A chicken education

The average American consumer may expect to open their carton of grocery-store eggs and see a dozen uniform specimens: all the same color, all the same ideal egg shape.

Me? I love opening a carton of farm-fresh eggs and seeing variety.

I stopped by my neighbor's farm on Friday to buy a couple dozen eggs from her, and an hour later, I'd met the hens who lay the eggs I was about to enjoy.

Each visit to this farm is an education. She keeps a couple different broods of chickens; one hardier, larger brood remains outdoors through more of the winter and produces the eggs I enjoy for breakfast. These chickens are large, and while she has many different breeds mixed together, they look like what I think of as a textbook chicken, with smooth feathers and an iconic silhouette.

All those different breeds mean that each egg is different. A carton of eggs includes at least six different shades of brown, in addition to some that are more rosy or even green, and each has its own unique shape.

My neighbor's second brood of chickens stays in a garage through most of the winter, where they're kept warm with heaters and lamps. I find these incredibly interesting—before last summer, I'd never seen chickens like Seramas and Silkies. They're each a third the size (or less) of the hardier egg-business birds outside. The Silkies are particularly striking: contrary to their name, instead of smooth, silky feathers, they instead look like they're covered in soft, fluffy fur. And they're covered in this plumage from the crowns of their heads to the tips of their toes. When you do get a look at the body beneath the feathers, their skin is black and their earlobes are royal blue. Silkies are also known for their sweet, loving temperaments.

A special treat for my visit: I got to hold a couple chicks that were only a week old. They fit in the palm of my hand and only weighed an ounce or two.

I'll be going back to the farm sometime this spring with my camera, for sure. I'd love to photograph these beautiful, interesting birds, in addition to the herd of alpacas that roams outside.

Until then, I'll just be enjoying some delicious omelettes and frittatas!

Behind the scenes with lampwork artist Samma Parcels

At work over the last six months or so, we've been going through a testing/profiling process based on the book Strengths Finder. It's a similar idea to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and there are dozens of other tests that companies use when they're hiring people and evaluating teams.

With Strengths Finder, you learn what your top five "talents" are, then you can better structure your day and life around building upon those talents. My top two talents describe how I'm interested in many things, like to collect information, and love to learn. It makes total sense: from the time I was a kid watching PBS television, I always loved the behind-the-scenes videos that showed how everyday products like crayons and balloons were made. So when I got the chance to profile a local glass artist for the HCCVB blog and watch her work at her studio, it was right up my alley.

I sat and watched her, completely riveted, while she melted two pieces of glass together to create two gorgeous glass pendants in under 45 minutes.

The first was a heart-shaped pendant, and the second utilized a technique in which it looks like a flower has been encased in the glass. For that one, she worked from the front of the piece toward the back, creating the stamens first, followed by the outside edges of the petals, then slowly melting the petals inward toward the center.

I asked her a ton of questions, and I could tell she's a great teacher, because she patiently answered every one I asked—while continuing to work without missing a beat.

For the first time, I shot video in addition to still photos. I'm still amazed by the capabilities of an iPhone. I love that I don't have to have any other special equipment to be able to do an informal video.


You can read my full profile of this incredible artist on the HCCVB blog.

Hendricks County glass artist: Samma Parcels

Looking for a one-of-a-kind holiday gift for someone on your list? Consider something handmade by a local artist. Not only can you find many great shops around Hendricks County, but dozens of incredible artisans call this area home.

I chatted with glass artist Samma Parcels about her work, and she even shared some of her favorite places to visit in Hendricks County. Read more...

Hot Blown Glass

As a kid who grew up watching endless programming from PBS, those programs helped to shape a great sense of curiosity in me. I especially loved seeing videos of how things were made or how they worked behind the scenes. I know I’m not the only one—I’ve had conversations with other people about the “how crayons are made” video in particular.

I now love tours (see my post from a few years ago about the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory in Boulder, CO) and taking classes to try my own hand at new projects.

Glass blowing is one of those arts that I’ve seen plenty of on TV but have never before had the opportunity to see it in person. When I learned that there’s a glass-blowing studio in Hendricks County, I put it on my radar. Finally, an opportunity to visit and profile it for the HCCVB blog came up.

Seeing some glass blowing done in person, then getting to see samples of finished pieces next door, really made me appreciate the practice and artistry that goes into this. If you have any desire to try it yourself, check out my post on the HCCVB blog for a list of several workshops coming up this fall. 

