lots of Lincoln

At the request of a reader.........here are a few more shots from my frigid day on the highway. They include the Marshall County Courthouse, the 1927 Lincoln Highway Bridge/Jefferson Street Bridge in Plymouth (let's hope for a restoration), a Mail Pouch sign, and some highway and railroad structures. Now, I'm partial to our 1928 alignment, but look at the pictures, it's with just cause! The Lincoln follows the Pennsylvania Railroad through much of the county, so it is a particularly nice drive in mid summer when the wildflowers are blooming between the road and railroad in the wide right of way. The stone arches are found in four locations along the route, but, unfortunately the concrete bridge is the last of its kind here.

Lost on the Lincoln

I am an old roads aficionado. I made my family travel route 66 when my son was three and daughter only 10 months.......at least I had a blast. I'm fortunate four historic routes cris-cross our county......one being the Lincoln Highway. The good folks at the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association are attempting to get historic status for our stretch of road and, so, need to have the road and road architecture documented. This is right up my alley.

Well, I was supposed to have started this last fall when the temps were more agreeable. But, procrastinate as I did, found myself in subzero weather this weekend (the long underwear came in handy) driving, walking and taking lots of pictures. The cold detoured my fun in this.

In my travels, I have driven portions of the Lincoln across the state and into Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. I think it could be fun to do the whole road sometime-from New York to California. It is billed as America's first transcontinental highway, unveiled in 1912-Route 66 just has the kitch appeal. My enjoyment in it is the slowing down, taking in the scenery & culture, stopping at the mom & pops and meeting real folks. The poignant message of the harm in bypassing our small towns is found in a great little film called "Cars". While its made for kids, many older folk have told me they love it too.

149 pictures and over 100 structures later, our little stretch of the Lincoln has been documented. I thought I'd share a couple pictures with you, but I warn you, these aren't so artsy-it was dang cold!

pilgrimage to Wall-Mecca

I had the great joy and privilege of visiting my favorite place on earth-WalMart, last Friday night. The kids were with the grandparents, my wife and I got a little dessert and at about 9:00 pm I looked across the street and said, well, it's about 9 on a Friday night, the crazies should be at WalMart now, shall we join them?

I wanted some picture frames, and needed batteries for the camera. So, my once a year trip to WalMart came early this year, very early.

You take your life in your hands.......me and a little boy named Cletus nearly got ran over by his mother on one of those motorized carts. It was like a demolition derby in there with all the carts with diet-challenged folks whizzing past you. I was unable to locate long underwear at our previous stop-so I went looking-the fella browsing the XXL section moved over a little for me to find some smalls, then said "yep, reckon' near everyone will be needin' these tamarra". Indeed, 20 below wind chill-they did come in handy.

The self-scanner didn't work either. My wife says it's because I was along-she never has trouble. Do you think it scanned my resentment of the big box? As we left, I said, that's what you get for supporting WalMart.......who supports America by taking away the American dream, shipping jobs overseas to China so we can buy toys that will kill us. It is the American way.

Still-it's not as annoying as the tv commercial running for the Elkhart mall now........something about representing family values. How can a mall do that?

Hail to the Chief

my dad, uncle & great grandpa with the Chief in 1952

A terrible tale emerges from our corner of the state. One of greed, deception and death. Chief Menominee and his band of peaceful, assimilated Pottawatomie's were forced off their reservation by armed cavalry in 1838, beginning the Trail of Death that led to Logansport, then west into Illinois, finally ending in the southwest. Several children and older members of the tribe died en route.

In their zeal to have white settlers on the Menominee Reservation, the government struck a deal after providing alcohol to younger members of the tribe. The Chief, who legitimately owned the land, and remaining tribe did not know what had happened. They gathered in their chapel, for they had converted to Catholicism, and were locked in by armed men until the death march began.

Simply put, their land was stolen. I'm no revisionist......check out the account yourself, a diary kept on the Trail of Death, along with other accounts, are found on line. To underscore the injustice, and to commemorate the "peaceful Chief", local citizens lobbied the state legislature to fund a monument, dedicated in 1909. A replica chapel was also to be constructed-but no one seems to know where those funds went.

As we approach the centennial of the dedication of the monument, we should contemplate the lasting effects this march had, not only upon the Pottawatomie, but also upon ourselves. Resentment, hate and sorrow can last generations. While I don't fully ascribe to "sins of the father" philosophy......there is something to be said of owning up to our collective, community ancestral role in this event.......and maybe it's time to ask forgiveness.

Hoosier Rubbers

Well, you may have thought the last entry was a little "racey".......this one is really racey....probably will make you blush. In honor of a good friend of mine who works at Hoosier Tire, I submit to you a new product line....
Hoosier Rubbers
Now, this blog is rated PG, so let's be careful here. But don't you think it would be a perfect product line for Hoosier Tire to sell? I mean, come on, they deal in rubber, so why not take their trademark purple, create a condom with racing stripes, or treaded texture and market it to their already built-in fan base of NASCAR enthusiasts? Talk about a money maker!

Am I off base here, or just coming off half-cocked?

MLK Day

In observation of Martin Luther King Day, and maybe in advance observation of Black History Month, I thought I would include this entry. I had a friend in college named Darnell. Darnell was black-he knew it and I knew it. I wasn't around black folk much in my small, white Indiana town. When I got to college, a few were in my major and we became friends. We had a class trip to Chicago, and I'm not sure why, but Darnell drove the van. We were in a rough section of the city........a van full of white kids with a black driver........and Darnell made the music decisions (rap) and had the windows rolled down. A strange sight to see, a van full of white kids listening to rap music on the south side. One of Darnell's friends, another black fellow, would come into our studio at school and the two of them would start calling each other the "N" word. That really bothered me. We didn't say that in Indiana. Val was another good friend of mine-she would ride with us to the cafe' downtown and I liked to mess around while driving. She had enough of it one day and said she didn't want to ride with a bunch of crazy white boys anymore.

As much as I can, I try not to see color. In fact, I feel like I over-compensate, which isn't right either. Way back in my family history a Klan story emerges, gee, in Indiana?-that really bothers me. We've try to raise our kids without seeing color, or status....my 7 yr old son was drawing out special holidays and did a picture of Martin Luther King Day. He drew stick figures and colored in their faces, except for one, Dr. King. I was surprised at what I saw. I asked about the stick figures and explained that Dr. King was also black. He looked perplexed.

