conceive another child and rejoiced with the birth of my second son five years after the birth of my first. They both have brought more tears, love, heartache and joy to my life than I ever could have imagined. I have had to draw upon patience that I never knew existed within me and have had to learn to just throw up my hands and enjoy the ride of motherhood. I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Finding out three years ago that I had breast cancer put all of my hopes, dreams and desires for my sons’ futures in perspective. I went from worrying about how I was going to put them through college to worrying that I wouldn’t see them graduate high school. I had so much to teach them and share with them, and I wasn’t ready to fast-forward through that.

I have been cancer-free for one year, and it has been one year of counting my blessings. I never could have gotten through it like I did without the unflinching love and support of my sons. For all that I have taught them over the years, I am now the one learning from them –– learning how to live. –– Heather Tallman

Jen Weber beats the odds of living with cystic fibrosis

Growing up, Jen Weber participated in Little League and Girl Scouts like so many of her peers.

But her days were also filled with hospital stays, nebulizer treatments and daily pills to help break down food. Weber was born with cystic fibrosis, or CF, a genetic disease in which the body produces a sticky mucus that clogs airways. This can lead to lung infections and obstruction of the pancreas, according to Joanna Whitaker, development director at the Indiana chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

CF affects about 30,000 people in the U.S. and about 600 children and adults in Indiana, Whitaker says.

About 50 years ago, kids born with CF weren’t expected to live long enough to enter elementary school –– which is why Weber is somewhat of an anomaly.

“They didn’t think I would make it through middle school, and I graduated law school and am now 38 years old,” she says.

She can still remember the tinkle of the ice cubes used to create mist that would help keep moisture in her lungs as she lay in a “misting tent” in the hospital. Her parents and brother would pound on her chest to help break up the mucus.

“He loved getting to hit his sister,” Weber laughs, referring to her brother.

Weber, an attorney for the Indiana Judicial Center and cellist for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, always looked at the glass as being half full. She stayed optimistic and knew there were other kids in the hospital who were worse off than she was.

“As I looked at it, if this is my lot in life, I’m going to make the best of it,” she says. “Yes, I had CF, but it wasn’t the worst thing in the world to have. CF was not going to define me.”

Several years ago, at age 32, Weber learned she needed a double lung transplant. It was a reality check that CF was starting to win.

“I realized they were telling me I was going to die without a transplant,” she recalls.

In January 2010, Weber received the phone call for which she had waited nearly five long, challenging years. Her new lungs were finally available.

“I got the call around noon, was at the hospital at 4 p.m., went into surgery around 7:30 p.m., and by 7:30 the next morning, I was breathing with new lungs.”

It was an uphill climb. After being on oxygen for so long, she had to relearn how to use muscles and nerves to breathe. She had to learn how to talk in longer sentences and take deep breaths. She had to adjust to life without the oxygen cord constantly connected to her. And she no longer had the twice-daily, two-hour-long breathing treatments.

In order to be physically prepared for the transplant, Weber started signing up for 5K walks. She made a promise to herself that, if she received a transplant, she would run a half-marathon –– which she accomplished twice last year.

“Never in my life would I have thought I could run two in one year,” she says.

That newfound freedom has also allowed her to snorkel in Hawaii and board a plane (no small feat with an oxygen tank) to visit family for Christmas.

She points out that a lung transplant is not a cure for CF; it merely extends one’s life. She’s currently undergoing treatment due to her immune system attacking her lungs. But she still plans on being at the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 5.

Weber is proof that CF “doesn’t have to paralyze you.”

“You can still go out and live your life.”

May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Join in the fight by registering for a Great Strides walk in your area. Find one near you at cff.org/great_strides. For more information on CF, log on cff.org.

Modify your budget to prepare for child care expenses

As school ends and summer begins, child care is on the minds of many. And for those with a baby on the way or a young one who needs full-time care, the cost can be overwhelming.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 11 million children under age 5 are in some type of child care setting each week.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends parents spend no more than 10 percent of their family income on child care. However, Indiana families exceed that percentage on average, with 13 percent of married couples’ annual incomes going toward an infant in a center, and 41 percent of single mothers’ incomes.

These costs can put a strain on any budget and need to be planned for from day one.

As soon as a couple learns they are expecting, they need to add a child category to their budget, says financial planner Peter Dunn.

