A Guide to Mulberry's Just for Fun Lenses

My Rural Life and Indiana 

Sightseeing Indiana

I'll admit it, I love to travel. I've been to many of the states in the US, Canada, Mexico, some Carribean Islands, Spain, Italy, and France but I would love to travel much further. Time and circumstances however have conspired to keep me away. Si...

Covered Bridge Festival

There are approximately 90 covered bridges throughout Indiana, but Parke County in southwest Indiana has the largest concentration of them with 34 (or so) still standing. The first of the covered bridges built in the area were constructed in th...

Circus City - The World's Greatest Amateur Circus

In the late 1800's and early 1900's the circus was a very popular form of entertainment. Traveling from town to town, they brought their shows filled with exotic animals, daring performers, and rousing music to adoring crowds. One town in Indiana,...

Small Town USA - Mulberry, Indiana

For most of my adult life I have lived in mid-sized cities with populations of 500,000 to 1,000,000 people. All of that changed in 2006 however, when I moved to the small town of Mulberry, Indiana. Because I know many people who have never experie...

Enjoying the Outdoors 

Turkey Run State Park

I grew up in Indiana. My parents frequently took us to state park areas for the day and I grew to love the experience of hiking in the woods with the sights, sounds, and smells of nature replenishing my soul. Our excursions weren't limited to state p...

The Monon Trail

Many years ago my husband and I began planning some of our vacation time around rail trails. These trails are revamped rail lines set up to accommodate bike riders and walkers; and in some instances those who roller blade. They provide a great, healt...

Bike Trail: Indiana's Cardinal Greenway

The Cardinal Greenway is the longest single bike trail in Indiana. It's a paved rail trail which is used by walkers, runners, bicyclists and those with inline skates. It's great for fitness training*, families, and anyone who loves outdoor activities...

Clifty Falls

I'm a confirmed hike-omaniac. I try to work it into nearly every vacation or getaway, and only the extremes of any season can keep me away. I'll hike mountains, prairies, wetlands, canyons, or anything else that's got a bit of a trail. I live in Ind...

Rail Trails for Family Biking

About fifteen years ago the city where I lived opened up a rail trail along the bed of an old rail road. In fact, the trail bordered my neighborhood and traveled about 5 miles north and 15 to 20 miles south of me. Additional trails leading east and...

Prophetstown State Park

A few hundred years ago, tall grass prairies were a common sight in portions of the American midwest, including northwestern Indiana. Of course, many things have changed since then, not the least of which is the use of such fertile soil for farm land...

Discovering the Delphi Indiana Canal

Prior to the late 1800's, many inland areas of the United States relied on canals for affordable transportation. The Wabash & Erie Canal was the longest canal in the country upon it's completion. It didn't last long, but it was a major effort and was...

Spring Mill State Park

Spring Mill state park is located outside of tiny Mitchell, Indiana in the southern part of the state. It was established in 1927 and includes a nature preserve that is home to a variety of wildlife from the endangered blind cave fish, turkey, and bl...

Shades State Park in Indiana

Shades State Park lies in west central Indiana along Sugar Creek, outside of Crawfordsville, Indiana. It includes 2,200 acres of land that is believed to have once been inhabited by the Piankeshaw Indians, a Miami Tribe, and was later home to a miner...

Mounds State Park and the Mound Builders

Mounds State Park is located east of Anderson, Indiana off of highway 232. It's a small state park established in 1930 that encompasses 290 acres of land and includes 6 miles of hiking trails. Of greater historical importance however, is the presence...

The Zionsville Rail Trail

Rail trails have sprung up around the country in the past 10 to 15 years. They have been a popular way of making use of old rail beds which offers residents a good fitness activity. A number of these rail trails exist in Indiana and they are increasi...

Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park lies just off the eastern edge of U.S. Highway 35 in northern Indiana, just outside the town of Winamac. With over 22 miles of trails, access to the Tippecanoe River, and plenty of camping; fisherman, canoers, hikers, cros...

Fort Harrison State Park

Fort Harrison State Park is a small state park located on the north east side of Indianapolis, Indiana. If offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In the winter, it's a popular spot for sledding as well. It's a farily young park, but has contin...

Whitewater Memorial State Park

Outside of tiny Liberty, Indiana lies Whitewater Memorial State Park along with the Hornbeam Nature Preserve and adjacent Brookville Reservoir. The park offers camping, hiking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and swimming. Learn more about this...

Summit Lake

Summit Lake State Park was established in 1988. It offers hiking trails, campgrounds, and an 800 acre manmade lake for fishing, birdwatching and a close look at rural Indiana prairie, wetland, and woodland landscapes. To the left is a view of Summit...

Brown County State Park

Brown County State Park lies south of Indianapolis, Indiana. It provides a pretty, rolling landscape covered with yellowood, maple, oak, hickory, beech, sassafras, sycamore, birch and other trees. It's a great place to enjoy hiking, mo...

