Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana

$2.95 • Februar y 2016 • Volume 12, No. 3

of South-Central Indiana

of South-Central Indiana

At Home with the Mayor

Welcome to Hamilton’s ‘working’ home

Peace by Piece Artist finds an oasis in mosaics

Also inside: • Green home in progress • Local chef’s new kitchen • ‘Pop-pop’ artist’s cabin • Woodworker’s magic • Family philanthropy

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2 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

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Professor and Woodworker

8 Victor Harnack

16 Family Philanthropy ‘Pop-pop’ Sports Artist

20 Pierick Smith

28

26 Chef Sasha Divine Bloomington Author

28 Claire Arbogast

36 Green Home in Progress Financial Advisor

42 Stephen Fortune 46 Artist Gallery

36

Mosaic Artist

48 Christina Knipstine 56 Mayor John Hamilton’s Home 62 George Jones Museum 67 Pavlova Recipe ON OUR COVER: New Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and his family welcome H&L readers into their 1920sera home. The story starts on page 56.

Photo by David Snodgress.

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© 2016 Schurz Communications, Inc. HOMES & LIFESTYLES OF SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA is distributed bimonthly on a subscription basis. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Laurie Ragle

August 2015 Vol. 11, No. 6

COPYRIGHT. Prices, specials and descriptions are accurate as of the time of publishing. This book or parts thereof may not be

MARKETING MANAGER Shaylan Owen

reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent

Hoosier Reflections

CONTENT/LAYOUT COORDINATOR Brooke McCluskey

advertisers. Schurz Communications, Inc. does not make any

Home For Two Nations

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Jackie Sheckler Finch

Remembering the heartbreak of 1975

An Inuit influence on Indiana decor

Also inside: • Harper Lee’s hometown • A new-old bungalow • IU Auditorium at 75 • Fourth Street Festival • Legal leaders

visit us online at www.homesandlifestylesmagazine.com or mail subscription to: SUBSCRIPTIONS, Homes & Lifestyles 1900 South Walnut Street, P.O. Box 909 Bloomington, IN 47402

p. 44

of the publisher. Advertising information has been provided by representations as to opinions and facts contained herein. All terms and conditions are subject to change. The cover, cover design, format, content and layout of this publication are trademarks of Schurz Communications, Inc.

WRITERS Jackie Sheckler Finch, Joel Pierson, Michelle Ann Crowe, Pete DiPrimio, and Alexandra M. Lynch PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Howell, David Snodgress ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Dennis Laffoon

ADVERTISING SALES:

Contact Laurie Ragle at (812) 331-4291 EDITORIAL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:

Contact Jackie Sheckler Finch at JackieSFinch@gmail.com or Brooke McCluskey at (812) 331-4289

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 3

Homes & Lifestyles

Contributors

Writers Jackie Sheckler Finch greets country music legend George Jones’ widow for a chat about a new museum opened in his honor. The story begins on page 62.

Pete DiPrimio initiates part one of a two-part series about the Walls’ still-under-construction energy efficient home on page 36.

Pete also introduces mixed media sports artist Pierick Smith on page 20 and the philanthropic Hamilton family on page 16.

Alexandra M. Lynch tours the

Michelle Ann Crowe shares the

poignant story of local author Claire Arbogast on page 28. Michelle also profiles the aptly-named investment advisor Steven Fortune on page 42.

magical home of woodworker and theater professor Victor Harnack on page 8. And on page 56, new Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and wife Dawn Johnsen talk to Alexandra about sharing a home and workspace in their beloved city.

Joel Pierson puts the pieces together with mosaic artist Christina Knipstine on page 48.

Photographers David Snodgress catches a quiet moment with Bloomington’s new mayor on page 56 and visits a green construction site on page 36. He shows intricate mosaic creations on page 48 and stops by a chef’s brand new kitchen on page 26. David also photographs the man behind the Fortune name on page 42.

Chris Howell captures the

giving spirit of the Hamilton family on page 16 and the magical spirit of Victor Harnack on page 8.

Intern Scott Tenefrancia (not pictured) also contributed photos to this issue on page 28.

4 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Homes & Lifestyles

From the Editor Comments I just want to tell you we are very pleased with the article in H&L magazine—”Wheels and Whimsy.”

It’s beautiful.

Beverly DeFord

2.95

$

December 2015 Vol. 12, No. 2

Log Home for the Holidays Christmas cabin holds family treasures

Letters to Santa Meet the elves of Santa Claus, Indiana

Also inside: • Sacred places • Fireplace & countertop tips • Bicycle art at Lake Lemon • Artistic duo’s home studio • Taking root in Brown County

Editor’s note: The DeFords’ Lake Lemon home—with whimsical bicycle art—was featured in the December issue.

p. 44

The story was great. As a composer I have been featured in other magazines and the experience varies. I want you to know that my experience with Michelle and the photographer was lovely.

Tim Greatbatch Editor’s note: Michelle Crowe’s story about Tim Greatbatch and Lisa Philabaum’s art-filled home was in December’s H&L.

Your magazine is a gem. When I get the new one, I tell my husband to leave me alone for a while and let me read my magazine. The stories are very positive and put me in a cheerful mood.

Janice Ortmann

S

o much to share. First issue of 2016. A subtle redesign for a fresh new look. A visit with Bloomington’s recently-elected mayor. And so much more.

Where to start? Look at our page about the upcoming Woolery Market on Feb. 13. Readers have told us that they enjoyed seeing photos of events we featured after the activity happened but they would like to know about these things beforehand so they can attend. This certainly sounds like a fun one to begin this change.

We’ve renamed our Mail Call section to Comments because most of the feedback we receive is in the form of electronic communication. Once in a while a postal letter will come in but now we will be putting all email or postal cards under the Comments section. By the way, if you do have any messages you would like to share, please let us know. I’m often stopped while I’m out in the community by folks with nice things to say about H&L. We can’t include verbal exchanges like that so please send an email if you have time— JackieSFinch@gmail.com.

In this issue, we stopped by the fine dining establishment of No Coast Reserve to see what chef Sasha Divine is cooking up. Originally, when we started this workspace feature, it was titled “On the Desk of …” However, we’ve been branching out to include “In the Studio,” “In the Kitchen” and who knows what the future might hold. This change is in recognition that many folks don’t have just a desk where they work but other spaces as well. If you’d like to suggest your workspace for this section, let us know.

For our travel stories, we are now using the heading of “Take a Trip.” We’ve been running travel stories almost since H&L first started in the fall of 2004. We used to call it “One Tank Trip” and used a graphic with a car’s gas gauge because at first we were featuring area destinations that you could drive to in a few hours. Over the years, however, we have taken an ocean cruise to Iceland, a Disney cruise to the Bahamas, a flight to Spain for the Pamplona running of the bulls, a long flight to the Republic of Georgia to tour the Stalin Museum, a plane trip to Germany to see what’s left of the Berlin Wall and so much more. For this issue, we went to Nashville, Tenn., to tour the new George Jones Museum and talk with his widow for a true love story to spotlight in our Valentine’s Day issue.

You might notice a change in our logo and cover as well as differences in the print and color reproduction. Our content, of course, is the same as when we first sat down to brainstorm this new magazine almost 12 years ago. Stories about people were our first priority then and they still are today. We want to spotlight the wonderful folks in our community—where they live, what they do and how they personalize their own little corner of the world.

Let us know what you think of our new H&L changes and, if you have any story ideas, please send them our way. Happy reading!

Have something to say?

Maybe it’s a comment about a home or a recipe. Whatever you’d like to share, we want to hear, so drop us a line!

Letters c/o Homes & Lifestyles P.O. Box 909 • Bloomington, IN 47402 Or e-mail JackieSFinch@gmail.com

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 5

New Honors for H&L

H&L magazine received two first place awards for travel writing at the 2015 Society of American Travel Writers Central States Chapter awards banquet.

Winning entries were:

1st place Magazine Article on International Destination “River of Memories: A visit to the Audie Murphy Memorial near Colmar, France” by Jackie Sheckler Finch

1st place in Ecology/Conservation Travel “Hope for Orangutans: New Indianapolis Zoo Center aims to help endangered species” by Jackie Sheckler Finch Founded in 1955, The Society of American Travel Writers represents more than 1,100 members in North America. Entries in the contest appeared in newspapers, magazines and websites across the United States. The contest is not categorized by size, pitting H&L against national publications.

One lucky voter will receive a $50 gift card!

H&L readers know the best places to get and do anything!

We’ll highlight a specific category and you get to pick your favorites! In the following issue, we’ll reveal your picks and the name of a lucky voter who will receive a $50 gift card to one of the businesses with the most votes.

