Summer Burger Ritual

August has OFFICIALLY arrived!

Each year, we plant 18 tomato plants to include some beefsteak varieties that, of course, ripen in August. When they do, we prepare two perfect onion slices, two perfect hamburger buns, and, of course, two large 1/4 pound hamburgers. The burgers are grilled and placed on the buns with an onion slice for each.

THEN, with respect and great ceremony, Ed selects the holy, sacrificial tomato from the garden and it is sliced into thick slices, two of which shall be assigned with one for each burger. Finished, the artform stands almost six inches tall.

A cold root beer is prepared and it is time. Amongst many rude noises, the August harvest is welcomed into the Erdmann household. NOW! Its time to can salsa and ketchup!

Two Train Robbery Dates Remain!

Mark your calendars for August 19 or September 16 - OR BOTH! These are the last two days that the Carthage, Knightstown and Shirley Railroad has scheduled train robberies this year.

For many years now, we have been honored to have the members of the Great Lakes Freight and Mining Company visit our railroad one day a month from May to September to interact with the passengers on each of the three train rides scheduled that day.

The Knightstown Banner is featuring a link to a wonderful video created and edited by their staff member, Stuart Cotton. Click on this link (Robbery Video) that will take you to the homepage of the Banner. Then, click on the photograph of the robber to take you directly to the video.

RESERVATIONS - If you plan to come out to enjoy one of the robbery rides, PLEASE call the train depot to place your reservations. Call (765) 345-5561 (or toll-free at (800) 345-2704 if you're in the state of Indiana). If you receive the answering machine, advise that you want to place a reservation for the train robbery and leave the following information: Last Name - Telephone Number (with area code) - Date and TIME of train ride - Number of Adults (aged 12 and over), Children (aged 3 to 11), and those aged 2 and under. Each train ride will last about one-and-one-half hours.

TRAIN FARES - Adults = $8.00...... Children = $6.00....... Aged 2 and Under = FREE

QUESTIONS? - Visit the website CKS Railroad or email me at lerdmann@sbcglobal.

Clifty Falls State Park - You HAVE to go!

CLICK ON EACH PHOTO TO ENLARGE

For years, I have heard wonderful stories of the Clifty Falls State Park located in the southeastern part of Indiana along the Ohio River. Ed and I talked often of going but it never seemed to "happen."

Well, recently, I have been in great need of some mental "R and R" to recharge my creative "juices." What I wanted was a clean, yet remote, primitive campground where we could pitch a tent and "detox" ourselves with Mother Nature. The natural amenities of this park not only met expectations but also exceeded them beyond belief.

When we learned of how wonderful the weather was to be this weekend, we knew our time had come to getaway. We left early on Friday morning and drove the two hours to the park. Anticipating a possible sell-out for the nice weekend, we picked out our campground immediately and pitched our little two-person tent before setting off for some serious hiking.

WARNING!
THE EVENT PLANNER AND TRAVEL CRITIC IS NOW KICKING IN!

HIKING:
Most of the trails are modest to extremely rugged. Only a couple of trails are available to allow you to see Big Clifty Falls and Little Clifty Falls as well as Tunnel Falls without too much effort. Anything else, you want to be in moderately good shape and be prepared to take your time. The scenery is beyond words and if you can manage to hike down to Clifty Creek, you are in for some spectacular scenery.

CAMPING:
The Park features two camping areas: one (A) with full individual electric, water, fire-ring, and dump stations with shared shower facilities and the other (C) is primitive with shared water and vaulted (non-flush) toilet facilities only. We stayed in the primitive area where each site had a fire-ring and was well designed for privacy. The grounds are beautiful and immaculately maintained. At night, we were "deafened" with the orchestral sounds of the insects singing and the same was true in the morning when the birds performed. Honestly, we couldn't have purchased a CD with as beautiful sounds as what we heard. It was amazing.

Truly, these campgrounds are perfect for singles, couples, and families and are perfectly designed to accommodate all these groups. Children can safely ride their bikes on the camp drives and the playgrounds were so attractive, I wanted to play on them. The vaulted restrooms were very well maintained but always bring your own toilet paper as they always seem to run out.

