$2.95 • October 2017 • Volume 14, No. 1
Page 56
Griffin Realty featured home page 58
of South-Central Indiana
With a View Creating a beautiful
getaway on Lake Lemon
Inside the Hive Hunter’s Honey Farm in Martinsville is a fourthgeneration family beekeeping business
homesandlifestylesmagazine.com
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2 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
View past issues at homesandlifestylesmagazine.com
for Enjoying an 7 Tips Indiana Autumn Farm Keeps 8 Honey it in the Family of a Doenges 16 Tour Designed Home STORY: 22 COVER Retreat at Lake Lemon
14
TH
ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
8
28 Not Just Rugs Gallery 32 IU Football Coach Tom Allen 38 Artist Gallery 42 Artist Leanne Ellis 46 Top-of-the-World Adventure 52 Food Truck Fridays
42
Home from 58 Featured Griffin Realty
60 History and Stella’s Place 64 Travel: Roswell 67 Recipe: Salmon Marbella
ON OUR COVER: Lyle and Kerry Feigenbaum recently renovated a lakeside property at Lake Lemon. See how they created their beautiful getaway on page 22. Photo courtesy Kerry Feigenbaum.
52 © 2017 Schurz Communications, Inc. HOMES & LIFESTYLES OF SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA is distributed bimonthly on a subscription basis. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY COPYRIGHT. Prices, specials and descriptions are accurate as of the time of publishing. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher. Advertising information has been provided by advertisers. Schurz Communications, Inc. does not make any 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.
PUBLISHER Cory Bollinger
Don’t miss an issue of Homes & Lifestyles! $15 (plus (annual subscription) tax) 6 Issues visit us online at homesandlifestylesmagazine.com or mail subscription to: SUBSCRIPTIONS, Homes & Lifestyles 1900 South Walnut Street, P.O. Box 909 Bloomington, IN 47402
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Laurie Ragle MARKETING DIRECTOR Shaylan Owen CONTENT/LAYOUT COORDINATOR Andrew Lehman, Clearbrook Creative EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Jackie Sheckler Finch WRITERS Jackie Sheckler Finch, Pete DiPrimio, Alexandra M. Lynch, Brooke McCluskey, Kathy Jonas, Joel Pierson, Michele Hardman
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PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Howell, David Snodgress, Jeremy Hogan, Rich Janzaruk
Contact Jackie Sheckler Finch at JackieSFinch@gmail.com or Andrew Lehman at (812) 331-4276
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Marie Canning, Clearbrook Creative
Contact Laurie Ragle at (812) 331-4291 EDITORIAL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 3
Homes & Lifestyles
Contributors Jackie Sheckler Finch became a Hoosier more than 25 years ago when she moved to Indiana from Massachusetts for a newspaper job. She covered city government and other areas for The Herald-Times until leaving to become a full-time freelance writer. Editor of Homes & Lifestyles since its inception in 2004, Jackie is also an award-winning travel writer and author of 20 travel books. She was named the Mark Twain Travel Writer of the Year a record six times. Jackie enjoys finding the fascinating people and places that wait over the hill and around the next bend. Pete DiPrimio is a Bloomington transplant who was born near Pittsburgh. His favorite part about writing for Homes & Lifestyles is meeting the various homeowners and personalities. He’s an award-winning sports columnist who has written three books on IU sports, plus 21 children’s books on topics that include Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Ancient Rome, Ancient Sparta and more. In 2016 he was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, which he says reflects the fact that he covered his first sporting event shortly after Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. A California kid for his childhood years, Jeremy Hogan came to Indiana in 1997 after a series of newspaper internships that spanned the country. He first picked up a camera as a boy to snap pictures of his friends, which led to a journalism career and a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Jeremy shoots photos and videos for The HeraldTimes and produces his own documentary films.
4 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Chris Howell has been a full time senior photojournalist for Hoosier Times publications since 1998. Born and raised in Bloomfield, Chris’ passion is documenting the everyday lives of people in local communities and wherever his travels take him. Away from work, Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing softball and grilling in the summertime. After moving to Bloomington from southern California several years ago, Marie Canning has finally come to call Bloomington home. She wears many hats at Clearbrook Creative— among them designing the pages of Homes & Lifestyles. When not in work mode, Marie relishes the times she can spend with her four children and enjoys quiet times with PJ, her significant other. Andrew Lehman is the content and layout coordinator for Homes & Lifestyles. He assists the editor, develops layouts and guides the production process — and does the same for several other magazines published by Hoosier Times. He has a background in graphic design, but enjoys painting in his free time at his Bloomington home. Free time is at a premium though, as he and his wife are proud parents of two young children. Alexandra M. Lynch thoroughly enjoys writing for Homes & Lifestyles because she gets to meet wonderful people and see fascinating homes. Alexandra has been a writer most of her career, mostly newsletters and magazines. Now, in retirement, she finds the H&L gig suits her fine. In her leisure time, she likes to travel and take photos.
Joel Pierson has been a resident of Bloomington for almost two decades and is still finding things to love about the area. In addition to writing for H&L, he is a regular contributor to The Herald-Times. His interests include theater, writing, editing and audio production. He is the author of seven books, all published locally. In his rare free moments, he enjoys relaxing with wife and fellow journalist Dana and their three lovely hounds. A lifelong Hoosier, Shaylan Owen grew up near rural Delphi. He has a background in fine arts, photography and graphic design and is the marketing director for Hoosier Times. Shaylan is a selfdescribed food nerd who has created and photographed dozens of recipes for Homes & Lifestyles since April 2009. When not working, he enjoys cooking, reading, running, traveling and the outdoors. David Snodgress was born and raised in Bloomington. He has journalism and political science degrees from Indiana University and a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University. He recently retired from working as the photography manager at The HeraldTimes. He shares a log home with his wife and three children and can often be found camping and canoeing. Brooke McCluskey is a freelance writer for H&L Magazine. In her free time, she is renovating a fixer-upper home in rural Bloomington with her husband. They have two children, a dog, a cat, a snake and many woodland friends. Megan Garner-Ballard of Jane Daniels Photography contributed photos of the featured home on page 58.
Homes & Lifestyles
From the Editor
I
t’s said that you can’t go home again. But Homes & Lifestyles writer Alexandra Lynch enjoyed some wonderful childhood memories when she visited the Linda Hadley home, which was designed by Bloomington architect Elaine Doenges. Alexandra grew up in a Doenges designed home on Nancy Street. Here are some of her reminiscents from that time. “I knew our house was different. It had white marble chips on the roof. The floors on the main level were tan concrete. The outside walls were redwood stained light gray, with large wood screens in lemon yellow. The bathroom had a tile mosaic on the wall that might be a scary creature. Instead of a regular upstairs and downstairs, it had five steps up to the second level where there was a library. The living room was paneled in deep-colored redwood. I was nine when my parents, sister Suki and I moved into our new home on Nancy Street. My parents, Bill and Cookie Lynch, contracted with Elaine Doenges to design their modern house in 1959. Elaine Doenges and her husband Byron moved to Bloomington in the early 1950s. He was a professor, she was an architect. They befriended other faculty members, and soon Elaine started designing houses for some of her friends. Elaine’s style of architecture would now be called mid-century modern. Women architects were rare in the 1950s. In high school, Elaine knew what she wanted to be, so she visited Syracuse University. The dean said he would encourage her to study architecture there, and could even provide a scholarship. But, he said, she would never get a job as an architect. Elaine declined to attend. Later, still determined, she obtained the entire architectural curriculum from Yale University, and began teaching herself. When she came to Bloomington, she took some supplementary courses at Indiana University. She designed 11 homes in Bloomington, before she and Byron moved to Washington D.C. in the 1960s. My mother wrote in my parents’ book of life stories, "Years into Lives," about the experience of working with Elaine Doenges: ‘I consulted with Elaine about the design of the house—a very satisfying experience. Her philosophy was that an architect should become familiar with how her clients lived, and that every room should fit their needs. This is the essence of Elaine Doenges’ architecture. Along with great style.’’’ Thanks for sharing, Alexandra. I think many of us would like to revisit a home where we once dwelled. Alexandra lived there until she left home to attend Oberlin College at age 18 in 1968. Her family moved to Edgewood Hills two years later. Now, read her story in this issue of Homes & Lifestyles on page 16 to learn more about these special homes.
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
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 5
why advertise? of South-Central Indiana
• No other local magazine reaches 26,000 of the most affluent people in our area.