Next up: Fine Dining • Vote Feb. 1-29 Go to homesandlifestylesmagazine.com and click “Vote today”

6 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Homes & Lifestyles

Events

Announcing The Woolery Market

Free eclectic art and antiques market Feb. 13 Woolery Stone Mill – 2200 Tapp Road, Bloomington

The Woolery Market, a new quarterly event hosted

by The Herald-Times, features vendors offering art, antiques, collectibles, new and vintage clothing, kitchenware, records, furniture, woodworking, books, fine prepared and packaged food, jewelry and other unique items.

The inaugural market takes place Saturday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Woolery Stone Mill in Bloomington. The event will feature up to 40 local vendors and is free and open to the public.

No worries about February weather—The Woolery Market takes place in the covered and enclosed portion

of the historic limestone mill building, and patio heaters will be on site for added warmth. At future events— during warm weather—it will be an open air market.

Look for the Woolery Market three more times in 2016: May 14, Aug. 13, and Nov. 5.

Food vendors and food trucks will offer warm and chilled food and drink options.

For event updates, information, photos, and more, see The Woolery Market Facebook page and visit woolerymarket.com. Vendors interested in future markets may email MAW@heraldt.com or call 812-331-4298 for details and an application.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 7

Victor Harnack’s great room was designed with a stage and room for 40 audience members. Photos by Chris Howell.

8 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Stage Magic

Theater professor’s wood-filled home casts a spell

By Alexandra M. Lynch, H&L

T

he magic starts right away. A house with an imaginative, indescribable roofline appears in the woods north of Bloomington. A spacious fieldstone porch is paired with a gracefully curved ramp and flanked with tall windows giving views into the house.

We come into the tall entryway.

“This is where it begins,” says Victor Harnack, pointing to a tall oak coat stand, complete with handcrafted wooden hangers.

“I made most of the woodwork and furniture in this house.” This statement becomes more remarkable as we walk through rooms filled with Victor’s exquisitely designed and crafted wood creations.

Meet owner, designer and construction contractor of the home and our host, a retired professor of theater and communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he taught for 31 years. Woodworking is his avocation. He is an ardent music lover and is active in the Faculty Drama Club, a long-running readers’ theater group.

At 88, Victor is proud to say he has “lots of irons in the fire.”

Upon his retirement, Victor and his late, beloved wife Martha looked at various communities around the country before deciding Bloomington and Indiana University were just right—with strong arts programs, music and theater, plus the natural beauty of the woodlands of southern Indiana. They moved here in 1995 and together designed the 2,200-square-foot house, creating drawings of their vision for the home which were made into blueprints by

draftsmen at the Rogers Group.

Coming through the entryway, we are in the airy, 22-foot diameter, circular great room. Around the room are Victor’s tables, chairs—some topped with harp-like strings—eclectic art work and wide doorways to other rooms of the house. Maple floors gleam. Light flows throughout. The great room is the living room, family room and dining room of the house. More than that, the room is designed with a proscenium, or stage area, indicated by a walnut beam in the ceiling and a walnut line across the floor. Victor hosts musical groups and readers’ theater, and the great room is perfect for holding an audience of 30 to 40 people.

But now, the house is quiet. We walk into the front room, originally Martha’s room and study. A wall of tall windows admits the green of surrounding trees.

“Martha wanted lots of windows,” says Victor. “So in addition to the tall windows, I added ‘awning windows’ on top— small windows that tilt out.” Victor uses a small remote control to open the windows. Magic.

High Notes

Heading back through the great room, we enter the music room. High and bright, it centers on a grand piano that was Martha’s instrument. Huge windows brighten the room with its handsome bookcases and Victor’s “music lamp”—a whimsical, five-foot tall wood lamp with a lampshade illustrated with wooden musical notes and staffs. As he rotates the lampshade, Victor hums the oratorio written on the lampshade.

But then he gets serious. He selects a Dvorak quartet from his CD collection and suddenly, by remote control, the room is filled with perfect sound, as if the quartet were playing right there. Victor’s knowledge of acoustics pays off throughout the home, but especially here in the music room. Magic.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 9

A hand-carved wood lamp contains the notes of an oratorio.

10 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Victor’s wife had lifelong vision problems and dreamed of having a light-filled study overlooking the wilderness.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 11

12 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

At left, Victor pauses in his book-filled study. Above, his kitchen is infused with light. Below, a doorway gives a glimpse of one of Victor’s wood sculptures.

Next is the kitchen, wide and high, again with Martha’s requisite windows. A white counter contrasts with the tall dark wood cabinets. A friendly table in the center welcomes all.

We visit the master bedroom, and nearby is Victor’s study with furniture of his creation.

“Oh, come see this,” says Victor. We are in a hallway off the kitchen. Victor opens a wooden door and there it is—a dumbwaiter. With its power pulley system and wood shelves, located downstairs by the door to the garage and upstairs by the kitchen, it is the perfect way to avoid hauling groceries upstairs.

“You have to build this into the house from the start,” says Victor.

In this house, no two studs are the same length.

The diagonally sloped roof makes for interesting ceiling heights inside. Rooms have off-square corners. As we stand in the center of the great room, we enjoy the daylight coming in from all sides.

“I love motion,” Victor says with a sweeping gesture.

“The light moves through these rooms and the ceiling heights give a sense of motion as well.”

We go downstairs where there is a bedroom, bath and garage, but most impressively Victor’s woodworking shop. Neatly filled with saws, drills and other woodworking tools, it is easy to picture Victor hard at work here. A nearby closet holds the intricate wiring for the home’s security, phone and intercom system.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 13

Above, Victor’s wood shop awaits his next project. Below, other photos from his property show its peaceful solitude—and a colorful fence recycled from the planks of a playhouse his granddaughters painted.

14 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

The natural setting of the home is a beautiful forest.

“Come see my cathedral,” says Victor. And there outside the house is a long, narrow clearing with tall trees arching over it. A cathedral indeed. Beyond are ten acres of woods with trails. Just magical.

Victor and Martha had goals when they built this home. They wanted a place to age comfortably and safely. They wanted to host performances and concerts.

And they wanted to avoid the standard home. Victor can attest that these goals were achieved.

But creating a beautiful home is just one dimension of Victor Harnack.

“I was put here for a reason,” he states, explaining that he is involved in New Leaf, New Life—a program for prisoners—the Shalom Center and IU’s Theatre Circle. He recently presented Sophocles’ “Antigone” at the Faculty Drama Club.

Why is there so much magic in this home? Because Victor and Martha paid attention to every detail. He built 16 sassafras doors for the main level, and he and Martha designed a logo for the name they chose for their home— Beech Tree Ridge. Victor inscribed that logo into 14 of the doors.

Warm, bright, intriguing and full of surprises, the Harnack house is truly magical.

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 15

Alejandra Roberts-Hamilton and Isabel Roberts-Hamilton, 19 year old twins, with their family Maria Hamilton, mother, Antonio Hamilton, 14, brother, and stepfather Jason Hamilton at their home in Bloomington.

Not pictured is older sister Raquel Roberts-Hamilton.

Photos by Chris Howell.

Because it Matters Bloomington family is driven to give

By Pete DiPrimio, H&L

A

lejandra Roberts-Hamilton smiles through tears. She fans her face with a hand, as if that can cool the emotion.

“I always cry when I talk about this,” she says, dabbing at her eyes.

Flash back to last December and the Xavier University Christmas. A young girl, Angie, had come for the annual event that pairs Musketeers students with Cincinnati’s inner city youth. Alejandra, a former Bloomington North High School honor student, was a Xavier freshman volunteer.

She was paired with Angie, who only spoke Spanish, because Alejandra spoke Spanish.

For seven hours they made crafts, talked, laughed, took a piggyback ride—with Alejandra providing the back—and met Santa Claus, sheep and other mangerappropriate animals. They bonded as if they had known each other for years instead of hours.

Alejandra has a way of doing that.

As Angie prepared to leave, she began crying. She wanted to know if Alejandra

16 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

rough backgrounds. They had never seen things like that.”

Alejandra pauses. Again fans furiously.

Wipes away more tears. Months after the fact, memory still resonates. It happens when you care.

Alejandra has a way of caring about people. She’s been active in numerous church and community efforts such as Community Kitchen, Middle Way House, Catholic Heart Work Camp, and many more.

At a time when headlines so often are dominated by tragedy, disaster and people doing wrong, it’s important to know there are people who do right, not for profit or self-interest, but because it matters.

People such as Alejandra and her family. would visit her at her house. Alejandra couldn’t at the time, but hopes to do so this year.

“I feel so bad for her,” Alejandra says.

“She was so grateful and so excited about everything. She even thanked Santa for everything. She and all these kids come from

Finding the Drive

Across the dining room table in this comfortable east side house sits her twin sister, Isabel, also a Xavier sophomore. She is blonde and athletic, a member of the Musketeers’ cross country and track teams.

Isabel spent last summer as a swim instructor at Indiana University’s pool when she wasn’t training for cross-country. She taught youth swim lessons, blending it with singing, positive energy and fun expertly enough to win a best instructor award.

