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Prairie’s Edge in Rensselaer, Indiana: The Outdoor Experts

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Rensselaer, Indiana: Prairies Edge Bird Feeder

little Indiana had been told that Prairie’s Edge in Rensselaer, Indiana is an incredible retail shop.

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from bustling downtown Rensselaer, once I stepped inside–I could see they were right!

Prairie’s Edge in Rensselaer, Indiana

Once the site of a car dealership, this large building has been home to Prairie’s Edge–”the outdoor experts”–for several years.

Pokin’ around the shop a bit…I have to agree!

Feed the birds with a variety of bulk birdseed? Check. Outfit your horse? Check. Find a pair of Cowgirl Tuff jeans and boots in every color to tromp around in the great outdoors a bit more easily? Check.

Animal Headquarters

Rensselaer, Indiana: Prairie's Edge Bulk Pet Treats

For folks like me who lack a horse–they do have a room full of dog and cat supplies and even bulk birdseed!

Get a load of that shiny, sparkling birdfeeder. How styling is that?

In this Jasper County shop your furry friends aren’t left out.

Top quality pet food, treats, toys, bed. You won’t need to set foot inside a big box pet shop again, not when you find yourself in this great Indiana town!

Cowgirl Up

Rensselaer, Indiana: Prairie's Edge Cowgirl Boots

Need a pair of boots for the ball, Cinderella?

Prairie’s Edge has a whole wall of boots! From kids to adults, there are different colors and patterns. Can you go wrong with pink cowgirl boots? I think not!

There’s clothing here, too–and jeans. I couldn’t help but notice the flashy belt buckles. Outfit complete.

Go There

For your furry friends, the great outdoors, or just yourself and the kids, you can find it all at Prairie’s Edge.

Don’t forget to tell them that little Indiana sent you. Shop smart–support small business!

Find Prairie’s Edge images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr Photostream.

Prairie’s Edge
919 N McKinley Avenue
Rensselaer, Indiana 47978
219.866.5613

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Indiana Food Pantry: little Indiana’s Message to You

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:00:57 +0000

Indiana Food Pantry Needs

The Indiana food pantry is in borderline crisis mode. The government has made cut-backs and more people than ever are needing its services!

Indiana Food Pantry

little Indiana likes to lend a hand wherever she can and particularly enjoys time spent at an Indiana food pantry.

The organizing and sorting, filling out the shelves and seeing the food that you know is going to help someone out…it just feels good.

There are a few important things that you need to know when it comes to an Indiana food pantry in small Indiana towns and beyond.

1. Government Funding is Down — Just when you think nothing else can get cut–the food pantry is now receiving less funding and goods than ever before. Now that people are in need now more than ever before, the food pantry has a strain on its resources.

2. The Food Pantry Needs More Than Just Canned Goods — Think toilet paper, paper towels, peanut butter, loaves of bread, your extra garden produce, and cereal. Especially cereal–this particular food pantry received its last shipment of cereal and won’t be getting any more–at least not from the government. Call or stop in your local food pantry to find out just what items they need.

3. Holidays — The food pantry doesn’t just need your help around Thanksgiving and Christmas. It needs your help ALL YEAR! Don’t just send along your dusty cans you never use. These are real people. These are your neighbors, co-workers, and friends who are too embarrassed to tell anyone around them that their circumstances have changed.

4. Food Pantry Myth — Think the food pantry is only used by single moms with 18 kids? Think again. The largest segment of the population (and what I certainly saw the times I have volunteered in distributing food) is used by the elderly! Yes, your grandma and your grandpa can no longer afford the cost of living and are using the food pantry. This both saddens and horrifies me.

5. Off Brands and Rejects– Please, don’t just give an Indiana food pantry your cast-offs and expired food. Expired food is pitched and the weird stuff will probably eventually meet the same fate. If you truly want to help, don’t reach for the off-brand of boxed mac n’ cheese or Ramen Noodles (seriously, those are often donated). That kind of stuff a struggling family already has–and are sick to death of eating it! What they don’t often have are things like canned fruit, instant oatmeal, and other nutritious items that just cost too much but are so important for a healthy lifestyle.

Food for Thought

Indiana Food Pantry: What Does Your Local Pantry Need?

I’ll step off my soapbox now. I hope I have at least given you food for thought. By now, you should know how important “passing it on” is for me.

After all, it is the basis for little Indiana Businesses! If you have been blessed with plenty, why not share with those around you?

In this struggling economy, we can all use an extra hand! Whether you donate your time, money, or food items, know that it will be greatly appreciated.

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Rensselaer, Indiana: Clauss Bakery and Cafe

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Clauss Bakery and Cafe in Rensselaer, Indiana

Follow the scent of pastry goodness to Clauss Bakery and Cafe in Rensselaer, Indiana!