• We guarantee proof of delivery through the U.S. Postal Service and local newspaper subscriptions. • Advertisers receive free copies so customers can enjoy it for free too. • Extra copies are available for free at community locations,
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6 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Homes & Lifestyles
Home Wise
It’s a Fall World
Tips to help you enjoy an Indiana autumn
F
all in southern Indiana—does it get any better? The rolling hills, brilliant colors, crisp mornings, brisk evenings and, last but not least, pumpkin products everywhere you turn, from soap to tortilla chips to beer. Kick off the fall season by taking care of some basic home maintenance issues that will allow you to ride out the winter snug and warm. Then get out of the house and enjoy some of the best fall has to offer. Finally, back at home-sweet-home, don’t miss all the MustSee-TV that fall has to offer.
1. That’s not Grandpa whistling. It’s the wind.
Remember last winter when you swore you’d get those windows calked? Then spring arrived and the thought blew straight out of your mind. Calking those cracks is easy (that’s what YouTube’s for, right?), inexpensive and will save on your heating bills. And if you haven’t already, call your local chimney sweep to get that chimney cleaned out, especially if it’s been a few years. When the weather turns chilly, chimney sweeps get busy. Beat the rush, and know that your fireplace is safe to use.
2. Foliage! Festivals! Football!
Nashville is legendary for its spectacular beauty in the fall. But if being part of the apple-dumpling crowd isn’t your idea of a sweet day, southern Indiana is home to many state parks where beauty abounds without the attendant shops (or ice cream, fudge or fried biscuits—it’s your call!).
When it comes to fall festivals, we might be a bit biased, but we think the Monroe County Fall Festival, which has taken place in Ellettsville for over 50 years, is one of fall’s best offerings! Happening the third weekend of September, this popular three-day event features free admission and good, old-fashioned fun. If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for 2018! For many Hoosiers, nothing gets the blood flowing like the sound of a marching band, the blow of a referee’s opening whistle, or the cheers of the crowd. Whether it’s the Indianapolis Colts, the IU Hoosiers or your local high school football team—get out there and root, root, root for your home team.
3. You’ve been busy. Time to relax in front of the TV.
We don’t know about you, but last year NBC made us totally fall in love with “This Is Us.” And then, the first season ended. In March. March was a very long time ago. We’ve waited all spring and summer and can’t afford to miss one single minute. If you feel like that about your favorite shows premiering this fall, hopefully your TV provider offers you options like DVR recording, the ability to watch on your mobile device or Restart TV. Smithville Fiber’s TV package offers all those options so you can watch what you want, when you want. We also offer IU sports and local high school sports, so you can root, root, root from home, too. Article courtesy of Smithville. Smithville is a locally owned and nationally recognized expert in broadband and home automation. Smithville.com
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 7
Inside the Hive
Hunter’s Honey Farm in Martinsville is a fourth-generation family beekeeping business By Brooke McCluskey Photos by Alex McIntyre
8 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
W
Three Bee Facts ❖ To make one pound of Hunter’s honey, bees must
hen Tracy Hunter caught his own hive of bees at the age of 14, he secured his place in the multi-generational beekeeping tradition behind Hunter’s Honey Farm. Tracy worked on his grandfather’s honey farm from a young age, and would go on to graduate from Purdue, teach high school biology for 31 years, and run Martinsville’s famous honey enterprise. Tracy is quick to point out that he couldn’t do it without his queen bee. His wife, Christina, is an equal partner in the business. Like Tracy, she’s a local schoolteacher and comes from a family farm background. In fact, together they come from four generations of beekeeper-schoolteachers. “Chris jumped right into the honey business,” Tracy says. “Before we were even married, when we were engaged, from the moment we met, she was my partner.” It’s been a long, sweet partnership—one that recently resulted in Hunter’s Honey being named the state’s best honey at the Indiana State Fair.
tap 2 million flowers and fly more than 55,000 miles. ❖
The average worker honeybee makes about onetwelfth teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
❖
The average U.S. citizen consumes about 1.1 pounds of honey each year.
Source: huntershoneyfarm.com October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 9
10 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
The Hive Comes Alive
In the early days of the farm, Tracy and Chris nearly lived inside their hive—in fact, they lived right above it. “We lived in the honey house for seven years,” Tracy explains, “in an apartment upstairs.” The proximity allowed them to keep a close eye on their bees as they established the business. Later, they built a log cabin on the farm property, where they still reside today. The Hunters have two children, son Ross and daughter Mackenzie, both of whom are studying to be the next generation of beekeepers. Mackenzie, a high school senior, grew up working with the bees, bottling honey, and thinking of ways to expand the farm’s marketing plan. She drives to the Carmel Farmers’ Market every week to sell honey and spread the word. The farm also participates in the Bloomington and downtown Indianapolis farmers’ markets. Ross, who graduated from Rose-Hulman with a degree in biology, is currently in South Carolina doing an internship on honeybee pollinator species. As a child, he was enthusiastic about breeding queens and understanding the science behind hives. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 11
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12 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Hive Havoc
When you speak to Tracy, it’s easy to hear his passion for beekeeping. His voice practically drips with honey. He’s also a practical man—a farmer who’s seen ups and downs in the honey industry. “In the 70s, hives were just boiling over with honey,” he says. Those were good years for the farm, when production was strong and there was never a shortage of honey for those who wanted it. Within a decade, everything changed for America’s honey farmers. “In the mid-80s, parasites entered the country to cause 30 years of havoc,” Tracy explains. “Then we had viruses. Hives died.” This was particularly tough for Hunter’s Honey Farm, where a long-term commitment to never treating hives with chemicals meant it was a time-consuming challenge to save their bees. They did it with a combination of persistence and scientific expertise. To this day, the Hunters remain resolute that the farm will always remain a chemical-free operation. By the 1990s, things began to take a better turn for honey farming. Tracy says the media began to take more notice of the health benefits of honey and the public became more educated about honey products. “Production may have been down, but demand was up,” he says. It’s a trend that has, thankfully, persisted. And the Hunters’ hives have recovered in a big way. “With the demand for our honey—and honey in general—we are increasing our number of hives. I’d like to hit 1,000,” Tracy says.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 13
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14 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
“People are amazed at how we have diversified.”
HOO
– Tracy Hunter on the wide variety of honey-related products Hunter's Honey Farm offers.
HOO
A Sweet Future
When you come from generations of honey farmers, the future of the farm is always on your mind. The Hunters are happy to play a role in local agritourism, welcoming thousands of tourists to their property every year. Visitors can see the extracting facility, learn about hive maintenance, watch live honey extraction from behind glass windows, bottle their own honey, and stop by the gift shop. And it’s not just honey that keeps them coming back. Hunter’s Honey Farm makes all kinds of honey-infused products: candles, candies, sauces, skin care products, furniture polish and more. You can even buy healthy honey dog treats. “People are amazed at how we have diversified,” Tracy says. In the winter months, you can stop by the farm to buy a Christmas tree—part of a business expansion that fit right into the family’s farming mission. “Christmas trees are beautiful, healthy and wholesome,” Tracy explains. Just like honey. Plus, every time a tree is purchased, the proceeds go straight into a college fund for Mackenzie and Ross. The Hunter children are using the Christmas tree money to further their educations so they can continue to bring locally-produced products to honeyloving folks.
HOO
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October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 15
A Modern Gem Linda Hadley is caretaker to Doenges designed home By Alexandra M. Lynch Photos by Jeremy Hogan
B
loomington architect Elaine Doenges’ houses are strikingly mid-century modern, with flat roofs at different levels, redwood inside and out, and wood screens. Working in Bloomington during the 1950s and 1960s, Elaine Doenges (pronounced DEN-ges) designed 11 Bloomington homes that appear in several neighborhoods and always stand out. We are visiting Linda Hadley’s Doenges home on Hillsdale Drive in the Green Acres neighborhood. The house was originally designed by Elaine for her and her husband, Byron, to live in. Linda has lived there two years, and plans to stay. When the house came on the market, she immediately wanted to see it. “I knew about the house before my Realtor. I love mid-century modern.” It became hers. At 50 years of age, the house “was a fixerupper,” says Linda. “I love that and love taking on projects.” She replaced the windows and doors. Before she even moved in, she redesigned and renovated the one bathroom. In the kitchen, she took down an overhead cabinet above the kitchen peninsula that blocked the main room. The original cabinets were kept and painted white. The front view of the house is in the style of Doenges. Redwood siding, a carport with a redwood screen and two levels of flat roofs—it is immediately distinctive from surrounding homes and very private.