Sports drive Isabel. She grew up participating in soccer, volleyball, track and swimming. In addition to cross country at Xavier, she expects to run the 1,500 meters, although she prefers the 800.

“I can’t imaging not being an athlete. I love being on a team.”

Isabel seems a bit more intense than her sister, but just as driven to volunteer, whether it’s at St. Paul Catholic Center events or the Indianapolis Riley Hospital for Kids Dance Marathon. She’s involved with many activities.

“I’ve grown up helping others,” she says.

“Giving back to others is what makes me happy. It really motivates me.”

Motivation peaked with the Dance Marathon. Hundreds of high school students from Bloomington High School North and South participate each year, listening to parents talk about the effects of cancer on their children, of the months of treatment, of the successes and struggles, of the hope, of the children who made it and the ones who didn’t.

At one point in the Dance Marathon, students formed a tunnel for children to walk through. One child, born premature and battling brain cancer, was pulled in a wagon.

“It was one of the most moving moments I’ve had,” Isabel says. “Parents were saying it’s people like us who are the reason their children are still alive.”

It matters. Little things always do.

Between Alejandra and Isabel sits the architect of this, Maria Hamilton, once a divorced single mom trying to raise three kids in diapers with an unshakeable faith in God, hard work and no TV. Entertainment for this family was anything St. Paul Catholic Center offered—choirs, trips, library visits, playing in the park and participating in Monroe County YMCA activities.

“Our lifestyle was very frugal,” Maria says.

And yet, in many ways, it was quite rich.

Maria is a fiercely organized force of nature, and woe to anyone getting in her way. She is the cross country and track coach at St. Charles school in Bloomington and a longtime YMCA fitness instructor. But more than that, she is the catalyst—the fuel—that drives her family’s giving ways.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 17

Alejandra and Isabel volunteer for numerous local organizations, including Riley Hospital for Kids. Both are active in sports. Courtesy photos.

18 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Giving Back

Maria demands giving of her family because of all-too-personal experience. When she was struggling—and she was struggling big time until meeting her husband Jason, who owns Sallee Dental Studio—people were there for her and she strives to return the favor.

“People came out of the woodwork to help me survive,” she says. “Friends gave me hand-me-down dresses and shoes. People did things for me that changed me. I realized I needed to raise my kids so they understood that helping is what you do.”

Maria’s oldest daughter, Raquel, set the early example. Her mother calls her “the leader of the pack” in terms of generosity.

Raquel grew out and cut her hair three times for Locks for Love, which provides hair for kids with cancer. When she turned 11, instead of birthday presents she asked people to donate items to the Bloomington Animal Shelter. Last Christmas at St. Louis University—she’s a junior studying public health and social justice, and is considering mission work in Africa—Raquel raised money from all the girls on her dorm floor to buy gifts for a struggling family. She also volunteers

to assist aging priests at the university’s infirmary.

Even Antonio, the youngest as an eighth grader at St. Charles, volunteers his time at Community Kitchen on Christmas Day. Isabel is a business major with a sports communication minor who wants to work for a college or sports team in media relations.

Alejandra is majoring in social work, with a minor in American Sign Language. She wants to work with children and young adults.

“I used to intern at a homeless shelter,”

Alejandra says. “It’s hard to see what kids go through. I saw how much it meant to them that somebody cared and looked out for them. That’s what I want to do in my career.”

Reality check: The Roberts-Hamilton children are neither perfect nor saints. They have plenty of age-appropriate silliness. But they quickly turn back to the big picture. In this family, it’s important to focus on helping others and making a difference. In the end, that’s what really matters.

Bloomington Paint & Wa allpaper 1150 S. Walnut Stre eet Bloomington, IN 474 401 812-337-2468 Weekday ys 7:30-5:30 and Sa aturdays 8-4 February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 19

Beyond Dimension ‘Pop-pop’ sports artist

builds national following from rural Bloomington cabin

By Pete DiPrimio, H&L

P

ierick Smith’s artistic watershed moment came when he told his non-art employer to, in so many words, take this job and shove it. He did it without another job, with a wife and with the expenses of living in Chicago.

Pierick runs Paintin Manning, a Bloomington custom sports art business with a growing national reach. It’s a business in which the bounds of dimensions don’t apply. If you can visualize it—and even if you can’t—Pierick can make it happen.

“I want to make the art approachable,” he says. “I’m relatively cheap if you look at sports artists, but I think I’m as good as any sports artist in the country. I know that sounds nuts, but that’s how I look at it.”

If that sounds, well, cocky, consider that this isn’t just art. It takes art to another level, beyond the flat world of canvas into three dimensions—and then into the whimsical beyond.

Pierick coined the term “pop-pop art” to describe his work. It combines the idea of pop art—think Andy Warhol—with the feeling of seeing art pop right off the two-dimensional plane. Some of his art has removable pieces, lights or both. His works incorporate acrylic paints, varnishes, high density foam board and lightweight woods.

His depictions of well-known sports figures like Michael Jordan, NBA players Jason Richardson and Javale McGee, and 1980s Major League baseball pitcher Lee Tunnel are eye catching, colorful and unique to the touch.

“It’s sculptural to some degree,” Pierick says.

“It’s using all of my undergraduate art classes together. To call me a painter is limiting.”

Pierick Smith creates his mixed-media dimensional sports art from a basement cabin studio. Photos by David Snodgress.

20 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 21

Pierick lives in a rural Monroe County cabin with his wife, Suzy, and their new son, Hank.

Artistic Urge

Pierick has no interest in limits. He’s building toward a better future fueled by a humble past. Several years ago he was doing, “A lot of grinding, a lot of portraits of dogs, grandparents, anything I could to keep supplies coming in.”

Now all things seem possible.

Pierick stands in a log cabin surrounded by trees, nestled on a ridge that flows, as so many do in Monroe County, toward Lake Monroe. He is an artist with a dream and a willingness to risk it all to do what he loves.

On this sun-splashed day, Pierick is in a basement of paneled walls, unique art and odd decorations. There’s a poster from the 1980s movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” because he’s a self-described 80s freak. This is his art studio, the epicenter for Paintin Manning—a play on the name of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning that blends Pierick’s love of sports and art.

Pierick isn’t shooting to be the next Picasso, in part because he’s more in the mold of Dave Choate—an artist nationally renowned for caricature portraits of athletes. Pierick is doing what he wants rather than what he has to.

“Fame or fortune aren’t goals,” he says. “I want to sustain the family, maybe get to the point so my wife could retire.

I’m doing what I loved to do most as a three year-old, and do that as an occupation. I get up at 5:30 in the morning and I’m excited. Not many people can say that. I don’t take that for granted. I know this is a special opportunity.”

22 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Above, a view of the cabin’s interior shows an artful blend of memorabilia. Below, one of Pierick’s Hoosier football illustrations.

Pierick didn’t always think that way. He kept walking away from art. As a teenager he focused on sports and cars. After high school he washed cars for a couple of years, which became “the propellant I needed get back into school.”

He went to UW-Whitewater, earned an art degree, then again gave up art.

“I was turned off by the art world. It was like you’re aloof and above normal society.”

He worked as a wine specialist for Whole Foods in Chicago, where he made lots of money and became, he says, “real good at BS-ing.”

Along the way, the artistic urge returned.

The Spark

“I’m sitting around looking at a picture of [Chicago Bears quarterback] Jay Cutler smirking, picked up a pen and just drew. I hadn’t done that for my pleasure in a long time.”

He started thinking that maybe the image of the starving artist was a myth.

As for his Whole Foods job, well, one day he had enough. Six hours into an eight-hour shift, while dealing with dental insurance forms, he walked out.

“Once a decision is made,” he says, “I don’t waste any time.”

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 23

Much of Pierick’s art is multi-dimensional and pieced together to create his signature “pop-pop” effect.

So he was out of a job, out of health insurance and even out of parental approval. He did have Suzy, a supportive wife with a job.

“She was the kickstand. Doing what you love means you need things beyond talent. You need support from others, even if it’s just one person.”

They moved to Bloomington, bought a log cabin and started to make things work. He went on Twitter with zero followers. Now he has 4,000. He did a painting of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, put it on Ebay and Craigslist and sold it for $75.

“It was enough to buy better paint brushes,” Pierick says.

Soon an autograph hunter from Indiana commissioned Pierick to do a couple of paintings of NBA players. Demand grew. Current and former athletes began tweeting about his art, including former NFL running back Barry Sanders. Demand grew more. Dave Choate began tweeting about Pierick’s work.

“It took a year and a half,” Pierick says. “I remember thinking, ‘This is cool.’”

Business now booms to the point that Pierick has 22 orders to fill, enough to last him a year. His wife helps, as does his father-in-law,

24 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

but he does the actual art. Because of the everincreasing workload, he sometimes wishes, “there were two of me. I’d like to get to the point where I have fewer jobs, but they’re more expensive.”

