Nashville, Indiana

The IndyGoGirls traveled to Nashville, Indiana on September 12th. Nashville is an historic artists’ colony which claims T.C. Steele as one of its native sons. Steele was an Impressionist painter known for his Indiana landscapes. This one is Tinker Place, oil on canvas, painted in 1891.

Nashville has held onto its status as an artists’ colony and expanded into a tourist-friendly small town with numerous shops providing everything from caramel corn to home décor items to fine paintings.

We began our visit at Trolly's BBQ where we had delicious pulled pork sandwiches. It was a hot day and we enjoyed sitting along the sidewalk drinking our cold beverages, eating the pulled pork and watching the crowds of people stroll past.


One of the reasons for our visit was the Pumpkins and Puppies event at the Brown County Art Gallery, a fundraiser for the Brown County Humane Society. There were dogs and cats available for adoption, a painting up for bid, and the gallery’s regular exhibits. It was tempting to take one of the animals home, or at least, one of the paintings of the “puppies.”

We were fortunate enough to happen upon one of the local artisans working at her potter’s wheel right on the sidewalk outside the Brown County Craft Gallery. Judy Prichard, a potter, who, with her husband, owns Oak Grove Pottery Studio and Gallery, is a talented and friendly woman. She patiently answered all of our questions, keeping her wheel spinning the entire time. Judy creates “functional and decorative pottery in terra cotta and stoneware.” We went inside the gallery and thoroughly enjoyed looking at the art for sale created by talented and creative local artisans. It was an unexpected treat.

Walking along the Nashville sidewalks and browsing through the quaint stores was an especially enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. Perhaps our favorite shop was the For Bare Feet novelty sock store in the Antique Alley section of town. The socks are produced locally at a family-owned factory in Helmsburg, Indiana, just outside Nashville. This Indiana original produces all of the socks used by the NBA and holds licensing agreements with NASCAR and many college athletic programs. We were delighted to find dog breed socks, which one of the Girls purchased for the rest of the group, as well as our favorite university team’s logo socks which were purchased as, what else, stocking stuffers!

Our final stop was at the Carmel Corn Cottage for bags of caramel corn and tall, cool drinks for our drive back home.

At the end of our trip, we decided we’d return to Brown County and Nashville at some point in the future. There’s a lot to see and do in this area—next time we’ll bring all of the IndyGoGirls.

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

Kahlil Gibran

Our Dogs

Carly

Bobby

Indy

Phoenix

Pixie

"Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job."

~Franklin P Jones

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!