Note: Ed and I took our map and highlighted the campsite numbers of what we determined to be the best camp sites in both areas. Click on this picture to download and print. The yellow highlighted sites are the ones we recommend and those yellow sites with "stars" over them are the best! If you're unable to print this map, email us at lerdmann@sbcglobal and I'll send a .pdf version. This map also comes in handy when placing your online or telephone reservation or if you wait to register upon arrival. NOTE FOR 2009 - Although their online reservation page indicates that they are open for camping year-round, online reservations may be made for the dates of March 1 through August 27, 2009. Go to this website - read the page - click "Start" at the bottom. When the second page opens, select "Clifty Falls" among the options and go from there.

OTHER INFO:

PARK POOL: The park has a very large pool available for a minimal charge per person. There are sections for small children, the general "masses", and a diving area, and there is very neat water slide. Again, everything is clean! I had to look hard for the slightest cigarette butt anywhere in the park! AND, there is a walking trail that connects the campground directly to the pool so you don't have to drive.

CLIFTY FALLS INN: If camping is not your thing, their new remodeled Inn is perfect! It sits on the bluff overlooking the City of Madison, Indiana and the Ohio River. They have their own pool for guests of the Inn and a full dining room that serves incredible food. I stopped in and talked with the desk staff about the facility and was very impressed. They are open year-round and also cater to companies for meetings and small to midlevel events.

MADISON, INDIANA: Don't forget to allocate two to three hours to visit the historical rivertown of Madison, Indiana that is only one mile away. Your park pass will allow you in-and-out privileges so you won't have to pay to return. This town hosts a couple of wineries (love those tastings!), a railroad museum, and loads of varying scaled restaurants and antique stores. Drive around the historical section to see the beautiful houses that have been maintained. I was VERY impressed in that this town has NOT been spoiled with tourism but has graciously allowed it to co-exist with the day-to-day activities of real town activities. The ambience of the city is charming yet comfortable.

QUESTIONS?
If you are considering a get-away to this beautiful location and have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at lerdmann@sbcglobal.net. I would love to help you enjoy the same wonderful experience as we did.

Safe travels!

BTW I DID finally graduate!

I apologize for not having posted in so long. With the holidays and job hunting, I have been keeping very busy!

I did want to say that I finally did graduate although it is still taking some getting used to. After seven years of continual study, it is strange to not have a textbook in my lap or not be able to work on fun projects because of a pending assignment. Yes, I have my freedom and I'm a little disoriented on how to use it.

I am hoping to be able to post a PowerPoint show of the train graduation party and pics from the commencement ceremony that took place in the RCA Dome. With all the pics, it is "heavy" so I'm working to adjust it. PLUS, trying to FTP it to my parents web server is proving to be somewhat "educational" as well.

Check back here for it. I'll try to keep this updated as best I can. Thanks for understanding!

Final Falcon Post

This is my last posting about the Peregrine Falcons nesting over Monument Circle. A quick update is that the chicks began flying over one week ago. Sadly, we have lost Hokie and Lieber and one chick is "missing" as of the last blog post. One male (Kinny or Poston) has been seen flying quite well under the supervision its parents.

To catch up on the progress, you can access the blog at: Falcon Blog

I have enjoyed following this family over these past months and look forward to it again next year. I hope you have enjoyed the experience as much as me.

Chicks to fly soon...

Everyone is watching and ready to "pick up chicks" if necessary.

Our four "little" wonders are due to fledge out soon and there is concern about them landing in and around the monument circle and the street below.

I really don't know what I will do when they are gone. (sigh)

Check the links below for updated information and the "live-time" camera shots.

Falcon Chicks: Yesterday Was Banding Day!

Check out this video (with sound!): Falcon Chick Banding Video. The Department of Natural Resources came out to check and band the four falcon chicks that are presently nested over Monument Circle. It was determined that we have two males and two females.

All the bands we refer to are the black over green bands on the left leg of each chick. The names selected for each of the birds were determined as follows:

Kinney band is W over 53 (male) – submitted by Debbie Garcia from Indianapolis, IN. We felt there was no better way to honor the patriarch of the Indianapolis baby peregrines over the last 13 years – and on his way to becoming the most productive tiercel in the Midwest - than naming one after him. As Debbie said in her submission “…should be named after his dad…because his dad has done such a fine job being the ‘proud’ dad from the beginning when he had his turn sitting on the eggs. I will never forget the night he put the eggs in a row to lay on them. Kinney is ‘super dad’.” We couldn’t agree more Debbie – if there was such a thing as agreeing 500%, then I’m there. We will call him Junior during the fledging season in order to differentiate between him and his dad when calling out a name, but for the record books, he will be documented as Kinney. Now, if he turns out to be half the falcon his dad is…wow!

