Brown County November 2009

I think this journey to Brown County began in 1991, shortly after GrandMommie Friedley died. We all missed her very much. The “girls” decide we each needed some down time. “Everyone must take time to sit and remember and watch the leaves turn.” So traveling through Indiana for the purpose of soaking in the fall colors that painted the landscape became tradition with the Women in the family.” The Men in the family gave their blessings and added the "Mom’s" responsibilities for the day to their own. Just 2+ hours north lies Brown County State Park. With its rolling, forested hills, Brown County in Southern Indiana is considered the greatest of all fall foliage spots in Indiana, usually peaking in the second half of October. This day trip became our haven of retreat and we made the most of that day.

This year we were just a little late for peak color. Most of the firey reds, deep maroons and vivid scarlets were gone, but there was still a good deal of bright yellow, intense orange, dazzling gold and green. The humidity of summer had lifted and there was just a little nip in the air. Nature was finishing up her color changing act and we knew it would not last much longer. Nick and I took the camper up with the truck. Joni and Clara came a few hours behind us in Clara's car. Jenny and Janine came the next afternoon in Jenny's van. The 3 pictures posted below were taken through the windshield of the truck and are part of the 3 mile trip into the State Park forest from the West Gate toward the campground. All campers and RVs must enter through the West Gate because of the covered bridge at the North Gate.

We are approaching the camping spot just after we checking in with the camp ranger.

In times past we have all enjoyed our time away from household tasks so much so, we always wished we could afford both the time and the money to stay another day. With the blessing of a camper in 2007 our fall retreat has grown into a few days, with some able to stay longer than others. Neither Nicki or Stacy have been able to come since the addition of the camper. We missed them both.

Here we sit like birds in the wilderness... on our little knoll.

This was the view to our back right.

This was the view to the front right. You can see the ranger check point and the camp store.

This is the shower house off to the front left.

There are nearly 20 miles of road through the 16,000 acre State Park and I think Clara, Joni and myself drove nearly all if it that first day. We stopped at several vistas and outlooks and Joni took hundreds photos.

It was at one such vista that we were swarmed by a large congregation of ladybugs. There were ladybugs in our hair on our faces all over our clothes.

And even inside our clothes

The next day the late comers (Jenny and Janine) joined us.

We have always taken time time to browse and shop in the nearby village of Nashville, which is known for its quaint specialty shops, and art galleries. Another tradition, if we got there early enough in October was eating lunch on the court house lawn. Corn on the cob roasted ears by the local Boy Scouts and fish fried by the VFW.

I think the largest assembly we have ever had was the year Seth, Nicolaas and Violet were born. All the girls came- together with the babies. (Joni, Jenny, Nicolette & Seth, Janine & Violet, Stacy & Nicolaas and myself). Our numbers vary from year to year.

This year our group was made up of Joni, Clara, myself, Janine and Jenny. We ate lunch here at the general store. Jenny set up her camera and took the traditional group photo. I would love to see some of those old photos.

We have expanded our trek further into the scenic back roads of the surrounding areas. The past two years we have taken the Fall Brown County Studio Tour (not all of it but what interested us). It is a free, relaxing, self-guided tour designed to showcase two of the areas greatest assets: the natural, quiet beauty of Brown County and the talents of the creative residents. Last year we visited several weavers and a few potters and we can not forget to mention the wineries Jenny took us to. :) I sorta missed the sineries I mean wineries.

This year we mostly visited glass studios and a few potters and. If you wish to know more about the studio tour you can click on this link. http://www.browncountystudiotour.com/falltour2009.htm

I especially liked the small studio- Godly Glass and Photography by Sandy Taylor. Joni and Sandy had some enlightening photography conversation. Sample of Sandy's work.

The next day at lunch time we ate at "The Farmhouse Café” A quaint spot that was recommend by Cheri Platter of Faerie Hollow Studio on the tour. She does beading and pottery. Sample of Cheri's work.

(we were too late in the season for the Boy Scout cuisine) The food at the "The Farmhouse Café” was good and the atmosphere was homey. In the main dining room of the farmhouse itself, the tables and chairs were all mismatched wooden antiques of many various vintages, pedigrees and states of repair. Each table was covered with a flowery, old fashioned cloth. Standing around the walls of the room were several rough, country style dish cupboards, pie safes, and side boards, distressed by age and the paint that marked them as antiques.

After lunch we went to see Anne Ryan Miller’s studio. She is probably the most talented stained glass artist’s we visited. Her work is beautiful. Jenny is wishing to “someday” commission a piece for her large window in her great room. Ann Miller working.

Janine and Jenny left for home before dark and Nick joined us just as they were leaving.Men are usually not allowed. But he had to drive the truck and take camper back home. We really did not want him to make the trip back and forth again in one day.

This next group of pictures were taken that evening, Halloween.

Joni was taking this sunset as I was trying to get the rising moon on the other side of the road.

Joni took this moon shot. It was beautiful the sunset on one side of the ridge and the moon rising on the other.

These are the shots I took just a few minutes later than Joni.

sunset through the trees and Halloween moon

Quote from Little Orphane Anne by Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you Ef you Don't

Watch Out!

The next morning was cold and beautiful. The valleys were blanketed in a heavy mist.

Quotes from the poem by James Whitcomb Riley, When the Frost is on the Punkin When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock, And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock, …

But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock-- When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.