I guess the point here is that it is foolish to try to ignore that their are differences. What we should concentrate on is understanding, embracing and putting a stop to hate. But, Dr. King was far more eloquent than I in saying this.

Random Acts of Kindness

I have this friend, the Blue Like Jazz guy, who moved to the west coast......but introduced me to the saying "random acts of kindness" a play on "random acts of violence". I like it. I've seen a bumper sticker or two with that saying on it. Sounds a little liberal-but Jesus-like.

It doesn't take much to do a random act of kindness to folks. Not much at all. And for all the hospitality we Hoosiers are purportedly famous for..........we could use a few more random acts. When I was out shooting pics New Year's Day, I happened upon this three wheel bike. Now those of you from river city recognize it I'm sure. Let me tell you a story-not to blow my own horn........but to show just how easy this can be.

An older gentleman who lives in a senior housing facility near our downtown, rides this bike around-all around-the greater downtown area, with his little crash helmet. About two years ago on my way home from work, I drove up to the scene of him overturned on his bike in front of our police station. I pulled over quickly and helped him up and set the old bike upright too. The handlebar was broken entirely off. I made sure he made it back to his apartment...he could spill out a string of curse words like a sailor (I don't know that sailors curse, but it is what we say, I guess). The next day I called the front office of his apartment building and asked if I could pay to fix his handlebars.....this bike is this guy's life. They said, sure, suspiciously-which made me think they thought it was I that ran him off the road. It cost me less than $10. He never knew who did this for him.

About a year ago he got his 3 wheeler stolen. A generous citizen outdid me and bought him a new bike. He got his life back. It's small things that make the difference in this world-whether it is being $10 generous or $300 generous.........or generous with little compliments to friends and family. We need to be more deliberate about seeking out opportunities for random acts of kindness........they are all around us, and admittedly, I've overlooked far too many than I care to acknowledge.

Living with the consequences-flooding

Much of the northern part of the state had to deal with flooding last week and "river city" lived up to its name. Since we live close by the river, and have had some water in our basement before, and have a rental property supposedly in the flood plain, we kept a close eye on the river height and projected crest.

The morning before the river was to crest........at around 2 1/2' above flood stage, I walked over to the backyard of our rental and noted where the water was in the backyard-a heck of a long way away from the house.........now why am I paying flood insurance? At any rate, four homes behind us were completely surrounded with water-two of which had the water within 6" of their doorstep. One of these two had evacuated. The other neighbor, who I've never had the pleasure of meeting, stuck his head out the door, holding his toddler daughter in his arms. He had tied inner tubes to his makeshift porch, and put plywood across them for a boat. The following conversation actually happened. I'll call the 20 something neighbor "JR"

HR "hey, are you guys going to be all right?"
JR "whewwwy! yes sir, we'll be jis fine!"
HR "you know, uh, that they are saying it could go up another foot by Friday"
(keep in mind, it is within 6 inches of being in his front door)
JR "oh we reckon' we'll jis wait 'er out"
HR "well, I live in the red house, you come get me if you need anything-I can get a four wheel truck backed up to your door within 15 minutes-you can store your things in our barn"
JR "well, that's mighty neighborly of yas. mighty neighborly!"
HR "are you absolutely sure you'll be ok?"
JR "oh yeah, well I told my girl she could go stay at her ma's, but wants to stay here"
HR "ok, well, you come get me if you change your mind"
JR "God bless ya sir"

He's fortunate....it crested only a short time later.
Now, here is the interesting thing. Our county drainage board continues the archaic practice of clear-cutting and dredging along the river, mostly upstream of river city. It is a method practiced in only a few remaining counties in the state. A look at the history of flooding along the river in our community would indicate no flooding for a period of nearly 25 years between the big flood of '54 and a series of floods beginning in '78 until now, at intervals of six years or less-approximately 10 floods in all. I believe the practice of clear-cutting has caused much of this. Clear-cutting and dredging have the resulting effect of draining land faster, and allowing the river to move quicker. While this may sound like a good plan, the problem is that once it gets to a community the river can't carry the water fast enough, so it spills over its banks. If we clear-cut or dredge here-we only create a bigger problem for the communities and residents downstream.

This isn't rocket science here. It would be interesting to see how aggressive we have been with this practice since the mid-70's. Oh well, since it is wrapped up in politics, it will just be easier to stick our head in the sand...........bags.

waxing nostalgic

Just before Christmas, our family stopped by a local card shop and the clerk knew me, or I should say, knew my grandparents. Evidently she once worked for them at the truckstop....she got a little teary-eyed as she fondly remembered my grandmother. That's not the first time that's happened-folks who knew her, either as customers or employees have used saint, remarkable, loving, and so on to describe her. From my recollections, they were right in doing so.

I have to admit, it got me a little choked up and yearning for the old days at the truckstop. Those were good days, surrounded by good neighbors and friends. I've thought a lot about how to get that back-that it would be good for my kids to grow up in the same atmosphere of community. I could grill cook again, run a restaurant............a lot of guys who sign on for it because its a "dream" have no comprehension of what's involved. I do......and maybe that's what keeps me from pursuing it. Still, I miss it.

Indiana's Bad Boy

James Dean.

You have to admit that the following Dean still has, more than fifty years after his death.....and after only a short film career (3 films), is impressive. I'll admit, his persona in his films is intriguing.....but I don't get it.

So this college buddy and I plan to head to Dean's hometown of Fairmount (same guy who went with me to the lookout tower) to check his story out. We figured we should watch a Dean film the night before, so we watched Rebel Without a Cause. I couldn't follow it-and I would consider myself at least a little artsy. The next day we set off-stopped by the James Dean museum. His wax replica indicated he was short-that kinda disappointed me. Then we drove out past the farm he was reared on, and to the cemetery he is buried in. You could see that people had taken rubbings off his gravestone. There was also an assortment of lipstick cases, flowers, notes, etc. left on his stone.

Years later, I tried again.......I watched Giant. I still don't get it. Maybe I should watch that last film, East of Eden. Regardless, whatever the draw, I'm proud to say he was a Hoosier. I'm thinking about growing a pompadour, slicking it back and buying a black leather jacket to wear around town. I could be James Dean cool too, I think.

Blue Like Jazz

If you look to the left, you'll notice a new book on my pick's list. I don't know that in the past six months I've added to that list at all-so that's got to tell you something about adding Blue. Blue Like Jazz, by Don Miller, is a great read for anyone who sometimes feels like they're on the outside of much of the main stream approach to Christianity. Miller calls his book a non-Christian perspective on the faith. It's good......it makes you think about much of how we have traditionally approached Christianity as a religion and how that has separated us from the people Christ has called us to.