“For those nine months, they should start going without a portion of their income to save for pregnancy expenses –– not only to accumulate money, but, more importantly, to remove that level of spending from the budget, so they’re used to living without it for child care,” he says.

To alleviate these costs, parents either need to reduce their expenses by the cost of child care or eliminate the entire income of one person so that he or she can stay home.

“People try to handle the expense without cutting in other areas, and that’s the biggest mistake I see,” Dunn says.

You may have to sacrifice by cutting extras like dining out, but don’t sacrifice quality care. Find an option that works for both you and your child, whether center-based child care, family child care providers, in-home caregivers or trusted relatives or friends.

By the Numbers

Average annual fees for full-time care in Indiana

IN A CENTER
> Infant: $9,200
> 4-year-old child: $7,000
> Before/after-school for school-age child: $4,400

IN A HOME
> Infant: $5,900
> 4-year-old child: $4,950
> Before/after-school for school-age child: $4,400
Source: Indiana Child Care Resource and Referral Network

4 Steps to Finding Quality Care

Interview — Call about openings, licensing, hours, cost, financial assistance, transportation and meals. Ask how they handle discipline, sick children and emergency situations. Visit and look for a responsive, nurturing atmosphere.

Check references — Ask parents about the caregiver’s reliability, discipline, communication and values. Find out if the facility meets regulations.

Make the decision for quality care — Which provider best meets the needs of your child? What options are affordable for your family?

Stay involved — Maintain good communication about your child’s growth and any issues or concerns that arise. Ask your child about his or her day and activities.

For more tips, log on childcareanswers.com/checklist.html.

Say thanks by hosting a Mother’s Day tea

Bring out the fine china, fresh flowers and delightful finger foods to celebrate the women in your life. A tea party is a great way to express your appreciation while letting Mom take a load off her feet and indulge.

“It’s meant to be a relaxing time, a time to get together with friends and family, just sitting and conversing without the rush of the busy day-to-day schedules that most of us have,” says Cheryl Lutz Domi, mother of two and owner of Sassafras Tea Room in Greenwood.

This year, host a memorable Mother’s Day tea at home or in the garden with these décor and party tips.

Keep the color scheme monochromatic for a simple, classic look, or mix and match colors and teacups for an eclectic feel. Photos courtesy Eventfull Planning.

Set the tone
Create a peaceful environment with colors that capture the elegance of a spring tea. If you have classical architecture in your home, Laura Lim, managing partner of Eventfull Planning, recommends working with a color palette of blush and peach tones to create a soft, romantic ambiance.

If you have a contemporary home with neutral colors, Lim suggests picking one signature color to enhance the space in a bold way. You can bring that color in with napkins, flowers and other small details.

When planning the party, think about how many people you want to invite and what atmosphere you want to create. If you’re having a smaller get-together, set the table and plateware ahead of time, serving the tea and treats family-style, Lim suggests.

For a larger event, consider stations throughout the home or garden for tea, coffee, desserts and savory items.

“It encourages flow throughout the space and encourages guests to interact with one another,” Lim says.

Embellish your table
Set your table with fine china, silver teaspoons and linen napkins, Domi says. You won’t need silverware if you serve light snacks like finger sandwiches, scones, sweet breads and tarts. She suggests placing the goodies on a three-tiered plate to create a simple and beautiful centerpiece.

Domi and Lim both suggest decorating with flowers to add color and beauty to your space.

Going into spring, Lim recommends using large blooms like hydrangeas or peonies.

“Roses are also a great idea,” she says. “They come in so many different colors that you really can control what you’re doing with the look and style.”

Instead of a traditional vase, you can use a teapot, pitcher or old tea tin to display the fresh blooms.

For a contemporary setting, Lim suggests using fresh fruit as a centerpiece. Find accent colors in your own décor to incorporate, and fill a glass cylinder with crisp green granny smith apples or a vase of oranges and lemons.

Prepare elegant favors
Leave a lasting impression with dainty delights like loose-leaf tea, homemade goodies or a potted plant.

Creating a tea station is a fun way for guests to try different teas and take home favorite flavors, Lim says.

On a small table or cart, set an array of loose-leaf teas, hot water, cream, lemon and sweeteners like honey or sugar, she says. Include little sachets and bows for guests to bring home their favorites, whether a traditional black or green tea or a more exotic fruit flavor.

Each detail will help to create memories and traditions the whole family will remember and cherish.