7/20/2019 (Written on Sunday 7/14/2019)
It’s a beautiful Sunday morning in Bloomington, IN! We are here to go to the Lockhart Reunion today. We came up on Friday, got here late, then spent Saturday in and around Monroe and Owen counties, seeing things and places we’ve not seen before, even though we both grew up less than 50 miles from it.
We started our day Saturday with a hearty breakfast in downtown Bloomington at a restaurant which served (truly) breakfast tacos! Had not had good ones outside of Texas till these. I even got to have corn tortillas, a real rarity outside of the Southwest! (Oh, they had all the normal good breakfast menu, too.) This restaurant was started about two years ago by a family member of old restauranteurs who retired a few years back. We could tell they knew how to run a restaurant. Beautifully done, though not elaborate, while only a breakfast-lunch menu. I hope they have great success!
I’ve bragged about Indiana State Parks before and yesterday we visited McCormick’s Creek with no disappointment! It is so very naturally beautiful, clean, well kempt, and friendly. Barb and I hiked the “tough” trail which was not so tough because the water in the creek was fairly low. The falls were worth the walk and the climb back up was tough enough, but fairly short. Really good exercise!
We’re thinkin’—one year the whole family! The old Inn is great and has all the amenities; restaurant which people brag about, pool, tennis, basketball, lobby lounge, and of course, the park. McCormick’s Creek State Park—destination location!
Afterwards, we visited Owen Winery, in the country South of Spencer. Simple, but well done with interesting wines—Persimmon?—Apple?—many others. Outside (or inside) light dining in a beautiful valley. We could have sat there all day!
For dinner, we went to a restaurant overlooking Lake Monroe (Southeast side of Bloomington) with my nephew and his wife, the widow of one of my brothers and 3 of her friends. A wonderful evening of story-telling (yes, with more storytellers than me), good food and drink.
On Sunday, we drove to the “old familiar” places which are a part of our memories from when we met. After getting a quick but delicious breakfast in beautiful Nashville, IN, a destination city in itself, we drove the old country roads to where Barb’s folks farmed. Near Martinsville, IN, about 130 acre farm with a typical old farm home and classic barn when they were there, now has a beautiful home (looks as though the new owners probably remodeled the old house.) Plus, they have taken some of the road frontage and made some home sites. Then, on the South side of the ridge-top driveway, they have built a 10-12 acre pond which was wharfed and prepared for both swimming and pleasure boating. Gorgeously finished.
On our way East to get to the family reunion we wound around more country roads to go past where Barb grew up, passing many early age friends’ former homes and schools. Nostalgia and some melancholy lingered with us. But, on to the reunion. We really enjoyed all the relatives and friends who come to our reunion. This year, our attendance was up about 20% from last year which makes us look forward to next year!
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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