16 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 17
18 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
d a e r g p Uyour wire shelving
SINCE 1987
The entryway passes the atrium, an open area under a clear roof, with colorful seating and a bright turquoise indoor-outdoor rug made of recycled plastic bags. “It was the atrium that sold me on the house,” admits Linda. “And other parts of the house remind me of a cabin in the woods.” In the entryway are redwood paneling, a small Arts and Crafts light, and an antique chest of drawers. Concrete floors in a dark green color run throughout the house. To the right are three steps up to the open great room—living room on one end, kitchen and dining room at the other with a big view of the backyard through windows and a door that is mostly window. The living room is redwood paneling with a limestone fireplace. When Linda has her three kids in-house, she gives up her bedroom and stays on the pull-out bed in the living room and enjoys lighting a fire in the fireplace. To the right of the fireplace is another Doenges treat—a hidden door in the redwood paneling that hides the water heater and other utilities. The door is undetectable in the deeply colored redwood. At the end of the living room are four high windows—another Doenges favorite. You can see out to the front yard through them when you stand up. “This is where I check on the weather,” says Linda. One change in the kitchen was the removal of an overhead cabinet above the peninsula counter. It blocked the openness of the room.
The original cabinets had been painted before. Linda brightened the kitchen by painting the cabinets white. The wood counters are original. In a relatively small area, Linda finds she has storage, kitchen appliances and a washer and dryer. The kitchen opens to the rest of the great room. A dining room completes the scene—with views to the back and side yards. The table is enjoyed for meals, but also projects, family conversation and friends. The great room is the centerpiece of the house.
Backyard Rehab
At the moment, the backyard is entering “rehab” after years of neglect and rampant growth of euonymus, a tenacious vining weed. First Linda had an arborist come and save the large trees in the back from this killing vine. The next step will be weeding and planting, on Linda’s agenda for this year. “We get wildlife like you wouldn’t believe—deer, rabbits and a ground hog.” Back down the steps to the entryway and down the hall to the home’s two bedrooms. One, belonging to her son Aaron, has a bed atop an oak cabinet for storage made by Barry Walsh. A desk completes the student set-up. Linda’s room faces the backyard through sliding doors leading to a brick patio. She recently updated the bedroom. The bathroom, which Linda renovated before she moved in, is bright, stylish and features a variety of stones. It was a project Linda takes great pride in. Before she started
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October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 19
20 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
she gutted the room and took out small useless closets and increased the size of the room. Working on tile, plumbing and other aspects of the room was David Andrews. The shower features three jets. “It’s just great after work,” notes Linda. Barry also designed and built the bathroom’s Carrara marble tile counter and oak cabinet. An unusual 1960s valet chair stands at the entrance to the bath. It’s an impressive room. One of Linda’s friends commented, “It’s like a fancy hotel.” Linda’s favorite place in the house is in the great room, looking back at the trees in the backyard. “It feels big from here.” About taking on a fixer-upper, Linda says, “I love tearing into things and fixing stuff up. I’d like to reconfigure the kitchen, but right now I’m saving for it.” Linda concludes, “I think it’s wonderful to be living in Bloomington history. I see it as my responsibility to take care of it, to rehab it if it needs it. I was lucky that the renters who had this house before me took good care of it. It’s a livable house, I feel comfortable when I come home. It’s the right place for me to be. I am the caretaker.”
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22 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
With a View
Creating a beautiful getaway on Lake Lemon By Jackie Sheckler Finch
Photos courtesy Kerry Feigenbaum
S
tanding on the deck with its spectacular view of Lake Lemon, it’s easy to understand why Kerry and Lyle Feigenbaum chose this beautiful lakeside property. But when the couple began describing what the site looked like when they first saw it, you might begin to wonder why they even bought it in April 2016. The answer is that the Feigenbaums could envision what the place could be—rather than what it was. “No one had lived here for two years,” Kerry says. “The dock was falling in and a boat had sunk by the dock.” Critters were nesting in the house. Stairs down to the lake were narrow and steep. The parking area was bad. And a new septic system was going to be necessary. “I knew Kerry had her heart set on a lakeside house and this one is only 15 minutes from downtown Bloomington,” Lyle says. “We had looked at property on Cordry Lake and Sweetwater but they were too far away.” What the Feigeunbaums planned to do with their lakeside abode was to create a family retreat and vacation property. “I wanted a place to share special times with our kids,” Kerry says.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 23
Of course, Kerry and Lyle are no strangers to the hard work of owning a business. The Indiana University graduates bought Scholars Inn Bed & Breakfast in 1996. In 1998, they opened Scholars Inn Gourmet Café & Wine Bar. That success led the couple to purchase the Bakehouse and a few years later, the bakery wholesale facility was opened on Ind. 37 north of Bloomington. The two are now busy starting a new fitness studio in Bloomington. Orangetheory Fitness focuses on cardio, endurance and strength using high-intensity interval training. To help promote the new studio, Lyle spray painted old bikes in brilliant orange and asked local businesses if he could place the bikes on bike racks in front of their stores. The bikes represent fitness and are a symbol of Bloomington’s fondness for biking and the annual Little 500 bike race. In fact, one of the final touches that Lyle will be adding to the couple’s lakehouse is a Roadmaster bike that the Cutters team rode to victory in the 2010 Little 500. The Cutters, immortalized by the fictional character in the film “Breaking Away,” battled through threatening weather for an exciting finish. Team members were Eric Young, Zack Lusk, Clayton Feldman, Michael Schroeder and coach Jim Kirkham. “That bike is a piece of history,” says Lyle, who has ridden in the Little 500 himself. The bike will be installed on a wall in the lake’s Main House.
Two Huge Renovations
That’s right. The lake property that the Feigenbaums bought has two houses—the Main House and the Bunkhouse, which originally was a dilapidated garage. So, the Feigenbaums did a major renovation on not just one building, but two. “Kerry did it,” Lyle says. “She knew exactly what she wanted and she worked hard to do it.” For starters, Kerry used lovely aged barnwood from Spencer for Bunkhouse walls and ceiling. She also handstained and applied three coats of polyurethane to Marine grade plywood for the floor in the Main House. “I knew that hardwood floors wouldn’t work this close to water,” she says. “This way we don’t have to worry about replacing hardwood because of moisture and water damage.” Named “Lemonhead,” the result is two luxurious cottages that sleep 10. The Main House features two bedrooms and a bath. The Bunkhouse has two sleeping nooks and a bath. The Main House has a fully equipped kitchen. The Bunkhouse has a kitchenette. Dishes, linens, pots and pans, bath towels and hair dryers are supplied in each cottage. Each also has large flat screen TVs and WiFi hotspots. Decorated by Kerry, the two cottages are furnished in antiques and whimsical touches, including a colorful stained-glass window created by Kerry’s father, floral painting by her mother, cabinet once owned by Lyle’s aunt and an armoire used in the movie “Hoosiers.” 24 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 25
26 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
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“I found so many treasures at the local antique malls, it was really special scouring the aisles for the perfect piece,” Kerry says. Special touches include a spice rack made by Kerry from a Coca-Cola keg (filled with herbs and spices for guests), an airplane propeller, a rare 1940s Coca-Cola mirror and an unusual custommade vent over the kitchen stove that opens to reveal shelves for storage.
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“Many local shopkeepers and artisans helped me along the way” says Kerry, including Lisa Orme of Lola Rue who taught her the art of chalk painting and Doug Ballard of the Iron Pit Gym who custom built the oversized farm table and bench in the main house. Debbie’s Quality Upholstery of Ellettsville made custom chair covers from grain and coffee sacks. In keeping with the retro carnival theme, there are vintage juggling pins and three bottles along with an old baseball from a county fair “knock-em-down” game. “We wanted it to have a fun décor, a vacation look,” Kerry explains. But it is the fantastic view that captures the attention of most guests. Both cottages have wide decks to allow for maximum viewing and the Main House has folding glass doors covering an entire 30-foot wall leading to a new screened porch. The glass doors can be opened onto the porch for even greater living space and unobstructed views. For most people, undertaking such a huge project might make them vow to never do it again. But not Kerry. “It was a labor of love,” she says. “I enjoyed it so much that this place is why I decided to get into real estate.” She joined F.C. Tucker Bloomington Realtors in April and has already sold homes and gotten listings. “I like helping people find homes,” she says. “And I like helping people see the possibilities in a property like we did with Lemonhead.”
