West Baden Springs: The Lobby and Atrium

Too bad I didn’t learn how to play chess.  Apparently is was “the game” back in the day.

The lobby had several chess boards ready to go. 

The lobby was decorated with many stained glass windows…perhaps left over from the seminary days.

This photo gives you some idea of the grand style in the lobby.  There were many seating areas and several library type rooms.

This is the atrium.  An architectural beauty.

The sky lights left in some warm light on a chilly day.

The center decoration must be made of tile.

All around the perimeter were ornate tile floors.

There were seating areas all over.  There was even a Grand Piano. And more chess sets.

There were balconies that opened into the atrium.

It was a fun place to visit.  Next time I am staying for lunch and a stroll on the grounds.

West Baden Springs : The Veranda

Oh my goodness that veranda was inviting!  It was a tad chilly so not many people were outside.  Far Guy’s sister is on the veranda.

I can only imagine the people that strolled here after dinner.

I had a blast on the front steps taking photographs.

Welcoming rocking chairs just invited you to sit for a spell.

I noticed the swastika on the railing…there was a sign that said “ The West Baden Springs Hotel Veranda Railing was constructed in 1915, long before the Swastika  Symbol was used in WWII.   Many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years utilized the Swastika Symbol to represent Life, Sun, Power, Strength and Good Luck.”

Perhaps you would like to go inside?   Tomorrow the Lobby and Atrium.

West Baden Springs

Back in November, November 2nd in fact…a day after the big wedding we went for a ride into the countryside of Indiana.

Looks like something out of a fairy tale doesn’t it?  Flags waving in the towers…damsels waiting to be saved!

The main gate.

Now that is some driveway.

It was chilly and it froze that morning.

Geraniums surrendered to the frost.

The Mums up on the veranda looked pretty good.

West Baden Springs Hotel is on the list of Historic Hotels in America.  It was built in 1902…and has quite a history.  It was a luxury mineral springs resort, a Army Hospital, a seminary and a college before it was rescued by a billionaire and partially restored…it reopened in 2007 there is a Casino nearby…French Lick.  It seems the only way the hotel could be completely saved was to partner with a casino group.

Tomorrow The Veranda

The Wedding

November 1st in Indiana the day started out cold…and there was snow on the patio furniture.  Our hope was that during the day the weather would clear up and the sun would come out.

We had almost the whole day…the wedding was to take place at 5:30.   Chance and I manned the fort with Ernie while Far Guy, Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam were out doing cave explorations.   The dogs and I got Ron organized and looking dashing in his tux and sent him off.  Cufflinks…who wears them anymore…and it was a good thing the tie was tied it only had to be adjusted to avoid strangulation. No snow on the pumpkins or the Mum’s.

 

No snow or rain and the sun is shining!  It was 44 degrees!  It could be worse.

It was warm inside.

The cake…I watched the gal decorate the cake in place…it was interesting!

I kidnapped the groom for some photos in the Vineyard.

Here is the bride, Bethany and her father Ron.

They had a beautiful ceremony.  The white cross is a unity cross.

The Unity Cross is actually a small sculpture.  The outer part is placed on the wood stand by the groom it symbolizes his strength and boldness, the bride places the inner part which is delicate and beautiful. Three pegs which represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are placed into the sculpture securing the outside to the inside…that symbolizes God’s place in the covenant of marriage.

The happy couple…a bit chilly but happy!

The bride was beautiful!

The Mother of the Bride (Jan… Far Guy’s only sibling) and the Bride.

The Bride and her only and favorite Uncle… Far Guy.  The wind was coming up and I made him wear his  do rag.

It was a lovely wedding!  We were happy to be there.  We  enjoyed a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres of smoked salmon, cheese and crackers, little meatballs, chips and salsa then after a short time the wedding meal was served.   So we ate again, roast pork, champagne chicken, haricot verts, potatoes, gravy and buns.  Then later we had wedding cake.  There was wine available all evening…Far Guy and I didn’t have any…Far Guy cannot drink with his medications and me…well if I drink a half of glass of wine and I would be looking for a place to lie down and sleep.

After awhile the music started and there was a dance.  We all danced at least one dance…and both of our grandsons danced with their Mother.  We left the dance early… Andy, Jen, Noah and Adam’s plane was leaving early the next morning.

Chance was at the wedding too…he did just fine waiting in the car.

The day before or maybe the day after

It depends how you look at it…the day after we arrived. 

October 31, 2014  Indiana

The big discussion of the morning was where are we going?  Who is doing what when?

Chance, Ernie, Ronnie and I are staying home.  Chance and I do not want to get back in that car. Janice (Far Guy’s sister) is off to get her hair and nails done.   Far Guy, Andy, Jen, Noah and Adam head out for the Louisville Slugger Factory, a Bourbon Distillery called Evan Williams and Churchill Downs.

