Main Street America

 

Main Street in Downtown Elkhart, Indiana. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: So Many Hours Of The Day To Fill
2018: Catfish On The Bluff
2017: If Only Gas Were That Cheap Again
2016: Friends Don't Let Friends Exercise Alone
2015: I Would Never Mute This Commerical
2014: State Line
2013: No Pity
2012: Stop Grackling!
2011: Chicks And Kids
2010: Ultima Lavada 9:00 PM
2009: Eddie Touches Up The Old Girl Friday
2008: The Morning Sun Greets Guadalupe
2007: Starting Soon. No, Really.
2006: This Mary Doesn’t Go To Pre-School
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

On The Banks Of The St. Joseph

 

I love mansions.  And palaces.  I've been to many.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Kykuit in Westchester County, New York.

The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island - and seven of the other mansions located in Newport.  The Breakers and The Elms were my favorites.

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain.

The Dunsmuir Castle in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Würzburg Residence in Würzburg, Germany.  Oh.  My.  God.  This one was fabulous!

There are others, and more to explore  I will not rest.

This week we visited the Ruthmere Mansion in Elkhart, Indiana.  We were there after hours so only explored the exterior.  It was beautiful.  

Wikipedia has quite a bit of information on the interior and exterior design.  That's where I'm excerpting the following from.

Built in 1910 in the Beaux-Arts style, the mansion is three stories and the most prominent historic residence in Elkhart.  It was originally known as the Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley Residence but was renamed Ruthmere after Beardsley's only daughter, Ruth, who died at seven months old. 

The mansion was designed by E. Hill Turnock and is faced with buff-colored Belden brick from Ohio and native Indiana limestone.  

Carved stone quoins, capitals, cartouches, and window surrounds add exterior interest. The covered entrance is supported by square brick pillars created by carved limestone capitals. A balustraded marble piazza across the south facade extends to the east side of the building where a porte-cochere protects visitors as they arrive by carriage or car.

From the east porch, a covered walkway leads to a greenhouse.

The property sits across from the St. Joseph River and was beautiful in the setting sun's light.  Whenever I go to one of these places I imagine what it must be like for the people who lived there when the homes were new.  How these rich residents of these small towns lived in lavish homes while others could only dream of ever having their kind of money.  

Mansions, castles, palaces, and famous residences are going to take priority in my sightseeing in the future.  I want to see more!  Next time, I hope I have time to go inside this one but if not, I feel lucky enough to have seen one of the homes of a prominent resident of small-town America.   

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2023: A Street In Catalonia's Capital Region
2022: Approaching The Missile Range
2021: It's Baby Season!
2020: Fanned Out Cables
2019: Three Years Later...
2018: A Spring Moment
2017: In The Heart Of Amish Country
2016: A Spark Of Male Bonding
2015: A-MAZ-ING
2014: Ghosts Of Retail
2013: Orange Is The Devil
2012: Sixteen Hundred Miles Makes All The Difference
2011: In Need Of Some Color
2010: 122 Years And Counting
2009: Sixteen Days Old
2008: Racism Comes With A Convenient Handle
2007: Evening Tide
2006: Glittering Pasties And Swinging Tassles
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Historic Entertainment Palace

 

This is the historic Lerner Theatre in Elkhart, Indiana.  Formerly known as the Elco Theatre, it was built in 1924.  

Wikipedia says, the Lerner "is a two-story, reinforced concrete and steel, Beaux-Arts style building. The front facade features four Corinthian order columns, three freestanding urns, enriched cornice, parapet and frieze. The building is faced with terra cotta and has a lighted canopy projecting over the sidewalk. The auditorium features a large central dome measuring 30 to 40 feet in diameter. Built as a vaudeville theatre, by the late 1920s it had evolved into a motion picture palace."