Pierick charges between $400 and $1,600 per item. Producing very large art—detailed works the size of a door—would cost about $5,000.

“That’s a lot of money to me, but I still think it’s approachable,” he says.

Pierick’s work is becoming more complex.

Much of his regular pop-pop art takes 40 hours to finish. Adding lights to the Jason Richardson NBA dunk contest piece made it an 80-hour project.

And he keeps pushing the envelope, trying new things. One day he hopes to work with current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers or former Packers QB Brett Favre or even boyhood hero Michael Jordan.

“If they were to reach out to me for my art,” he says, “I’d probably faint.”

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 25

Homes & Lifestyles

In the Kitchen with ...

China cap strainers are used to ensure a smooth consistency for soups and sauces. “We like to keep everything we need at arm’s reach.”

Near the serving window that borders the kitchen, dates, honey and baking soda are combined into a sticky date pudding.

Pastry chefs use an eight-quart heavy duty mixing bowl to prepare hazelnut butter cream and other whipped concoctions.

“We try to make as much stuff from scratch here as possible.”

Sasha Divine

Chef de cuisine, No Coast Reserve Sasha Divine is the chef de cuisine–“chef of the kitchen”–at No Coast Reserve in downtown Bloomington. Thirteen years of experience working in local fine dining establishments helped him establish No Coast as Bloomington’s premiere seafood and raw food eatery. The restaurant recently moved from its original east side location into a former wine bar on the downtown square.

They kept the bar but almost completely rebuilt the kitchen to better suit their needs.

Photo by David Snodgress.

26 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Sheet trays slide into this cooling rack fresh out of the oven. Some foods, such as breads, would be ruined by refrigeration and are stored here.

One of the holdovers from the previous establishment is a massive hood vent system to keep the kitchen cool.

An Ansul fire suppression system stands ready to dump flame-retardant powder into the kitchen if flames ever reach the hood vent.

“That’d be a terrible thing. If it ever happens we’d have to close the restaurant to clean everything.”

The electric grill is mostly used for grouper and the occasional special dish—but No Coast has big plans for it in the future. “With our second menu we’re definitely going to utilize it more. Our brunch is going to be awesome.”

All kitchen staff wear matching blue hats as part of their uniforms. “We were going for something that was a little industrial-looking and a little casual too.”

A ten-burner gas range serves as the primary cooking area. The four-handled pasta pot is constantly in use and iron skillets are kept hot and ready to prepare food on demand.

This spray bottle holds a blend of olive oil and canola oil, used for cooking and also to give the iron range top a protective coat after cleaning each night.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 27

A backyard path reveals a garden shed behind Claire Arbogast’s home. Courtesy photo.

28 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Weedy and Imperfect Bloomington author copes with husband’s death in new book from IU Press

By Michelle Ann Crowe, H&L

reports, “I think I have written a book I would never pick up and read.”

That’s because Claire, now one of Bloomington’s own Break Away Books authors, is the first to say she doesn’t like to dwell on death. Her memoir, however, is just over 200 unvarnished pages chronicling her very personal experience with it.

“When Jim died, I was given books to read, but I felt like they were not relevant to me—and people like me—who have these weedy and imperfect lives,” Claire remembers.

Starting in 2007 with a series of essays, she began framing her story with no intention of writing a book. Eight years and six drafts later, IU Press made her a published memoirist.

Long and Short

C

laire Arbogast knows about the In Between. It’s her designation for a season of lingering—a time of floating forward to unseen landing places.

“I thought I might be there forever,” she says, going on to describe the sensation of life transition that occurred after her husband’s death. “I was moving, but it was a long suspension. I didn’t feel like it was up to me to decide when it was time to leave.”

The In Between and its lessons are just one of 18 chapters in Claire’s newly-published memoir “Leave the Dogs at Home,” now available through Indiana University Press.

It’s with a bemused expression that she

Claire’s time with Jim Gray was both much longer and shorter than that. It was only four months into their marriage when the first spot was found. Just over a year later, Jim died from metastasized lung cancer.

Talking to Laura Baich of Indiana University Press in a recent podcast, Claire is quite direct about the events that changed her 27-year relationship with Jim into a legally recognized situation.

“When we married, we did so for a very American reason—health insurance.”

In her book Claire explains, “He was retiring.

If I was on his policy, I could retire early—in six years—without having to wait for Medicare, so we could go on long vacations before he got too old to be any fun.”

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 29

Above, Claire Arbogast in her home office. Photo by David Snodgress.

At right, a portrait of Jim Gray in autumn and below, dog Lila gazes out into the fog. Courtesy photos.

30 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

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Instead, ironically, it was Jim who needed his health insurance and ultimately all of Claire’s support. His forced change from determined independence to relationship reliance is just one theme explored in Claire’s carefully-crafted work. Always conscious of her role as memoirist, she is intentional in locating lessons learned for her readers.

“We have this pop psychology myth about what grief is and what it is like. It’s important to tell the truth.”

Through the second half of the book, Claire explores her struggles to move forward following Jim’s death. Unable to sell her home, and with her career momentum at a standstill, Claire begins to see her somewhat permanent pause as a gift.

Talking about this time, she reflects: “I felt like there was a firmness. I could not go on until I had sorted this out.”

Claire eventually connected with IU Press. Breaking away from academic publishing and traditional expectations of Midwestern literature, their Break Away Books series aims to turn the heart of the heartland inside out. Sarah Jacobi, interim regional editor for IU Press, felt immediately drawn to Claire’s manuscript. Reading the entire draft in just three hours, Sarah knew Claire was making universal connections perfect for the nationally-focused series.

“Claire’s book is really special to me,” Sarah says. “It’s unique in that it’s set in Bloomington, but has plenty of parts where she travels outside the area. Her focus on grief and baby boomers is interesting and unusual.”

While Claire could have pursued other paths to publishing, she is thrilled with her hometown association. “I’d rather be published by IU Press than anyone else,” she declares.

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Immersed in Writing

In November, Bloomington’s Poplar Grove Book Club discussed “Leave the Dogs at Home” with Claire in attendance.

She is an occasional speaker and reader at book events. While she did not set an intentional path to life as an author, she is embracing her role wholeheartedly.

Her website, clairearbogast.com, is full of upcoming events and blogged activities.

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 31

Above, Claire’s office is shown while her book was in progress. A timeline charts the story’s progression. Below, a cheerful vignette adorns Claire’s garden shed. Courtesy photos.

32 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Claire’s Maple Street home, including this flower-filled deck, was a Bloomington in Bloom award winner in 2013. Courtesy photo.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 33

Claire Arbogast cuddles Lila, one of the pets referenced in the book title, “Leave the Dogs at Home.” The title also refers to leaving the pain of grief behind. Photo by David Snodgress.

34 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

“The first time I did a public reading, I was about as nervous as I could possibly be. But when you get positive feedback, it’s much easier to do it the next time,” Claire explains.

Perhaps writing a book will also be easier the next time. Claire is currently working on a novel set in the 1960s. She describes its main character, Connie, as a fictional character who visits real-world locations and experiences history.

“She wants to hitchhike to California for Technicolor hippie life, like she sees in LIFE magazine. But getting to California and being a hippie turns out to be more complicated than she ever imagined.”

Claire spends extensive time immersed in research. Her writing studio, a bright upper floor office in her downtown Bloomington cottage, offers inspiration through actual issues of LIFE magazine, along with artifacts from Claire’s own life.

Seated at her computer—surrounded by souvenirs from her travels, art by Jim and other local artists, and bookshelves holding a lifetime of journals and scrapbooks— Claire constructs story arcs and outlines chapters.

She details a style that is organized and intentional. “Every scene has to have some obstacle with an ending that drives the story forward.”

The Journey Back

In writing her memoir, Claire did not attempt to frame her own decisions as any form of cleverness. In fact, many accolades refer to its raw honesty.

Editor Sarah often interacts with readers. The title of Claire’s book is a point she is glad to discuss, given her role in selecting it.

“I like the idea that finally she is able to leave the dogs at home,” Sarah says. “She has finally processed her grief. Her journey back is very intriguing and humorous.

Sometimes people think the book is going to be sad, but it’s not. It’s amazingly funny.

Claire is a wonderful writer.”

Find Claire’s memoir, as well as other works in the Break Away Books series, in bookstores across the country and at iupress.indiana.edu.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 35

Green Dream Couple’s dream home is efficient and Earth-friendly

By Pete DiPrimio, H&L

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series about the construction of the Walls’ home. Look for part two this summer.

36 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Photos by David Snodgress.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 37

Jamie and Chris Walls stand atop their still-in-progress energy-efficient home.

I

f you’re Jamie and Chris Walls and you’re committed to building a house the green way, you’ve got to go cave man.

Well, sort of.

And you’ve got to build it yourself because it’s in your DNA. It doesn’t involve living in a cave or working with stone tools, but it does involve Stone Age heating.