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October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 27
Culture on Display
Local couple share love for the West in Not Just Rugs Gallery By Alexandra M. Lynch Photos by Jeremy Hogan
C
huck and Andrea Mobley took their honeymoon to the Southwest in 1989 and were smitten—not just with each other, but with the wild and beautiful mountains and deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Today, Andrea is Assistant Superintendent of Monroe County Community School Corp. and Chuck is owner of Not Just Rugs Gallery of Native American Art in downtown Bloomington. Visiting the North College Avenue shop is like taking a trip to the Southwest. It is brimming with the beautiful rugs, turquoise jewelry and pottery made by Navajo and other Native American tribes. Chuck has a deep understanding of the Navajo culture, and is a specialist in Navajo rugs. The rugs in his shop represent a wide range of ages, from rugs made “last week” to the antique rugs dating from the 1800s. Chuck had just returned from one of his two annual trips out West, where his contacts provide rugs, jewelry and pottery for his consideration. The shop is full with so much to look at and admire. The Native American rugs are highly prized. The perfect craftsmanship is one reason. And, like all good things, they are becoming more rare. Wellknown weavers are aging and dying out. Young Navajo are mostly uninterested in taking up weaving as an occupation. Chuck says, “Rug auctions in the West which used to feature 500-600 rugs are lucky to have 100 rugs today.” After falling in love with the West, Chuck and Andrea took a one-year cultural immersion class at Indiana University with Professor Jim Mahan. That class sent them to the center of Navajo country—the Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona—near the town of Ganado.
28 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 29
Andrea was a teacher there, and Chuck a photographer for the National Park Service. It was there that they began to learn about Navajo weavers and their striking rug designs.
Endangered Treasures
“In the 1890s, the Navajo quit weaving blankets because they couldn’t compete with Pendleton Woolen Mills,” Chuck says. “They began weaving rugs.” Navajo weavers, predominantly women, create rugs using the 35 designs traditional to their culture. It can take up to one year to weave one rug. Unlike most looms which are horizontal, the Navajo use vertical looms with the weaver sitting on the ground. They raise sheep for the soft and pliable wool for the rugs and for mutton. Since the early 1800s, several varieties of wool have been used. For a time in the 1880s, when the U.S. Cavalry came through Navajo country and killed all their sheep, the Navajo imported wool from the Pennsylvania Dutch, which they called Germantown wool. “When we worked at Hubbell Trading
30 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Post, we lived about a 45 minute-drive away in a Navajo community of 300 Navajos and seven Anglos called Lower Greasewood,” explains Chuck. “We drove 70 miles to the nearest grocery store. We ate lots of spaghetti and canned foods to save trips.” For those who have never been out West, distances are much greater, and long trips for essentials are not unusual. Chuck notes that a new grocery store has now opened, a mere 30 miles away from Lower Greasewood. By the way, the town is named for a yellow-flowering native plant. “We loved the shooting stars,” Chuck says, speaking of Lower Greasewood, which has no streetlights. The lifestyle of the Navajo people is rugged, with poverty and hardship even today. Many Navajo live in traditional houses called hogans, with dirt floors, steel drum stoves that burn wood, no electricity and no running water. “It’s like a third world country within our borders,” Chuck says. “Some live in small communities that have infrastructure like electricity and running water.”
The traditional crafts—rugs, turquoise and silver jewelry, and pottery—bring much needed income to Navajo artists. A network of traders and dealers has developed to enable the Navajo artist to reach a broader audience. Chuck’s shop has one of the largest collections of these amazing works in the Eastern United States. His customers come from all over the country— and the world. “I had a young Korean student who came in repeatedly to look at rugs, and finally ended up buying a $500 rug to send home to her mother. In the early 1990s, a German couple bought a large rug for $20,000 at Hubbell,” Chuck says. “They didn’t blink an eye. Germans love ‘Cowboys and Indians.’” The rugs you’ll see in Not Just Rugs are representative of the designs and colors of all Navajo rugs. Some are woven with the natural wool colors—gray, brown, black and white. Many add a beautiful deep red (derived from the insect cochineal) to their designs. The designs are boldly graphic and visually appealing. Chuck says that most 3-by-5 rugs run $200-$2,000. Not Just Rugs also has several cases of beautiful turquoise and silver jewelry, in both traditional and contemporary designs. Big name jewelers command higher prices, but there is plenty for those seeking prices within reach. Fetish pieces—little carved stone animals—are quite popular. Each animal represents a human trait such as courage. These are either carried with the person or placed close by, such as on a desk. In addition, the shop has Hopi kachina dolls, pottery from tribes such as Acoma, some baskets and plenty of artwork. Like a museum, Not Just Rugs gives visitors plenty to look at. The name of the gallery, Not Just Rugs is because the weavings are “not just rugs” but pieces of art, worthy of placing on the wall, and also because there is so much more than rugs. Chuck will carefully describe the origin and significance of the items to be seen. He is delighted to show people around his shop, to share what he loves and his immense knowledge of the Native American people.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 31
32 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Ready to Believe
Faith, football and the Tom Allen IU coaching way By Pete DiPrimio
Photos by Chris Howell
T
om Allen believes. Let’s start with that. Indiana’s first-year head football coach has no time for negative thinking or doubting ways. When adversity strikes, as it always does, he battles and pushes. He expects players and assistants to do the same. Allen’s motto is simple—“If you don’t believe, you can leave.” He will go where others will not, and this does not mean cutting corners or breaking rules. It does mean returning interceptions for touchdowns. Let’s explain. Flashback to a 2016 practice. Allen is, as always, hyper intense. As the defensive coordinator and not the head coach (that will happen five months later), he stands near the line of scrimmage. A pass is deflected and he catches it. He immediately starts running to the end zone, seeking Pick-6 glory. “It was amazing to see,” cornerback Rashard Fant says. Allen didn’t set any sprint records, Fant adds, but “It was like 4.7 speed (in the 40-yard dash). It was pretty good for an old-timer. He had enough to get to the end zone. Of course, we were blocking for him. We took care of him.” A cynic could say a 46-year-old coach sprinting down the field is begging for injury, but Allen has no time for cynicism given the challenge he faces. With six previous college stops on his resume, including SEC power Mississippi, he has the background to return the program to Bill Mallory glory days form. “It was me being me,” he says. “It was just a reaction. Afterward I’m like, ‘Why did I do that?’” Allen knows why, of course.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 33
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“I think the players take on my personality. I know they do. I can’t just talk about it. I’ve got to show them.” Linebacker Tegray Scales wouldn’t want it any other way. “That’s what we need. We need that energy. “He’s the first one to tell you when you’ve done something wrong and the first one to celebrate when you do something right.”
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Allen did not expect to become Indiana’s head coach, certainly not less than a year after joining the staff. But last December’s forced resignation of then-coach Kevin Wilson for undisclosed “philosophical reasons” created the opportunity. Athletic director Fred Glass quickly realized the best man for the job was already on staff.
Under Allen, the Hoosiers allowed 10.3 fewer points and 136.9 fewer yards than the previous season. Glass had been impressed from a phone conversation before Allen was hired as defensive coordinator in early 2016. “I still remember pacing around my dining room table, talking to him for around 45 minutes, and being incredibly impressed with his philosophy,” Glass says. “He had some of my personal beliefs, such as kids have to believe you care about them before they’ll perform at their highest level. They also have to believe you know what you’re doing. “Tom had both of those things in spades. I became more impressed as things went along. He was hired to be the head coach of the defense, and he did just that. I don’t think that’s a huge leap to become the head coach of the
if I had never taken the opportunity to try college football. “Many people thought I was crazy. Many thought it wasn’t a good move. They were like, ‘What are you doing?’ The ones who were in college said, ‘If you want to coach college, you’ve got to go do it.’ It was a great opportunity with a program that had been successful with a great head coach (Chris Creighton). From my perspective, yes risky, but I was willing to take that risk.”
