Home LoveInBloom--segue from the Lard thread

[monarch64]

Thought I''d continue discussion of so. IN in a new thread with you since I hate to hijack Deco''s lard thread, LOL! To respond to your questions:

My degree is in Textiles/Apparel/Merchandising, a.k.a. Fashion Merchandising...I spent about 10 years in retail sales and management, then due to a family illness and my crazy and erratic work schedule not being real conducive to married life I left retail and got a cushy little office job Mon. through Fri. I actually just lost my job yesterday, my position was eliminated which I''ve known was a possibility since I started there, so I may be going back to retail now, who knows?

You probably did pass by the restaurant on your way to KY! Now that I think of it, I remember that''s the same route we used to take to get to Louisville...I always forget how 65 south has never been extended from Indy to Louisville...you''d think they would''ve done that by now!

There''s a place by the restaurant called Blue Springs Caverns, it''s a water filled underground cave you take a peaceful little boat ride through, it''s not terribly exciting but something fun (and cool) to do in the summer. Maybe you could take your dad there, or your FI, sometime.

I love the Bloomington area, it''s beautiful country. Do you ever venture over to Little Nashville? I''m sure you''ve heard of it if you haven''t been there...it''s a little town in Brown County with the cutest little downtown area full of shops and boutiques, very quaint but so much fun. Also, Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell (past the restaurant, same neck of the woods) is a must-see. I''ll see if I can attach some pics of my recent visit there with my mom. It''s been a family favorite for years!

 

[monarch64]

Part of the pioneer village at Spring Mill...

 

[monarch64]

...

 

[monarch64]

gardens within the village...

 

[monarch64]

the Mill itself, doesn''t look very big from this pic, but it is...sometimes when it''s actually running you can go inside and buy a bag of corn meal or grist meal or whatever they grind with that thing, lol.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Haha Monarch, you read my mind. I''d hate to be officiallly crowned, "the lady who hijacked the lard thread"

even though I fear I already have! As you may know get distracted from the thread topics easily...ppl on PS are so interesting and fun to talk to

.

Wow your career history sounds really neat. It is funny how the "wind" blows us around to different places and jobs...sounds like the perfect time to start a new chapter in your life. Although I don''t quite know what the job entails, fashion merchandising sounds like a fun job. Any other possibilities in the works??

My goodness! Thanks for the suggestion about the caverns. I have heard about them from some other peeps and have been itching to go. I have passed that billboard many times and have regretfully neglected to seek out more info. Sounds like a great idea...not sure my dad will be out this summer (I make most of the trips back to the east coast b/c of the wedding planning) but fi and I will definitely have to go; it does sound like something fun to do on a romantic and peaceful afternoon

.

Have you been to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point (46W out into the boonies; it is just past Bowling Green)? That place is amazing!!! Probably not as romantic as a calm ride through caverns, but definitely up there in my places to visit in IN so far. I think it is $10 adults/ $5 kids. We have been there several times, but IMO the best time to visit is at feeding time (4:30pm, I think). Those wild kitties sure do like to roar when food is involved!

Yup, we have been to Nashville many times. Mom loves to collect "country clutter" so I can always count on Brown Co. for an endless supply of gifts for her; I take her there every time she visits so she can occupy herself (aka keep her from getting on my nerves

). Never have heard of Spring Mill St. Park though...I''ll add that to my new list of midwest "must-see" hehe. Pics would be great, Monarch!! I could kick myself for not taking the time to photograph the foliage in Brown Co. in autumn. Even just riding to Maldonados I could stick my head out the car window and take some shots

. Those are the most beautiful leaves I have ever seen

.

 

[Love in Bloom]

LOL, I'm a little slow....Spring Mill looks really neat. Even though I am technically a city gal, I love some cheesy grits for breakfast once in a while! Thanks for the beautiful pics

 

[Love in Bloom]

Do you frequent Martinsville?? Most of the ppl I work with told me, "You don''t really want to visit Martinsville!" But I went anyway and there were some great antique stores downtown. I call this pic the blue lady for obvious reasons, and this shot is from Antiques on Main:

 

[Love in Bloom]

This one I took in between the cabin shops in Nashville this past summer. I think this is supposed to be a black eyed susan, but the "eye" is still green. The black eyed susan is the state flower of Maryland (where I grew up), so this picture reminds me of a little piece of ''home'' in Indiana (if you look closely there is a little critter in the center of the flower; lol I should have posted this pic in the ''darn arachnophobia'' thread!)

 

[Love in Bloom]

Here is a pic of the tree outside our house. I think downtown Bloomington is just lovely...but if you can see in the background, there isn''t much to look at where I am. We live across the street from a golf course, and a limestone quarry. That is why I always tell ppl, "I live in the middle of nowhere"

. It is peaceful though!