For Jamie and Chris, building a new home means getting it right—with the details and with Mother Earth. The result is a 5,000-square foot, story-and-a-half environmentally-friendly contemporary home. Still a work in progress, it’s located about a quarter of a mile from Lake Monroe and—for those into latitudes and longitudes—2,925 miles from the Earth’s equator.

Why is that relevant?

Let’s start with some background.

Jamie works at a Bloomington title company. Chris runs his own software company called 39 Degrees North, which writes mapping software that aids in managing Monroe County Geographic Information Systems. It’s used by realtors and

38 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

bankers to find property information.

Chris’ company name comes from the location of the headquarters—his house— near the 39th parallel. For those into specifics, the latitude line is basically the Monroe County-Lawrence County line, which is 2,925 miles north of the equator. The new house will be several hundred yards north of that.

Builder DNA

Chris makes a living on software, but he grew up in the construction business. His parents, Phil and Suzanne, built homes for more than 30 years. So did his grandfather and great grandfather. For a while, Chris thought he’d do the same but, he says, “I fell in love with computers.”

Still, he never completely got over the building bug.

“Growing up, I complained about working construction on the weekends, but my parents were instilling a good work ethic in me and teaching me a trade,” he says.

“They taught me everything I know. If it has anything to do with wood, I can do it. I can do the finish work—counter tops, flooring, the trim.”

Such skills are of limited use in the computer business. But now that it’s time to build the home of their dreams, Chris is ready to roll.

“The biggest problem with a software company is that you can’t look back at what you’ve accomplished. In construction, when you work with your hands, at the end of eight hours you can see what you got done.

Software is tricky and takes many days before you can begin to see the end product.

“Plus, it’s work I enjoy. And without my parents doing what they did, I wouldn’t be able to do this. It’s a blessing.”

That blessing includes building a house with geothermal heating, which involves using the earth’s heat from deep in the ground—where the temperature is a steady 50 to 60 degrees—to warm water, which is pumped into the house to keep it comfortable year round. In a reverse process, the house’s heat is transferred into the cooler ground. Chris and Jamie did their research—with an understanding that some geothermal users loved it and others hated it—to assure the system will be “properly matched with the house.”

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 39

40 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Another priority is using state of the art LED lighting by a company called Cree Inc. While the lights are initially more expensive, they are cheaper to use because they consume far less energy than a standard light bulb. So long-term, you save energy as well as money.

The Walls will also maximize natural light by using large—six-foot by six-foot—energy efficient windows. Three sliding glass doors will be eight-foot by eight-foot.

“Our main goal is to design a house with the windows efficient enough that you wouldn’t have to use a light during the day,” Chris says.

Outside In

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and spray foam. And to boost the saveenergy theme even more, they’ll use Energy Star appliances that are “above and beyond compliance.”

The house will have ceilings ranging from 10 to 20 feet. The kitchen, dining room and living room will mingle in one large space.

And to combine their love of entertaining with the fact they have family from around the state visiting often, they will have separate guest quarters above the garage.

Because the home will be the epicenter for 39 Degrees North, Chris is also planning a nice office space. And, yes, it will be a room with a view.

As far as landscaping, Chris and Jamie plan to maximize the lot’s natural beauty, in part by keeping as much of the old growth woods as possible.

“Some of the trees are very tall—50 to 60 feet tall,” Chris says. “And we’ve found some morels on the property. That’s quite a bonus because we love to mushroom hunt.”

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Chris notes another inspiration for the home’s design.

“My wife and I love the outdoors, and we wanted to bring the outside in.”

And it’s quite an outside, showcasing some of the best of the Lake Monroe area.

This was no accident. Chris and Jamie loved the area, which was why they were driving around the lake last winter and stumbled

onto what turned out to be the perfect lot.

About 400 yards from the nearest house, it’s six acres of woods and ravines with trails that lead to the lake. The trails are a priority because their 110-pound yellow lab loves to swim. The acreage also looked like a great place to hunt for morel mushrooms.

So they bought the lot, and the deal was finalized in the spring while Chris was on a business trip in India.

It was finally time to turn dream into reality.

For the record, going green doesn’t mean the house clashes with their modern contemporary tastes. The exterior will be a combination of Indiana limestone and Hardie siding, both of which boost energy efficiency. The siding is designed to supply a sense of luxury and historical accuracy. Chris and Jamie might go with solar power after they move in.

“We’re planning the house to optimize for solar,” Chris says.

Planning also calls for something called flash and batt insulation, a new hybrid insulation approach that combines fiberglass

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 41

42 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Reversal of Fortune Financial advisor finds the path laid out in his name

By Michelle Ann Crowe, H&L

T

he choices in the office are deliberate, just like the life choices made by the man comfortably seated behind its clean-swept desk. A photo in the background showcases a family vacation not long past. Across the room, a framed print offers inspiration from the company founder. Nearby, a nursing license is proudly displayed.

“My job tends to be to look at every angle and plan for every contingency,” explains Steven Fortune.

It’s evident there is a good fit these days between his personality and his profession, but it has not always been that way.

The license on the wall is a reminder of Steven’s years of training and on-the-job experience as a registered nurse. Twelvehour shifts in high-acuity areas left the young husband and father exhausted and unsatisfied.

“I spent a lot of time trying to find myself in the hospital. I kept increasing my level of care and looking for the next challenge,” he recalls.

For his fellow nursing team members, making 401K investment decisions was their challenge. Midnight moments on the night shift turned into financial counseling sessions as Steven began to share wisdom learned through his Edward Jones financial advisor, Vince Milnes.

Soon, the initial spark of personal interest had Steven calling that advisor to examine his plans for a life change.

“I called Vince not to talk about my accounts, but to talk about my life. We had that kind of relationship. I was thinking about going back to school to get a degree in finance, but he had another idea,” Steven says.

Diagnosis: Advisor

Careful consideration led Steven not back to college, but forward to the Saint Louis, Mo., headquarters of Edward Jones. There he embarked on an intensive training program to begin his career with a company holding the number six spot on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For 2015” list. The renowned Edward Jones training program was a match for Steven’s medicallytrained mind. From the start he knew it was exactly what he had been looking for.

“I still get to utilize some of the skills I learned as a nurse,” he says. “People come to me with a problem and I diagnose them. I get to come up with a treatment plan.”

During his training, Steven and wife Erin were living near her family in Rogers, Ark. Erin, also a practicing nurse, was supportive when Steven got a call that once again required a deliberate decision to change their lives.

It’s critical that new financial advisors start where they intend to stay. Building a network and reputation is essential in the business of financial advice.

“This is not something you do temporarily,” Steven says.

Stephen Fortune, financial advisor.

Photo by David Snodgress.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 43

Stephen Fortune shares a humorous moment with colleagues.

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Raised in Terre Haute, Steven missed his Hoosier roots. Edward Jones had an opportunity that brought him much closer to his hometown, but it meant a move across the country for his family. The decision was easy to make.

“Frankly, Bloomington is just an incredible town. The culture, sports and school systems are all incredible. It was the town that really made the decision,” he says.

Now, five years later, Steven is settled into his office on Auto Mall Road. He operates one of eight Edward Jones locations in Bloomington—working with office administrator Holly Bennett—and the small setup aligns with his company’s intentional strategy to keep things personal. Recently made a partner, Steven believes the onebranch, one-advisor formula is a good one.

“We want to work with serious longterm investors and they are everywhere,” he explains. “We want to know families. We want to know about parents and kids. We want to know about life struggles. That adds depth.”

Edward Jones is not only one of the largest American companies offering individual investor services, but one of a few that limits

themselves to these individuals exclusively.

Steven reflects on the relationships he is building.

“Our clients want someone they can look in the eye and know they will be there.

Those are skills I honed as a nurse. You learn a language that you can use when people are upset or afraid, and my clients do come here with emotional events.”

Financial Legacy

Earlier in his life, the 25-year-old Indiana State University graduate tried to look ahead 20 years, but could see nothing in his career path to inspire him forward. Now when asked about the future, his eyes shine with enthusiasm—but not for himself.

“What I see are the people I am helping now,” he says, leaning forward on the desk.

“I see all the kids I got to open 529 accounts for, being in college and not being in debt, because I helped their parents save for that. I actually get to see that legacy we are building. My job now is the future.”

Steven’s job encompasses all that Edward Jones offers. According to company materials, that is a focus on “quality, long-term

investment opportunities that include a broad mix of municipal, government and corporate bonds; mutual funds; common stocks; and tax-advantaged securities.”

In more comfortable terms, Steven defines his work as holistic and focused on life events and goals. He uses the word “fun” to describe initial planning sessions and looks forward to finding problems he can solve. For young people, Steven has a personal mission to encourage retirement planning.

“I am where I am today because someone was willing to work with me. I am excited to plan with anyone who is ready to make a goal. Don’t worry that you don’t have enough money to get started,” he advises.