Born to Coach
Tom Allen fired up the student-section fans, jumping to give them high fives before the Hoosiers took on Ohio State in their season opener. IU eventually lost to the Buckeyes, but Allen got his first win the following weekend when the Hoosiers traveled to Virginia and beat the Cavaliers 34-17.
entire team.” Allen intends to make the most of an opportunity set to pay him as much as $3 million counting bonuses through the 2022 season. “This is pretty special. You never know how things will play out. You never know where your path is going to lead. “The opportunity to be here is a dream come true.” The dream started a decade ago, when Allen gave up a high-profile job as the head coach at powerhouse Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis to take a shot at college. He started all over, first as a special teams coordinator and secondary coach at Wabash. “It was a big risk, but it was an easy decision,” Allen says. “I knew in my heart what I wanted. I would have lived with a lot of regret
Allen is forever in motion. He once thought accounting was in his future until he realized, if he was stuck in an office “crunching numbers all week long, I’d be like a caged tiger.” He has assembled a coaching staff designed to deliver glory rarely seen in a traditionally struggling program. When Allen got his coaches together for the first time, he wrote numbers on a chalkboard—50, 26 and 10. That was 50 years since IU last won the Big Ten, 26 since it won a bowl game and 10 years since it last had a winning season. He told them the Hoosiers would do all three of those things, and if the coaches didn’t believe it, they could move on—immediately. “Nothing personal,” he says. “I’ll help you get another job. I want a coaching staff that believes.” Belief still requires talent. What does Allen want from a player? “It’s the ability to play for somebody other than yourself. That’s the key component for me. How do you figure that out? You’ve got to get to know them. “I want unselfish guys, guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, who love each other; who don’t care who gets the credit; and that it’s not about me. That’s the No. 1 thing I look for. When you get that, you have a chance to mold him into a player who can fit in.” Beyond that, Allen wants, “A tough, hardnosed kid who loves to compete. To me, mixed in with that, a guy who cares about school. A guy I learn to trust. Those are the guys I want to surround myself with.” Oh, and one other thing. A player who believes. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 35
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Artist Gallery
The Bloomington Open Studio Tour will take place October 21, 10-6 & October 22, 10-4. The artists on this page are among the 31 artists at 21 studio locations participating in the tour. Check out the website for the full list, maps and guide booklet. bloomingtonopenstudiostour.com
James B. Campbell Sculptor/Painter “If I Had Wings” 18.5” x 52” Acrylic on wood, aluminum
Hickory Tree Studio Blacksmith shop, ceramics, weaving & painting studio.
2708 W. Arlington Road Bloomington 812-333-4577 campbellarts.net
5745 N Murat Rd, Bloomington 812-332-9004 • www.hickorytreestudio.com
Jackie Olenick “Autumn at the Lake” Acrylic on canvas with texture 24” x 24” A spiritually infused collection of fine art and jewelry. 305-490-7003 Jackieolenick@gmail.com www.jackieolenickart.com
Dawn Adams “Cerulean Light” 48” x 48” x 1.5”
Dawn’s original oil paintings examine water and its properties. Responding to its soothing qualities as well as its fluid reality, she mimics it by layering textured strata of translucent and opaque oil pigments creating visual depth. She finds this subject versatile, as it can be emotional, representational or abstract. www.DawnAdamsPaintings.com
Lampkins Ridge Studios — Glass, clay, and paint – Call for personal or group tours.
Leanne Ellis — clay “Headstones” Wood fired stoneware clay, size ranging from 5” to 9” 5657 Lampkins Ridge Rd. 317-445-0627 lampkinsridgestudio.com 38 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Christy Wiesenhahn — stained and
Cheryl Gregg Duckworth — oil
leaded glass “Rainbow Arrow Series” Individual arrow sizes approx. 6” x 15” 7438 Lampkins Ridge Road www.christywiesenhahn.com
“Mara, Red Tailed Hawk” 36” x 36” 7807 Lampkins Ridge Rd 812-361-1071 cherylgreggduckworth.com
Dee Morris Art quilt, queen size 812-361-6513 Ddmorris2@gmail.com
Martina Celerin “View from the Cabin” Martina Celerin creates wall sculptures that fuse weaving and felting techniques using reclaimed and recycled materials to tell the story of her life. 812-219-0647 info@martinacelerin.com martinacelerin.com martinacelerin.blogspot.com
Marilyn Greenwood Australian Boulder Opal and Blue Sapphire Ring in 18k and 14k gold. Hand-fabricated, one-of-a-kind pieces using unusual gemstones and fossils set in gold and silver. P.O. box 163 Clear Creek, Ind. 812-824-6184 marilyngreenwood.com
Christine Knipstine “River”
Represented at By Hand Gallery in Bloomington, Ind. and at Spears Gallery in Nashville, Ind.
Mosaic Fireplace hearth 17” X 72” River rock, glass and ceramic tile Commissions available 812-325-9329 Christinaknipstine@yahoo.com glassmoonmosaics.com
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 39
Homes & Lifestyles
Artist Gallery
Marilyn Brinley Fine arts photography “The Bridge at Turkey Run” 11” x 14” Photoscapes by Marilyn offers an artistic view of local Indiana and national scenery. Matted photographs in multiple sizes are available for purchase. 812-361-3315 photoscapesbymarilyn@gmail.com facebook.com/photoscapesbymarilyn
Dorothy Thompson Photo Folk Grand Teton National Park, mountain in background with trees and spring flowers. 18” x 24” painterly photograph on canvas with frame. 812-318-1957 dbt@photofolk.net www.photofolk.net
Jim Halvorson Suzanne Halvorson Matt’s Scarf bamboo double weave 8”x75” Suzanne’s weaving is available at By Hand Gallery and the Spinners and Weavers Holiday Show at the Monroe Convention Center on Nov. 3 & 4. www.suzannehalvorson.com
40 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
8” Stoneware vase Pottery by Jim Halvorson is available at By Hand Gallery, Brown County Craft Gallery and at 2017 Local Clay Pottery Sale Nov. 3 & 4 at the Convention Center. Halvorsonstoneware.com
Tom Rhea Paintings in gouache “Hearst Castle” 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. 1019 East Wylie Street Bloomington, Ind. 47401 812-336-8335 tomrhea31@comcast.net tomrhea.com
Sara Steffey McQueen “Bright Fall” Pastel 18” X 24” Original watercolors, pastels and acrylics. Limited edition cards and prints. Reprsented by the Hoosier Artist Gallery Nashville and By Hand Gallery Bloomington. Individual classes and small workshops in her studio are being offered in drawing, painting and creativity. sarasteffeymcqueen.com www.facebook.com/sarasteffeymcqueen/
Max Monts Oak bowl made from storm damaged trees from Bloomington’s historic Seminary Square. 10” wide. Any beloved tree can be made into a keepsake; be it bowl, goblet or kitchen scoop. Max does commission work, as well as gallery sales. Represented at The Hoosier Artist Gallery in Nashville and The Venue Bloomington. 812 361 9939 mmonts@bluemarble.net www.hoosierartist.net/gallery-monts.htm
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 41
Feats of Clay
Natural form and daily life inspire artist Leanne Ellis By Joel Pierson
Photos by Jeremy Hogan
42 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
O
ur profiles of the Lampkins Ridge Studio artists continue with Leanne Ellis, who offers her pottery and clay skills to the diverse group of artisans on Bloomington’s far-east side. Leanne admits the location was a draw for her. “I wanted something with a studio in the house or adjoining,” she says. She found the house with an outbuilding— which had several harpsichords in it, curiously—and realized this was the space she needed. Leanne was born in Anderson, Indiana, and has spent much of her life in the state, apart from a couple of years spent in North Carolina. She studied at Indiana University and also at Ball State University, from which she got a degree in studio art.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 43
But it was right here in Bloomington, where she spent seven years after high school, that she learned the art of ceramics. Caroline Mullet, whom Leanne calls a “fantastic teacher,” opened up her studio to her and shared the techniques that Leanne would carry with her for a lifetime of artistic creation. Leanne’s love of clay began at the age of 21, while visiting her sister Sharon in Seattle. Sharon took her to a pottery class and to her first art fair, where she bought her sister a teapot. It was Leanne’s first piece of pottery—one she still has—and it lit the fire, literally and figuratively. Asked if she considers herself more of a potter or a sculptor, Leanne pauses and gives a little smile. “Sculptor sounds so sophisticated, doesn’t it? I’m a folk artist. I like things that are really fresh and associated with daily living and inspired that way. It’s close to sculpture, but not in a realistic way.” With that philosophy, she was determined to make things besides cups and bowls.
