Brown County State Park

About a week ago, we got half an inch of ice over the top of the 3" of snow already on the ground (...and it's still here...).

 

Iced Trees.
This is the drive back to the studio. We got cabin fever and decided to go exploring. 

 

 We went to Brown County State Park in southern Indiana.  I'd sold stone sculptures in Nashville, Indiana (about 1 mile from this park entrance) in the late 80's.  However, I'd never noticed this covered bridge just a short distance off the main highway.  It was built in 1838 and here's a quote from Wikipedia and the history of Brown County: "The country was very wild in 1836.  Bears, Panthers and wolves were plentiful". (oh my...)

 This is the inside of the 178 year old structure that still 'bears' vehicle traffic.

 The park has lots of great views.  It's a major destination when the trees are changing colors.
 (We basically had the place to ourselves in this weather).

 The color and craftsmanship of this beautifully banded sandstone on their lookout tower really knocked me out.  I assume that this is indigenous, because I'd heard that they used to quarry sandstone in this county...long ago.

 We took 135 south home and found Story Inn - way out in the middle of nowhere, and still a going concern.  The old rusted false front is from a bygone era...and Standard Oil isn't around anymore either.

 We were treated to a strange sunset - the sun is over the horizon and has cast up this bright ray.

 I began a new project - it's another version on the Tree of Life theme.
 I started with this rough sketch.

 It was based on this old sand cast bronze that I made 10 years ago.  I never sold the piece, and it is now decoration for my wood stove.  It really radiates heat when the stove is hot - like a big sculptural heat sink.

 I have wired up an armature that measures 72"H x 48"W x 27"D.  I will begin to cover it with concrete tomorrow, after I add a few more leaves.

I made meatloaf (with onions) last night.