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Motoring With A Saint

2018: The Three Rs In Strawberry
2017: My America
2016: Addictive Retro Fun
2015: Boldface
2014: Ciudad Juárez En La Noche
2013: Live It Up!
2012: The Last Supper
2011: New York Always Stands Out
2010: Visitor Number 933 To Room 525
2009: Makes A Nice Desktop
2008: Leaning Tower Of Texas
2007: It Should Be Called “Thimble Shot”
2006: Southern Hideaway
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Horsepower

 

Two buggy-pulling horses in Shipshewana, Indiana.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Like Rabbits
2018: Lodged In The Mountains
2017: Getting Your Ducks In A Row
2016: Rise Up
2015: Slide
2014: Sitting In The Sun Of The Southwest
2013: The Sunniest Black Hole
2012: A Visit From Woodland Creatures
2011: The Man I’m Spending My Nights With
2010: Let’s Hope This Industrious City Can Get Our Truck Fixed
2009: Free Range Horns And Humps
2008: The Earth Is Sending The Paper To The Folder
2007: Some People Are SAD; I Am Not One Of Them
2006: An Eye For Fashion…And Other Things
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Second In Line

 

The line of trucks waiting for service at ARI, the shop in Indiana where our custom sleeper was built.  I didn't take this photo but we're in it - the second truck from the right, the black one.

Looks like we'll be spending the weekend in the area!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Hard Labor
2018: Heading To The Tall Pines
2017: They Nestled The Produce On Beds Of Kale
2016: Take It To Ramon
2015: California Field
2014: Happy Easter!
2013: A Tree Grows In A Truck Stop
2012: The Herb Whisperer
2011: Turning Tables With Adele
2010: A Different Kind Of Dumpster Diving
2009: Federal Glow
2008: My Mother Is An Oxymoron
2007: The Restroom Shell Game
2006: The Pressure
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Dinner And A Show

Last night we went to see Gladys Knight at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center in Shipshewana, Indiana.  When we decided to come here to get work done on our truck we looked for things to do in the area and this concert was one of the events on the calendar. So we scooped up dinner and show tickets and had a sweet little date night.  How lucky are we?

Shipshewana, a town of less than 900 people, has this wonderful 1,500-seat performing arts center that's hosted a surprising number of celebrities. We'll definitely be returning to enjoy future shows - the venue was small and we felt like we were part of a very private event.

Gladys Knight was fabulous.  The crow was energetic and responsive and the Empress of Soul brought them to their feet several times!  She looked fantastic and put on a great show - it's hard to believe she's going to be 80 next month!

Click here to see photos and a few short video clips from the concert.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Mise En Place
2018: Keeping Time In The County Seat
2017: On Your Mark
2016: Always Be A Moose
2015: Where The Good Girls Run Into Trouble
2014: Feed The Children Of The World
2013: Burst Of Power
2012: If This Worked, I’d Become A Cannibal
2011: How I While Away The Hours
2010: Incredibly Average, Yet Heroic If Necessary
2009: May I Take A Message?
2008: Doing The Speed Limit In Your Sleep
2007: Now I Can Go Back To Watching The Show
2006: Ten Of Life’s Simplest Pleasures
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Mail At The Depot

 

The mailbox at the Sturgis historic train depot.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Working With Wind
2018: You Really WON'T Believe What's Inside
2017: Blue Girl
2016: Vintage Beauty
2015: Truck Yeah
2014: Break Time Selfie
2013: The Glories Of Our Journey
2012: The Herb Whisperer
2011: The Switch Between Morning Glory And Country Strong
2010: Name That Tree
2009: Getting Plowed
2008: Eddie Friday In Squares
2007: The Color Of Elizabeth’s Eyes
2006: The Result Of A Little Flax In Your Diet
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

If You Could Just Move It A Smidge To The Left

 

The old train depot in Sturgis, Michigan is now the town's Historical Museum. 

Ten years ago it was moved to this spot.  Yes, they moved the whole building.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: One Last Grasp At The Sky
2018: Diner For One
2017: An Actual Manic Monday
2016: Sunday Reading
2015: Do You Give Good Internet? I'll Be Right There.
2014: Where Are We?
2013: Where You'd Go For Camel Repair
2012: The Color Of Happy
2011: Taking Possession Of The Sound
2010: The Bridge People
2009: Knocking Us Off One Candy Bar At A Time
2008: How To Entertain Yourself When Hanging Out With Sight Impaired Adults
2007: Is It REALLY Such A Mystery??
2006: Heading South And Going Country
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Parking Lot Reeds

 