Rensselaer, Indiana Bakery

Open at 5 AM, farmers in the off-season congregate. little Indiana and family, however, didn’t arrive quite that early! We were on the hunt for donuts and coffee–and lots of it!

Luckily for us, Clauss Bakery and Cafe had plenty of them. Long Johns, Bear Claws, Danishes, coffee cake, Cinnamon Twists, and more, well, we took our time in deciding.

I went with a Blueberry Donut, Hubs had a Cinnamon Twist, and Kid #1 had a few Doughnut Holes.

Indiana Bakery

Clauss Bakery and Cafe in Rensselaer, Indiana Cookies

Like any good Indiana bakery, they’ve got more than doughnuts and pastries! We browsed the glass cases, drooling over the goodies inside.

Kid #1 was all about the cookies. What fun seasonal cookie designs!

That day they had smiley faces, but I’ve heard that they change their design to go along with the season.

Word on the street has it that this is the go-to place in town for cakes. Don’t'cha just love a good bakery?

Breakfast and Lunch

Clauss Bakery and Cafe in Rensselaer, Indiana Doughnuts

Since we arrived a bit late, we were able to see Clauss Bakery and Cafe get ready for the lunch crowd. This Indiana town establishment boasts a soup and salad bar.

I’ve had the pleasure of having a Mushroom and Sausage Soup from them. Creamy and delicious. Wow was it good!

I’d love to make it back and check out what’s for lunch! Maybe even bring home some of their famous soup for my family.

I should have grabbed a bag of rolls–they looked so good! But you know me. I was distracted by all the sweet stuff! Next time, next time.

See Clauss Bakery and Cafe images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Clauss Bakery and Cafe
110 W Washington St.
Rensselaer, Indiana 47978
219.866.7970

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Bags, Bangles, and Baskets in Rensselaer, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:00:01 +0000

Rensselaer, Indiana: Bags, Bangles, and Beads

Rensselaer, Indiana has been home to a really fun shop on the outskirts of town: Bags, Bangles, and Baskets.

You may think you have to turn to the big box shops when you live in a small Indiana town, but great finds like this one prove it just ain’t so!

Bags, Bangles, and Baskets in Rensselaer, Indiana

Once located in downtown Rensselaer, Indiana, the owners of the shop are enjoying their new country location. Though it’s away from the bustling downtown, it’s now 2 miles South along Highway 231 and super easy to find.

The long red building is so cute. It looks like it was made for holding this cute and clean shop.

Outside on nice days you’ll find plenty of stuff just begging to come home with you–can you resist?

Indiana Mom and Pop Shops

Rensselaer, Indiana: Bags, Bangles, and Beads

Here’s a little random tidbit about me: I don’t use purses. I was curious as to what this shop could offer to someone like me. The answer? A lot!

Hubs was along for the ride that day when we browsed this Indiana shop and even he found things he pointed to that were unique, interesting, or just plain make great gifts.

There’s all sorts of bags in a variety of colors and styles, but there’s also jewelry, candles, baskets and so much more!

See Bags, Bangles, and Baskets images and other pictures in Rensselaer, Indiana on my Flickr Photostream.

Bags, Bangles, and Baskets
8717 S US Highway 231
Rensselaer, IN 47978
219.869.9207
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 1 PM

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Little Cousin Jasper in Rensselaer, Indiana: Wish’t That They’d Move Here

Jessica Nunemaker — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Little Cousin Jasper Festival in Rensselaer, Indiana

James Whitcomb Riley once expressed the wonders of Rensselaer, Indiana with a poem, Little Cousin Jasper. Fast forward a bit, and for the past 35 years, Rensselaer residents have thrown a fun little festival to celebrate!

Little Cousin Jasper in Rensselaer, Indiana

After a year-long hiatus a couple of years back, Little Cousin Jasper is bigger and better than ever! Set on the Jasper County Courthouse Square and occasionally overflowing on the “bricks,” folks mill around checking out vendor booths, eating fair food (of course), and watching the scheduled activities.

There were bounce houses for the kids and lots of places for people to just sit and hang out and enjoy one of the many musical performances. In fact, there’s even a teen dance and a teen movie night! Pretty neat.

The biggest draw this year? Amanda Overmyer, from Mulberry, Indiana who was on American Idol Season 7, came out and performed right on the street in downtown Rensselaer! Now that was a show–and there will be more about that in a future article.

Sheltered Reality Gets Rensselaer Rockin’

For now, however, check out this unusual drum act featuring Shattered Reality and the faces of people you may recognize from this small Indiana town! Yes, they got plenty of locals to come up onstage and be a part of the fast-paced show.

Looking for Little Cousin Jasper Festival dates? Check out my Indiana Festivals and Events Calendar!

Watch Sheltered Reality Performing at The Little Cousin Jasper Festival on YouTube or below.