He takes swipes at fundamentalists and republicans, a background both he and I share. BUT does so in a way that leaves you contemplating your own relevance and effectiveness to a world in need of Christ, in deed, not just in word. He'll make you laugh but comes back with some very poignant statements about the church and our interaction with others. He actually reminds me of a friend, and reader, who has relocated in the Pacific Northwest. Are you using a nom de' plur?

Get it and read it.

more comfort from home

My friend here in river city told me he forwarded this site to his son in the service to give him some pictures of the recent snow. I thought I would indulge him with a few more shots.....and maybe try to get out and get a few more. Below zero temps now-50's & rain on Tuesday.

for the Birds

So I contact a friend and fellow birder about an Audubon bird count and we arranged to count birds this past weekend. He's terribly experienced at this and made some recommendations for the day which included listening for owls. OK, that sounded interesting.

We headed out early Saturday morning and found a spot on a remote country road lined with big pines. We pulled off the road and he pulled his boom box out of the back seat. We stood in the dark of night, facing the pines, and turned on the boom box which had a tape of owl noises we projected into the woods.

I raised my eyebrow at the thought of trying to coerce the owls into talking to us. At one point, after several minutes of hooting, I looked out the corner of my eye to my friend and said......"this is supposed to work, right?" "Yes.........I know you think I'm nuts.........I thought the same thing the first time I went out." "OK" I said. A little more time went by. Then we left. We headed over to a private wildlife park.........where we saw a Pileated Woodpecker and a Barred Owl, but without having to hoot to it. Owls are cool, and seldom seen. I saw a Great Horned Owl last spring surrounded by crows. It was amazing. We also saw a Rough Legged Hawk on Saturday-that was amazing too. Probably could do this again next year.....not sure about the hooting though.

What a Snow!

Those of us in Northern Indiana were treated to an incredible New Year's surprise. In my 39 years, the snowfall that started New Year's Eve and is still falling, has to be one of the most impressive, picturesque snows I can recall. You know that kind of snow that hangs on the branches early in the morning then blows off........well, it's still hanging around. I set out with my camera New Year's morning to capture some shots. So, for you Hoosiers who have wandered away from home, I'm attaching a few pictures. I'll concede that they may well make you thankful too.

Into 08

Happy New Year folks.

I sat down to go through some year end paperwork-filing and tossing. I had my 2007 calendar ready for the file with 2008's next to it on the table. I spent a few minutes flipping through 2007 and realized, wow, what a busy year. Then I went to fill in dates for 2008. I put down birthdays and the one commitment I accepted that will take one night a month for the year. The pages looked incredibly blank. No city council or plan commission meetings, no special breakfasts or lunches with government folks to build coalitions or projects for the community- nothin'. I always felt a little behind the times without a palm pilot or blackberry..........honestly, I don't know what I'd use it for now.

2007 had its ups and downs. I felt like I kept getting sucker-punched, but at the same time, can't remember ever feeling so blessed. 2008 promises to be an interesting year for our family with lots of changes and faith steps. The calendar has been cleared for a reason.....maybe it's because I need a break, a sabbatical.........maybe it's because I'm about to move into something big. For you out there who know us, keep our family in your prayers..........and I'll commit the same to you. God bless you all in this new year..........may it find you living "life more abundantly".

NOT Wal-Mart, this time

No, this time it was Meijer flexing its corporate muscle in Michigan. Evidently after years of fighting with a township board to open a new Meijer store in the Traverse City area-Meijer managed to help fund a recall of the township board. Fortunately, it was a failed attempt to undermine our sacred democracy.

Who do these guys think they are? I guess when you boil it down, the same thing happened locally. A couple of fat cats, albeit local fat cats, threw their money at an election and got their way. I've decided to ban Meijer at our house now.......maybe I should hold the same standard with our local corporateers controlling my representational government!

What am I saying...........here in Indiana we throw our arms open to it. It is representational.

Terror at the Slots

Watching the news last night, you would have thought from the reporter hype that Northwest Indiana was a hot bed for terrorist activity. Evidently a man wanted in South America for terrorism (nothing linked to the U.S.) had used a fake driver's license to get into the Michigan City casino to play the slots. Thank goodness he was caught.

Now, I'm glad he was caught, but really...what's up with the hype?

I believe that when Evan Bayh began the downward gambling spiral in Indiana, some folks felt that casinos would become attractive nuisances for criminals. How right they were! And terrorists nonetheless! Maybe, ultimately, through the Daniels administration gambling will become so common place and diluted that there will no longer be criminal activity associated with it. Kinda like when Ron Paul is elected President, prostitution won't be outlawed-therefore it won't be a problem. The guy takes contributions from brothel owners and white supremacists and then calls Huckabee a fascist-well, I guess compared to Paul, Mother Theresa would be as well. I digress.

For some reason our local park department takes seniors to the boats to spend away their dough-so much for Depression era thinking. I'm not sure why......I guess it falls under "recreation". Why not Six Flags for the old folks?

We'll take Third

Finishing #3 in the country for the next great American band ain't so bad. Congrats to Denver & the Mile High Orchestra. I asked Adam Beck, trumpeter, to share in Sunday School his experience in California. He said he was not in a hurry to go back to Hollywood, that it seemed everyone was walking around trying to impress others. Not so back home. Denver & Adam, you've made your community proud! Now that Scott Skiles is out of the spot light-I guess that makes you two the most famous folks to come out of our town.

Merry Christmas

Some recollections of Christmas past:

One Christmas Eve, when I was very young, our family drove into town and purchased some Christmas ornaments at the Big Blue Store. Dad said we could also each pick out a toy. At our Big Blue, you had to walk past all brands of tires to get to the rest of the merchandise. To this day, the smell of new rubber tires takes me back to that night when I was about 5.

Speaking of tires-my parents rented out our old house trailer from which we moved. My dad would buy Christmas gifts for the families who lived there, but would leave them on their steps anonymously. One year he decided the family needed new tires for their car and left them sit outside. The fellow showed dad the generous gift someone had left-which he placed in the bathtub for safe keeping. I don't think dad was happy about that.

My cousins and I thought we would be clever and give Grandpa a scare one Christmas day. We took smoke bombs, placed them in the barn loft, lit them and allowed the smoke to billow out the hay loft door. We informed Grandpa the barn was on fire.

