Posted by: Ashley Lichtenbarger on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00:00 am
Sometimes I think it’d be fun to have random blog posts to see if people can guess what I do for a living because it is so varied. Some days, I take 25 kids out to the nature area and teach them about how animals and plants adapt to their environment. Other days, I watch documentaries with a group of adults. Then, some days, I facilitate creative workshops for adults. I love the variety. However, the creativity harnessed in the workshops is definitely a highlight for me. I love to be able to use my own creativity while helping others find theirs in a variety of ways. The workshops that Minnetrista offers focus on two main topics: canning/food preservation and glass art.
On April 17th and 19th we had a great workshop at which we designed a mosaic light block. On the first day, we offered templates for people to use for designs but also encouraged people to create their own designs. Participants chose some of both. All of the designs turned out very different but the colors chosen and creations made were magnificent! After creating the design the glass pieces were chosen and cut to fit. Then, the glass was glued on and left to dry until the second day of the workshop.
On day two of the workshop, we had a shorter session where we all mixed our own grout and filled in all of the spaces in between the glass. The grouting process definitely changed the look of each piece. The general consensus was that the grout added a lot to each design.
The next workshop we have focuses on food preservation. Minnetrista’s connection to the Ball family (you know, the people who made all those jars!) makes this a perfect place to learn about canning. We will have a Strawberry Kiwi Margarita Jam workshop that takes place on May 22. After trying this recipe I knew that I wanted to pass it along! The flavor of this freezer jam is unique and the color is very bright and lovely.
At this workshop we’ll discuss some history of food preservation and different techniques that are advised. Then, we’ll make some of the jam. Each person will take a jar of the freezer jam home with them to enjoy on bread, waffles, ice cream (that’s my favorite way!), or however they’d like. Reserve your spot today to join the fun!
Ashley Lichtenbarger is an Educator in the Programs department at Minnetrista. She’s been at Minnetrista since April 2011. When not at work Ashley enjoys walking her dog and spending time with friends and family.
Posted by: Amanda Kavars & Stephanie Wiles on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 10:00:00 am
If you visit Minnetrista in the spring, you notice the buds on the trees, the flowers in bloom, the grass freshly mowed, and the event team gearing up for another wedding season. We know it is every brides dream to have the perfect wedding day. You know the kind, seen on TV with the perfect dress, the perfect flowers, glamorous decorations, and something unique that symbolizes individuality. Let's face it that only happens on TV, and with an unlimited budget.
Here are some of our tips for a more enjoyable wedding day.
5. Every event has its hiccups. Expect that it's not going to go perfect. The ring bearer may skip instead of walk, babies might cry during the vows, the wind might blow your hair in your face, someone requested a song you don't like, the napkins and the flowers might not be the exact same shade of pink. Remember though, at the end of the day, neither you nor your guests are going to remember any of those little details.
4. 2nd in Command. The bride has a lot to do especially on her wedding day. One simple stress reliever is to put someone else in charge on the day of. For example, if the caterer has a question, there is someone other than the bride to go to answer questions. This way, the bride can enjoy all the day of events, from getting her hair done, her dress on, pictures, and the special moments with family and friends.
3. Have fun! Easier said than done! Remember to enjoy yourself and the day. The day flies by quicker than you realize. If brides spend all day worrying about the little things, they forget to enjoy the rewards of their planning and hard work. So when you find yourself stressed because your pregnant bridesmaid called it an early night and left, don't worry. Grab your groom, hit the dance floor, and celebrate!
2. Itinerary, itinerary, itinerary! It's like a wedding map to help guide everyone from start to finish on the big day. We often advise brides to create a detailed outline of the day, from the time they wake up to the last dance. For example, what time should the wedding party be ready for pictures, what time is decorating of the reception hall, when is hair and makeup being done and where, what time will the DJ introduce the wedding party, what time is dinner served, when are you cutting the cake, who's serving the cake, what time are the specialty dances. Then pass it out! Give it to your reception hall, DJ, Photographer, Caterer (include contact names and phone numbers) and your bridal party. Everyone then knows what to expect, where to be and when.
