A real Dull tree for a bright Christmas!

Yesterday was our day to make our annual "pilgramage" to the Dull's Tree Farm to cut our Christmas tree. I really have to take some space here and brag about this family and their business.

Tom and Kerry Dull moved into this wonderful 1800's farmstead and soon after began using the soil to grow Christmas trees. Since then, they have restored a couple of log cabins to house a gift shop and crafts center as well as a wreath barn. There is a petting zoo. Click here for their website to see and read about their operations: Dull's Tree Farm.

TREES FOR TROOPS
This is another exciting program I must tell you about. The National Christmas Tree Association sponsored a program this year where 11,000 Christmas Trees were donated to U.S. troops and their families. Trees from tree farms across the U.S. donated these trees and Federal Express donated all shipping expenses. Our own Dull family was the Trees For Troops headquarters for the state of Indiana. For more information, go to the website for the National Christmas Tree Association.

In selecting our tree, Ed and I prefer the Fraser Fir. Since this type of tree is the only tree they don't grow, they have some brought in. We couldn't find one at six feet so we opted for the Canaan Fir that looks almost like a Fraser Fir but isn't as fragrant. When it is decorated (tonight or tomorrow?), I will post the final pics for your viewing pleasure.

I hope your holiday season has been bright thus far. If not, why not acquire "A real Dull tree for a bright Christmas?"

Morning Moonrise

I am very much an early morning person. I love to begin working when it is dark, quiet, and the entire world is asleep but me.

For the past few days, the moon has been full. Each morning I sit at my desk next to the window and can see the moon through my window just before the sunrise takes it away. This morning, I captured this beauty for you.

Enjoy the day. It is full of wonderful things for us to discover!

Also, take a moment to remember Pearl Harbor. Its been 65 years but there are still those (in Indiana) who were there.

Lynn

Ouch! I was TOO thankful!

Like many people, I was hurting yesterday after consuming mass quantities of food.

It was a beautiful day at my parents' house where my brother and his family joined us and my parents. The weather was good and the day was beautiful.

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did and had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

My "Baby" Brother Got Married!!!

Saturday, November 11 was an exciting one for the Allison family as this was the day that my "baby" brother, Richard, married a wonderful woman named Fern.

The wedding was beautiful! It was held at the Woman's Athletic Association located on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The building was constructed in 1928 thus the architecture throughout was beautiful. Founded in 1898, this organization was the first athletic club for women in the United States. The building's architecture illustrates the sophisticated urban ambience of North Michigan Avenue, as it was originally planned and developed in the 1920s. The modern French-style classical design, which is reminiscent of continental-style Parisian elegance, is one of the last standing links to the street's formative years.

Preceding the service was Champagne and wine service. The service was beautifully simple and genuine as was followed with hors d’ oeuvres and more Champagne and wine. Then we went to the ballroom located on another floor to enjoy a wonderful dinner of roast duck. A 17-piece band struck up a variety of tunes to include blues, jazz, swing, and traditional tunes.

It was truly a magical evening and one we will fondly remember always. As we are now home, Richard and Fern are enjoying themselves in Portugal, sipping Port from its original monasteries (I hope they bring me some as a souvenir!).

Halloween on THE HAUNTED PORCH!

Halloween is not only the day when the "dead walk the earth" but it is evidence that, especially on this day, we are not required to grow up!

As is tradition, we ventured to the Lebanon, Indiana porch of our friends Lisa Lord and Kevin Friend. Kevin is a renown D.J. here in town whose alter ego is "Dr. Toast." Their porch is elaborately decorated every Halloween featuring eery lighting and wonderful music, fog, and sound effects.

You see Ed here as the Hippy Hearse Driver and Dr. Toast is featured at the sound controls. The weather was cool, dry, and the moon was wonderful. Easily, we had between 300 and 400 trick or treaters and the number keeps climbing as people learn of THE HAUNTED PORCH IN LEBANON! Come by next year!

Today is the Last for the Season!

TODAY IS THE LAST RAILROAD PUMPKIN DAY AT THE CK&S RAILROAD!

It should be a beautiful day and our pumpkins are running thin!

Our departures are at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00 (watch the time change!) and we have openings left on all three runs!

Click on the railroad's website (see below post) for the details and directions or go to the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau for an "overall" description of the attraction.