Second Saturdays: Hot Blown Glass

Just south of Cartersburg Road between Danville and Plainfield, Ind. in Hendricks County, marked with a simple white sign by the road, you can find one of the most unique, hands-on art studios in the state: Hot Blown Glass, Ltd.

As part of the Rural Routes to Main Street Second Saturdays schedule, Hot Blown Glass is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Lisa’s hot shop is one of very few of its kind in the state of Indiana, and after seeing glass-blowing many times on TV, I was excited to see this done in person.

It was just as fascinating as I’d hoped. Read more…

Pampering places

When I started blogging for the HCCVB, and I learned that they wanted me to be their go-to person for "girlfriend getaway" posts, I couldn't wait to get started. An excuse to get together with my girlfriends and try some new places in the county? Sign me up.

For my latest post, I got my second mani/pedi ever, and it has been more than two years since my first one. If this is what "work" entails, then sign me up for more!

Girlfriend Getaway: 9 Hendricks County Places to Pamper Yourself

School is back in session. Summer is coming to an end. The holiday season is just around the corner. 

Sounds to me like now is the perfect time to rest up, prepare to face the remaining months of 2012, and pamper yourself! Plan a weekend with your girlfriends and make sure at least one of these Hendricks County sites is on your to-do list. (Then ditch the to-do list and enjoy.) Get the list.

Photo opportunities in Hendricks County

If there's one thing I've done in the years since I started this blog, it's take thousands upon thousands of photos of Hendricks County (just look through the tags on the right, and you'll see many that pertain to "home" and "Indiana."). So when I pitched the idea for my most recent blog post to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, I knew I wanted to turn it into an ongoing, seasonal series.

So here's part one: the late-summer photo tour! Look out later this year for a fall tour, as well. You can also check out my earlier summer-themed posts here on this blog.

Bring your camera for a Hendricks County photo safari

Each season of the year offers its own range of interesting scenes and subjects to photograph. Whether you’re an aspiring shutterbug or professional photographer, be sure to bring your camera with you when you visit Hendricks County.

For great late-summer or early-fall photographs, make use of the nice weather and changing light and focus your efforts on outdoor scenes. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Read more...

Perseid Meteor Shower

For my latest assignment for the HCCVB blog, Mom and I packed blankets, lawn chairs, my camera, tripod, and remote trigger, and we headed to McCloud Nature Park to see the Perseid Meteor Shower.

This annual meteor shower peaked over the weekend (very convenient), and at its height, experts predicted that we could see up to 60 meteors per hour. We didn't see nearly that many (it happened in the wee hours of the morning...way past my bedtime), but in the couple hours we were gazing, we did get to see some great shooting stars.

This park hosts the Indiana Astronomy Society once a month during the summer, and they welcome the public to come for free and peer through the eyepiece of their telescopes. The program on Saturday night was a special event for the meteor shower, and I wasn't sure how many people we'd be joining. Mom and I actually looked at each other and said, "Well, we could be the only people there, but that's okay."

So we were wonderfully surprised when we drove into the park and saw a full parking lot and dozens of people already camped out, waiting for darkness to fall. By the time it was truly dark, there were more than 100 people there. I was thrilled to see that kind of turnout for a park program.

It's been years since I did any night sky photography, and this just got me itching to do more!

Stargazing at McCloud Nature Park

I will never forget the first time I looked through the eyepiece on a telescope and saw the rings of Saturn with my own two eyes. Sure, I’d been learning about our solar system for years in science class at school, but truly grasping the existence of other planets and celestial bodies can only go so far when you’re learning from a textbook.

Seeing it for yourself, though, even if it’s small and hasn’t been richly colored in photo-editing software—seeing the rings of Saturn, the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, and multiple moons orbiting these planets… it makes it all real. Read more... 

Top 10 evening activities and upcoming races

If you're looking for ways to enjoy (cooler!) summer evenings, or you want to lace up your running shoes, my latest two posts on the HCCVB blog should give you some ideas.


Top 10 things to do on a summer night in Hendricks County
Long days and nice weather mean we’re all looking for ways to spend more time outside, and Hendricks County has endless options for you! Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, cultural festivities, or a night on the town, here are 10 ideas to get you started. Read more...


Upcoming events allow runners, walkers to see Hendricks County on foot
Runners and walkers alike — both seasoned athletes and beginners — have more than a dozen opportunities to participate in organized fun runs and timed races through the rest of 2012. Check out this list highlighting some of the scheduled events throughout Hendricks County— and bookmark it for future inspiration. Read more...


Did I miss anything that you would add to these lists?

You can also find all of my posts for the HCCVB on my author page.