 

[monarch64]

Great pics, LIB!

I have never stopped in Martinsville on my way through the town...I lived on the northside of Indy for a bit, and I've driven up and down 37 many, many times, but aside from the occasional stop at McDonald's I've never ventured off the highway into town. The antique stores sound intriguing, though.

BTW, I forgot to ever mention since you started posting here that I LOVE your Van Craeynest (sp?) rings!

They're so unique and beautiful, I can see why you chose that designer. I'm sure you don't see any VC around Bloomington...you've got really special rings.

And on the subject of Nashville, that is a favorite mom/daughter trip of mine, too. I can remember going there with my brother and mom and grandmother back when I was a little girl...I got a rocking horse there one year, and we've always had to stop in the glass blower's shop, and I also always have to stop in one of the candy stores to get rock candy on a stick.

My great aunts Toots and Nancy used to have a little gift boutique there, but they've since retired and moved to FL.

If you ever get a chance or haven't been there yet, take a day to drive down to French Lick, IN. I know, stop laughing, it's where Larry Bird is from and also where my parents met. Anyway, there is a beautiful building there called Northwood, (I think that's still the name of it) and it's an architectural dream. It used to be a hotel, and it has this awesomely huge domed ceiling. For a long time there was talk of turning it into a casino but that never happened, I'm sure you know about politics and gambling in Indiana. The town also was a hideaway/haven for Al Capone and his men...there is a ton of great history there and so many interesting things to learn. I'll see if I can find a website for you.

ETA: if you do a search for "French Lick, IN" all kinds of fun things pop up! The structure I described above has been used as a resort, a college, then was totally derelict for a number of years, then several different investors came in and would start rehabbing only to run out of funds, and currently it's being restored yet again and was supposedly going to re-open as a resort this spring... if you visit there go to The Villager, great little restaurant/greasy spoon type place. Baldwin piano has a factory there, and the town itself is very hilly and pretty. My paternal grandfather was a carpenter from WI and moved the family there in the late 60's to build houses, there are quite a few little homes still standing there that he built. I think it's a pretty cool place!

 

[monarch64]

Date: 6/16/2007 5:04:48 PM
Author: Love in Bloom
Here is a pic of the tree outside our house. I think downtown Bloomington is just lovely...but if you can see in the background, there isn''t much to look at where I am. We live across the street from a golf course, and a limestone quarry. That is why I always tell ppl, ''I live in the middle of nowhere''

. It is peaceful though!

That''s a cherry tree, right? You are lucky to have something so fragrant right outside your house, I bet it smells so good when the blossoms are on.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 6/16/2007 4:56:02 PM
Author: Love in Bloom
Do you frequent Martinsville?? Most of the ppl I work with told me, ''You don''t really want to visit Martinsville!'' But I went anyway and there were some great antique stores downtown. I call this pic the blue lady for obvious reasons, and this shot is from Antiques on Main:

I forgot to mention in my above (long) post that M.ville and Mooresville have a long history of Klan membership...plus it''s kind of a podunk town in general and I think that''s why people have discouraged you from visiting.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/16/2007 8:46:08 PM
Author: monarch64

BTW, I forgot to ever mention since you started posting here that I LOVE your Van Craeynest (sp?) rings!

They''re so unique and beautiful, I can see why you chose that designer. I''m sure you don''t see any VC around Bloomington...you''ve got really special rings.

And on the subject of Nashville, that is a favorite mom/daughter trip of mine, too. I can remember going there with my brother and mom and grandmother back when I was a little girl...I got a rocking horse there one year, and we''ve always had to stop in the glass blower''s shop, and I also always have to stop in one of the candy stores to get rock candy on a stick.

My great aunts Toots and Nancy used to have a little gift boutique there, but they''ve since retired and moved to FL.

OOOoooh thanks about my rings Monarch!! Yup, I haven''t seen anything like them or (even close to them) in the area. There are some surprisingly worldly jewelry stores here though. I think it is because B-town has an artsy side.

Did you do an SMTR? I searched the archives and I cannot seem to find any pics of your rings....Is that your set in your avatar?? From what I can see it looks lovely. Your wedding band looks quite sparkly

. Before I registered on PS I was very interested in halos. Did I read somewhere you were going to get an emerald halo for your round diamond? That sounds like a unique and challenging idea. Have you reset

?