See more Little Cousin Jasper Festival images and other pictures in Rensselaer, Indiana on my Flickr Photostream.

Rensselaer, Indiana in Jasper County

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:05 +0000

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana is a pretty big deal in Jasper County. This year seemed bigger and (dare I say) noisier than ever! Folks set up drink stands and one guy was even selling T-shirts.

Rensselaer Cruise Night

The 2011 Rensselaer Cruise Night began at Brookside Park with a car show–just like every year. People park their cars at the Rensselaer, Indiana park and everyone kind of roams around checking out the assortment. This isn’t just a classic car show. There’s a huge range of cars. This year? There was even a semi!

Did you miss it this year? Never fear! little Indiana not only took photos, but there is a video of the cars cruising as well. I admit it started before I was quite ready so I believe we missed four cars or so before I got the thing turned on. Was it just me or were they all going much faster than usual this year?

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 Images

Rensselaer CruiseNight 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana: Great Car!

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana: Yellow Nova

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana: Blast from the Past

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana: Chrome-y Goodness

Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 in Rensselaer, Indiana: Parade O' Cars

For more cruise night fun, watch my Rensselaer Cruise Night 2011 Video on YouTube.

Rensselaer, Indiana in Jasper County

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery in Rensselaer, Indiana: Images

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:11:42 +0000

The Sayler Makeever Cemetery in Rensselaer, Indiana is way out there. Literally. Surrounded by cornfields and gently rolling hills, unless you notice the sign that leads down the long gravel road–you’ll miss it completely.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery: First Settlers to Jasper County

If you recall from the last post, the Makeever headstone is rather grand. Ready to guess their ages? First, Patrick Makeever died in 1856 and his wife didn’t pass away until 1872. He lived to the ripe old age of 104–she made it to 108! I’d love to know their secret. They didn’t exactly have it easy in Rensselaer, Indiana back then!

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Images

You can find oodles more images of the Sayler Makeever Cemetery on my Flickr photostream as well as other pictures in Indiana.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Rensselaer, Indiana: Long-Living Makeever Couple

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Rensselaer, Indiana: Broken Headstone

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Rensselaer, Indiana: It's Out There

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Rensselaer, Indiana: John Doe

Sayler Makeever Cemetery Rensselaer, Indiana: My Trusty Steed

Sayler Makeever Cemetery or Old Settlers Cemetery
750 W and 460 S
Rensselaer IN 47978

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

little Indiana Wins the $2000 Mom Central Grant

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:35:05 +0000

Mom Central Grant Winner: little Indiana

Big news: little Indiana won the $2,000 Mom Central Grant! I found out back on May 2, but until the check actually got here? It just didn’t seem real. Thank you all!

Mom Central Grant Purpose

The Grant is to help build my vision for little Indiana. For now, I’m going to sit on my original plan for a year. Why?

Right now–I’m all about focusing on little Indiana. As in, full time kind of focusing! Since I will no longer be writing for other people, that means all of my creative energy can now go to the site!

What does this mean to you, dear reader? Well, I’m upping my posting schedule. I’m also going to up my traveling too. That means more small Indiana towns, more Indiana Festivals and Events, and all the Funnel Cake I can handle! I’m sort of kidding about the last one. Sort of.

little Indiana Businesses

I’m also revving up little Indiana Businesses. In case you hadn’t heard, little Indiana Businesses is my affordable option for you to get your business found.

How’s it work? $25 bucks a month gets you an ad that appears on every webpage for your county. Festivals, shops, restaurants, cafes–there’s a place for it on little Indiana Businesses.

Check out Rensselaer, Indiana to see what I mean. It’s along the side of the page (sidebar). Any time someone goes to a page in that county they will see YOUR ad.

Mom Central Grant Win

Notice it costs way less than print advertising–and helps you reach WAY more people! Pretty cool, eh? Whether someone is relocating or traveling through, they can find YOU first, easily.

It also comes with a mini-webpage featuring a photo gallery, downloadable content like a menu or flier from your business, and your monthly specials/sales! I’m working on the media packet, brochures, and all sorts of goodness.

Featuring little Indiana!

Since the awarding of the Mom Central Grant, I’ve been featured on a few sites! You can find those links listed below if you want to check it out.

What I’m basically saying that there are lots of exciting things in store for little Indiana readers. The best is yet to come!

Mom Central — Congratulations to our 5 Grant Recipients
ShePosts — Mom Central Grant Winners Interview
SFC Blog: Families Matter — Jessica Nunemaker is a Work at Home Mom

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Down a Gravel Road: Sayler Makeever Cemetery in Rensselaer, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:00:28 +0000

Sayler Makeever Cemetery in Rensselaer, Indiana

You got me little Indiana. I’ll admit I wasn’t exactly expecting to come across an Indiana cemetery in the middle of absolutely nowhere–and down a gravel road, no less!