The difference between "small" and "miniature" art

To the untrained ear, "miniature" and "small" might essentially mean the same thing. But when it concerns artwork—including quilts—a very specific line of demarkation separates the two.

As I learned last week, "small works of art" can include any piece that's relatively small in size. Miniature fine art fits within this category, but its definition is much more specific. Artistic Designs Gallery in Brownsburg will be hosting its annual Miniature Fine Arts Show beginning July 14, and I visited to get a preview for my latest post on the HCCVB blog. 

Miniature Fine Arts Show begins July 14

What gained popularity at the court of King Henry VIII continues this month in Hendricks County: a celebration of miniature fine art. So what exactly separates miniature art from a small piece?

Artistic Designs Gallery’s annual show actually plays a role in art history, because it helped incite discussion among the miniature art community about establishing standard guidelines for what constitutes “miniature art.” Read more...

Addicted to learning: classes at Frazee Gardens

When I want to learn something new or refine a skill, my first instinct is to look for a class I can take. Some people learn from a book, others from watching a video, but I love taking classes. Outside of the standard school routine, I've taken classes on photography, cooking—including basic knife skills and soaking/sprouting—jewelry making, swimming... I'm addicted to learning.

For my latest post on the HCCVB blog, I took a class at Frazee Gardens, a local garden, landscape and gift shop in Brownsburg. I chose one that focused on growing and using lavender and roses. 

Girlfriend getaway: Take a class at Frazee Gardens

Frazee Gardens offers a variety of classes and events throughout the year. Past classes have included themed planters with ingredients for homemade salsa or pizza; pressed-flower picture frames; bonsai trees; and butterfly habitats.

In Lavender and Roses, Dottie shared tips on growing lavender, how to harvest the flowers, where to dry rose petals, and what to look for in a perfect rose hip. After we learned how to cultivate our own raw materials, we sampled cookies and dove into making sachets, lotion, candles, potpourri and soap. Read more...

Civil War Grand Ball

The second of my two assignments for the HCCVB blog this past weekend took place Saturday night, and it was quite an evening to remember.


This year, the organizers of Hendricks County's Civil War Heritage Days added a Grand Ball to the weekend's schedule of events. Participation was open to any pairs who wanted to participate, and while the dress code was open to your "Sunday best," period costumes were definitely encouraged.

People really embraced the opportunity. Men were sharply dressed in Union and Confederate dress uniforms or period tuxedos, and women swept around the room in hoop-enhanced ball gowns. 

My mom was one of the courageous partipants. A friend of hers, John, really wanted to do it, but his wife couldn't be talked into it, so he asked Mom to go with him. John's wife and my dad went as modern spectators and enjoyed watching from the sidelines. I photographed Mom and John beforehand and had fun enhancing this one with a sepia tone:

Dances were done in period fashion: mostly group dances, with progressive movements that meant you danced with most everyone in the room. The waltz was the only outlier that you danced in closed dance hold. 

The dress up-loving little girl in me loved seeing everyone in Civil War-era attire, especially the women in their ball gowns. Mom dove into the opportunity, researched the period's fashion, then designed and made her gown. It looked incredible, like molten steel flowing around the dance floor. She bought a pair of white gloves, pulled a beautiful red fan out of storage, and voila!

Fans played a role later in the evening, when a "fan dance"—also called a "hat dance"—came up on the schedule. It didn't involve much dancing. Three chairs were placed at the head of the group. A man started by sitting in the middle chair, with a woman on either side. Each woman was supposed to whisper a secret in the man's ear, then he chose his favorite and danced to the end with her, leaving the fan with the woman left behind. Then she moved to the middle chair, and the next two men in line sat down on either side of her.

The dancers were all warmed up by then, and as the dance went on, they got more and more into it, with great facial expressions and theatrical flirting. I stood on the side laughing out loud while I watched.

Nearly everyone had big grins on their faces all night and seemed to be having a great time. I enjoyed getting the chance to mingle and photograph everyone.


You can learn more about the evening and see more photos in my post on the HCCVB blog. 


Civil War Heritage Days Grand Ball Photo Gallery


The photos above are just an extra sampling!

Plainfield Garden Tour: flowers galore!

My camera's memory card really got a workout this weekend! I had two big assignments for the HCCVB blog, the first of which was the Plainfield Garden Tour. I got a sneak preview of the first garden a few weeks ago and was looking forward to the opportunity to photograph some new flowers.

For me, it was an ideal scenario: people with beautiful gardens and landscaping welcomed the public onto their lawns, and I was able to photograph to my heart's content without being cited for trespassing. Count me in!