One year I remember going to my grandparents on Christmas Eve without a flake of snow on the ground. Santa showed up to pass out gifts, with little black tufts of hair showing beneath his cap. My uncle asked "Santa, on what did your sleigh ride if there is no snow?" It marked the end of my childhood.

My great aunt called one Christmas Eve day and said she would be unable to make it to our house that night because the county roads were drifted shut. My brother and I wanted to see just how bad it was so we set out in my car. We got stuck within 200 feet of her house and had to call my dad to help get us out. It was a very silent night indeed.

Realizing I must add proof to the belief in Santa for our children, I concocted a brilliant scheme on the way home from my wife's grandparents on Christmas Eve a few years back. Outside our bedroom window I created what appeared to be reindeer tracks in the snow on the porch roof and left melted tootsie rolls in a neat pile. I told the kids on Christmas morning if Rudolph ever left a mess like that again, Santa would not be welcome at our house anymore.

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas & make some memories.......I'll be back next week.

Holy Night

You know that red glow that appears on a white blanket of snow at the end of the day? Sunsets can be spectacular in any season, but it seems like some of the most colorful occur when the earth acts like a mirror; and while the earth below is cold, the fire in the sky warms the heart.

Consider for a moment what that holy night must have felt like, looked like......sounded like as the heavens were filled with voices crying out in joy.

I had a great conversation with a new friend who was asking a lot of questions about faith & God...and it seemed his most perplexing question was why.......why, if God knew that ultimately He would have to send His Son to earth........why did He create man in the first place? Divine intervention allowed me to answer. I said, I have to believe that God so desires to have a relationship with you, and I said his name, that the Sacrifice born in a manger was the only way to achieve it. Wow, where did that come from?

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

last chance!

Tonight......should the votes have put them through tonight.......you have the last chance to vote to make Denver & the Mile High Orchestra (DMHO) the top American Band. If you haven't caught earlier posts-Denver Beirman and Adam Beck, lead singer and trumpeter in the band, are from our sleepy little town. Tonight on Fox you can vote them #1 in the country-9:00 EST. We receive email updates & pics from Adam regularly and it seems they are overwhelmed with the well wishes.

Best of luck guys!

attached is a pic sent by Adam with one of the Clark brothers

911......cows on road

a three generation shot of Hoosier dairy farmers

That was a recent call from one of our rural county highways. Indiana.....home to the dairy farmer. I remember a cow vs. Fiero (remember those?) match on the highway several years ago. Neither cow nor car survived.

Dairy farms seem to be either phasing out operations or becoming giant cow milking sweat shops. We had some dairy farmer friends who sent their cows packing a few years back. I remember his comment was that if he ever won a million dollar lottery........he'd keep farming until the money was gone. My father-in-law grew up in the industry, but, evidently his wife put her foot down. Seemed he had the choice to be either married to the cows, or her.

Of recent concern is daylight savings time and the dairy farmer. Cows don't understand spring ahead and fall back. When it's time, it's time-and they aren't happy to wait around. Kudos to the farmers who keep the cows happy and provide me with whole milk.....none of that white water for me!

Dismantling Indiana

It has been awhile since I took on any political issues, but, based on the direction it appears we are heading with the recommendations for government reform in Indiana.....I felt it was time to speak up.

Here are some key recommendations made by the blue ribbon panel to the Governor for streamlining Indiana government:

1. Getting rid of county commissioners and replacing them with one county executive
2. Having that executive appoint the county sheriff, auditor and assessor — those positions are elected now
3. Consolidating school corporations that have fewer than 2,000 students.
4. Consolidating libraries into a county-wide system.
5. Eliminating township governments altogether

Basically, while our Hoosier virtues tend to reflect Republican ideals......including local control....it appears we may be headed toward giving up local control to a consolidated, removed authority. This doesn't make any sense.......but then, inconsistency runs rampant nowadays.

1. If we replace a county commissioner board by one elected executive officer....the cost would probably be a wash and now, if you have a complaint-your representation and response will be cut by two-thirds.

2. Your single county executive appoints the sheriff, assessor and auditor.......again, removing your representation by election from the equation. Also smacks of good 'ol boy.....a scary thought especially in my county.

3. Consolidation of school corps with less than 2,000. Only one of seven school corporations in our county have over 2,000. Each community has its own identity and school pride......and again, local control of its schools.........and your going to take that away? Is this to save a few bucks (probably very few)? What about the quality of education, Mitch (smaller corps do better)? Or the value of hometown schools?

4. Consolidation of public libraries to a single county library corporation. Again, loss of control for towns who have done very well with their libraries.......the quality of which is bound to suffer and it certainly wouldn't make things cheaper.........look at the St. Joe County library system.

5. Township government elimination. Again, loss of local control........and again, won't make things cheaper. Someone will need to do the job of township assessors and trustees, so if they are consolidated under a county function additional employees will need to be hired. And those employees will not know the people of the township like local elected officials.

How unfortunate in Indiana Mitch Daniels has created an environment of knee-jerk governance that cannot be shown to benefit the state. Rather than developing the state into a place people want to live or invest financially, we seem to be rushing to initiate reform that does neither. Unless the Governor can prove that these reforms will make the Hoosier State a better place to raise a family-he ought to just leave things alone and worry about quality of life & marketing our state.

big city architecture in Indiana

a detail on the outside of the Cummins office building

Columbus has a marketing line: "different by design", and if any of you have ever visited the small city in south central Indiana......you'd have to recognize something is different there. Columbus is ranked 6th in the nation for "architectural innovation and design" by the American Institute of Architects on a list that includes Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.. So how did this little bastion of architectural significance come to be?

The patron of architecture, like the Medicis of old, the Cummins Engine Foundation, offers to pay the architect's fee for a variety of public buildings such as schools, churches, etc. designed by an architect selected from a list supplied by the Foundation. World-known architects like Eero Saarinen, Harry Weese, Richard Meier, and I.M. Pei have left an impressive mark on the small city. I highly recommend a visit to Columbus. I'd recommend a summer visit though, so that you can walk the streets and parks and allow yourself to enjoy all of the public sculpture and architecture the city has to offer.

