August already

July is gone and here we are in August. The summer seems to be passing very quickly. And unfortunately, the days are getting shorter.

Little Cousin Jasper is the latest festival to cancel. One event that did not was the Fountain Park Chautauqua which will have concluded its season on Sunday.

On Friday I noticed a crop duster northwest of Rensselaer so I tried to get some pictures. As it finished, it flew over me.

I tried to get some pictures of it dusting, but it was not close enough for a good picture.

I rode back on the highway because it was closed to all but local traffic and I wanted to see what work was being done and discovered a new store, P&P Hobbies and Collectables located in what was once the showroom of the Tonner Dodge dealership.

 I stopped in and found that it had only been open for about a week. The owner is from Crown Point. He had a coin store there but had sold his interest and wanted to start something with his grandson. Crown Point has about five coin stores located close together. Rensselaer has none.

 In addition to coins, gold, and silver, the store sells new clothing. That might make it Rensselaer's biggest clothing store. (Walmart probably has more.)

 There were boxes of comic books and variety of other things, including some baseball cards.

Over the years Rensselaer has had a variety of businesses that have dealt in these types of things but we were without one until P&P opened.

There is a new concrete slab in Milroy Park. This will be where a granite bench commemorating John Egan will be located. The bench was completed in March and has been in storage since.

 I thought for a moment I was in the high school parking lot when I noticed the painted parking spaces that Strack & Van Til have for their "to-go" customers.

It will be interesting to see how many of the adjustments that people have made for the Covid outbreak will become permanent.

A busy weekend part one

Saturday was JC Cruiser Car Show and Cruise Night, two popular summer events. I wandered over to the car show in the morning to see what was coming in. I wondered how this car handles speed bumps.

 There was a wide assortment of cars and I thought the event looked bigger than usual. On Facebook Visit Rensselaer wrote it had over 130 entries, the most ever.

 It had old cars and some very strange cars.

 There were some shirts that had the logo, "Make America Cruise Again." I do not know if these were those shirts or not.

 There were lots of trophies to be won.

 There were several food vendors. The one on the right was providing food for a fundraiser for the RCHS band.

 This little vehicle caught my attention. I could not remember seeing anything like it.

 It had its history on a board. It is a Crosley, made in Indiana. Here is the wikipedia entry on the car and the company. There were very few made.

 I had intended to come back later but I did some other things and was too tired in the afternoon to make the return visit. However, I did get out to see the Cruise. Below may be the oldest vehicle in the Cruise.

 Flags.

A nice contrast.

 Below is another old car. I saw the new County Fair Court and snapped a picture, but it was blurry. This year there are only three members. The Fair Queen also won Miss Congeniality.

 As I was heading south along College a large pack of motorcycles passed me.

A bit later I saw them at the Wagon Wheel.

 The whole parade route that I saw was full of spectators. It was a wonderful night to sit and watch cars and people.

 The Rotary Club had its food booth by the Kentland Bank.

 Not all of the old cars are in pristine condition.

Part two will look at some other things happening this past weekend.

This is Newton County Fair week.

Collecting Art

A week ago on Friday the Fendig Gallery at the Carnegie Center hosted a reception for a new gallery show, which features the pieces from the art collections of four local collectors. It runs through November 6.
Each of the collectors had a very different collection. One, for example, had largely collected the works on only one artist. Two had a fair amount of pottery and crafts.
I liked the jug with two faces. The more interesting face was looking out the window and you would not see it if you did not look at it from the side.
Two collectors showed only paintings, prints, and other pictures. If you take the time to look at the exhibit carefully, you will see other differences in their tastes and collecting styles.
If you go during the week you will be able to browse the collection in quiet and solitude.
It is also fun to go to the reception that opens the exhibit for socializing and the attractively displayed food.
A lot of work goes into arranging the various shows that come through the Fendig Galley and many people appreciate the efforts of those who make the displays possible.

Library display

The public library has a display window that attracts more viewers than the one in the Jasper County Historical Society. This month it features the knit and crochet guild.
I think that knitting takes two needles and crocheting takes one. If you have anything interesting to add, please use the comments.