Brownsburg also held its garden tour this weekend, and another blogger covered that. We wrote a combination blog post together, which is now live on the HCCVB blog. You'll see a few of my photos there, but more of my favorites are below.

A weekend of garden tours

Landscaping enthusiasts rejoiced this past weekend when both Brownsburg and Plainfield presented their annual garden tours. Plainfield’s fourth annual garden tour, sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Library, did not disappoint. The tour featured seven beautiful gardens in Plainfield, with an eighth “bonus” garden in Morgan County. Read more...

Preview of Plainfield Garden Tour

When I got the opportunity to cover the upcoming Plainfield Garden Tour for the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau blog, it didn't take much to convince me. Me? Visit, photograph and write about people's beautiful gardens and flowers? A match made in heaven.

I got a sneak preview when I visited the first home on the tour and talked to the homeowners. Below are a handful of photos I captured that day. I can't wait to get more at the other homes on the tour!

Sneak preview: Plainfield Garden Tour

Looking for inspiration for your next landscaping project? Then pull out your calendar and make time for the Plainfield Garden Tour on June 23 and 24.

In its fourth year, the Plainfield Garden Tour, sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Library, will feature eight beautiful gardens around and south of Plainfield, in the southeast corner of Hendricks County. I stopped by the first home on the tour for a sneak preview.

Eric Turner and Michelle Tramm have cultivated 17 separate gardens on their property, and they have a particular love of daylilies. You'll see more than 400 different varieties of daylilies at their house alone.

You can see a few photos of their gorgeous flowers below and more in my full post on the HCCVB blog. Read more...

Preview of Civil War Grand Ball

Next weekend—June 22-24—is going to be a busy one! Last weekend, I visited two different sites to write sneak previews of events for the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau blog, and both of them happen that weekend. I'll be going to both events, as well, and writing about the experience.

The first sneak preview is now live on the HCCVB blog! Check it out.

Sneak preview: Civil War Heritage Days Grand Ball

After a widely successful initiation in 2011, Hendricks County’s Civil War Heritage Days celebration is back again this year, with an even wider selection of events and activities during the two-day festival in the heart of Danville, Indiana, on June 23 and 24.

One particular addition is a Grand Ball on Saturday evening in the Courthouse Rotunda. After many re-enactors participating last year requested a Grand Ball, the organizers at the Hendricks County Historical Museum and Danville Public Library added it to this year’s schedule of events. Read more...

A new venture in blogging

Happy June to you! If I had to pick a favorite month of the year, June would be it. And not just because I happened to be born in this month. It's the beginning of summer, the longest days of the year, the beautiful weather, the green and bountiful vegetation, the growing garden, the outdoor activities with friends... I could go on and on.

Beginning this month, I've embarked on a new venture in the blog world: I am now a Digital Destination Expert for the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Each month, I'll be writing a handful of blog posts that highlight events, activities, sights, and features of the county I call home. I'm very excited about it! I'll be writing about just about any topic that strikes my fancy, but I'm specifically the go-to person on the team for Arts & Culture and Girlfriend Getaways.

My debut post is now up. Check out the preview below, then click through to read the rest. I hope you'll follow along. And please send me ideas, if you have any!

Five great Hendricks County spots to stretch your legs

One of my favorite things to do during the warm-weather months is meet a friend for an evening walk. After a long day of sitting at a desk, I love getting the chance to socialize, breathe some fresh air and exercise at the same time.

Whether you’re looking for an easy stroll, a scenic hike, or a day out with your family, you’ll find hundreds of acres of green space in every corner of Hendricks County. Take a deep breath and stretch your legs at these five must-see spots. Read more...

My favorite apple orchard

Welcome to fall! One thing I always look forward to doing at this time of year is going and getting fresh apples from my favorite local orchard: Beasley's Orchard in Danville.

It was because of Beasley's that I first discovered Gala apples, and they've become my all-time favorite. This year I tried a new variety, though, and it comes in at a very close second: Cortland.

Beasley's Orchard has a market inside a Civil War-era barn, and you can smell the sweet apples and spices before you walk in the door.

They go far beyond selling apples. You'll find everything from apple and pumpkin butter to local honey, maple syrup, popcorn, pumpkins, squash, and fresh vegetables. I made a trip today and couldn't resist getting a pint of pumpkin butter with my 1/2 peck of Cortlands.

If you're looking to support a local food producer—and maybe want a little fall field trip—I highly recommend you go for a visit.

I have my first-ever batch of apple butter cooking in my crock pot as I type. I'll share the results (and the recipe, if it's good) soon!