Some weeds at the edge of a parking lot in Corfu, New York.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Soup In A Golden Bowl
2018: Where The Elks Of Globe Went To Gather
2017: For All The Real Easter Lovers Out There
2016: Round Trip
2015: A Delicious Bridge And Tunnel
2014: More Important Than Taxes
2013: Stadium Seating
2012: Where Ed Was Found Roaming The Aisles
2011: If You Happen To Have A Few Hundred Million Lying Around, Have I Got A Deal For You
2010: Another Day At The Port
2009: Buggin’ Out
2008: Hangin’ Out With Ray Stoker Jr.
2007: Sunset On The Move
2006: Happy Easter
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Backlit By The Sun

 

Sunset silhouette in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.,
2019: Our Lady Of Paris
2018: Hand In Hand
2017: Grain Grinder
2016: My Number One Man Next To Our Number One Tree
2015: The Eggplant Link Is The Tastiest
2014: Compliance By Guilt
2013: The Difference A Zero Makes
2012: Pre-Digital
2011: The Sun Sets On The Roughrider State
2010: Diamond Studded Proof
2009: How A Book Defies Its Cover
2008: How To Up Your Chances For A Sweet Monkey Lovin’ Romp
2007: Activities Director
2006: Ah, But It Is SO Worth It
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Weather Event In Vacationland

 

Dysart's truck stop in Hermon, Maine glistening in the rain.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: The Art Of Clog Making
2018: Beauty Prevails
2017: Approaching The Future Of Space Travel
2016: Hmeep Hmeep!
2015: Spring In The Sky
2014: Power To The Tree
2013: For Mommy
2012: There’s Always Room For La Dolce Vita
2011: Drop It Like It’s Hot
2010: The Art Of Being Tardy
2009: Vantage Point
2008: Cape Cahd Hahba
2007: Waxing Brilliant
2006: Seven! Seven! Seven! Seven! Seveeeeennnn!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Freshly Brewed

 

Ed is a brewed ice tea kind of guy.  He doesn't like it bottled, he doesn't like it flavored, he doesn't like it from a soda fountain, and he doesn't like it sweet.  Which is a shocker since he's a Texan.  Do you know how hard it is to get unsweetened tea in the South without someone looking at you like you have three heads?

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we ate at Timber Kitchen in Maine.  I loved the atmosphere, the rustic decor, and the menu.  I was really looking forward to dinner.  We each had soup (I had French Onion and Ed had the Smoked Seafood Chowder), salad (I had the Littel Timber house salad and Ed had the Caesar), and then we both had the Surf & Turf.  It was delicious, but it was costly.  The bill for the two of us was $238.20.  And we don't even drink!    

Which brings me back to the iced tea...

Ed ordered unsweetened, brewed iced tea.  And the photo above is how it was served.  

The tea was the Ceylon Gold from Tea Forte, which comes in a beautiful pyramid-shaped tea bag.

It was served in the Tea Forte Tea Over Ice Pitcher Set, which was as beautiful as the tea bag and something I think I may be purchasing for our home.  It was so elegant and so personal and made a perfect pitcher of tea just like Ed likes it.

And I think all that beauty explains why the iced tea was $6.00.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Chill Out, They're Fine
2018: Right Of Way
2017: Not A Time For Restful Sleep
2016: Yellow Pop
2015: Union Wharf
2014: Mysterious Exercise
2013: Doris Day Spends The Weekend In Texas
2012: Evening Ball
2011: Taxes And Ta-Tas
2010: Ah, The Subtle Contrasts Of New Jersey
2009: A Fishy Pishy Is Never Dishy
2008: Before The Luck Ran Out
2006: Five Guys I’m In Love With This Week
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Towering Over Main Street

 

It was rainy and overcast this week in Bangor when we decided to go for dinner at Timber Kitchen and Bar.  After soup, salad, and delicious surf and turf, we decided to check out the big guy across the street.  

That guy is Paul Bunyan, standing 31 feet tall and weighing 3,700 pounds.  Rumored to be the largest Paul Bunyan statue in the world, he stands there looking down on Main Street just begging for you to take a selfie with him.  

He's been there since 1959 and built to withstand 110-mph winds.