I like this statement from Columbus' web site: "No one will call a community "good," unless it looks like a "good" community. By American tradition, a good city must be defined as one which provides the "good things" for all its residents -- schools, parks, churches, civic buildings, programs that meet community needs, and events that entertain. There is a commitment in Columbus to save the best of the old and build for the future in a quality way that everyone will consider worth saving. " Would that all cities and towns take even the smallest hint from Columbus on how to "do" public art and architecture right-Indiana would be a remarkable place.

fence row in winter

Around much of grampa's farm he had installed board fence for the horses. It was fence I painted frequently; and today, I spend much of my time painting picket fence around our home. Therapeutic, I guess.

There was one stretch of board fence that ran along the north line of his property, along the truckpatch; and along this board fence he had planted red pine in the 1960's. I walked this section frequently to and from grampa's, our home and the truckstop. I found it interesting in the winter to study the wildlife that found shelter and food in the dense brush and pine.....the tracks on the snow that disappeared into little snow caves created by arching branches covered from a new snowfall.

My cousins from North Carolina would come home over Christmas and spend a few weeks at my grandparents. We had a couple of traditions. One was to set up gramma's outdoor nativity set in her front yard. well, two sets really, some pieces were missing from each, so we did the best we could, but one set was about half-scale of the other. It was a very big baby Jesus that was born to the Virgin Mary, but we made due-and would construct elaborate stables because there was plenty of bails of straw. Another tradition was to "skate" (really slide around) on the frozen swamp, just down the road from gramp's house.

But one year, we thought we'd start a new tradition and that was to cut down our own Christmas tree. The only available trees were along that board fence row. So, saw and sled in tow, a few of us set out to get the family tree. We succeeded in taking down the tree, strange-it looked more glorious in the fence row, than the house-which is probably why it didn't stay.

Latest from the field

We blew-out the old bird watching record around our house this past weekend......maybe it was due to being confined by the ice and flu, at any rate-25 species seen. Not bad for living in town, a few blocks from the downtown. A friend and fellow birder wonders if it doesn't have to do with the river being close by-forming a continual habitat linking some wetlands. This could be-along with the railroad that runs through no more than a stone's throw from our feeders.

The official list:

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, F (back)

Red-Bellied Woodpecker, M, F

Downy Woodpecker, M, F

Hairy Woodpecker, F

Northern Flicker, F

White breasted Nuthatch, 2

Red breasted Nuthatch

Eastern Bluebirds, 3

Slate colored Juncos, 5

Song Sparrow

House Sparrows, 13

Goldfinch, 4

House finch, 6

Tufted titmouse, 2

Black-capped Chickadee, 2

Carolina Wren

Mourning Dove, 11

Cardinal, M, F

Blue Jay

Crow, 2

Mallard, M, F

Canadian Geese, 3

Rough-legged Hawk

Cooper's Hawk, F (flew right over our heads)

Starlings, 13 (not welcome)

and a Partridge in a Pear tree.

Denver moving on!

I hope everyone had a chance to vote after Next Great Band last night. Denver and the Mile High is in the final four! Will he make it to 3? Those little kids need to go-it would be a travesty if they won! Watch next Friday and keep voting...........hometown boys making it big!

Operation Skywatch

This friend and I would try to find obscure-out of the way places to visit during summer breaks from college. He suggested we find some strange tower outside of Lafayette....something that people used to stand guard at, identifying any low-flying enemy aircraft. This sounded like a strange place indeed....so we drove to Cairo, Indiana to find Delta-Lima 3 Green or the DL3-G post. A recreated tower and a monument to the men and women, and evidently children, who participated in "Operation Skywatch".

A product of the Cold War, Operation Skywatch found its roots during WWII when folks in the states would be on watch for enemy aircraft. The program evolved and in 1952 President Truman renamed and expanded it to Operation Skywatch, calling on all red blooded Americans to participate. Now, I didn't grow up with atomic bomb drills, but I always was suspicious of the Soviets.....remember them? So this did sound a bit foreign to me.

Evidently Indiana was a hot spot for guard duty. It was felt that the Soviets would fly their aircraft at low altitudes, over the north pole and across Canada and down Lake Michigan undetected, to power station targets in Tennessee. I wonder how many other of these towers existed across the Hoosier heartland? In a project I am involved in, in our tallest building downtown that served as a Lodge, I found records of airplane activity and aircraft identification charts.........appeared to date to the early 1950's. Maybe the Lodge's members participated in Operation Skywatch from the roof of the three-story building? Cool.

we called it spookin'

My friends and I had this past time in highschool-being that there's not much to do for country kids-it was certainly illegal, but we were never destructive. We called it "spookin'". All you needed was a truck, a creepy abandoned house or school, and a little bit of courage. We would identify creepy old places in the country and take tours of them late at night. Probably a stupid thing to do, but it was how we passed time on Friday nights.

Our favorite place was this giant, leaning victorian house that was once connected to a brewery. Left furnished, with pictures still on the walls and books on shelves.........we made up terrific stories about what must have happened to the owners and why it was left to rot. Unfortunately, the old place is gone now. Still, great memories.

And no, before you ask, I wouldn't want my kids doing this.

waking up to snow!

This is why I love Indiana. 6" on the ground this morning......welcome winter! There's just something about waking up to a fresh snowfall that hangs on the trees and fences.

busy bird weekend

We log the different species of birds we see each weekend, and I'm not sure if it was because of the small snow/ice storm that landed on Saturday-but we logged in 20 different species-tying a record from May, 2006. I'm careful not to count the same birds twice, we count based on how many we see at a single time, or if the difference between the males and females is obvious. We also confine our counting to what we see from our home, or within two blocks to the river.

So for you other birders out there........here's our list:

House Finch 3, House Sparrow 13, Goldfinch 4, Bluebirds 3M 2F, Red Breasted Nuthatch 2, Slate Colored Juncos 4, White Breasted Nuthatch 2, Crow 2, Black Capped Chickadee 2, Blue Jay 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1F, Downy Woodpecker 1F 1M, Cardinals 3F 2M, Canadian Geese 5, Mallards 3, Tufted Titmouse 2, Red Bellied Woodpecker 1M 1F, Carolina Wren 1, Mourning Dove 1, Pigeons 3. But no Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, not this time, but I did attach the picture of the sighting.

tree hunting at Lowes

Yes, that's right, you read the headline correctly. We went to Lowes for our Christmas tree-or Holiday tree-I can't remember what they call it now. At least we didn't go to WalMart.

the picture on the right is from more authentic times

In my defense, my brother's family sent word that the place our family has gotten our tree my entire life had closed. There's been a time or two when we would go to a different place to cut down a real tree.........but it was nearly always Klotz's-way out there in the country, down the bumpy county road, over the creek and past my great grandparent's place. Yes, those were the good 'ol days, walking through the snow until your fingers and nose were numb-trying to find that perfect tree.

