We left Noblesville to visit Ruthie’s brother and sister, and their families, in Terre Haute.  And then it was on to Nashville, Indiana, where we would spend a few days with her older sister, and frequent traveling companion, Rita.

The view out Rita’s back window our first morning there.  Nashville is a historic artist community with a population of 803.  It is the county seat of Brown County.  Nashville’s artistic flavor and the “mountains” of Brown County make it a major tourist area.  It is 65 miles south of Indianapolis; and 17 miles east of Bloomington, home of Indiana University (IU) (and as the supervisor says, “Don’t call it the University of Indiana!”)]

[The backyard.]

[Rita’s neighbor across the street.]

[The area is flush with state parks.  This one for T. C. Steele, a famous artist who lived here.]

[Rita makes for Mr. Steele’s home and studio.]

[And the sign at the top of the page was at this studio entry.]

[Steele built this barn-size studio when the house became too small for work.  The wall of windows was distinctive for its time.]

[The view from the house.]

[Leaving the park.  The Biddies, both IU alums, were then nostaligic for a visit to ye ole campus – so it was off to Bloomington.]

[The first stop was on the far side of town for lunch.  The “quote” at the top of the previous blog story came from here.  Mmmmmmm!!  🙂 ]

[Catching up on things at Hinkle’s.]

[Bloomington, and the campus, leads the country in “brains.”  There is a story behind this – a woman doctor from here recovered from a stroke – but I’ll have to check with Rita again about the story and get back to you.

The brains are to mark the recovery and successful book of a neuro-anatomist at IU.  (She was at Harvard when she had a stroke in her 30’s.)  The title is Stroke of Insight.  Jill Bolte is her name.  I’m sure there are others who think that IU and Bloomington should be marked by brains!  ~ Rita]

[Campus and the media center.]

[The campus centerpiece is Showalter Fountain.]

[All over campus – does anyone know what time it is?]

[Another brain.]

[Student union.]

[More brains.]

[And here’s where The Biddies really got excited.  They both lived in dorms and worked their way through college in the cafeterias.  The dorms in their day were WWII barracks.  Now they have new apartment style dorms but they maintained “The Trees” – all the tree names carried over to the new buildings.  Here they are at “Pine Hall.”]

[And then it was on to my favorite Bloomington landmark for ice cream!!  🙂 ]

[And then it was back to Nashville.]

[And Chateau Thomas – well, the name was right!]

[We purchased some local product.  (We were home for a week and wondered what had happened to the wine.  The supervisor found it in the trunk of the car, where on several days it may have been cooked.  We may just have salad dressing at this point?)  😦  ]

[As so often happens on these adventures, a musician was practicing in their seating and performing area.  He was a “hippie” of our age, and we had a nice visit with him.  Turned out his mother was from . . . Kensington!]

[Meanwhile, back at the general store.]

[Then it was on to the Dale’s for a picnic lunch.  Cindy is an honorary biddy who has paid a visit to the shores of Lake Darling; and David is, what else, an artist.]

[All cars were parked in the open.  Surrounding tulip poplars were oozing yucking stuff from above.  It was happening in Terre Haute too.]

[The house from the barn.  I believe they have over 20 acres – with a swimmable and fishable pond.]

[An offensive tulip poplar, as I recall?]

[Here comes David.]

[A perfect day for a picnic.]

[Fresh produce!]

[The barn and David’s studio.]

[It was time to head back to Noblesville for Tom’s graduation.  Rita was with us and planned the route.  First stop was a WWII internment camp for Italian prisoners of war – Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Indiana.]

[The prisoners built a chapel – the following photos tell the story.]

[This really was a place seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  But there were huge National Guard facilities in the area.]

[Coming into Edinburgh.]

[Home of the internationally-known “Not Just Popcorn” – which has over 240 flavors of . . . popcorn!]

[Rita checks out the largest popcorn bag, which could have held several of the Galapagos Islands.]

[Then it was time for lunch at the Pepper Mill Cafe.  The proprietor’s husband, Rick D. Wilson, is a local artist whose works are displayed on the walls – and in a gallery across the street.]

[So long, Edinburgh.  On the road to Noblesville . . .]