Poston band is W over 54 (male) – submitted by the entire Poston Road Elementary School, Principal Betty Maxwell, Martinsville, IN. The Poston Road Tigers caught falcon fever the day the first chick hatched because they were enthusiastically celebrating an Arbor Day celebration when word came baby number 1 had arrived. As their entry stated, “…the school, the staff and the entire community feel that Poston is very special and will soon soar high just as we aspire and inspire our students to do….Our entire school has embraced the Peregrine Falcons”. You inspire us with your passion you Poston Road Tigers and I hope falcon Poston continues to inspire you and falconheads of every age, everywhere!

Lieber band is R over 10 (female) – submitted by Alison Brown, Ansfelden, Austria and Carmel IN. This name has a two-fold meaning. Lieber means “beloved” in German – well, doesn’t that sum it up for many of us and how we feel about these birds? Lieber also happens to be the name of Colonel Richard Lieber and as Alison documented about him “…was crucial to the development of the Indiana State Park system and a pioneer in the protection of wildlife in our state.” Everyone, particularly Hoosiers, should be proud and thankful for the work of Colonel Lieber – if you have time, google his name and read a very impressive record of his life and the impact on natural resources conservation he had nationally and locally. We’ve come a long way in protecting the wildlife and lands that surround us humans thanks to pioneers like Colonel Lieber and honestly, what could be more wild and beloved than one of our baby falcons?

Hokie band is R over 11 (female) (my apologies for the original misspelling of the name - it was in no way intentional - thanks and sorry but thanks to everyone for noticing) – submitted by Gayle Doucey, Greenwood, IN. As Gayle so succinctly and eloquently put it: “In the memory of Virginia Tech. Let their spirits continue to soar on the wings of a falcon.” The name Hokie has the same first two letters of a word I believe sums up what the world still has, even with all the events we see unfold before us on an everyday basis: hope. So we hope that Hokie will have a long and fruitful falcon life and contribute to the continued recovery of this remarkable species known as the peregrine falcon.

We will continue to watch them over the next couple of weeks to see when they will fly.

Click here to see the live-time Falcon Cam of the nest: Falcon Nest Falcon Nest

Click here to see the live-time Falcon Cam of the ledge overlooking the circle: Falcon LedgeFalcon Ledge

I'll be sorry when they leave and it is over for the season.

Two Days AND ITS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Sunday is the day. It still hasn't quite sunk in.

I first went to Indiana University straight out of high school in 1977. During my tme there, I was frustrated in that I could not decide "what I wanted to do when I grew up" and, thus, could not decide upon a major. I decided to seek my fortune one-and-a-half years later and left school. Over the next two decades, I evolved into the occupation of travel consultant and meeting planner - an occupation that wasn't officially acknowledged by the Department of Labor until 1989!

In that time, I also realized that I needed the "paper" to be able to perform at the level for which I was qualified. In 1999, I drew in a deep breath and called Indiana University located in downtown Indianapolis to inquire about their new Bachelor of Science degree program for Tourism, Conventions and Event Management. I spoke with a true angel in the name of Dr. Linda Brothers. She informed me about the development of the program and encouraged me to enroll which I eventually did and I began classes in 2000.

Over the past seven years, I have attended classes on a part-time basis while also working a full-time job. There were many times that I thought I would never reach the end but my beloved Ed and my friends kept cheering me on. Now, in just two days, I will switch the tassel on the floor of the RCA Dome in downtown Indianapolis and accept my Bachelor of Science degree from the Dean of our school.

Lessons learned? (1) Kids, GET THE PAPER! (2) It IS possible!

Can they BE any cuter???

Every day, I check in on the falcon chicks.

I love this photo I captured this morning and wanted to share with you.

Have a wonderful day!

We're Back!!! Where are the palm trees?

What a week last week was!

Ed and I ran away on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas and it was exactly what the doctor ordered.

We visited Nassau, the privately-owned beach of Cocoa Cay Beach (Royal Caribbean), and Key West and South Beach, Florida. We left Monday, the 30th and returned on Saturday, the 5th.
It was perfect.

We have all four chicks!

The fourth and last chick was hatched today! So far, everything is going naturally and are in good condition.

Click here to see the live-time Falcon Cam: Falcon Cam Falcon Cam

The link to the Falcon Blog is: Falcon Blog and Falcon Cam

We have three falcon chicks with one to go!