Diverse Works
A look around her studio confirms this. Along with the occasional bowl, shelves are lined with figurative pieces, ornaments, stylized animals and clay versions of female torsos. Wait—torsos? That’s correct, and quite a few of them, at that. They’re part of a series Leanne has been working on for 15 years, stylized women’s torsos, each adorned and decorated with a different theme. The form is molded on a plastic insert that comes with a popular brand of swimsuit. Leanne makes one or two a year, sells some, and keeps the rest on display. The series was part of the Kinsey Institute’s erotica exhibit several years ago, and the institute actually kept one. Leanne is quick to point out, “I never call my work erotica, but it fit into their category when I entered their show.” Leanne is the proud owner of something many artists have never used but wish they had—a wood-fired kiln. She and a fellow artist friend built it five years ago, and now she uses it a couple of times a year for special projects. It’s not for everyday firings because, as she says, “It takes a long time. It’s an old Japanese technique; they use community kilns. It takes days of stoking it with wood. Mine is small, and it usually takes 36 hours.” Among the wood firing’s unique attributes, the materials inside don’t require a glaze. The wood ash falls, melts, and creates a texture on the surface of the clay. “It’s not very predictable,” she points out. “It depends on how hot you fire it. You can control the temperature to some degree by stoking it. You keep it rising, but not too fast, because the longer it burns, the more ash distributes, and the more variety of surface texture you get. I like to take it to 2,200 degrees, and that’s hard to get to.” Logs from the property’s many oak trees are split into small pieces to feed the hungry device. Not every piece earns a spot in the special kiln. “With wood firing, I have to start with the idea. It takes a special 44 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
clay. I tend to go to very organic forms. I think, ‘What would look good with a wood-fired surface?’” Once shaped, the pieces are stacked within the chamber, padded for protection, and subjected to the heat of the wood fire. The results are quite striking and very different from works created in a gas or electric kiln. Rather than create multiple copies of a single design, Leanne goes for one-of-a-kind creations, sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical. She describes them as derivative of real life. “I like to go where it’s going and see things in it. I’m inspired by the natural form as a jumping-off point to something more abstract. My pieces are fun, and I have fun doing them.” As Leanne clarifies, “I prefer to be called someone who works in clay, rather than a ceramicist.” Many of her creations find their way to her woodland garden, the green space surrounding her home. There she’s placed pieces she’s made over the years, giving her an all-natural studio space. “I like that there’s a space beyond the interior where you can put things,” she says. “I like placing things outside—in the trees, on the path, in logs. Some are broken pieces. I walk past them and watch them change.”
Creating for a Cause
In recent days, Leanne has been working on a project called Creating for a Cause, making works of art that can be used for fundraising for causes that interest her. For a gala for Giving Back to Africa, she’s created whimsical ceramic elephants. For a group called UUCB Reproductive Justice Task Force, which is dedicated to changing the political climate and preserving women’s reproductive rights, she made "Nasty Women" bowls, salt and pepper shakers, and animal ornaments wearing the group’s signature pink pussy hats. “If there’s something I’m passionate about,” she says, “I work with the organization. I’m interested in not just being out here in my studio, but working with the community and doing some good.” Leanne and husband Jim are empty-nesters now that their three children have moved away. The only difference is that their nest has ceramic chickens in it. It’s all part of the unexpected that she’s grown to cultivate as an artist. Visitors to her studio sometimes think it’s a co-op, thanks to the diversity of styles and forms that make up her body of work. “I work out ideas, and I love the process and the surprise. I see the thread that connects things. People know that if they like something, they’d better get it now, because I may not make another one.” Leanne’s website: www.lampkinsridgestudio.com Upcoming events: Bloomington Open Studios Tour, Oct. 21–22 Local Clay Pottery Show, Nov. 3–4, Convention Center UUCB Reproductive Justice Task Force event at Waldron Art Center, Nov. 5 Lampkins Ridge Studios Holiday Open House, Dec. 2 October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 45
Tall Trek
Bloomington doctor has top-of-the-world adventure By Pete DiPrimio
Photos courtesy Rick Weidenbener
C
limbing Mount Everest wasn’t happening. Let’s get that straight. Bloomington doctor Rick Weidenbener wasn’t about to push that top-of-the-world envelope. But a trip to Nepal? Check. A nine-day hike to Everest’s base camp, which has an elevation of 17,600 feet smack in the middle of the mighty Himalaya Mountains? Darn straight. Along the way, Rick and the members of his hiking group experienced the world’s most dangerous airport, spectacular scenery, lots of cows (Nepal is primarily a Hindu nation and cows are considered sacred), 19 hours of flying, lack of sleep, Kathmandu power lanes so tangled they resembled a “rat’s nest,” snow, ice, giant boulders and enough adventure to last a lifetime. Or, at least, until the next idea gone wild emerges.
46 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
“I didn’t have a ‘Bucket List,’” insists Rick, an orthopedic surgeon, “or if I did, it only was one deep. “This was it.” Rick and Mitch, a friend from medical school, had considered a trip to the upper reaches of planet Earth for three years. They’d done a lot of camping and hiking out west over the years, and were ready for something bigger and bolder—with this stipulation: “We had zero interest in climbing Everest,” Rick says. In August of 2016, consideration became implementation. They booked the trip as part of a wilderness medical society tour. Last May, it became reality. They completed the hike of a lifetime—and got sports medicine lectures each night as a continuing education bonus. “It was great for 100 reasons, including the physical part, the big thrill and the cultural part,” Rick says. “You get to be good friends with a number of the people.”
Rick with tip of Mt. Everest over his right shoulder.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 47
48 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Tallest Challenge
The trip was run by a trekking company called Bio Bio, which is named after a river in Chile. The group consisted of 23 hikers (called trekkers), four guides and one leader—Santiago, who was from Peru. He had led three previous base-camp trips, although one in 2015 ended early because of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Looming over it all was Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 29,029 feet above sea level, which is basically the cruising altitude for commercial airliners. Hurricane force winds and other extreme weather better suited for disaster movies limit summiting attempts to a pair of seven-to-10-day windows in the spring and fall. At least 223 people have died climbing Everest. “What’s crazy about climbing Everest is that from the first time it was summited, in 1953, to now, one in eight people who tried died,” Rick says. “Those are great odds if you want to win lottery. But this wasn’t the lottery. “I never had a desire to climb the whole thing.” The adventure started from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, with an elevation of basically 5,000 feet. After a day of exploring, the group flew to the small town of Lukla that had, Rick insisted, “the world’s deadliest airport.”
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50 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
“You land up hill on a runway and if you don’t stop in time, you smash into a mountain. On the way out, the runway goes downhill, and if you don’t take off in time you have a 2,000-foot drop.” From Lukla, they hiked out of town with 32 pounds of gear (porter boys carried the bulk of the supplies) and didn’t return for 14 days. They hiked anywhere from four to 12 hours in a day. “The trails were rugged and steep,” Rick says. “It was only for yaks, donkeys or humans.” Modern civilization vanished. “In the entire time after we left Lukla, we saw nothing with a wheel or an engine.” They spent nights in what were called Tea Houses, which were basically rooms often without water, electricity or heat. They visited colorful villages such as Namche Bazaar and Gorek Shep. They passed countless Buddhist shrines and stunning buildings 500 or more years old. “One of the best parts of the trip was the cultural aspect. You were immersed in the culture of the place.” One of the worst parts was sleeping. “At night, it was cold and dark. There often was no electricity, so you’d go to bed around 8:30 or 9. I would just lay there waiting to get up.” As a precaution against illness, Rick says he, “didn’t brush my teeth with hotel water. And you don’t eat food if you don’t boil it or peel it yourself. You never get food from street vendors. I never got a disease.”
Reaching base camp was cool, but Rick and Mitch wanted more. They were among seven trekkers who left before dawn to climb to the top of a nearby peak, with an elevation of 18,519. “It was as high as you can get without ropes,” Rick says. And, of course, they saw Everest in all its raw glory. “You can’t see the top of Everest from base camp, but you could from this peak,” Rick says. “It was the best view without being on it.” To fully understand the challenges of summiting Everest, consider it takes 30 days from the time you reach base camp to get to the top. That’s to ensure everyone is fully acclimated to the thin atmosphere and brutal conditions. From base camp, you hike to four additional camps before making the final 17to 18-hour trip to the top. For the record, the cost is $60,000. “You need a lot of money and leisure time,” Rick says. Rick and Mitch wanted no part in that. The group returned to Kathmandu, and then home. It left Rick with a final thought. “Would I do this trip again? No. But I will do another big trek. Maybe in the Andes at high altitude. There are plenty of other places to see something new. “It gave me a greater appreciation for places out there that I need to explore. I love climbing mountains, but the Himalayas are a class by themselves.”
Official base camp monument. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 51
Mobile Gourmets
Food trucks feature a rolling feast of delicious cuisine By Joel Pierson
Photos by Alex McIntyre
52 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
I
n Soviet Russia, you go to restaurant. In America, restaurant comes to you. Yes, it’s come to this—Yakov Smirnoff references, circa 1982. We apologize for any bad memories this may trigger. But, all this is to say that the food truck has gone mainstream. Once consigned to construction sites and county fairs, the humble food truck has evolved into a mobile establishment of fine—and sometimes gourmet—dining. Restaurateurs are stepping away from the brick-and-mortar establishments that have been their literal bread and butter, and expanding their horizons with these movable feasts. Reality competitions on TV show culinary teams battling for food truck supremacy, and Jon Favreau’s 2014 comedy film “Chef” depicted a somewhat romanticized portrayal of the life of a food truck team on a crosscountry trek. The phenomenon first came to Bloomington almost a decade ago with Darko Taco, a truck serving authentic Mexican cuisine in locations throughout town. A series of challenges and setbacks forced them to close, however, but their popularity inspired others in the city to get truckin’. Next on the scene was The Big Cheeze, specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches and mozzarella sticks. More and more trucks hit the streets, and an institution was born—Bloomington Food Truck Friday. It started in the parking lot of the Chocolate Moose but quickly outgrew that venue. Now the vendors gather each Friday from April through October, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church at Third and Lincoln streets.