While Steven has made many deliberate life changes in the past decade, his name has not been one of them. Working in the financial industry with the last name Fortune is bound to lead to a few chuckles. Steven takes it in stride.

“I’ve been asked if I changed my name to help my business, but I come from a long line of Fortunes,” he says with a grin. “Clients love telling people they are working with a guy named Fortune.”

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 45

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Artist Gallery

James B. Campbell Sculptor/painter “Orion Thought He Was a Star” 21” x 16” x 3.5” Acrylic on linen, wood, acrylic resin, aluminum Bloomington, Ind. 812-333-4577 campbellarts.net

Martina Celerin “Fresh Fruit”

Christina Knipstine

Martina Celerin creates wall sculptures that fuse weaving and felting techniques using reclaimed and recycled materials to tell the story of her life. See Martina’s art exhibit called “Changing Seasons” at the Bloomington Bagel Co. on the east side of Bloomington in The Shoppes at 913 S. College Mall Rd. until April 1, 2016.

Glass Moon Mosaics “Red River Gorge” 14” x 16” Many types of stained glass, smalti and vitreous glass were used to create this work. Currently accepting commissions for home, or office.

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Tom Rhea Paintings in gouache “Showalter Fountain” 9” x 12” Intimate portraits of family, home vacations or special events. Memorialize a moment or a treasured photograph with a reasonably priced commission for a painting, drawing or print.

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Sara Steffey McQueen “Winter Shadows” Original watercolor. Limited edition prints and cards.

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Jim Grabski Watercolor impressions “The Lantern” 16” x 26” Original paintings can be viewed at the Venue Gallery Fine Art & Gifts at 114 South Grant Street in Bloomington.

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 47

Photos by David Snodgress.

48 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Peace by Piece

Artist finds an oasis in challenging mosaics

by Joel Pierson, H&L

B

loomington is home to talented artists who work in many media. Homes & Lifestyles has interviewed painters, sculptors, potters, fabric artists and many others. Today we introduce you to Christina Knipstine, whose passion is creating works in the time-intensive and challenging medium of mosaic arts.

Born in New Jersey, Christina moved with her family to Pennsylvania when she was ten.

She attended college at Penn State because, as she tells it, “that’s what you do when you live in Pennsylvania.” There she studied art, focusing on painting. “I really enjoyed Penn State,” she reflects.

“It’s a beautiful place to be. Very inspiring. When I graduated, I had a connection with Bloomington, so I moved here on a whim, and I decided to stay here. It reminded me a great deal of State College.”

She found Bloomington to be a very easy place to live upon her arrival in 1976—but not always an easy place to make a living. The economy was troubled, and Christina found work as a cook, later

managing a restaurant. During those days, she met her future husband, Daniel. They got married and together raised five kids.

The joys of home and family were very fulfilling, but came at a price.

“My painting was left aside. I couldn’t return to it for some years. Raising five children was quite consuming,” Christina says. Today all of her children are grown—the youngest is now 23 and graduated from Indiana University with a BFA in painting. One son studied photography. One went to school for astrophysics and math. Two are in education.

With parenting duties less time-consuming, Christina has more freedom now to enjoy her art—although she does have a full-time job at the IU Health Center as a receptionist for counseling and psychological services. Daniel is self-employed as the owner of Advent Decorating.

Christina is still busy, but she makes time to do what she really loves.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 49

Above, a work in progress. Christina is replicating a mosaic of Jesus in Ravenna, Italy. Below, the mirror frame born of smashed china.

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50 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Top left: “Procession” shows the San Xavier del Bac mission near Tucson, Ariz. Top right: “Hagia Sophia“ mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Bottom left: Glass Moon mosaic pendants. Bottom right: Christina cuts glass with a hammer and hardie.

Into Pieces

How does a painter become a mosaic artist?

It’s a funny and somewhat sad story—but fortunately nobody got hurt. Christina tells the tale.

“I had seen on a trip back east, in a nice gallery, some beautiful mosaic work made with broken china. It intrigued me. It reminded me of quilt-making, which I had done before—the intermixing of patterns on china. With small children at home, I thought it was something I could do.

“Then we built an addition onto the house, and it went very smoothly—until the very last week, when the wiring was to be strung for the new room. The electrician was in the attic and fell through the ceiling. Luckily for him, he landed on a futon. He was not injured, but on the way down, he hit a table with some heirloom dishes on it that were my most precious possession. They had been given to me by my great aunt Clara, who had been to Europe in the ’20s. I inherited them when she passed away. They broke. I remembered the mosaics I had seen, and I thought I would cut up the rest of them and try to make something out of them.

I couldn’t bear to throw them away. It was a very sad day for me.”

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 51

Three pieces of a four-part mosaic represent summer, winter and spring. The fall piece is still in progress.

Brokenhearted but inspired, Christina found books about the art form to help her figure out the technical aspects of cutting and gluing. Basically, she taught herself how to do it. Her first project was a mirror that incorporated the china shards and some of Aunt Clara’s jewelry from the 1960s.

“It was really fun,” she says, “and I was hooked.”

A mosaic begins with a base, typically a sturdy material such as wood or dense 52 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

foam. It can also be made directly on a wall. Christina prefers to use mediumdensity fiberboard, with Weldbond glue as the adhesive. She uses nippers to cut the materials down to the correct size and shape.

After completing her first few projects, she went to every antique store she could find to pick up chipped plates with interesting patterns. To support her new passion, Christina started participating in art fairs, selling “crafty, utilitarian things—trays,

flowerpots, picture frames.”

Then she discovered glass. There were colors she wanted to use in her pieces and she couldn’t find them in her plates, so she decided she had to learn how to cut glass.

From then on, many more options were available to her.

Over the years, Christina has made hundreds of mosaics.

“I make big pieces, I make smaller pieces, and I make jewelry. The biggest thing I

did was to mosaic my patio. It took a lot longer than I thought. Everything takes longer than you think it will. But I find it very therapeutic after a busy day. You get lost in it. I’ve evolved from craft to a more artistic approach. I can incorporate all I’ve learned about color, form, shape and perspective. I think about painting with glass now.”

Mosaic Muse

Most of Christina’s pieces are for sale.

Some are on display at the B3 Gallery in Nashville, Ind., and she can often be found at local art fairs. She has a few pieces around her home—where she also teaches mosaic arts—and gives many away as gifts.

Why pursue such a challenging art form?

Christina explains in her own words.

“Even though the art of mosaics is ancient, I believe it is still very relevant and important in today’s culture. Mosaics go against everything that is fast-paced, disposable and digital. Mosaics force you to slow down—in both the production and in the appreciating. For me, it becomes an oasis of time, and for the observer, it can be a reprieve from this fast-moving and chaotic world. The detail and order in a mosaic creates a sense of calm. In the same way the arts-and-crafts movement was born out of a reaction to the Industrial Age, the mosaic revival we are seeing today is in response to our present-day cultural conditions.”

View and purchase Christina’s mosaics at glassmoonmosaics.com.

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Christina is inspired by mosaic artists old and new, the Romans and the Byzantines, and the post-impressionist and modern painters. Matisse and Cezanne have always been two of her favorites.

“I can learn more about color by copying.

Each brushstroke of Cezanne’s is a mosaic piece,” she says.

Christina’s background in painting helps her create better mosaics.

“It taught me color theory and drawing— but with mosaics, you don’t have to know how to draw. You have to know how to lay down pieces that are interesting. You have to have a good eye for subtlety. I’m inspired by nature. I don’t totally reproduce it. I look at nature and I see color relationships.”

Her motto in her artwork is “Thousands of pieces. Not one placed randomly.”

It comes from her belief at the start of each mosaic project that this time she will be free and random in its creation.

“That thought lasts about three seconds.

I can’t do that. There are thousands of pieces in a mosaic. Every one is cut, ground, and placed. Sometimes it’s re-placed. I work an entire piece as a unit, and I lay it all out and I see it. I don’t draw a pattern on it and fill it in. That would be totally unfulfilling. It has to be organic. You have to find the glass. I live in a world of rules and regulations. I don’t put that on myself when I make a mosaic.”

Christina’s favorite material to work with is a thick glass from Italy called smalti that comes in every conceivable color. She’s also worked with some unconventional materials like seashells and bottle caps. Her mosaics have featured broken glass, pottery, stones, and even ancient shards that have been given to her by her children and friends who have traveled the world. When her daughter student-taught in Africa, Christina made a mosaic that incorporated dried sugar cane sent from a plantation.

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 53

Homes & Lifestyles

Financial Focus

Should You Hire a Financial Pro?

By Steven Fortune, Edward Jones Investments

At the same time, a financial professional might be able to help you avoid making some potentially costly mistakes.

Suppose, for instance, that you get a tip on a “hot” stock from a friend, relative or neighbor. On your own, you might be tempted to invest in this stock. But if you work with a qualified financial professional, you could learn that by the time you buy a hot stock, it might already be cooling off. Even more importantly, a financial professional might tell you that the stock in question really isn’t suitable for your individual situation.