Well, there was no numb fingers or nose this season. We found the first tree-which was almost purchased until my son noted the crown was broken-my grandparent's star wouldn't stay on that. So, we found another, put it on a big cart, pushed it past home and garden supplies, past door and cabinet hardware, past paint supplies, then finally past lighting to check-out. The clerk scanned the tag and wished us a Merry Christmas.

Something just didn't seem right about all this. I think we'll be looking for a new Christmas tree farm for next year. But none of those commercialized places-that's not quite right either.

Homegrown!

We've got a couple of boys who have made it to the big time from our little town......and could be bigger yet if you help them out. Have you been watching the Next Great American Band competition on Fox? Denver and the Mile High Orchestra boasts two members from our sleepy little Hoosier town. Lead singer, Denver, and trumpeter Adam Beck both hail from our community and have made it to the big time playing modern big band music. But they need your help-so watch Fox every Friday night at 8 and vote Denver thru!

Geesh, the last famous folks from our town, as is widely accepted, were a couple of the 3 Stooges brothers. Oh yeah, and Scott Skiles-coach of the Chicago Bulls. I'm thinking we can do better than that.

front porch Indiana

One more throw at Fall

Bigfoot?

a creek that feeds Yellowwood Lake, location of a bigfoot sighting

A few years back a friend and I headed to Yellowwood State Forest for a short camping excursion. Just weeks prior to our trip reports came from the area that folks in the back woods had spotted a bigfoot-like creature. As a kid, I made up stories for my friends about bigfoot sightings in our backyard and once it was spotted by the baseball diamond, near the concessions stand at the elementary school. And now, wow, the possibility that bigfoot may pay a visit to our campsite!

I contacted my buddy via email at BSU warning of the possibility of bigfoot joining us in the wilderness for a cup of joe. I also suggested that if bigfoot were looking for a mate, that he was the only eligible one. Matt replied that with a name like bigfoot, he figured he would already have a girlfriend, because, well....you know what they say about guys with bigfeet.

So, we embarked on our trip which was taken over Matt's spring break......in March. It was somewhat cold, and wet. When we arrived at Yellowwood, I requested using the cabin since it was not in use. The park manager said due to state budget cuts, the cabin could not be rented. I said, but I have money I am willing to give you to use it....what does that have to do with budget cuts? I recieved the same answer when I asked if we could rent a boat in order to fish. The boats were not being placed out for rent due to budget cuts. This is what prevented me from voting for that Governor's administration in 2004.

As we walked away from the park manager's cabin, Matt commented that she looked a little like she could be bigfoot's mate. Indeed, she could. We never saw bigfoot. I thought it was too cold and wet for beast to be out-only man, in a soaked tent.

Do you know what is unique about the Yellowwood tree in Indiana? Besides the heartwood being yellow? It is common in the south but only found in a small pocket this far north, in the Yellowwood State Forest area, and only in very specific habitat.

my dad

First let me say, I love my dad....but you out there who know him, well, be prepared, because I will likely end up a lot like him. already so, if you ask my wife. But I need to share this story from Thanksgiving.

We were all sitting in the family room when I noticed he had his pocket knife out digging into his shoes. I dared to ask why. He said that the store never took the sensor out of the heel, so he has set off the alarm when he walks out of stores.

Then he went on to say that to avoid any appearance of impropriety on his part, he now waits near the exit for someone with a loaded down shopping cart, then walks out astride them. So when the alarm sounds, security automatically assumes it is person with the shopping cart and my dad walks away, undetected.

My dad.

fleeting days of fall

Just thought I would share a few last pictures of the season.

reflections on Thanksgiving

Well, the cold rain has set in today....forecast is indicating the temperature will take a tumble and turn to snow, just in time for Thanksgiving. The warm fall that hung around so long left the colorful leaves in the trees until just this week when it seemed they all fell at once. Our town beat the rush and hung the Christmas decorations while the weather was a little more agreeable, and just in time for the town Christmas tree lighting the day after Thanksgiving. The grocery store is abuzz today, mothers-mostly grandmothers-going through their long lists of necessities for the big day, and, all of a sudden people just seem a little more.......reflective.

My best Thanksgiving memories stem from going to my grandparents home, in a woods on the edge of town. After my grandfather died, my grandma left the five generation farm and remarried a person of great Hoosier note who had built for himself a lodge of heavy barn timbers and an immense stone fireplace nestled among a grove of giant beech trees. I remember driving down the long winding gravel lane that led to the lodge, into the grove of beeches and it seems with always just a dusting of snow on the ground. We'd walk though the door and be met by a roaring, crackling fire and the smell of hickory smoke that permeated the old timbers. And the turkey, mmm, and sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. I add cranberry sauce to my pie for a little zing.

You know, our family never really fought at Thanksgiving, not that I can remember anyway. Seems like that's just more of a sacred day-a thankful day-thankful for family, a warm home, plenty of food. Thankful maybe that your crazy uncle seemed a little more subdued this year. Or that your mom didn't start to pick at what your plans were for the rest of the weekend while home from college. Thankful that you managed to skirt that one dreaded question-"so, when are you going to settle down, raise a family?"

Well I have now. And I love this holiday probably more than any. You don't have to cram in singing songs, opening gifts, or running to three other events. No, you just sit.....and talk....and eat. And maybe go for a walk in the woods. We have an important tradition in our family that dates back-well, all of about 10 years. We pass an ear of Indian corn around the dinner table and each person plucks a kernel off and drops it in a jar while telling the one thing they are most thankful for that year. One year, my wife and I used it as an opportunity to announce we were expecting-that was hard to top by anyone else at the table. I'm not sure about this year. Maybe, maybe just be thankful that God's been good, again, and that this has been my best year yet.

Hold those close to your heart near to you tomorrow. Give thanks for the people God has placed in your life and remember the abundance that we have in this country.....and those without.

spiritual anniversary

It was exactly a year ago that God did something huge in my life-that set into motion probably the best year of my life. I thought I would be pretty transparent here and share something I penned last year.

The Decision - November, 2006

I'm finding that it is less about a decision whether or not to run for mayor, but rather a decision of how Christ is to be reflected in me. What I believe God is leading me to is broken-ness. The arrogance of my heart and what are my perceived "rights" to this calling are having an impact on my judgement and my ability to remain humble. I don't want to be like Saul-and I have been, for some months now.

