Elwood Glass Festival

It's Festival Time!

Hoosiers love their festivals: chocolate, wine, maple syrup, fiber, spring celebration, 500, jazz and blues, arts and music, canal days, western days, strawberry, covered bridges, round barn, Cole Porter, mermaid, pickles, bluegrass, freedom, craft, midsummer, Swiss days, hot dog, hometown, bean blossom, lazy day, potato, herb, pork, harvest, gourd, popcorn, marshmallow, Little Italy, blueberry, Scottish, fall, apple, fiddler’s and fur trappers, back to the fifties, chili, turning leaves, pioneer, coal, pumpkin, navy bean, moon , Christmas, trees, angels, circle of lights, and winter. These are just some of the reasons festivals are held in Indiana.

The IndyGoGirls are determined to attend as many festivals as possible. Our inaugural event was the Elwood Glass Festival held August 14th-16th. The festival features the usual heartland fare: carnival midway, music, food, various contests and a quilt show. What interested us though was the tour of various Elwood creative businesses. Sponsored by the Elwood Chamber of Commerce as a means of increasing the awareness of their own version of Main Street, USA, the tour featured the following:


House of Glass
Venus Chocolate Shop
Spencer Lapidary
Historic Opera House
Prestige Crystal
New Day Meadery

We watched glass artisans create original works of glass at the House of Glass and spent an enjoyable 30 minutes with a charmer of a woman named Junie Theoharis, of the Venus Chocolate Shop, learning the art of chocolate making and, of course, chocolate eating.

Joe Rice, of the House of Glass, held demonstrations featuring his signature paperweight creations. For more than 20 years, this craftsman has continued the legacy of his extended family, the St. Clairs, by creating beautiful art glass using traditional methods mixed with the contemporary. The modestly priced glass art is available for purchase at the factory and via the internet.

Meanwhile, over at The Venus Chocolate Shop, the inimitable Junie was serving a tray of hand-made chocolate confections to visitors. Junie has spent a lifetime perfecting the art of making chocolate. In fact, one of the tables used to lay out the chocolate is one from Junie's childhood when her parents were the chocolatiers. The passion and warmth of this unique woman only added to the delightful freshness and goodness of the chocolate she makes. Thanks, Junie, we had a great time with you!

Visit the Venus Chocolate Shop at 2840 South A Street in

Elwood, IN. The chocolate is divine!

With the most primitive means the artist creates something

which the most ingenious and efficient

technology will never be able to create.
Kasimir Malevich

Minnetrista

Minnetrista. The IndyGoGirls toured the former Ball Brothers estate on a warm, sunny day enjoying the history, the nature and the beauty of this “gathering place by the water.”

The year was 1893. The Ball Brothers had already relocated their glass manufacturing company from New York when they purchased land along the White River, in Muncie, to make their family home. All five of the brothers built homes on this land.

Today, Minnetrista is a cultural center where visitors can tour Oakhurst, the former home of G.A. Ball, stroll through the stunning gardens and walk along Oakhurst Boulevard along the White River.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

Aristotle

Carmel Farmer's Market

The photos will tell this story........

One’s destination is never a place but rather

a new way of looking at things.

Henry Miller

Meet Carly

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole.

Roger Caras

Tribute to Sam

I’m Still Here
Friend, please don’t mourn for me.

I’m still here, though you don’t see.

I’m right by your side each night and day

and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I’m always near.

I’m everything you feel, see or hear.

My spirit is free, but I’ll never depart

as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I’ll never wander out of your sight.

I’m the brightest star on a summer’s night.

I’ll never be beyond your reach.

I’m the warm, moist sand when you’re at the beach.

I’m the colorful leaves when fall comes around

and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.

I’m the beautiful flowers of which you’re so fond.

The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I’m the first bright blossom you’ll see in the spring.

The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

I’m the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,

and you’ll see that the face in the moon shine is mine.

When you start thinking there’s no one to love you,

you can talk to me through the Lord up above you.

I’ll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,

and you’ll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I’m the hot salty tears that flow when you weep

and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

I’m the smile you see on a baby’s face.

Just look for me friend, I’m every place!

Meet the IndyGoGirls

Phoenix Mom

Cat

Carly Mom

Cinda

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

John Powell

Onionburgers, Herbs and Plants, Oh My!

It's become an IndyGoGirls tradition to begin our road trips with lunch. This time, we began in Anderson at the Lemon Drop Restaurant. The Lemon Drop is an Anderson institution, its oldest restaurant, having served their famous onion burgers since 1955. By the looks of the crowd on the day we stopped by, the Lemon Drop will continue on for a long time to come.

It's not much to look at from the outside, but inside, the 1950's-themed interior, and counter stools that look original, are a welcome difference from the sleek, over-decorated chain restaurants. The service is fast and friendly, and the food is plain, but tasty. The favorite at our table was the Onion Burger, two beef patties with grilled onions in the middle. One of The Girls proclaimed it to be the best burger she's ever eaten.

There she was hunched over a not-yet-fully-awake herb garden trying to catch up the weeds. The weeds, being the opportunists they are, had a head start. It became obvious that this wasn't a novice gardener--weeds--you are on notice! Carolee Snyder has been an herb farmer since the 1960s. (The Sixties! "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" by the Stones was playing on AM radio,hippies converged at Woodstock and man landed on the moon.)

The chemical-free gardens, located in rural Blackford County, boast the Midwest's most visited herbal centers as well as the ever-expanding display gardens and plant nurseries. While the mounds of lavender wouldn't be flowering until sometime in June or July, the early-Spring annuals and bulbs had either made an appearance or were delayed due to the soaking rains of April.

It was a rather dreary day when we visited Carolee's Herb Farm on May 1st, but we still enjoyed the scenery and the stillness. We were thrilled about filling the trunk of the car with our purchases. I couldn't help but notice our unique personalities playing out in our plant selections--from an Italian-themed herb container garden, to the colorful perennials in hues of pink and purple, tomato and strawberry plants, and more herbs.

It was another good day with the IndyGoGirls.....friendship, flowers and fun.