Furthermore, after a financial professional is familiar with your needs, risk tolerance and time horizon, he or she can help tailor an investment portfolio for you. And through regular reviews, your financial advisor can help you stay diversified, which can help you weather the market’s ups and downs.

Because it’s their business, financial professionals stay current on changing tax laws and investment rules—and this knowledge can pay off for you. For example, you might not have known that your 401k contribution limits went up in 2015—but your financial professional likely did.

Finding the right financial professional for your needs can take some time—but it’s worth the effort.

W

hen you make investment decisions, you’ve got a lot of factors to evaluate—corporate earnings, economic climate, interest rates, oil prices and so on. In fact, navigating the investment world can seem like a daunting task if you’re going it alone. So make it easier on yourself and get the help you need.

Specifically, consider working with a financial professional.

When you do, you may become a better investor, and you will almost certainly gain a broader perspective.

For starters, a financial professional can help you quantify your goals. You might know that you want to retire at age 60, buy a vacation home and spend your time pursuing your hobbies—but do you know how much retirement income you’ll need to attain this lifestyle? And do you know what sort of return you’ll require from your investments to provide you with this income?

A qualified financial professional has the tools and experience to help you answer these and other key questions. And if you wanted to explore several different retirement possibilities, your financial advisor could illustrate what you’d need to do— and how you’d need to invest—to work toward your desired outcomes.

54 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Find the right advisor by asking these questions: What are your credentials? Make sure a prospective financial advisor has the appropriate securities registrations.

How are you paid? Financial advisors are paid through fees or commissions, or a combination of both. One way isn’t necessarily better than another, but it’s important for you to know the system of compensation being used.

How will you communicate with me? Find out when you’ll receive statements and how often you’ll meet in person to review your portfolio.

What is your investment philosophy? Financial advisors have different ways of approaching the investment process. Find someone whose philosophy feels like a good fit for you.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 55

56 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

At Home with the Mayor Practical 1920s house suits new mayor of Bloomington

By Alexandra M. Lynch, H&L

Photos by David Snodgress.

H

ave a seat in the comfortable living room with Dawn Johnsen and John Hamilton.

They make you welcome with a hot cup of tea and a cozy chair.

John was elected mayor of Bloomington and took office Jan. 1, 2016. His wife Dawn is a Walter W. Foskett Professor of Law at Indiana University Mauer School of Law. And the conversation begins.

John and Dawn talk fondly of their home of 18 years in Bloomington’s Elm Heights neighborhood.

The two-story house, which dates to the 1920s,

features elegant new limestone stairs leading to the front door, where columns flank the porch. It has a distinguished look and its gray exterior and tall surrounding trees give it a stately style.

Their two boys grew up here—one, Eric, is in high school and the other, Matthew, is attending Yale.

John and Dawn take us on tour.

“This is a practical house,” states John. After further thought he adds, “It’s a working home—a place where we do a lot of our work. And we work in various places around the house.”

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 57

A Working Home

Dawn starts with her favorite place, a covered porch overlooking University Street. Although she and John have discussions about screening it in, so far Dawn wins—no screen. She likes to work out on the porch and greet neighbors as they walk by.

Dawn points out a maple tree in the front.

“It’s one of the most beautiful trees in Bloomington in the fall.”

Just above Dawn’s porch, John’s study is inside, full of windows in the treetops. Likely a former sleeping porch, it has an airy and open quality.

“Just tons of light here,” he comments.

John and Dawn can frequently be found working together in these stacked rooms, above and below.

Moving through the home, a grand piano rests next to Dawn’s porch. It’s a prized family heirloom.

John and his sister actually share the piano, so it moves back and forth every five years or so.

“Music is a big thing in this family,” explains John. “Our sons play drums and piano and sing, and I play the piano and sing. We’ve had neighborhood caroling parties here for years. One time we had over a hundred carolers and families in the house.”

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“We actually have family sing-a-longs,” adds Dawn.

In the dining room, a table extends to seat up to fourteen for gatherings of family and friends. The big windows give the room a spacious, bright feeling.

Up the stairs, on a landing, sits a slender handcrafted table from the Fourth Street Festival.

“We buy lots of local art and we like to support local artists,” says Dawn.

One of these unusual pieces of local art, a sculpture called Tin Man, is a portrait of the familiar classic Oz movie character—done with duct tape!

The couple purchased it at the Bloomington farmer’s market.

John and Dawn prefer not to have a television in the downstairs living area, and instead keep it upstairs in a comfortable TV room. Nearby are the master bedroom and two kids’ rooms, plus a full bath.

“We’ve all survived with just one shower,” comments John, adding that there is also not much closet space in a house this age.

In the next room, we pause to admire Eric’s Magic cards, part of a complex card game with both a teenage and professional following.

“Eric actually won a qualifier on the professional circuit, was the youngest in a national competition, and won $3,000,” says Dawn.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 59

For the People

Over the years, John and Dawn needed color advice for their home at times. They called upon friends Lee and Eric Sandweiss to help. Their stairway is currently a cantaloupe orange.

“The orange is going out on a limb for us,” Dawn explains.

When it came time to paint the white exterior, John and Dawn placed a dozen swatches of possible paint colors outside on a back wall—and neighbors actually came by to vote their preferences. The winning color was a pale gray-green.

“Other people look at your house more than you do. Do something nice in the neighborhood,” advises John.

Two photographs of the home, taken around 1929, came with it when they bought it. The previous owners told John and Dawn that these photos were always to stay with the house.

“Three times over the last 15 years people who lived here have stopped by,” says Dawn.

“One time it was the son and granddaughter of the owners. One furniture delivery person said he wanted to personally deliver a mattress here because his grandparents, who owned the furniture company, used to live in the house.”

Bryan Park is just down the street, providing tennis courts for the family over the years, plus concerts, movies and other festivities. The central location of the home means John and 60 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

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One might wonder—Did they picture all this as their future? What did they want to be when they grew up?

Dawn—inspired by Thomas Jefferson and Thurgood Marshall—wanted to be a civil rights lawyer. She accomplished that goal.

John said in elementary school he wanted to be a thoracic surgeon.

“I was happy I could pronounce it,” he jokes.

Later, he thought a fun career would be … drum roll … orchestra conductor.

Is there a similarity between being an orchestra conductor and the mayor of Bloomington? Perhaps.

The couple clearly enjoys the small-town charm of their chosen home.

“I enjoy cities—visiting cities—but there is nowhere we’d rather live,” says Dawn.

“Bloomington has had John’s heart since childhood and now it has mine. We both love its culture, the arts and the people. This is a wonderful community.”

John starts to say, “Great quality of life … ” but the thought is interrupted.

“Gotta go.”

And the mayor is off to conduct city business.

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February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 61

Homes & Lifestyles

Take a Trip

Honoring ‘The Possum’ Museum memorializes the ups and downs of country music legend George Jones

By Jackie Sheckler Finch, H&L

G

eorge Glenn Jones almost died before he got a chance to live. The family doctor dropped the baby shortly after delivery. The sturdy newborn survived with only a broken arm.

But what a life the country music legend went on to live in that interval between the day he entered this world on Sept. 12, 1930, and the day he left on April 26, 2013.

“George went to hell and back with many addictions and he beat them all,” says widow Nancy Jones. “He loved God and loved his fans. He was a great man.”

To share the story of the man many consider the

62 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

greatest voice in country music, his widow opened the George Jones Museum on April 26, 2015, the second anniversary of his death.

“I wanted the museum to carry on George’s legacy,” she says. “It’s an amazing tribute to an amazing country singer. He was the best there ever was.”

Nancy isn’t exaggerating. The new museum in downtown Nashville, Tenn. is a world-class facility with a wealth of artifacts and information about the elusive Jones. The 50,000-square-foot space also contains a gift shop, restaurant and rooftop tavern with the longest bar in Nashville, overlooking the Cumberland River.

George Jones and Nancy Sepulveda were married in 1983, and are shown here in a photo within the museum. Photos by Jackie Sheckler-Finch.

Probably no one but Nancy Jones could have done her husband justice by recalling the good, the bad and the ugly about the man nicknamed “The Possum.”

Humble Beginnings

“I collected all the memorabilia over the 32 years I was with George,” she says. “I don’t have one favorite item in the museum. I love the whole story in the museum from his childhood to his whole history in country music, his ups and downs, and how he came through it all.”

Starting with George’s early poverty-filled childhood in the east Texas town of Saratoga, the museum showcases treasures like his first guitar—a well-worn Gene Autry instrument with a horse and lariat on the front. George pawned the Melody Ranch acoustic guitar during hard times and thought it was lost forever.

But his sister Loyce found it, bought it and returned it to a surprised George once he was back on his feet.

Although he later owned many expensive guitars, George always said that first one was his favorite.