1. Tis' the Reason. Don't forget why you're here. In the end, it's not about cake or chair covers, chicken or beef, or even roses or lily's. It's about the bride and groom and the journey they're about to begin with each other. Remember, it's the first day of the rest of your life together so make it count. Stop, take a deep breath, grab your groom, and make a memory.
Stephanie Wiles is the Sales and Events Coordinator at Minnetrista. She’s been part of Minnetrista since 2005. When she’s not helping brides with their big day, she enjoys jogging, history and traveling.
Amanda Kavars is the Sales and Events Manager at Minnetrista. Originally from Minnesota, she has been in the event industry since 2002. Amanda is a wife, mother of two girls and enjoys gardening and cooking.
Posted by: Maureen Spell from SpellOutloud.com on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 10:00:00 am
One of my favorite times of the year is spring. Trees begin to bud and blossom, birds are building nests, flowers are blooming, and everything is coming to life after a cold winter. It is the perfect time to go outside and start exploring and noticing all the changes in nature.
Our go-to place for our family nature walks is Minnetrista. The East Central Indiana community has a nature study gem so close to home. The Minnetrista campus has multiple gardens and nature areas to explore. Each time we visit, we pick a specific area to observe and enjoy. For our first spring nature walk of the year, we visited the Nature Area (Location: Across St. Joseph St. from the Orchard Shop.)
Tips for Taking Nature Walks with Young Children
- Make sure children are not hungry or tired. If you will be out for awhile, pack a light snack and water bottle.
- Have your child wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
- Start off with short walks. Notice the details in the area. Look under rocks, observe flowers up-close, and use your senses to explore the area. With young children, be sure to supervise carefully. Some nature objects are dangerous to ingest or touch.
- Pack special observation tools such as a magnifying glass or binoculars. Depending on where you walk, you might carry a bag to bring small nature treasures home.
- Talk about what you see.
Many times when we go on a nature walk, I challenge my children to be on the look-out for a specific thing. It might be trying to find a cocoon or a bird nest. On this walk we looked for animals and counted how many different types of animals we saw. I made a set of animal I Spy Cards for you to bring along on your next nature walk. How many animals can you find?
"Start to look at the outdoors as an extension of your indoor life....a really big play room. Include your little ones along with your outdoor activities. The simple act of taking a daily walk together will provide more than enough fuel to start the nature study engine. Take it slowly and enjoy seeing the world through your little one's eyes." ~Barb from The Handbook of Nature Study
Maureen Spell is a former elementary school teacher who now has a classroom of 6 at home. She blogs at Spell Outloud sharing early education activities and homeschool highlights. All images are copyright Spell Outloud.
Posted by: Casey on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 10:00:00 am
I can’t believe how talented all of you Explorers are. The artwork in the 2012 Casey’s Clubhouse Art Show is so amazing!!
104 explorers turned in their artwork for the show this year. Everyone from the little kids in the 5 years and under category up to the big 13 year olds made super cool works. Markers, paint, glued paper, and even glass and Legos were used. Some made calm pictures, others made busy ones. Some worked to make their pictures look like the real thing, others didn’t.
All the great artwork made it really hard to pick top winners for each age category. After looking at all the art for a long time I found ones that stood out. The winner’s pictures really showed that the Explorer was exploring their world thru art and getting to know the art supplies they used. Here is who I picked and what I thought about what they made:
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5yrs & under |
6yrs-9yrs |
10yrs-13yrs |
| 1st Place |
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1st- Dragons & Swords by Julian—This one looks just like a big battle of people with swords fighting dragons. The lines keep my eye moving around the picture and make it seem like it is really happening. |
1st- The Girl by Karissa—The girl in the picture looks like she is staring at me. She did a great job of making it look like the girl’s hair is moving. |
1st- All the World’s a Stage by Ester—Wow this must have taken tons of time. All the sequins pieces are pretty and look like lights on a stage. I like that it tells a story. I can imagine watching this play. |
| 2nd Place |
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2nd- Ghost by Emme –All the colors are fun and then BOO, a dark black spot jumps up in the picture. |
2nd- Jungle Sunset by Zane—All the mix of colors look like the sky during sunset. It was good to see that he used so many different things to make the picture. The jumping frogs are fun too. |
2nd- Unfinished Symphony by Elizabeth—This picture makes me hear music—the kind the wind makes. All the layers of paint and colors make the flower pop out from the paper. |
| 3rd Place |
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3rd- Robot Mobile by Noah --I liked this one because robots have lots of different parts just like the artwork. It also moves, just like robots do. |
3rd- Cartoon Guy by Nicodemus –This picture has really cool lines. They are so neat. I can tell that each line took time to make. |
3rd- My Grandparent’s Farm by Aleah—The lines in this drawing make me want to run up the driveway to the house. It makes me feel like I am really there on a sunny day. |
Be sure to have your grown-ups bring you in to Minnetrista to see this exhibit. While you are there you can also check out the artwork adults made for the 22nd Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show & Sale. In that exhibit there is jewelry, paintings, photos, and even furniture.