Awww that is so sweet about your family tradition rooted in Nashville! What a beautiful place to have sweet memories to share with your daugther. That rock candy on a stick is the greatest. Do you think they are made in different flavors? The ones I always get don''t really taste different depending on what colors they are...but that being said, I am still partial to the blue ones, haha. We always go to the candy shop and sample the licorices. I never knew there were so many types of licorice until we visited Nashville...and I love the gummi coke bottles you are supposed to use to ''cleanse the palette'' in between tastings (I can''t drink wine...enjoying a licorice tasting is as close as I can get!). Oh and Toots and Nancy sound just adorable. I could always tell that Nashville was a special place with some deep and charming history...but I never really knew anything beyond that. Thanks for clueing me in on it! I''ll be sure to as the shop owners a little about their history next time I go; I find that stuff fascinating.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/16/2007 9:04:19 PM
Author: monarch64

I forgot to mention in my above (long) post that M.ville and Mooresville have a long history of Klan membership...plus it''s kind of a podunk town in general and I think that''s why people have discouraged you from visiting.

Yeah, M&M-villes are definitely have that podunk reputation, and I have heard of the Klan (

) thing before. I decided not to judge the town before I had a chance to see for myself. My fiance is jewish, my dad is gay (has a male partner, but yes, he is happy too

), and I''m asian (adopted), so I did have some hesitations about visiting Martinsville, but everything turned out okay. Hehehe, that sounds like a joke: A jewish guy, a gay guy, and an asian girl walk into an antique store in Martinsville....

 

[poptart]

Date: 6/17/2007 10:58:27 PM
Author: Love in Bloom

Date: 6/16/2007 9:04:19 PM

Author: monarch64


I forgot to mention in my above (long) post that M.ville and Mooresville have a long history of Klan membership...plus it''s kind of a podunk town in general and I think that''s why people have discouraged you from visiting.

Yeah, M&M-villes are definitely have that podunk reputation, and I have heard of the Klan (

) thing before. I decided not to judge the town before I had a chance to see for myself. My fiance is jewish, my dad is gay (has a male partner, but yes, he is happy too

), and I''m asian (adopted), so I did have some hesitations about visiting Martinsville, but everything turned out okay. Hehehe, that sounds like a joke: A jewish guy, a gay guy, and an asian girl walk into an antique store in Martinsville....

Hehe... so bad...

*M*

 

[monarch64]

I have to get back to this thread tomorrow...I have so much to respond to and write about! DH and I are set to watch a DVD right now, so I''ll continue discussion in the a.m.!

LIB, I will have to stop over in b-ton next time I come through and take you to lunch, you''re just so interesting and fun, and of course the proximity doesn''t hurt!!!

 

[Love in Bloom]

OOOooooh that sounds like fun

! I hope you enjoyed your movie

.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/17/2007 11:02:01 PM
Author: poptart

Date: 6/17/2007 10:58:27 PM
Author: Love in Bloom


Yeah, M&M-villes are definitely have that podunk reputation, and I have heard of the Klan (

) thing before. I decided not to judge the town before I had a chance to see for myself. My fiance is jewish, my dad is gay (has a male partner, but yes, he is happy too

), and I'm asian (adopted), so I did have some hesitations about visiting Martinsville, but everything turned out okay. Hehehe, that sounds like a joke: A jewish guy, a gay guy, and an asian girl walk into an antique store in Martinsville....

Hehe... so bad...

*M*

Ya like that one, Poptart?? You should have seen when we drove out to the midwest from the east coast and stopped at a diner in Ohio to get some food. Our waitress looked genuinely intrigued by us, like we were some strange wild animals she had never seen before. Maybe she wanted to pet us or something so we wouldn't bite her. The rest of the staff wouldn't look any of us in the eye. Perhaps if they did, they might have pooped moon rocks

 

[monarch64]

LIB, sorry it took me so long to reply...I took a "day off" from the computer yesterday to get somethings organized around the house. I woke up yesterday just knowing I would either get online right off the bat and never come out from under the laptop to get anything accomplished, so I figured I''d wait until I checked some things off the to-do list!

The DVD we watched Sunday night was Rocky Balboa. It was one of those nights DH asked me if there was anything I''d been wanting to see and I couldn''t think of anything so I left it up to him. When he got home with it, I was like ohhhh, ok.

But I actually really liked it, which is weird because I didn''t grow up watching all the Rocky movies. I''ve probably seen bits and pieces of all of them over the years, and I had seen enough to know the storylines, but never was a big fan. So I was surprised that I liked it so much, and so was my husband!