Sayler Makeever Cemetery

We take a lot of bike rides. After I’ve been working all day, nothing quite clears the head and gets me ready to dive back in like going for a bike ride. Some days? Well, some days are certainly longer than others!

Meandering around Rensselaer, Indiana we saw a fading sign for “Sayler Makeever Cemetery” established in 1838! The road next to where it stood? Gravel. Just like the one we were on.

Gravel. Lots of Gravel

We started down the gravel road. Admittedly, the gravel was sparse–until it wasn’t! It collected at the bottom of a small hill and made me almost lose my balance! Otherwise? What a nice ride!

Sure, we were in the middle of nowhere to start with but then to get to the cemetery? Well, we went deeper into the middle of nowhere. It was quiet. It was scenic–and it led to an amazing cemetery.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery

Makeever Cemetery in Rensselaer, Indiana

This cemetery marks the spot of the pioneers who moved to and were born in Jasper County! It was established back in 1838–just think about that number for a minute.

It was so old that many of the inscriptions on the headstones have been worn away with time. In fact, it was so old that the ones we could read? Were mostly depressing. Lots of young children lost way before their time.

What we found awesome wasn’t just the large tombstone that towered over the plain and simple headstones–but what we saw written upon it!

Aged Residents

It belongs to a husband and wife who once lived in this Indiana town. He died in 1856 and she died in 1872. Want to guess how old they were? Leave it in the comments below. Remember, this was the 1800′s. I’ll tell you who was right in the follow-up image-packed article!

Find images of Sayler Makeever Pioneer Cemetery and other pictures in Rensselaer, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Sayler Makeever Cemetery
750 W and 460 S
Rensselaer IN 47978

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Indiana Blogs: Rensselaer Adventures

Jessica Nunemaker — Sun, 29 May 2011 15:00:04 +0000

This marks the start of a new series at little Indiana: Indiana Blogs! If you are an Indiana Blogger, please use the contact form and send me an email. You may be featured right here on little Indiana.

Indiana Blogs: Rensselaer Adventures Website

Rensselaer Adventures is an Indiana blog that will make you want to pick up and move to Rensselaer–or at least a small town. It’s very chatty–you’ll find out the latest goings on in the area as well as a bit about the local flora and fauna.

Robert Schenk, the man behind Rensselaer Adventures, was also the first person to approach (sleep-deprived and frazzled) me and ask, “Are you little Indiana?”

Indiana Blogs: Rensselaer Adventures

Why did you start Rensselaer Adventures?
I started blogging in the summer of 2008. I do not remember exactly what I was thinking at the time, but I am pretty sure that I began blogging because my daughter started a blog, Desert Survivor, and I wanted to see what blogging was all about.

I originally thought a blog might complement my on-line economics book, but that fizzled out. It took a few months for the idea of a Rensselaer-focused blog to form. I started Rensselaer Adventures in September of 2009.

When I signed up at blogger.com, I needed an ID and I thought a play on my daughter’s ID, Desert Survivor, would be funny. That is why my blogger ID is Dessert Survivor.

What are three of your favorite posts (with links please!)?
It is really hard to pick three favorites. My blog posts reflect my interests, and you can see that I like construction and demolition, new business arrivals and departures, history, and nature. (I stay away from food because I cannot complete with Little Indiana.) Here are three posts that will do as well as any group of three:

Setting a Bridge (He braved the cold for that one!)

Closing Up (Thank goodness I didn’t end up in this one inhaling fair food!)
Silver Linings (Ice storms. Ew! But the pics Robert got from them? Awesome)

What’s your favorite part of blogging?
The main reason I have kept blogging is that the experience has been educational. In doing these posts I have learned a lot that I otherwise would not have known and I have had an excuse to do things that I otherwise would not have done. A minor reason (at least I hope it is a minor reason) is that I seem to have inherited a bit of my mother’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, though it manifests itself in me very differently than it did in my mother.

What do you want little Indiana readers to know about Rensselaer, Indiana?
When I taught at Saint Joseph’s College I kept hearing students say that they were bored because there was nothing to do. That attitude said more about them than their surroundings. No matter where you are, there are interesting people and things all around you. Part of the adventure of life is going out and finding them. I happened to have landed in Rensselaer and I am trying to enjoy what it has to offer.

The Internet and the communications revolution have brought some of the conveniences and benefits of large cities to towns like Rensselaer but they have not given large cities any conveniences or benefits of small towns. Hence, places like Rensselaer have become relatively more attractive places to live.

Small Town Living at its Finest

I couldn’t have said it better myself. We live in small towns because we like knowing our neighbors. Thanks to Robert Schenk of Rensselaer Adventures for dropping by little Indiana and telling us all about his Indiana blog!

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.