I want to make an impact on people's lives-truly more than anything, but I must confess, that has recently become an agenda for me out of a desire to ascend, and not out of love as we are called. God forgive me. I do believe there is a calling on my life to serve in the public arena-I have no doubt of this. I am doubting my ability to reflect Christ in this, which has led me to some agonizing self-examination. I believe with God's help, I will learn to better reflect Christ. Would I be walking away from a calling? Yes and no-maybe for this period of time, but the calling will always be there, and should it be my life's ambition to see God glorified-I know He would not be by this vessel today. I've been throwing too many spears.

This is crushing to me personally and I have argued with God-but found that I was only asserting my rights to the throne as it were and not His nature. But what an exciting opportunity and revelation to build from-making me stronger in Him and more able to live out His calling on my life today and into the future. So long as I am held to this change of direction.

At this point, I am more certain than ever I could win the primary and likely the general election. It is difficult because so many are telling me to still run, which plays to my emotion and in agreement I think, yeah, I'll show them. But.....it has become so much less desirable because I don't like what I have become-and who that mayor would be.

Amazing as I reflect over the last year and what has happened recently with our elections, how I've grown due to the situation written about above. I did an entry a while back called "trying to be David". I'm still trying to be a guy after God's own heart, like David-and I'm a lot closer today-I think I might even be ready to slay some giants.

Thank God, I am a much different guy than I was a year ago. God is alive and working in men's hearts, today, right here, even in the Hoosier state.

Yeller-bellied

I may very well start a sister-blog dealing solely with naturalist topics from the Hoosier state because I realize this entry folks may not care much about.....but it was pretty exciting around our house Saturday.

We had just gotten home in the afternoon from a large indoor farm market and were preparing to head out to eat when I glanced out the window at our feeder and thought wonder what that could be?

Now, I've told you we're birders. And I would rate my ability-and even that of our kids, a little better than average for identifying birds. So, I checked and rechecked-but what we had for a little feathered visitor was a female Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. Very rare in this area-and my guess was heading south and maybe was a little off her well-traveled migration path. We've also had a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatches hanging around for the last three weeks-certainly not as unusual, but birds we don't typically have. I hope they plan to stay all winter. For you birders out there-I bet your jealous!

Basketball & Indiana

The two really go hand in hand, don't they? We're heading into the season again, when towns across the state will fill the gyms and crowds will roar from the stands. Basketball just tops any sport for excitement..........although recently I was introduced to an Indonesian style of kickboxing that looks pretty tough.

There really is just some kind of great "feel" to being in a packed gym with people on their feet screaming and clapping for that last 3 second shot that wins the game. And I've always respected the talent these young guys display...........I might be able to hit the hoop now and then, but I could never master dribbling.......well, it was never very pretty to watch anyway.

I always smile real wide when we drive down a country road and I see a hoop on the side of a barn. That is iconic Indiana. We had a hoop in the garage of the truckstop-not sure who put it there or why, seems like it had always been there.

Now, did we lose something when we switched to the class system? Our little city seems to think so, but that might be because we won state under the old system. ya know, kinda like the movie, Hoosiers. But, now that we've won again under the new system......I think folks are finally coming around. Hoosiers are slow to do that.

Get out to a local game and scream your lungs out. Whether it is winning or losing that close game-both can make you feel terribly alive.

You know you're a Hoosier if:

the following appears in the news regarding a local Board of Zoning Appeals hearing:

Bloomer told the members of the BZA, “ This whole mess started when Neemith shot my dog and he had to move his hunting shack off of my property.”

Priceless.

Great Hoosier Smoke-out

Well, since Hoosiers rank pretty high on the charts for smoking........across age brackets.......I thought it would be good to do an entry prior to the "Great American Smokeout" tomorrow. I have to admit here, I just don't get the allure in the first place-but I do get how one could get hooked. I'll also admit here that while most of the pics I put with my stories are my originals-occasionally I go looking online-the images "smokers" came up with were too disturbing to include-and maybe that would've been good.?

I remember once pulling into a service station so my roommate/good friend in college could buy a pack of smokes (his parents were from Great Britain-so I'm thankful he didn't call them 'fags'). We pulled away and he was starting to get a cig out of the packet and said, "geesh, I wish I could quit". I asked if I could see the pack-he handed it to me and I promptly threw it out the window. Wow-you should've seen the expression on his face.

Now, I'm not necessarily advocating for government bans; however, as a society we are becoming more conscious of the health risks of second hand smoke. It would seem that some level of protection from second hand smoke is overdue. Our county was presented information by some well meaning individuals (who were portrayed as Nazi doctors by local loud-mouth hotheads) about a year ago, asking for a county ban. Rather than take the high road, our county commissioners first threw the responsibility on the state-and then one county commissioner actually had the gall to say that to pass the ban "would be like spittin' in the face of our veterans who fought for our right to smoke". How absolutely astonishing an elected official would trivialize the sacrifices of our veterans. My grandfather served his country in WWII and he died from heart disease attributed to smoking and my grandmother from lung cancer attributed to second hand smoke. I think if grandad could come back-he'd tell the commissioners to wise up and pass some kind of a ban.

ahh, tradition!

Now this is one tradition that even you guys out there can get into for the holiday season. It's fun for you and for the kids-or grandkids.

Our family celebrated for the third year in a row, our very own Charlie Brown Thanksgiving dinner. We typically do this on at least one or two Sunday evenings before Thanksgiving. What does the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving dinner consist of? Well, if you are familiar with this great little piece of work, and have watched it your whole life growing up (it's two years older than me), then you know how the story goes. Charlie Brown, by default, has to prepare a Thanksgiving feast; but at his age the best he can do is muster up some toast, popcorn, jelly beans and pretzels. Snoopy assists in the preparations and serving of the feast.

So, our family gets the same dishes together, sets up the card table and chairs in the living room and watches the film. Great fun for the kids, and I don't mind popcorn and jellybeans for dinner myself. Although, this year I noticed some kind of jello dessert on the animated table-which is something we have overlooked. It will be on the menu next year.

My wife and I decided that we will carry on this tradition well into the future. Even when our son and daughter come home from college with their dates-we will be certain to make little piles of these junk food treats on paper plates, hand them out at dinner, and expect everyone to join in the merriment!

old barns

Old barns really portray some romance in the Hoosier state, don't they? California has its beaches, Colorado-the Rockies, Georgia-plantation mansions. Indiana has barns. And a wide variety of styles from various ethnic influences, maybe moreso than any other state (including being the round barn capital-thanks to Fulton County). My generation may well be the first generation removed from the barn. While I know I got to play in and around both my grampa's barns-that was a foreign concept to most of my friends growing up.