So I was cracking up about the whole joke thing with you and your dad and his partner, too cute. The great thing about B-ton is that it''s a little oasis of diversity in the midst of well, not so diverse territory, for lack of a better description of the surrounding area. And yeah...people around there sometimes haven''t been taught not to stare. Even when I go back home to visit my family I attract a fair amount of attention, sometimes I feel like an alien because the stares are so blatant along with the once (or twice)-overs. I''m very tall and I haven''t lived there since I was 18, and while I don''t show up dressed in Versace or Gaultier I have a fairly polished appearance and I don''t look like I''m ready to go four-wheeling or driving through the woods in a monster truck or something, lol. My brother and his wife are very into those activities and I don''t mean to sound as if I look down upon any of that because I don''t, but for me it''s just kinda like when "a yuppie walks into the motorcycle bar."

Nashville and rock candy...yes, they DO make different colors and flavors! Last fall I went there and got ten sticks of it and asked the lady to give me one in every color! I didn''t know the gummi cokes were for palate cleansing, next time I''ll have to try that. That town really is a great tradition and does hold a lot of fun memories for me. The store where I got my rocking horse burned down, it was part of a huge building at the beginning of town there and the whole thing was lost, very sad. That rocking horse is still in my parents'' house somewhere, I think. Oh, and there is this wonderful artist John Waldron, who has a gallery there in the same building as the candy store. Nashville was originally an artist colony... anyway, his paintings are stunning, they''re typically of native wildlife and flora and fauna, he''s been there forever and a day as I recall. I think there are 4-5 other art galleries there as well if you''re into that.

Oh, and I never have got around to doing a SMTR thread on mine. I posted a pic on the eye-candy thread in that subforum a loooonng time ago. Skippygirl was asking me the same question, I''ll get my act together one of these days and have a little photo shoot and post! But yes, they are the rings in my avatar. I didn''t find PS until a couple years after we''d gotten engaged and been married, which is probably a good thing because I was one of those girls who told her man: "surprise me!" If I had known about PS then I probably would''ve changed my mind about what setting or stone I wanted about 500 times and may or may not have ended up married after all, hee hee.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Oh, no worries. I probably need to do the same thing to my house

!

So, I'm terribly sorry about ppl staring at you when you come back to IN. I am kind of used to getting stares and funny looks by now being the only asian in my school until 7th grade, but for the most part it it doesn't bother me until after I think about it. That is funny about you being tall. My best friend since 2nd grade and all throughout HS was always tall and really skinny. She is 6' tall now. PPl thought she was anorexic, but it was just the way she (and her entire family) was built. Needless to say, we both got stared at alot when we were out and about. You are totally right about B-ton being a little oasis. It has its charms! Hahaha that description about the yuppie in the motorcycle bar is great! I'm sure I sound stuck up and offend when I talk about living 'in the middle of nowhere' to ppl who have lived here all their lives so far. But everytime I try to convince myself that it really isn't that isolated, something else happens to convince me otherwise.

Example 1: went outside after an afternoon thunderstorm to look for a rainbow. Saw something that resembled a tumbleweed rolling across the meadow behind where I live. Don't think it was an actual tumbleweed, but it was a mass of roughage that tumbled by with that 'old deserted town' flair.

Example 2: Parked in the garage on campus and men were playing banjos by the motorcycle parking. Good acoustics? Yes, definitely. But did they really have to play Dualing Banjos for 20 minutes??

Hehe, Ok, townie rant over!

I must admit that most of the life long midwesterners I know do have a good bit of charm that far outshines the 'townie' sterotype.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Date: 6/19/2007 8:12:28 PM
Author: monarch64

Nashville and rock candy...yes, they DO make different colors and flavors! Last fall I went there and got ten sticks of it and asked the lady to give me one in every color! I didn''t know the gummi cokes were for palate cleansing, next time I''ll have to try that. That town really is a great tradition and does hold a lot of fun memories for me. The store where I got my rocking horse burned down, it was part of a huge building at the beginning of town there and the whole thing was lost, very sad. That rocking horse is still in my parents'' house somewhere, I think. Oh, and there is this wonderful artist John Waldron, who has a gallery there in the same building as the candy store. Nashville was originally an artist colony... anyway, his paintings are stunning, they''re typically of native wildlife and flora and fauna, he''s been there forever and a day as I recall. I think there are 4-5 other art galleries there as well if you''re into that.

Wow! I never knew John Waldron was an artist. Shame on me! I even volunteered at the John Waldron Arts Center in B-ton for the past 3 years. I ran the open hours for the black and white photography lab. Since the Waldron Arts Center is located in an old firehouse building, I always though ''John'' was a fireman

!!! Hehe, I love art galleries, even if I''m not really educated about the artist

haha. I''ll have to check that out.

 

[monarch64]

Amazing things you can learn here on PS, hee hee!

I love the tumbleweed story as well as the dueling banjos one...after I read your post this morning I had that song stuck in my head for a bit. I HATED that movie Deliverance, so I had to curse your screen name just a little, LOL!