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Steffens Jewelry in Rensselaer, Indiana: Put a Ring on It

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Steffens Jewelry Store in Rensselaer, Indiana

If you think shopping for quality jewelry means a trip to the mall, I’ve got a few words for you: Steffens Jewelry in Rensselaer, Indiana.

When was the last time you experienced a friendly browsing experience while shopping for jewelry?

Steffens Jewelry in Rensselaer, Indiana

There are rows and rows and rows of sparkling diamonds. More than just diamonds, however–there’s rows and rows of all sorts of other shining loveliness!

Sterling silver, titanium, tungsten, stones of all kinds–well, you’ll find them here at Steffens Jewelry. Sure, the dazzling diamonds in this family-owned business are stunning. But what gets me every time? The estate jewelry!

I love things that have a history–even my wedding band has the initials and year of a couple from 1930 on it. Steffens Jewelry has a phenomenal selection (i.e. things I’d love to wear!) of estate jewelry in all sizes, shapes, and colors.

Indiana Jewelry Store

Rensselaer, Indiana: Steffens Jewelry -- Repairs in Progress

Small town or not, there’s a whole lot to love about Steffens Jewelry. Not only is it a family business, but Roger repairs jewelry himself!

As a registered watchmaker, jewelry, and diamond-setter, Roger is able to do repairs in-store.

Roger and his wife, Vicki purchased the family business back in 1986. You could say they know their stuff!

For 55 years Steffens Jewelry has been Rensselaer’s hometown jeweler.

A Rensselaer Staple

Rensselaer, Indiana: Steffen's Jewelry Store

Since they buy gold, diamonds, and coins, the inventory is always changing–and is so much fun to browse.

Steffens Jewelry has all the sparkly, shiny pretty things you’d expect at a big city jewelry store–but with the friendliness and prices you’d expect from a small Indiana town!

You’ll never think “mall” when it comes to fine jewelry again.

Go There

This is a name you can trust. You won’t want to miss this Jasper County treasure! Just make sure to tell ‘em that little Indiana sent you.

Find Steffens Jewelry images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr Photostream.

Steffens Jewelry
217 West Washington Street
Rensselaer, Indiana 47978
219.866.8781

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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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Jim’s Cafe Images from DeMotte, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:00:43 +0000

Jim’s Cafe in DeMotte, Indiana was so good! You know I can’t resist a toasty warm Reuben Sandwich.

More than sandwiches, Jim’s Cafe has a small wall of coffee. We saw flavors ranging from French Vanilla to Luck of the Irish.

I figured you might want to see the delicious you are in for at this comfortable Indiana town shop. Just be forewarned–the following images may result in a road trip!

Jim’s Cafe Images from DeMotte, Indiana

Demotte, Indiana: Jim's Cafe

See Jim’s Cafe images and other pictures in DeMotte, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Jim’s Cafe
616 15th Street
DeMotte, Indiana 46310
219.987.7995

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DeMotte, Indiana: Jim’s Cafe to Kickstart Your Day

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:13 +0000

Demotte, Indiana: Jim's Cafe

little Indiana hit the road and head for DeMotte, Indiana or, more specifically, to Jim’s Cafe!

Well, let’s just say that in this small Indiana town shop, there’s plenty more than just coffee.

Jim’s Coffee Shop in DeMotte, Indiana

When you take a step inside, you will smell the lovely, lovely smell of coffee–and food!

Jim’s Coffee Shop serves the breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd. Which was a good thing because little Indiana (and family) were hungry!

They’ve got a nice menu over at Jim’s Cafe. It was an easy choice for Kid #1 and #2 (hot dog and grilled cheese). Hubs and I waffled.

Demotte, Indiana: Jim's Cafe Reuben Sandwich

Food at Jim’s

The sandwiches sounded so good! Hubs finally went with the Patty Melt. But as for me? Well, they did have a Reuben Sandwich on there!

I chose the Onion Rings, Hubs went for fries. I’d recommend the Onion Rings–crispy goodness. Man those hit the spot.

Of course the kids enjoyed what they ordered. But what haven’t I mentioned yet? The coffee!

Indiana Coffee Shop

Demotte, Indiana: Jim's Cafe Frozen Mocha

Jim’s Cafe has quite the assortment of coffees and teas. There are so many yummy-sounding flavors!

You may remember that I didn’t actually enjoy coffee until after Kid #2 was born–and I only like it black. Even so, there’s a lot here that I could really get into.

While I didn’t actually get coffee personally, I did drink quite a bit of the Frozen Mocha that hubs ordered.