I hope to see you there for our last day in 2006!

Pumpkin Time at the Railroad!

UPDATED - OCTOBER 27, 2006

(Click once on each photo to enlarge)

This is the last weekend of our season that features our Pumpkin Patch Runs at the Carthage, Knightstown, and Shirley Railroad.

For those who don't know, this is my family's railroad located in Knightstown, Indiana. Every October, they add a "twist" to their regularly scheduled train runs in October. The train runs on Fridays at 11:00 and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 each day. Each run last about one-and-one-half hours and includes two stops. The train departs from Knightstown, Indiana and heads south to Carthage, Indiana. We stop the train for a restroom and refreshment break and on the return trip to Knightstown, we stop the train beside a field that we have filled with pumpkins. There, every child present (THROUGH AGE ELEVEN ONLY) is allowed to pick out a free pumpkin for Halloween.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED!!! We presently have openings on all runs for Saturday and Sunday but they are sure to begin selling out by the end of today (Friday). Fares are: $7.00 for those aged 12 and above, $5.00 for children age 3 through 11, and children aged two and under are free (but they still may receive a pumpkin!). Call the CK&S Railroad depot at (765) 345-5561 to place your reservations before it is too late. Leave your name, telephone number, desired date and departure time, and number of adults, children, and those two and under who will be in your party.

TICKET RESERVATIONS are guaranteed until one-half hour prior to departure. After that time, they may be released for general sale.

Come on out! It will be great to see you! Email me if you have any questions!

Feast of the Hunter's Moon

Perfect weather led to a most perfect Feast of the Hunter's Moon in West Lafayette, Indiana last weekend. For those who are unaware of this event, it is a HUGE historical reeactment of the time period the primary French trading fort existed in this area along the Wabash River in the 1700s. The fort was Fort Quiatenon.

The weather was perfect on both Saturday and Sunday and each night, we enjoyed a brilliant full moon that lit up the grounds like daylight. I highly encourage everyone to bookmark this website and try to come out next year. Bring you children! You could not ask for a better (and more enjoyable) educational opportunity for them. The website for this event is: tcha.mus.in.us/feast.htm.

Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis...

On Friday, September 22, we "ran away from home" for a much needed weekend getaway. We pointed our car west and headed toward St. Louis. Before arriving at our final destination, we stopped off at Cahokia Mounds State Park, site of "the remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico." Who knew something like this existed in the state of Illinois. It was truly amazing.

We arrived at the St. Louis Hilton downtown that is located in a rennovated bank building just one block from the Arch. Our room was perfect and even featured one of the corner "turet" windows where we had a table and four chairs. After unpacking and a short nap, our evening consisted of a prime rib dinner aboard a riverboat, complete with cruise.

We began Saturday by visiting the Anheiser Busch factory for their free guided tour. Our homework had been done, however, in that we knew they were featuring a special photo opportunity with one of the Clysdale horses. The stables were amazingly clean and we even played with the dalmations. The afternoon was spent touring the Arch (Ed had never been). We had dinner at the rennovated Union Station and, because of a festival that was occurring that weekend, we were hosted to a full fireworks display that was framed in the arch - very cool!

After checking out on Sunday, we visited the restored Fort de Chartres located in Prairie du Roche, Illinois. We were the only ones there and hope to revisit in the future to participate in a French and Indian rendezvous. Then homeward bound we were.

It was the perfect weekend and I would recommend it to anyone. The trip is a straight 4-hour trip along I-70 and driving in the city of St. Louis is no problem whatsoever.

Small Town Pleasure!

I've traveled quite a bit in my life - to many countries and cultures. But, its nights like this that I feel blessed to live in the town I do - Lebanon, Indiana.

Tonight was the evening celebration of the Back to the Fifties Festival. They block off the town square and vendors host food booths. A band plays old time favorites, children play on the courthouse lawn, neighbors and friends catch up, and, yes, we have the renown hula hoop contest.

Tomorrow will be a full day of entertainment, a classic car show, and numerous booths from local artisans and organizations. Our house is only two blocks away so we walk over to enjoy the festivities.

We just got back from the evening's activities and I am pleased to show off some pictures of where I am proud to call home.

Click on each picture to enlarge.

- Lynn

Landscaper or Artist?

