The Best of Bloomington

I know I have been MIA on the blog scene and I apologize. I don't have any really good reasons as to why, but camera did break (it is off getting fixed and I brought out the old one this weekend) and I am still fighting off a sickness I got a month ago. Yuck! That sickness actually was quite debilitating for some time. All I did was go to work and crash when I got home. After a good dose of antibiotics, I am almost back to my old self.

Anyway, my sickness lifted just in time to enjoy a wonderful weekend in Bloomington. This weekend was perfect. The weather, the entertainment options, and the feeling that fall is starting to settle in made me happy. Saturday morning John and I went to the farmer's market. The farmer's market is one of my favorite places in Bloomington because it is filled with delicious fresh foods, beautiful colors, and happy people. I love knowing I am buying and supporting local growers and love to see what everyone has each time I go. There are always amazing flower stands and great entertainers dancing or making music. This weekend there was a free apple tasting tent. We must have tried at least 30 kinds of apples! I have never tried so many variations! I'm not sure if I will ever view apples the same. John and I loved tasting them and discussing which were our favorites...if I could only remember now. We felt pretty rushed through the apple line, so it was a grab-and-go tasting! Each time I go to the market, it is a unique experience and there are always some lovely, simple surprises. As you can tell, I love it.

Flowers at the market

Look at those yummy 'maters!

Some of our favorite guys taking a break from their music. The drummer uses a suitecase as a drum!

Pretty flowers

Jack-Be-Littles

Some interesting dancers. John claims he seriously would want to join, but I think I could call his bluff by handing over the club sign-up papers!

Entrance to the apple tasting booth. I love the idea of "Slow Food!"

Apple tastin'

John, with his inquisitive mind, went behind the kettle corn stand to have "equipment talk" with the kettle man

The most amazing cheese. Ever.

In the afternoon, John and I checked out a local park that I live by and I shot some photos of fall settling in.

John walking across the dam

Waterfall of fall leaves

Love and nature

Can you find John?

Saturday night, John and I had dinner at The Trojan Horse. John recently mentioned in an all- too-casual-way that he had never been there. We enjoyed tasty saganaki and he loved his first experience there. I am still amazed that he never ate there in his years at IU and since I have been back. Downtown Bloomington was hopping this weekend because of the Lotus Festival. This festival brings world music and art from all over the world to Bloomington. It is amazing. The tickets are a bit expensive, but they get you into every event. John and I decided to skip the tickets, enjoy walking around downtown, and try to catch whatever we could that was happening in the outside venues. I was really excited about one of the artists in particular, Sogbety Diomande’s West African Drum and Dance Company. They are from Cote d'Ivoire and were fascinating to watch. The beating of the drums, the dancing, the costumes, and the man who busted out the craziest moves on stilts was truly stunning.

The African dancers and the man on stilts below

The Lotus Festival logo reflected on Bloomington brick

On Sunday John and I dined outside at The Irish Lion, checked out a blown glass pumpkin patch, enjoyed some delicious wine (Camelot Mead) at Oliver Winery, and finished up the weekend watching Burn After Reading. The fall air is definitely starting to settle in and I am trying to enjoy the beautiful show the trees give each year - they always seem to turn so quickly.

John enjoying a beer at Irish Lion

Crazy Horse and Irish Lion, two of my favorite places

My kind of pumpkin patch - blown glass!

At the winery (I recently got my hair cut and I shouldn't have chosen today to not do my hair, but whatever.)

Yummers

The view from our wine drinking post

The bees love the honey in the Camelot Mead!

I couldn't find Bella earlier this afternoon. I was looking all around and finally saw her move and she was inside John's travel bag. At the time she was curled up inside so I was very surprised once I found her!

I hope this gives you a good taste of what I have been up to and what a wonderful place Bloomington is this time of year!