Again, great job Explorers. I am so happy to see that you all like art just like I do. It is a fun thing to do and a great way to share what you explore with others. Keep making art and exploring.
Posted by: Karen Vincent, Director of Collections on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
“A most heartbreaking thing happened this evening,” wrote Rosemary Ball Bracken in her diary entry of Tuesday, February 28, 1967. That event was the fire that destroyed Rosemary’s childhood home.
Rosemary’s parents, Frank and Bessie Ball, built their home on land overlooking the White River in 1894. According to The Morning News of June 27, 1894, “’Minnetrista’ is the name chosen for Ball Bros. tract of land on Riverside. The name means ‘winding waters’ and as the property is situated on the bend of the river the title is very appropriate.” The colonial style house of frame construction had 19 rooms. In 1902, the house was faced with Indiana limestone, and six columns were added to the front portico. After Bessie Ball’s death in 1944, the house was used as student housing. In the late 1960s, Applegate Advertising Agency had offices in the house.
The fire was discovered that night by graphic artist Ron Groves. He was working at his drawing board when he heard a noise that sounded like “someone raffling through their desk.” When he checked on the source of the noise, he discovered flames coming from a wall in the reception area of the advertising agency. Groves called the fire department, and then went for water to douse the flames. When he realized that the fire was already too intense, he left the building.
According to fireman Hurley Goodall, “… we had finished supper, washed the dishes and some members of the department were watching T.V., some were playing ping pong in the basement, and some were playing cards. It was a little after 8 P.M. when the first call came in.” The first trucks arrived on the scene within five minutes of the call. Goodall was the tillerman on the ladder truck.
As the firefighters arrived, so did members of the Ball family. Rosemary and her husband Alex watched the fire from the garage. Edmund F. Ball and his son, Robert were there, as were Margaret Ball Petty and Rosemary and Alex’s son, Frank. Rowland Webb, who had cared for the orchard and the gardens at the house for many years, was there. All watched as the flames destroyed the home.
In the meantime, the firefighters entered the smoke-filled house and went to the basement. They thought that they had extinguished the fire near the furnace “until someone said ‘there is fire in the walls.’” The inside of the walls was covered by rough hewn lumber, and when the firefighters tried to cut through, their axes bounced off of the walls. At that point, the district chief called in a second alarm. The firefighters outside the house set up the 100’ aerial truck to get water on the flames coming through the roof. Unfortunately, they only had one tool that could cut through the copper covering of the roof and none that could penetrate the stone walls.
At 9:06 p.m., all off-duty firefighters were called in to help fight the fire. Units from Gaston, Cowan and Yorktown were called in to staff the Muncie stations.
The next day, as the fire still smoldered, Rosemary and Alex Bracken walked the site of her childhood home. Rosemary said that it was “…a sickening sight…. Still smoking and smoldering in house…. Not much left of old part.”
When the fire was finally under control, the firefighters tried to lower the aerial ladder but because it was frozen, couldn’t lower it completely. It was driven back to the station for thawing, as was all the hose used to fight the fire. According to Hurley Goodall, the temperature at the time the alarm was given was 10 degrees, and it grew colder and windier as the night progressed.
Seven pieces of equipment were used to fight the fire, and more than 50 firefighters battled the blaze. Three were slightly injured. Goodall said, “Tuesday night, February 28, 1967 would prove to be one of the most difficult and most frustrating nights of my firefighting career. As Muncie lost one of its landmarks we could see the flames and could not get to them to put it out.”