As most of you know, my wonderful husband, Ed, is a professional landscaper. There are so many times, however, that I question that label. It is times such as today that the label "artist" most accurately describes his talents.

It is a beautiful, sunny, September day and our backyard is ablaze with color, similar to an artist's palette and I was inspired to take this picture. While the picture is beautiful, it simply doesn't do justice to his work.
I hope you enjoy as I do on a daily basis. - Lynn

What a glorious day!

Some times we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with the toxins of the "everyday world." Today was the perfect day to cleanse oneself of all those poisons.

It is sunny and perfect today. I am getting caught up on homework and some professional development. I paused to take some pictures of the "colors of the day." First, I have Ed (my own personal "green man") who is toiling away with landscaping chores. The last pic is of our other Green Man who resides in the backyard.

I hope this day is perfect for you as well. Heartfelt wishes to you.

*Click on each pic to enlarge

School DAZE

Summer officially ended last Wednesday when classes began at IUPUI.

I have three courses totaling 10 credit hours. They are pretty intense so I will be "hiding" during the semester to keep up on the work.

The good news is that I have two remaining courses (six hours) in the spring and THEN I AM DONE!!!

I think I can, I think I can...

We've gone "postal!"

Aaaaaaahhhhhh, the simple joys!

Our new mailbox arrived this week and we installed it this morning. It's perfect!

When you stand at the road looking at the newly painted house, it helps to pull everything together. PLUS, we really appreciate the locking mechanism. The ONLY criticism we have is that the lock mechanism is chrome in color when it should be brass.

Oh well... Picky, picky, picky.

Shutter..Shutter

Hooray! The shutters are done and up!

Now granted, they are not the finest in quality or design but they are what came with the house and they hide the section of brick that had not been cleaned or tuck pointed with a previous owner.

Now, we have realized that we must paint the porch lights. Will this project ever end?

Handrails are Done!

Yes, the light at the end of the tunnel is NOT that of an oncoming train! Yesterday, we finished the handrails on our walkway and finished the porch swing and two chairs. We finished painting the shutters and they go up today. Then (maybe) we can put down the paintbrushes.

We are shopping for a vintage mailbox and have one in mind. Whatcha think? (see pic under the handrail pics).

Stay tuned for the final house pic with shutters mounted. I'm sure you will be as excited as we are (man, we need a hobby).

The work continues...

Ed and I are killing ourselves this weekend in the 90+ degree weather and accompanying humidity. Since the house painting is done, we must now perform accommodating tasks such as:
1. Return the storm windows with frames which includes washing all glass.
2. Paint the front porch swing which includes sealing the wood and applying two coats of paint.
3. Prep, prime, and paint the front handrails of the porch steps.
4. Prep, prime, and paint two iron porch chairs to match.

This week, we will be preparing the wooden shutters to (hopefully) paint them by next weekend. Then, they will be rehung on the front and back of the house. If we haven't called anyone or emailed lately, you now know why. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WINTER!

We're Poorer But Prettier!

Today was the day - the last day. The painters arrived on time (as usual) and finished the second coat of green and all the final touch-ups. I am going to miss them. It was refreshing to have a group of courteous, hard-working individuals around. I even baked them cookies for the last day.

Again, if anyone wants a reference for a painting company, please see me. CertaPro was fantastic. And, remember, they paint interiors as well!

We'll be done on Monday!

The first coat of green is all on and the second coat will be applied on Monday. They will also perform "touch-ups" and, then, sadly, they will be done.

I say sadly because I will miss having this crew around. They are fabulous! Please, if anyone is considering a company to paint your house, please consider CertaPro. They also paint interiors! CertaPro is everything you had hoped for in a painting service. We are so happy (and relieved) that we chose to go with them.

Now we need to either tuck point the brick around the front windows or rehang our shutters. For more detail, click once on the pic to enlarge.

It IS easy being green!

Even with the hot weather, the crew arrived to finish up second coats of the cream and red AND the green paint began!

The pictures you see here are of the front of the house. It looks SO good even with just one coat.

We're seeing RED! Hooray!

Well, the rain broke in Lebanon and it didn't rain here all day. The humidity is horrible though.

The painters came and began the first coat of the red trim. If it looks "rough", that is why. I can't wait for the green to appear. That will make the house "pop."