He's not going anywhere anytime soon.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Jammin' With The Pamplemousse
2018: Who Dat?
2017: Nest
2016: Working On The Railroad
2015: There's A Killer Whale On My Sightseeing List
2014: You Look Hungry, Take These For Later
2013: A Dumpster Diver's Dream
2012: Reigning Over Sitting 300 Days A Year
2011: Raining In Baltimore
2010: Back That Ass Up
2009: Shaved, Slivered, Sliced, Grated, Chunked, And Best Of All, In Meatballs
2008: Too Small For America?
2007: Waiting For A Beautiful Balsamic Splash
2006: Other Weird Things In Utah
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Path Of Totality

 

When we came back to the States from Nova Scotia, Canada earlier this week we had the opportunity to stop and view the solar eclipse in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, which was in the path of totality. 

For two minutes and seventeen seconds, the area was plunged into an eery darkness.  We didn't have special glasses so we couldn't look until the sun was covered, and although I took this photo it still doesn't represent exactly what we were looking at, which was much cooler.

We saw some other people and families come to the truck stop and set up their lawn chairs in the parking lot, waiting for the big event.  On our trip to Nova Scotia through all the states in the path of totality, we saw signs warning of traffic backups and telling people to not stop on the interstates to watch the eclipse, but being in Canada eliminated all of that because there aren't as many people here so the roads were wide open and there wasn't a stitch of traffic.

We saw a lunar eclipse in 2015 and a partial solar eclipse in 2017, and now we have this one in the books.  I'm happy we got to experience this even though we didn't even try to see it - we just happened to be in the right place at the right time - because the next one that will hit the Lower 48 won't be for another twenty-one years!

So unless we plan to travel to see other eclipses around the world (which we won't), this year is going to mark our special moment with the moon, sun, and a bunch of strangers in a parking lot in Canada.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Top Of The Parmigiana List
2018: Stay In Your Lane
2017: Don't Even Go There
2016: Pretty Purple Prickly Pears
2015: Visually Artistic Lighting
2014: I Lost Sleep Looking At All These Links
2013: Five Facets Of Comfort
2012: The Daily Rant Brings You The Daily Commute
2011: Not For The Shy
2010: A Barge And A Lady
2009: Easter Preparation Takes Its Toll
2008: Eddie In The Blue Friday
2007: The Man Filter
2006: There Is Still A Chance
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wicked Good Lobstah

We're in Maine. And I'm in heaven.  The weather is right up my alley, chilly with a mix of sun and clouds.  It couldn't be more perfect for me.

Because we're in Maine, we had to have lobster.  So we bobtailed (that's driving the truck without the trailer) over to Angler's Restaurant.  It was recommended to us by one of the locals at the truck stop.

Ed ordered the clam chowder and a whole lobster.  I don't like to work for my food - cracking, picking, digging, sucking - so I ordered the broiled scallops and haddock.  I wasn't thrilled with my dish - I wish it had a few more scallops and the haddock had a little more flavor - but it hit the spot since we wanted seafood.  Ed really liked his lobster - it was sweet and meaty. 

The restaurant is family-owned and during our dinner, the owner came over to check in on us.  We told him we were truckers and drove over from Bangor for lobster.  

"Is that your truck out there in the parking lot?" he said.

"Yes," we said.

"Wow.  It's a cawkah." he said.

"A cawkah?" I said.

Yeah, a cawkah."  

I just smiled.  I had no idea what he meant. We chatted a few more minutes about trucking and food and then he moved on to the next table full of guests.

If you know anything about Maine, you know they have a bit of their own language.  I mean, a lot of words and phrases you've never heard anywhere else.  More, I think, than any other part of the country.  Corker?  That means something amazing or remarkable.   

But what do I know?  I'm from away.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Grapes, Raisins, Or Wine...All Delicious
2018: Dominion Over Copper Mining
2017: Getting Served
2016: Bringing 1946 Back To Life
2015: Vintage Heaven
2014: No Wonder China Is The Exporting Superpower
2013: 109 Miles Of White Knuckle Passengering 
2012: Strong
2011: The Man Unmasked
2010: Fingers Crossed For All Things Motorized!
2009: Eddie Forces A Smile Friday
2008: A, B, C, D, DD: No Matter What The Letter, The Trauma Is The Same
2007: How To Watch American Idol The Right Way
2006: Dings And Hos
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!