It is raining and the weather has turned cold. I straightened up the kitchen and had a nap, later Chance and I take a rainy walk.

The roses are covered with raindrops.

We checked out the Mums…looking much better with their black pots covered up!

Canada Geese on the lake.  Many many Canada geese.

Oh ya those Mums will be decorations outside the door at the reception tomorrow.

We helped load the cars with other Wedding Reception and Wedding “stuff.”

It kept raining and getting colder.

Later that day we got all dressed up and headed for the Wedding Rehearsal and Dinner.  We got to meet the groom’s folks from Delaware. The dinner menu was homemade rolls, Adam ate four or five, Haricot Vert ( fancy name for green beans with garlic and almonds), chicken, potatoes out of a box and gravy with apple crisp for dessert.  You could have wine…duh since we were at a winery…I had a soda.

Soon after we finished our meal it began to snow. Adam, Noah and I went out to watch it snow!  Many people from Delaware didn’t even bring a coat.  It rarely snows in Southern Indiana at Christmas and here it is Oct 31 and snowing…the bride was so upset…the wedding will take place outdoors the next day.  It is what we have travelled so far to see…Far Guy’s only niece on his side of the family…and we are her only Uncle and Aunt.

I am so glad I packed my snowboots.

On a side note there was no candy left out for Trick or Treaters and the only costumes I saw were a few devil horns that the bridesmaids wore, it was perfect for one of those maids. I expected to see groups of kids out and about…nothing doing…maybe it was the weather.  I missed seeing all our Trick or Treaters…this was the first year I have missed taking their photos.

Chance: We finally arrived

Hiya it’s me Chance.  We went on a long ride.  We stayed lots of different places with lots of different smells.   It is a good thing I know the magic words “Pee” and “Poop” and it is  fun to play ball in the motel room but a lawn is so much better.

October 30, 2014 Georgetown,Indiana

Ernie is here…he is still alive.  Didyaknow that a dog can live without any teeth?

Yup but teeth are what helps keep your tongue in your mouth.  Ernie is not allowed out on the lawn…he runs away..and since he can’t hear much…many people would have to run after him.

Far Side said “Chance stay out of the lake.”  She meant business too..as I was just groomed before we left home.

Brazil Lake

I think this lake has been single handedly stocked with fish.

Far Side sat outside in the sunshine with me for a long time.  Then Brother In Law Ronnie came back from his Tux fitting and we borrowed his Garmin and back in the car we went over to Louisville to Round House Trains and After Glow Beads.  Lucky for us they were only about a mile apart…we didn’t have any traffic jams…

Far Side bought some more beads…and Far Guy bought a Cracker Jack Train Car.  Far Side bought a train sign and they gave her one free because she gave them a bad time about customers who came the furthest to shop in their store.  Far Side said the place was a maze of trains and she hasn’t ever seen anything like it.  I wouldn’t know because I had to stay in the car.

Later that night Jen, Andy, Noah and Adam arrived without Miney and Little Elvis cause they came on an airplane.

Probably not this one… but a bigger one for people.

Madison Indiana

October 30, 2014

Far Guy found a smallish town along the Ohio River to visit.   There was a wonderful road that skirts the river.  There was no traffic.  It seems Madison is a summertime town.

We drove up and down, finally located a dog park…but guess what?  It was locked.  You had to sign up pay a fee and get a code that would unlock the park area…bummer…is that anyway to treat tourist doggies?

Oh well there was a large antique shop where we wiled away part of the morning.  I bought some old photos and a couple of trinkets that will be Christmas Gifts.

We headed for Main Street.

I saw a Bead Shop so we stopped and walked around.  Yes I bought some beads.  Inside the store I visited with the shopkeeper and a local…they said it’s SO cold…how can you stand it without a coat…(it was 45 degrees.)  The shopkeeper said “It’s going to snow here tomorrow night so I am staying here, because I have never driven in snow before and I live 45 minutes away.”  I told them “I am from Minnesota and we just brought the cold and snow with us as a special gift.”  They said “Thanks anyway y’all go back to Minnesota.”

Most of the old buildings in town have been renovated. There were many different shops…I could have visited a Psychic by the name of Mary.

Many of the old houses were beautiful, this is the Lanier Mansion.  It was built in the 1840’s by a lawyer turned banker turned railroad tycoon… we didn’t go for a tour…maybe next time.  In its day Madison was a destination along the river.

Far Guy and Chance at the visitors center in Madison.

All in all Madison is a pretty little town.   Many of the leaves were still turning there.

We left about noon, I tried to punch in two locations in Louisville Kentucky that we wanted to visit…but apparently our Garmin is full and deleted all states south of Indiana.  There was no way I was going to find where we wanted to go without a Garmin.  So we headed off to Far Guy’s sister and brother in laws home fifty miles away to unpack, walk Chance and borrow their Garmin.