A timeline of George’s music invites visitors to put on headphones and listen to his songs over the years. A small theater with rocking chairs—a nod to his “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair” hit—allows guests to rock in comfort while watching George’s video clips.

Many of George Jones’ performance outfits and guitars are displayed at the museum.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 63

The museum is filled with items big and small. A section of the museum is devoted to Jones’ tumultuous marriage to Tammy Wynette. George Jones’ red pickup truck with its custom paint job is on display, along with an unusual exhibit labeled “George kept movie reels in the trunk of his car and no one knows why.”

64 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

The museum displays his piano and his many awards in the music business. Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch.

Unusual Artifacts

Relics of the honky tonk hero include his sequined suits, address book with handwritten numbers for Johnny Cash and Ray Charles, mink coat he promised his mother once he got rich, military trench coat he wore during his Marine Corps stint and the infamous blue American Tourister overnight case that George called his “getaway bag”— kept packed and ready for a quick exit.

One quirky exhibit features a stack of old-time movie reels. A sign near it reads: “George kept movie reels in the trunk of his car and no one knows why.”

A home barbershop setup shows how George’s haircutter styled the singer’s perfect silver coif.

A green John Deere lawn mower recalls the time family members hid George’s car keys so he couldn’t drive while drunk.

Instead, George rode his mower to the nearby liquor store.

Another exhibit—dedicated to George’s tumultuous marriage to county icon Tammy Wynette—showcases a white satin and chiffon dress left behind after their divorce.

A display sign shares the sad message that George held onto the glittery lace and

rhinestone dress after she was gone.

A hastily scrawled note on a crumbled piece of yellowing paper begs airport officials not to tow his car. In a hurry to catch a 1978 flight and unable to find the airport parking lot, a frustrated and cocaine-fueled George parked his car on a sidewalk outside the terminal and left it running. Identifying himself as “George Jones with the Grand Ole Opry,” the singer implored airport security not to haul it in. Amazingly, the car was still there and running when George returned two days later.

Most frightening is the leather jacket that paramedics had to cut off George after his near-fatal run-in with a concrete bridge in 1999. After a decade of sobriety, George once again hit the bottle—resulting in the one-car accident that left him in a coma for a week. He awoke singing gospel songs and finally, at age 67, swore off drinking for good.

George’s Rock

A major turning point in George’s troubled life occurred when he married Nancy Sepulveda in 1983.

“I met George on a blind date,” the 66-year-old says. “My friend at the time was dating his manager. So I went to New York

with her and met him.”

Settling down with the woman he called “my rock,” George recorded more hits and garnered top awards in his final decades.

In 2013, he embarked on his farewell tour appropriately named The Grand Tour.

However, on April 18 the music was cut short when George was hospitalized at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a fever and irregular blood pressure. He was 81 years old.

“I was with George the whole time,” Nancy says. Although she continued talking to him, George didn’t open his eyes or talk for his final five days—until the last minute.

“I was standing at the foot of his bed rubbing his feet,” Nancy says. “Suddenly, he opened his eyes and said, ‘Well, hello there.

My name is George Jones and I’ve been looking for you.’ I know he was talking to God. And then he was gone.”

For more information about the George Jones Museum, call 615-818-0128 or visit georgejonesmuseum.com. Learn more about visiting the area from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. at 800-657-6910 and visitmusiccity. com or Tennessee Tourism at 800-GO2-TENN and wwwtnvacation.com.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 65

Homes & Lifestyles

Color Corner

To Paint or Not to Paint ...

Wood Furniture

By Laura Brzegowy, Bloomington Paint & Wallpaper

T

he desire to restore beauty to a well-worn piece of furniture is nothing new. After all, wood putty sticks and scratch touch-up stain pens were created for just that reason. But what if a can of paint, rather than stain, is the ticket to elevating your favorite piece of furniture to something as spectacular as the red highboy featured at right?

True wood purists may cringe at the suggestion of applying paint to a weathered piece of furniture, but it’s likely the simplest way to revive the natural beauty of its curves and engraved details. Make no mistake, the allure of natural wood furniture isn’t waning, but DIY weekend furniture painting projects are gaining traction.

Because the character of a natural wood furniture specimen will change once coated with a layer of paint, it’s important to think through the following questions: 1. Where is the piece of furniture located?

Painted furniture is generally considered less formal than stained, so will its placement need to be rethought? For example, a formal living room may not be the best place for a newly-painted kelly green coffee table, while it could make perfect sense in the den.

2. How will it function in the room?

Will it be the room’s main attention grabber, or blend into the rest of the furnishings? Each scenario calls for a different approach to paint color selection.

3. What will the new paint color be based on?

Repetition is a very important interior design principle, thus utilizing a color that’s already in the area could be quite effective. Take note of whether there’s a color in the room’s artwork or textiles that could be used to beautiful effect on the piece of furniture you wish to paint.

4. Are you thinking outside the coloring box?

Could the colorful piece of painted furniture be used to breathe new life into a room—perhaps rather than incorporating an accent wall?

Would using a bold color on a formal piece of furniture integrate more of your eclectic personality into the room? Might two colors work as well, if not better than, just one?

5. Stylistically speaking, what type of finished look are you going for?

Is a high-shine lacquer look more appealing, or the soft sheen of a satin finish? Is your preference for a smooth factory painted look, or one that appears to have withstood the hands of a little time?

66 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • February 2016

Why are the answers to these questions critical? Because it’s much easier to paint over a stained finish than it is to remove paint in order to reveal the original stain. Your answers will reveal whether you desire to use a high gloss or satin paint and whether you prefer the look of standard paint versus chalk paint. You’ll also discover what color, or colors, should be considered for your project.

Before beginning a project of this magnitude, be sure to confer with paint professionals at your favorite paint store. They will be able to advise you on the products and techniques to create look you crave.

Be sure to take before and after photos. Nothing is more satisfying than remembering the worn finish you chose to enliven with a simple can of paint.

Photo courtesy Benjamin Moore.

Homes & Lifestyles

Recipe

From Russia with Love Recipe and photo by Shaylan Owen

This crispy and marshmallowy pavlova—a meringue-based dessert named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova—features warm notes of cardamom, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla cream and a hint of espresso.

Fresh strawberries and a drizzle of balsamic-fig sauce shine through the richness, and shards of toasted almonds add level flavor and crunch.

Ingredients: Pavlovas: 3 egg whites 3/4 cup superfine granulated sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom Pinch sea salt Chocolate mousse: 2 cups heavy whipping cream 4 ounces bittersweet baker’s chocolate 2 ounces unsweetened baker’s chocolate 3 egg whites 5 tablespoons superfine granulated sugar 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch salt

Fig-balsamic sauce: 1/2 cup black mission figs, stems removed, chopped 1/2 cup red wine 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup water 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Zest of 1/2 lemon Juice of 1/2 lemon 5 whole allspice berries Toppings: 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds 1/2 cup fresh strawberries 1 tablespoon grated chocolate

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees with the racks placed above and below the center position. With an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites and pinch of salt until medium-stiff peaks form. Reduce to medium and continue beating while slowly adding the sugar. The meringue will become shiny and hold stiff peaks. Save the last addition of sugar aside and mix the cornstarch and cardamom into it. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the vanilla, vinegar and the sugar mixture. Mix until just combined.

Cut parchment to fit two baking sheets.

Trace three four-inch circles evenly spaced on each sheet, two inches apart. Line the baking sheets with the parchment, drawn sides down. Spoon the meringue evenly into the six circles and gently shape to fill the rounds. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating racks and turning the baking sheets a half turn after 15 minutes. The pavlovas will be light brown, dry on the outsides and slightly cracked. Turn off the oven and allow the pavlovas to rest in the cooling oven for one hour, then open the oven door for an hour longer. Allow them to rest out of the oven until completely cool. Store the fragile pavlovas in airtight containers.

In a saucepan over medium heat, reduce sauce ingredients until the figs have softened, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard the allspice berries, then set the pan aside to cool. When cool, carefully puree it in a blender. Thin it with water or wine if desired. Store covered until ready to assemble the desserts.

To prepare the mousse, melt chocolate, butter and espresso powder over a simmering double boiler, then set aside until lukewarm. Beat egg whites and salt to make stiff peaks, as described above. In another mixing bowl, whisk the cream, vanilla, and two tablespoons of sugar until the whipped cream holds soft peaks. Reserve about one cup of the whipped cream in the refrigerator.

Whisk together the chocolate and whipped egg whites until mostly mixed, then gently fold in the whipped cream until just combined. Cover and chill for one hour.

Carefully plate the pavlovas and collapse the meringue domes with a spoon, then top with small drizzles of the fig sauce. Next, spoon on even portions of the mousse. Top with strawberries, the reserved whipped cream, toasted almonds, and grated chocolate. Chill the desserts if not serving immediately. Makes six portions.

February 2016 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 67

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