My mom took her two grandsons to visit the farm on which she was raised-and the old barn. The boys had a blast. Now, I make sure that my son is developing a good appreciation for these things; but I imagine most kids have never visited one of these masterpieces.

Barn builders were ingenious, innovative and true craftsmen. And the building of barns was the truest sense of community coming together and neighbor helping neighbor. What takes the place of this today? Seriously, what do we have that even becomes a pale comparison?

Barns are disappearing quickly from the landscape. Often they are impractical for today's farming operations. I sincerely thank those farmers out there who understand and appreciate these links to our past, preserving them for future generations. Here's a thought......Indiana will be celebrating our bicentennial in 2016 and ethanol is taking off (right?). So here's a proposition for the state. For every gallon of ethanol produced in the state, put a user fee of 1 cent to go into a fund to help save our rural, agrarian architecture. We could make some great saves! and help farmers, again!

honoring our Veterans

My grandfather with Wrong Way Corrigan, pilot of the 1940's, in the South Pacific

This is from a letter to my Great Grandmother in 1945:

Dear Mrs. Bryant, I felt I needed to write this, I felt that you needed to know what happened the night your son Harold died. Harry and I were good pals so I wanted to tell you. It was so cold on Christmas Eve. Harry and I were dug down deep into our foxhole and he was missin' home real bad. He heard some boys in one of the holes dug aways from us and they were singing Christmas songs. He decided to join up with them and sing 'cause it was Christmas Eve and all, so he climbed over to them. And Mrs. Bryant, that's when the shell landed in their hole, and that's what happened to Harry. I wanted you to know this. I miss Harry.

My great uncle, Harold, was killed on Christmas Eve in the Battle of the Bulge. He was one of three brothers who served in WWII. My grandfather also served in the South Pacific. While at times I question our purpose in war (seems like more so these days), I never question the bravery, the courage and the sacrifice our men and women who serve our country exemplify.

Honor and thank our Veterans this weekend. We've benefited greatly from their sacrifices.

Community of Prayer

There is something awesome happening underfoot in our little town. I think it may be a transformation. Several weeks ago, a Latino church pulled together a community prayer time in our park. Several churches were present, but our church formed an immediate bond with the Latino church.

Which led to another time of community prayer last weekend at our church, again with a few other churches represented, but a large contingency from the Latino church again. We prayed for each other and sang together, both in Spanish and English, and just enjoyed being together in the presence of God into the wee morning hours.

I am pumped about the possibility that transformation could come to our community and that reconciliation can take place between Latinos and whites. Transformation of our community is what I pray for most these days, understanding if things are to change politically, economically or culturally, that a change of hearts must occur-and only God can do that.

A funny story about this time of coming together: two guys from Colorado and the tall Dominican Republic pastor of the Latino church were out at 6:00 a.m. to pray for the city and were doing so on the steps of the courthouse. These guys don't look like Hoosiers, clearly, so the police notice the activity and question them. Strange Colorado man said we're here to bless and pray for your city and the Latino pastor said "no speak englisia". Too strange to be made up by domestic terrorists, so the police let them go.

evidently pretty stupid

Yes, in record setting pace incumbent mayors across Indiana were thrown out in municipal elections due to blame being placed on them for the state property tax fiasco created by the state. I asked how stupid do these politicians think we are. Evidently they KNOW we ARE pretty stupid.

I just can't wait for our new mayor to cut my property taxes by the 22% he claimed the current mayor raised them by. Crafty little republicans! And indeed we do now have a puppet, let's hope the wizard helps him get a brain.

Miscellaney

Snow.
Yes, snow had dusted the ground and barn roof this morning. Only three weeks ago I was asking where Fall was....maybe I should be asking that again. It could be the whole balance of the universe has been upset by daylight savings time.

Falling back.
Anyone notice how dark it is at the end of the work day now? I apologize, I had intended to forewarn my fellow Hoosiers of the time change this past weekend. We still haven't changed all our clocks. There are a few that I didn't change in the spring and they've finally caught up. We intentionally left our clocks go until after church Sunday. That way we could go to services a whole hour later.......and not be late for once.

The Wizard of Oz.
We took in the high school play this weekend. I never realized how many parallels can be made between this great story and politics. We have the man with no brain, the man with no heart, the one with no courage, the faceless great and mighty Wizard, wicked witches, etc. I may have to do an entry on this.

Election day for municipalities.
I voted, did you? I'm ready for it to be over and am preparing myself for the worse. I am most tired of hearing how all of these mayors are responsible for our property taxes skyrocketing. How dumb do these politicians think we are? I guess we find out tomorrow!

wandering outside Indiana

My wife and I always go away for our anniversary-often times staying within the boundaries of the Hoosier state, but also wandering outside from time to time. It is healthy to go away and come back-see the larger world out there.

Our trip this year took us to Galena, IL, a great little river town in the northwestern part of the state. The town is quite picturesque, as is the rolling countryside. A few things stood out to me. One was the absolute and whole appreciation that area, all of Joe Davies County, had for their history. It was evident in the preservation of their architecture throughout the region, in buildings large and small. Well tended farms, residences, commercial buildings, even public amenities such as parks and streetscape all bear the mark of a genuinely thoughtful public. The second thing that stood out was how prosperous the small farms appeared....that the farmers didn't hurridly section off their land to sell for mobile homes. I can't imagine the quality of the land is that much better than Hoosier soil. So why were the farms intact and appear prosperous?

I love Indiana................but we've really got to change our thinking, and fast. We're tearing down, splitting up and parcelling off probably our best asset: our rural charm and character. My father-in-law was in a meeting with our Lt. Governor recently and she made it abundantly clear that Indiana towns have to start thinking about quality of life issues to make our state a desirable place to live. This doesn't happen by pinching every penny, but by a progressive approach to economic development. Progressive and Hoosier are non-synonymous terms. We've got a lot of work to do.

I have to put in a plug for Galena's annual Halloween Parade. Now this is something to see. It has burners on the baskets of hot air balloons scattered throughout the parade route, on floats. This creates great excitement as shadows are cast on the buildings along Main Street and the fire glows and reflects in the windows. I rate this event pretty high on a must do list in the Midwest.