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 53
Changing Vendors, Menus
The vendor list changes from week to week, but some of the regulars include La Poblana Taco Truck, 812 BBQ, The Gyro Truck, The Big Cheeze, Kebab on Wheels, The Chocolate Moose, Wever’s Smoke Eaters BBQ, Rasta Pops, Pili’s Party Taco, Döner Kebab, Creative Carvers, Red Frazier Bison and Brown County Kettle Corn. Many of the trucks accept credit cards, and most have items ranging from a dollar or two up to $10 for deluxe fare. In the interest of journalistic thoroughness, Homes & Lifestyles sent your intrepid reporter out for a talk and a taste. Roy Wever of Wever’s Smoke Eaters Barbecue is in his first year with the business. “This is my son’s business,” he explains. “He made his own barbecue sauce. It’s in 178 stores in Indiana and Illinois.” So far, he reports, it’s been a rewarding experience. The truck features the signature sauces on dishes like pulled-pork nachos, which had Friday lunchtime diners raving. Barry Becker of Creative Carvers served up a rib eye sandwich with horseradish sauce that was nothing short of amazing. He’s had the truck four years. Before that, he says, “I was director of catering at French Lick Resort. Then I ran a Subway franchise for five years. That wasn’t enough to retire on, so we decided to buy a food truck. It’s our retirement function now.” Along with the rewards, the work is not without its challenges. Among them, rules and regulations. “The city sells a license to park anywhere on city property, but the truck is too long for any parking space,” Barry says. This limitation makes it tough for owners of the larger trucks to find a place to vend. “Food trucks are subject to the exact same inspections restaurants are,” Cory Sampson of The Big Cheeze says. “And it can be tough keeping everyone motivated and spirits up in the hot and in the cold.” But despite these hurdles, The Big Cheeze has been satisfying locals for seven years. Cory adds, “It’s great to prepare food in such a special environment, where more than one restaurant can be here, especially on Food Truck Friday.” Ahmed Naderi has been the owner of the Döner Kebab truck for almost two years. It’s the European name for what Americans call a gyro, and his rendition of it is just fantastic. “I had this idea in my head that I would make it smaller, fast and cheap,” he says. “That was my goal. The biggest challenge is keeping the customers happy. I want to see a smile on their faces all the time.” Red Frazier Bison farms their own protein out in Bloomfield, and they’ve had a food truck for about a year. On the menu, along with bison burgers and bison cheesesteak egg rolls, is a very flavorful bison poutine—a plate of French fries covered in cheese curds, bison gravy and ground bison. Owner Justin Walker says, “Business is pretty good. Our trailer is too large to street vend, so we do Food Truck Friday and chase events around the state for the rest of the season.” Their biggest challenge is logistics, moving such a large trailer around. “And,” he adds, “it gets dreadfully hot inside.”
54 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
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Iuri Santos doesn’t share Red Frazier’s challenges. He’s the proprietor of Rasta Pops, a small pushcart that sells gourmet ice pops in exotic flavors. Hailing from Brazil, Iuri moved to Bloomington almost 20 years ago. Four years ago, he decided that the city needed someone to make these frozen treats. He crafts them and wraps them and then sells them around town, including Food Truck Fridays. The cart plugs in overnight to charge and then stays cold for more than 12 hours. “I keep close to my culture,” Iuri says. “Ice pops are big in Brazil.” Featuring flavors like ginger lemonade and spicy chocolate, they have the potential to get big here too. With live entertainment and basic outdoor seating, the accommodations for Food Truck Friday are simple and unpretentious. It’s got a community feeling—like a club open to those in the know. Yes, the restaurants here have Michelin tires instead of Michelin stars, but they offer up great variety, served quickly by friendly members of the community. And with 10 or more vendors in attendance each week, it’s like a progressive dinner every time.
56 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer
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October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 57
House to Home Remodeled 19th century home a hidden gem By Andrew Lehman
Photos by Megan Garner-Ballard, Jane Daniels Photography
I
f these walls could talk, just think of what they would say. Built in 1899, this home has seen more than 100 years of Bloomington history. But don’t let its age fool you. The home, located at 2102 West Fountain Drive in Bloomington, has been lovingly and completely restored. Hardwood floors, unique woodwork and exposed brick are just a few of the highlights in this character-filled space. The character starts even before you enter the home. The original stonewall and steps mark one corner of the property. The path to the front door leads to the impressive wrap-around front porch. It’s the perfect place to soak in the summer sun, take in the fall colors and welcome your family and friends. Once inside, relax in the large living room. Tall ceilings and large windows let in plenty of light in this inviting space. The eat-in kitchen boasts bright white cabinets and a retro-checkered floor as well as an exposed brick wall. The large dining room off the kitchen provides plenty of space for entertaining. Whether its an intimate gathering, or a family reunion, you’re sure to have enough room for everyone here. And in the event you have more guests than RSVPed, there’s plenty of room for overflow in the backyard. The home sits on more than a half-acre lot. The fire pit in the backyard helps make this outdoor space another great spot to entertain.
This home is for sale with Griffin Realty in Bloomington. To learn more about it, call 812-323-7232 or visit leanong.com.
58 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 59
60 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
History Shop
Stella’s Place offers antiques and a helping of Clear Creek’s past By Alexandra M. Lynch Photos by Jeremy Hogan
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“
lear Creek was a strip of land between two railroads,” says Bob Logsdon, unofficial historian for the community. Clear Creek, established in 1854, is south of Bloomington, from just north of That Road on South Rogers Street south to the intersection with Old 37. Though the railroad beds—and the trains that rode them—are gone, memories remain. We are sitting in Bob’s second-hand furniture store, Stella’s Place, where the trains used to come by daily. Track was laid through Clear Creek in 1858. “When I was a child,” Bob remembers, “steam engines were used. They changed to diesel in 1949. The L&N line ran north-south. Trains heading north went to Chicago—with many stops in little towns in between.” The depot was the center of town. Each day, outgoing U.S. mail was put in a bag and taken up a ladder to be hung on the hook for the arm of the passing train to grab. Meanwhile, the bag of mail for Clear Creek was thrown off the train. The depot also housed the telegraph office, which kept the town up
with the latest news. “I remember thinking that the telegraph machine was magic. It would suddenly start ticking away its Morse code messages—very mysterious,” says Bob, reminiscing.
Stella’s Story
Bob Logsdon, a spry 84, has lived a great deal of Clear Creek history. His parents lived in Clear Creek, and Bob was born in the old Bloomington Hospital on South Rogers Street. He has memories of his boyhood, as well as his happy years with his wife—yes, Stella. Not all his memories are pleasant. “We were poor, and life was hard. We’d all work from before dawn to after dark. We had no running water, no electricity, and an outhouse. We’d heat our uninsulated house with wood and coal. We’d gather wood here and there, but the coal came from the overloaded coal cars on the trains. Chunks of coal would drop off the train, and we’d collect it in feed sacks. We would fill up an entire shed with wood and coal before winter.”
October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 61
A going business in town from the 1920s to 1940s was the lumberyard owned by Guy Leonard. Located west of Rogers near That Road, it was a huge long building that you would drive through and have your lumber loaded. “I imagine all the houses around here are built with lumber from that lumberyard,” adds Bob. One notable event stands out in Clear Creek history. Bob was a young boy entranced by airplanes and flight. The first time he saw a plane, it was “flying at treetop level” right above the yard where Bob and his brother were playing. The plane was clearly coming down, and in fact it landed in a nearby cornfield in what is now Ellington’s farm. The telegraph started ticking and the party phone lines were buzzing with the news. The switchboard operator called the police who arrived on the scene. The pilot of the plane, Earnest Larry Pletch, had blood on his shirt, which he claimed was from a nosebleed. “He couldn’t have achieved an altitude to get a nose bleed in the plane he was flying,” Bob notes. The pilot asked directions to a place he could get something to eat—William and Wampler General Store (in the building of the future Stella’s Place.) He ordered hamburgers.
