Mottainai -- Thrifty Mind

Here is a rug on exhibit at the Carnegie Center for Art & History located at 201 East Spring St., New Albany, Indiana 47150, 812-944-7336. It is part of the Stripes: United States/Japan Traveling Hooked Rug Exhibit III 2009 on display till October 24,2009.

After viewing this rug, I learned something new about Japan. The term mottainai which translates to "don't waste". Recycling should be a big part of our society and this rug reflects this sentiment.

The description card reads:
"Thrifty Mind
Keiko Ito
Okszaki City, Aichi-ken Japan
The Japanese idea of mottainai ("don't waste") is now known worldwide. I hope the spirit of a frugal lifestyle of giving new life to a disused article and of thanking will always spread. The materials used for this rug were all recycled wool."

A close up of some of the stitching work.

Harvest Homecoming Festival - New Albany, Indiana

The Harvest Homecoming Festival has come and gone for this year. I volunteered with the Habitat for Humanity booth which seems to doing a good job at collecting donations for its 20th and 21st houses now under construction.

Below is a picture of the Corydon Dulcimer Society getting ready to play another song. My cousin is one of their members and I always look forward to hearing them play every year. Also her parents usually attend as well but due to a scheduling conflict I did not get to see them. Fortunately, I saw them later in the evening at a wedding.

Learn more about the Corydon Dulcimer Society at their website: http://www.corydondulcimersociety.org

Lichens Growing on Persimmon Tree

Here are some lichens growing on the bark of a persimmon tree that grows in the Purdue University research complex in New Albany, Indiana.

Persimmons Growing at Purdue University

Here are some persimmons growing at the Purdue University research complex in New Albany, Indiana. This tree used to be on the farm owned by the Shine family.

Purple Flowers Growing at Purdue

Here are some purple flowers growing at the Purdue University Research complex in New Albany, Indiana.

Harvest Homecoming Festival - New Albany, Indiana

Yesterday, I volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Floyd County/New Albany Indiana chapter at their Harvest Homecoming Festival booth. This event is the only fundraiser for the organization besides donations from organizations and individuals for the year. Things seemed to be going well with brisk donations for the raffle items. The chapter is working on their 19th house.

I did not see all the booths I normally see and the chicken dumplings did not seem homemade from the ladies at the local VFW. They seemed too oily but still tasty.

The weather was warm bordering on hot. In the past, I would be getting dumplings to stay warm but not this season. Also the apple dumplings booth across from our booth was selling at $6. Yikes, I thought it use to be $4.

The drinks were still $0.50 at the Fraternal Order of Police and Boy Scout Troop 36 at Holy Family so I always try to buy drinks from them each year.

I wish I had more time to spend there but had to volunteer as the Louisville Science Center.

Purdue Building Dedication

It was kind of scary at times during the dedication because geese were flying over the area where I was standing I had this bad feeling I was going to be bombed by their waste. Here was off to the side showing the Purdue flag in the wind with geese flying by.
Here is a picture of the press taking pictures of this event. I can see WLKY 32 camera crew taking some video. I saw at least 8 cameras taking pictures. I think the Courier-Journal was there as well. Let's see what was reported.

Purdue University - New Albany, Indiana Building

Today was the dedication to the Purdue University Building on Charlestown Road in New Albany, Indiana. The land for the building (40 acres) was donated by the Shine family who once owned 1000+ acres across Floyd County but now only this plot was left. The Shine control Samtec Corporation which I believe has $300+ million in sales so they decided to donate this land to Purdue for part of the school and the rest for an industrial/technology park.

The photo below is Purdue University's president Dr. France Cordova speaking to the group on hand for the dedication.
Below is John Shine talking about the process of how his family donated this land to Purdue.




This next photo is Sam Shine, John Shine's father explaining about his family connection to this area and how he and his brother use to work on this property. He talked of a persimmon tree he tended to fall from and how he mowed the fields of this property when he was younger. His brother was observing in the back and brought up how he got stuck in the wetlands on the property in a tractor. His main theme was that his family be good stewards of the land and this was how they would do by this donation. They also hope the technology know-how and education brings skilled workers to this area for Samtec and other local businesses.



Here are a number of people cutting the symbolic ribbon to the building. Two students, Kristen and Jonathan are holding the ribbon being cut. They are in the Computer Graphics Technology program.