He stated, and I agree, that it is the best Frozen Mocha he has ever had. Ever! So take that, big box coffee!

Go There

Here’s just more proof that you can find everything you need in a small town. You just needed to know where to look! Jim’s Cafe was very good–and a place I wouldn’t mind returning.

See Jim’s Cafe images and other pictures in DeMotte, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Jim’s Cafe
616 15th Street
DeMotte, Indiana 46310
219.987.7995
Monday – Tuesday: 6 AM – 3 PM
Wednesday – Thursday: 6 AM – 7 PM
Friday: 6 AM – 8 PM
Saturday: 6 AM – 2 PM
Sunday: Closed

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The Neighborhood Circus and Block Party Images

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:24 +0000

Summer is gone in our small Indiana town–but it has definitely not been forgotten!

I will be relying on warm Summer memories to get me through the hardest parts of the Winter. These are from our neighborhood block party and circus. It’s an annual event that pretty much screams, “Summer!” to me and mine.

The Neighborhood Block Party and Circus Images

Neighborhood Block Party and Circus

Find more Neighborhood Block Party and Circus images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

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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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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Indiana Wind Turbines Part 2: Wind Power Questions Answered!

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Indiana Wind Turbines

Indiana Wind Turbines have taken up large blocks of land along I-65 and beyond. After my first article detailing these majestic mammoths, I received emails and comments from little Indiana readers who just had to know more!

Your burning wind turbine questions have been answered, once again, by my hubby, Jeremy Nunemaker.

Indiana Wind Farms

Is it farm-able? If someone leases land to a wind turbine company, can they still farm it?
Absolutely. The footprint of a wind turbine, aka the base, takes up no more space than your average living room!

How noisy are these? If one goes up near my home, will I still be able to sleep at night?
Noise levels of modern wind turbines depends on details such as size, height, age, etc. As far as large commercial wind turbines, such as what you see along I-65, the most common noise is the whistle of the blades passing.

This makes sense when you realize the tips of those blades can be traveling around 300mph, however the sound produced is less than the noise produced by traffic passing a typical home.

Indiana Wind Farms: Turbines Near I65

How big and small are Indiana wind turbines?

Wind turbines range in size from small units that power single appliances such as a cell phone charger and are only as big as your hand to larger units that help power your home and can be the size of a sofa.

There are also commercial wind turbines that range from 40-50 ft tall all the way to the “latest and greatest” which are coming close to four hundred feet tall.

There are many companies out there that provide smaller wind turbines that help power residential homes or other small scale applications. An internet search for residential wind turbines would give you a list of these small turbine companies.

Are they only practical or available for sale in areas like Northwest Indiana with wide open flat space?
Wind turbines are applicable over a wide range of terrain, it’s hard to rule out a particular area simply because of its terrain.

Indiana Wind Turbines

Indiana is a good candidate for wind power because it is largely flat and open, however states such as West Virginia also have wind farms because of increased wind speeds present in the mountainous areas. The only way to know is to look into having a wind study done of your area.

You can also look into wind charts compiled in the past by the government. Many of these are dated but are a great place to start your search and help you decide whether or not wind power is an option in your area.

Over time what is the value or cost of energy that they produce compared with the costs of buying them?
In general, the value of a wind turbine is very hard to calculate. Energy production varies greatly due to the available winds for a particular site and therefore affects the value.

Wind Energy in Indiana

It’s a fast growing field and pretty incredible that Hoosiers, especially those in small Indiana towns, are such a crucial part of this green energy source. Do you have new questions? Feel free to ask below!

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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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.

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

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.

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Neighborhood Block Party and Circus: An Annual Event

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:00:56 +0000

Neighborhood Block Party: Reluctant Helper

Nothing says summer like our neighborhood block party and circus!

The performers are the grandchildren of a neighbor–and are part of a circus club where they live. These girls juggle, ride the unicycle, and then some.

As you can see from the image on the left, they even juggled around a neighbor!

It’s quite a site to see–and a really nice way to spend a late summer afternoon and evening in my small Indiana town. Did I mention that everyone brings a side dish and sandwiches are served?

My favorite part? Once the circus is over, everyone gets a chance to try out the stuff!

Watch little Indiana and The Neighborhood Block Party & Circus on YouTube or below.

See the neighborhood block party and circus images as well as other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr, photostream.

And One for You!

If you are my neighbor and want a copy of the entire circus show that is unedited or the above video highlights, please let me know. It’s not a problem.

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.