62 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Meanwhile, the police discovered that the pilot had a criminal record and was wanted for hijacking a plane—the first documented hijacking of a plane in the United States—murdering his flight instructor and dumping the body. The owner of the restaurant got a call from the sheriff who instructed him to answer the call with “yes” and “no” answers, then said he should delay the wanted man if he could, “But don’t do anything foolish.” The owner took the burgers off the grill. The police pulled their car up on the porch, and arrested the pilot. He was taken to Indianapolis for interrogation. Earnest Larry Pletch was imprisoned for many years, but he did get out. Prior to prison, he had been a serial marry-er, marrying numerous times. Once out of prison, he married twice again before his death in 2002. While in prison, Earnest Larry Pletch patented the limited slip differential for automobiles.
Stella’s Today
Bob and his wife Stella were married for 58 years. They bought the store in 1979. Bob
and Stella both loved buying and selling, so it took them no time to fill up their Clear Creek shop. In addition, several storage units house the stuff they purchased. Stella, an outgoing and pleasant person, was a natural sales person. Unfortunately, she suffered a stroke in 2002 and was not well after that. Bob took care of her. He keeps the shop going now. He has furniture, household goods, and odds and ends. One standout is a large icebox with walnutstained ash over all, all very original, with an ingenious way of circulating the cold air without a fan. Another is a handsome corner dresser with marble tops and burled wood. Clear Creek is a quiet place these days, except for traffic going too fast on the tricky little curve in South Rogers Street. If you listen carefully, you might hear those train whistles blow. Bob Logsdon would like to request that any readers with photos of Clear Creek including the Odd Fellows Lodge please contact him so he can add them to his historical collection. Please email rlogsdon10@gmail.com. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 63
64 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
Homes & Lifestyles
Take a Trip
Close Encounters
Roswell offers UFO seekers a unique experience Story and photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch
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ights flash, aliens speak and a flying saucer takes a foggy spin as adults and kids stand transfixed at the extraterrestrial experience, wondering if this is what happened here 70 years ago. On that famous day in the summer of 1947, an alien spaceship reportedly crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. Known as “The Roswell Incident,” the mystery is why the International UFO Museum and Research Center is here where folks can see a spooky spacecraft takeoff and a scary alien autopsy scene. It is why Roswell street lamps have alien faces on them; why El Toro Bravo Bakery makes green alien cookies; the local mailbox resembles a space robot; souvenir shops like Alien Zone and Roswell Landing specialize in UFO-related merchandise; the Visitors Center has an alien photo spot; the local McDonalds is shaped like a flying saucer; and the city has a UFO Festival every July with UFO documentaries and panel discussions from leading UFO researchers. It is also why so many people come to Roswell to find out for themselves what happened. And the city of Roswell has been wise enough to embrace and celebrate that legendary UFO connection. “We know that many people come here because of our UFO story,” says Mayor Dennis J. Kintigh. “But they also quickly discover that Roswell has so much more going on.” Located in southeastern New Mexico with a population of about 50,000, Roswell boasts great recreational areas such as Bottomless Lakes State Park, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Mescalero Sand Dunes. The Roswell Museum and Art Center contains works by renowned American artists Georgia O’Keefe, Peter
Hurd and Henriette Wyeth and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra features talented musicians. Voted one of the best museums in New Mexico, the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art is a treasure house of modern art.
First Contact?
But it is Roswell’s brush with aliens that hovers over the city. Of course, there were reports of Unidentified Flying Objects before the Roswell Incident of 1947 but Roswell is the story that continues to inspire, fascinate and mystify. “The more I study it, the more I believe it is true,” says Frank Kimbler, assistant professor of earth science at New Mexico Military Institute. A professional geologist for almost three decades, Frank moved to Roswell in 2009 for his teaching position. “I believe that a craft of unknown origin crashed in the New Mexico desert in 1947,” he says. “It scared the hell out of the American military and that’s why they still won’t talk about it to this day.” It all started after a bizarre July 1947 thunderstorm had swept across the desert. The next day, sheep farmer Mac Brazel found debris littering his pasture. Although it looked like normal wood, paper, tinfoil and rubber, the material was exceptionally resilient and impervious to fire, hammer and knife. Discussing the find with his neighbors, Mac was told that he may have discovered the wreck from one of the flying saucers that had been written about in recent news reports. Hoping to get answers, Mac drove to Roswell Army Air Field where his story piqued the interest of officials.
Aliens move and speak while a UFO moves with flashing lights and fog. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 65
A science teacher at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, Frank Kimbler said he has come to believe in the UFO landing and other alien incidents. 66 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • October 2017
The Army collected the debris and issued a startling news release on July 8 that the government had captured a flying disk. When the story hit newspapers and media broadcasts, however, the news release was quickly retracted by the Army. It was only a weather balloon, the Army said. That was the end of it for more than 35 years. Mac died in 1963, still puzzled by what he had found. Then in 1980, two men—Charles Berlitz and William Moore—published a write up claiming that the weather balloon story was an Army cover-up. Not only did the debris come from a flying saucer but they claimed that the Army had found the crashed spacecraft itself as well as the bodies of alien crewmembers. No longer would sleepy little Roswell be known as “The Dairy Capital of the Southwest.” The International UFO Museum and Research Center was opened in 1992 and people like Frank Kimbler have worked ever since to prove that the incident really happened. Using a metal detector and other high-tech instruments to scour the debris area since May 2010, Frank says he has discovered pieces overlooked by the Army. “I’ve found some aluminum-type alloys that are like nothing on this earth,” he says. Another strange incident happened, Frank says, when he sent part of the silvery metal for scientific testing at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration in Tempe. “I sent it by FedEx in a small plastic bottle,” Frank says. “My family saw me carefully package it.” But when the package arrived in Arizona, the fragment was not in the bottle. “Our government has the ability to make things disappear,” Frank says. “And I think that is what they did with my metal fragment. I can assure you I put it in that package.” Likewise, someone or something is covering up information about the Roswell Incident, many believe. “Something fantastic happened here in the desert,” Frank concludes. “It would be rather arrogant for us to think that our planet is the only one that has life on it. There’s a big wide universe out there filled with mystery. I think Roswell is part of that mystery and it’s exciting and important that we continue to look for the truth.” For more information: Contact the Roswell Visitors Center at (575) 624-7704.
Homes & Lifestyles
Recipe
Mediterranean Autumn
This dish, a salmon version of the classic chicken marbella, is inspired by Spanish and North African cuisine. It brings together savory, sweet and spicy flavors. Recipe and photo by Shaylan Owen
Ingredients: 4 5-ounce salmon portions 1/2 cup pomegranate kernels
1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper
Marbella sauce:
2 cups Israeli couscous 2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock 1/4 cup olive oil 1 shallot, chopped 1 tablespoon whole annatto seeds 1 teaspoon salt 1 star anise pod 1 bay leaf Pinch saffron threads
1/3 cup olive oil, plus extra 1/3 cup dried apricots, sliced 1/3 cup prunes, sliced 1/3 cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted and halved 1 shallot, quartered and sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons capers, drained 2 tablespoons honey, plus extra 1 tablespoon caper brine 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest 1/2 tablespoon Calabrian chilis, finely chopped 4 bay leaves
Yellow couscous:
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients, cover, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Test for seasoning and adjust to taste. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a large baking dish, then add the sauce mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the liquid begins to bubble and the dried fruit softens. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees, and remove the pan from the oven.
Nestle the salmon pieces in the sauce, evenly spaced, and spoon-baste the fish with some of the liquid. Lightly drizzle each piece of fish with extra honey, then return to the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes longer, spoon basting the fish with more sauce halfway through. Remove from the oven when the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. While the marbella is baking, begin the couscous. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil, annatto seeds and star anise over medium-low heat. When the seeds begin to sizzle, cook for one minute longer, then strain off the seeds, reserving the infused oil. Return the oil to the saucepan over medium heat, add the shallots and salt, and cook for one minute. Add the couscous and stir to evenly coat with the oil, then add the stock, saffron, and bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring intermittently, until the couscous has absorbed the liquid and is al dente. Test for seasoning and adjust to taste. Plate the salmon over servings of couscous and spoon some remaining sauce over the top. Finish with a sprinkling of pomegranate kernels. Serves four. Notes: The salmon may be replaced with a quartered chicken. Regular fine couscous may be substituted, but the cook time will be much faster. October 2017 • Homes & Lifestyles of South-Central Indiana • 67
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