Remember our posting (below) about the nesting Falcons overlooking Monument Circle?

Well, the chicks began hatching yesterday and we're watching for one more! Check out these links!

Click here to see the live-time Falcon Cam: Falcon Cam Falcon Cam

The link to the Falcon Blog is: Falcon Blog and Falcon Cam

Enjoy!

Graduation in one month???!!! - No April Fools!!!

I began college in 1977 and left in 1978 to find out "what I wanted to do when I grew up." I returned to finish my BS degree in 2000 as a part-time student.

Over one year-and-a-half ago, I needed "something" to excite me toward the completion of my bachelor of science degree. SO, I posted sheets of paper on the wall noting each month left before it would be completed. I allowed myself the fun of ripping off one paper each month. This has worked well even when I had to add four months to accommodate a required course.

Now we are on the homestretch... The good news is that I have my last and final exam on April 28 - four weeks from yesterday! The BAD news is that it is in a 300-level statistics course that I am not doing well in at all. I am deathly afraid that I will have to retake the course. If this comes to pass, then I will be able to participate in the ceremony on May 13 BUT will have to retake the course during the first summer session.

Wish me luck!!!

Peregrine Falcons on Indy's Circle! Check it out!

A pair of Peregrine Falcons have nested atop one of Indianapolis' tallest buildings that overlook the downtown Monument Circle.

The Indianapolis Star newspaper is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources in hosting a "Falcon Cam" that features images of the nesting falcons and the ledge overlooking the circle. To-date the pair have four eggs and anticipate hatching to begin around April 24th.

Check out the Falcon Blog and Falcon Cam. Click on the links in the right-hand column to catch the live falcon-cam shots that refresh every 60 seconds.

Smoozin for some Cruisin...

Sorry, folks, but we have to escape!!!

I found a VERY nice cruise special that will depart out of Miami to spend a day in Nassau, a day at Royal Carribean's private island, and a day in Key West (I can taste the Key lime pie now). We even included a night at South Beach just to watch the "nightlife." Using some frequent flyer points resulted in two round-trip flights for a total of $15.00. Since Ed is a SENIOR CITIZEN!!!, we qualify for a very decent fare for an oceanview stateroom.

How did we justify this? My birthday is in March and Ed's is in April. PLUS, I will graduate from Indiana University in May. SO, all three of those special events together equal one cruise in the fun and sun. Sheesh, we can't wait!

Mystical Sunrise

That "wacky weather" is playing with us again. After having a blizzard and sub-zero degree temperatures, we are now in the mid-40s and the snow is melting fast.

With these warm temperatures and the amount of snow still on the ground, a very thick fog formed with this morning's sunrise. Ed captured this picture from our front porch.

I wanted to share its beauty with you.

Winter Art Show

With a beautiful sunny afternoon available, Ed went into the back yard and captured some amazing photos depicting Old Man Winter's "flair" with an artbrush. Enjoy!

Snow DAZE!

Wowie! Have we had fun the past two days!As you are all aware, central Indiana experienced a winter storm that began on Monday night and lasted through the night on Tuesday. We are located in Lebanon, Indiana which is in Boone County situated northwest of Indianapolis. In total, we received 12 to 14 inches with drifts up to four or five feet in some areas.

We're cozy inside with plenty of junk food. We managed to shovel a path out front to the road so that we can get our mail today.

NOW it is supposed to dip into sub-zero degree temperatures and we may receive four+ inches more snow this weekend!


Enjoy the pics! They were taken this morning. As always, simply click twice on each to enlarge.

Love the Snow!

Tuesday was fun for us as well as many other people throughout the midwest when six+ inches of snow hit the area.

One good thing is that with the cold temperatures we have been having, the snow is light and fluffy.

Ed and I are especially happy with how the new paint job on the house looks with the white snow. Double click on the pics to enlarge and enjoy!

Another one bites the dust!

First of all, I'm sorry for not having posted in so long... A LOT has been going on here and this was the first chance I have had.

St. Joseph Catholic Church, which is across the street, purchased the (very cute) house next door to them. This house was a rental and was very well taken care of. We had heard rumors that the church wanted to expand but didn't expect actions to take place so soon.

Earlier this week, we noticed that men were stripping off the aluminum siding and removing any windows of worth. Today they are cleaning the lot - wow, so fast!

We just hope that they will begin construction soon and not leave the lot bare for a long period of time.

I do miss the house. It was really cute.