Sunday, July 20, 2025

25, Day 2

 Happy 25th anniversary, Woodchuck! We actually had TWO days together to celebrate this year, since he decided to take the day-of off. We, once again, were overwhelmed with possibilities for the day, but he was thinking we could travel just over the border into Michigan. I wasn't feeling it this day, though it did sound lovely. I just didn't feel like that is what we were meant to do, and I was starting to feel a little of the "round-down rat race" syndrome I so often feel from burning my candle at both ends. We even headed out on the road with his plan in mind, got about 5 minutes down the highway and I pulled into a gas station and told him that I didn't think that is what we should be doing today. So, we both sat on phones looking for new options. Zoo? That sounds fun, but it's Summer and it might be really busy with families and littles! Outdoor hiking some place natural? Sounds fun, but we weren't dressed for that. So I proposed that we go into Plymouth, Indiana! It's not far from the land, and we will likely be doing our shopping in that area once we move. We were more familiar with the shopping complex area right off of the highway, but less so with the downtown area, so that's where we headed!

I parked on a side street where I wouldn't have to back out into traffic, but it did have 2-hour parking and that meant I was going to have to watch the clock. The downtown was small, but that's how we like it. I am not a big city kind of girl. Small, hometown, quaint is the way to my heart...and doesn't overwhelm my nervous-system 😅 We started at one end of the road and worked our way down that side. We came across a wonderful gift shop/boutique called Simplee Stated. Let me just start by saying that I am an architecture lover, in particular very old buildings and this one did not disappoint! Creaky, old hardwood floors are my jam! The shop was set up so well and is something that I feel like I struggle with in my booth when doing markets and shows. I envy others when it comes to easily to them! 

The shop has so much to choose from, and a lot of it locally made or Indiana made! There truly is a little something for everyone! Clothing (a lot of which was on sale for $10 each this day), foods, home goods, body products and more. What is even more fantastic is this store is a store front on the main road through town, but around the corner (on the road we parked on), there were two other stores fronts...one a frame shoppe and the other an antique shop. Separate on the outside.....but connected on the inside! Fantastic! 😍 From the boutique, Woodchuck got some maple syrup "made by two old guys" in St. Joe county not all that far away, and some old-fashioned hard candies like what we could get at Amish Acres back in the day. The frame shoppe is something I would like to check into for my larger cross-stitch pictures at some point! 

We went out and started walking again and I wish I would have gotten pictures of the outsides of the buildings! We stopped in a wellness/supplement shop, and then grabbed a snack at The French Press Coffee Co. We each got an iced blueberry lavender matcha, and a slice of almond poppyseed bread to share on our walk. We ran across a fantastic little corner lot filled with native flowers! They were so prolific that you couldn't even sit on the benches nestled in them! 😍








The bugs were irritating Woodchuck, so we kept moving along. I had seen an arch entrance to a park a couple of blocks away and knew there was a river running through it, so we started to head that way and came across this lovely theater! I LOVE these old theaters, and on our first official date, Woodchuck and I went to one that was playing Muppets in Space! 😆 I mean, if he didn't figure out then the type of sense of humor I have, and the simple things that make me happy, that's on him! The Rees theater is from the 1940's, art deco style and renovated. The lighted sign over your head makes you believe that dreams can come true! 👇


We looked at the flyers on the announcement boards and I saw the violinist that I had wanted to see somewhere else recently but couldn't find anyone to go with me (there are some things that you just don't want to do alone, you know?). I pointed it out to Woodchuck and he said he would go with me. Um. Are you sure, Woodchuck? I mean, this is a far cry from The Insane Clown Posse and Five Finger Death Punch that you like listening to. Sure! he says. I did not commit on buying tickets though until he watched some videos of the violinist. He says he's down for it, so tickets have been bought! It's been quite awhile since we've gone to a performance/concert, and I'm looking forward to the evening with him.....but I really hope he doesn't fall asleep! 👇


We are starting to get too hot when we are out in the sun, and finally make our way down to the park where there is more shade! We realize that this was the same park we brought our boys to when they were little for some sort of festival. It had an Abraham Lincoln impersonator there and I remember telling my youngest that AL was going to be there and he was so dubious and I had to keep telling him yes, he was going to be there! As you can imagine, that didn't go over well once we got there. 😶 I'm sure some of this stuff is newer, I honestly don't remember. It's a nice little park, but unfortunately, covered in goose poop. So we had to look at the ground while we walked and dodge all of the piles 💩

                                               The main bridge over the yellow river.👇



The amphitheater. 👇



There were various, new lookout points along the river, with benches! But again, lots and lots of Goose poop. It was really interesting to see how close some of the houses were to the edge of the hill bank. I mean, there was one house that was *right* on the brink and I swear it was just a tree keeping it from going over! Sadly too, there was some garbage in the water, and a drainage tube draining into it from somewhere. 👇


We went back to the coffee house for lunch and we each got a panini and something to drink. I liked everything about the place! The staff, the food and beverages, and the size and vibe of it inside! I could see this being a great place to hold an art class, or creative meet-up!  Woodchuck doesn't do well in tiny spaces, so it was nice for him to have space to move around. I got the turkey club on Asiago bread, minus tomato. 😋

Everywhere we've gone, I've asked about a place that sells incense. I love Sea Witch Botanicals, but I can't afford them and am always looking for something local so I don't have to order online. One of  the staff members at the coffee house brought up a place called Karma that I knew about but hadn't thought to check out! So we headed back to the car, and got there very close to the 2 hour mark and there was a parking enforcement officer there! PHEW, that was close. I think they were issuing a ticket to the person parked in front of us, who I think had been there even before we got there. 😬

We stopped at a grocery store, and then went to Karma and how.cool.that.place.is. Lots of albums, incense, clothing, and more! We ended up buying 5 boxes of incense and some other little things 😃 Now I know where to go when I need more and it's not that far from the land! 

I've also been working my dream of selling art. My most recent make is these turtle earrings, which sold in one day from the new webstore.



The new webstore? Well, I follow a Native beader on FB and she kept posting about this site. As you know, I have been trying to get away from Etsy for awhile now, even have a list of various sites, the specs of each, and the pros and cons of each. I knew I just needed to pull the trigger on one of them, and with her nudging and feedback about her shop, I did it! I am only starting with the free version right now, which limits what I can list to 5 items, and limits some other features I can change or use until I upgrade. As items sell and open up spots, I'll list something new there. Vintage craft books and patterns that belonged to my mother or myself will start to be listed in the eBay shop. The new art shop is:


Though I still have some items listed in the Etsy shop right now as well! 


And let us not forget the every other Sunday craft fair market that I do in Valpo (weather permitting). I went through my stock recently and made sure everything was updated with price tags and descriptive signage.




 This market hasn't been going well for me in sales and I am down to the bottom of the barrel in business money. That means, I may need to go down to once a month for this market instead of twice, or even do every other month. With the sale of the turtle earrings, that gives me enough money to pay for the next market, which is scheduled for July 27th, 2025 (again, weather permitting for me to participate), but it just doesn't make sense to keep doing a market that makes me lose money when I could be using the money from the sale of things online towards supplies to make new pieces and more soaps. So if you want to stay in the know about it all, follow our page on FB, Of Forest and Heather.

I appreciate you being on this journey of art, nature, and love with us 💚













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