Indiana Dunes State Park

The southern tip of Lake Michigan lies along Indiana's northern edge. Here, for a 25 mile stretch, lies the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, an area that provides a tremendous diversity of landscape, plant, and wildlife as well as inviting beaches....

Pokagon State Park

Pokagon State Park lies in the north eastern corner of Indiana, near Angola, Indiana. The park offers visitors camping, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and horseback riding. In the winter, sledding, ice skating, cross country skiing, ice fishing,...

McCormicks Creek State Park

McCormick's Creek State Park in Indiana provides a scenic location for hiking, camping, and the opportunity to rest and relax with nature. The area includes canyons, rolling, wooded terrain, and small creeks. It lies soutwest of Indianapolis off of I...

My Personal Experiences 

How to Spend Less

There are many tips for saving money out there. From couponing and shopping sales to vacationing off season and brown bagging your lunch. However, this page is focused more on examining ways you can adjust your mindset or your lifestyle to live on...

Saving Money

I was raised by parents who grew up during the depression. In my eyes they were the picture of thriftiness. We lived well. My parents had steady jobs. We had a lovely home, a swimming pool, nice cars, and so forth. However, my parents saved consis...

Abandoned Kittens

Cats rival dogs as the most popular pets. Small, relatively clean, and rather independent they make for a lower maintenance companion. Unfortunately, there is a growing problem with cats and kittens. It's the problem of stray cats and abandoned ki...

The Worst Way to Lose Your Job

When you lose your job it may feel like the end of the world, and it certainly does throw a big hitch (and a lot of stress) into it, but in the end, it really is a chance to make a positive change. I wanted to get people talking a little bit about t...

Nostalgia 

Growing Up 70s

Each decade has it's contribution to history and a wealth of memories for those living at the time. Some have said that the 70s were a decade when nothing happened but in retrospect we know it's not true. Growing up 70s was different from growing...

My Fiero

Most people love and fondly remember their first car. I'm no different. My bicycle had been my only transportation through high school and college. I finished school in mid 1983, and ordered a Pontiac Fiero without even having seen so much as a pic...

A Look Back at 1970's Toys

If you were a kid in the 1970's then you might have some fun remembering some of the games and toys you had. Of course, some of them are still around today, even if in a more modern format. On this page you can reminisce a bit and even watch some c...

The 70's Music Experience

The 70's music scene was about some important transitions. Some of the major names in popular music were gone. A softer rock genre emerged. But so did heavy metal, cross over country, punk, reggae and disco. Relive the music of the 1970's here on...

The Wacky and Far Out World of 1970's TV

The 1970's brought some interesting changes to television. Sitcoms were prevalent but in many instances they stepped well beyond the somewhat mindless hilarity that was common in earlier shows. Social issues of the day began to emerge and to be addre...

For My Elders 

Bathroom Safety Products For Seniors

For some seniors, poor balance, weakness, or limited range of motion can make it difficult to bathe or shower. Tubs can be difficult to get in and out of and showers may create an even greater fall risk. For elderly individuals who are capable of l...

Caring for Your Parents

Millions of adults find themselves increasingly in the role of caring for parents. Often this is in addition to either caring for their own children or attending to some of their own emerging health issues as they age. It can be a time of struggle, b...

How To Choose Medical Alert Systems

Many millions of us find ourselves taking care of elderly parents or other loved ones who are trying to continue to live independently in their own home. We may worry because we know that their balance is poor or their strength reduced. They may ha...

My Online Life 

Dish Network Work From Home

For millions of people seeking additional income a home business opportunity is an attractive option. The ability to generate the needed money by staying home and working on the internet seems more realistic than a second job with our busy schedules....

Internet Marketing Tips for Success

Perhaps you're new on the internet and have just started creating content on line as a way of promoting yourself, your products, services, or ideas. On the other hand, you could be someone who has already created a lot of articles or even lenses here...

Internet Marketing That Works

There are endless suggestions on the web and in books about all the various techniques, sites, and products that can promote your business, services, and products. But face it, internet marketers are a busy group of people and time is precious. Wo...

The Language of Squidoo

When I first started at Squidoo I was confused about many things, but in reality if I had just understood some of the language I probably would have moved farther much faster. If you're brand spanking new at Squidoo and you're confused, understand t...

Top Affiliate Marketing Program

If you're new to home business, work from home, or internet marketing, then affiliate marketing programs are one of the best ways to get started. Nearly risk and cost free, many give you all the tools you need. If you are experienced, then finding a...

Entertainment 

Western Movies

Western movies have been around since the beginning of cinematic history in the US. They are no longer the most common nor the most popular movies presented to audiences. However, they still hold a special spot for those who love adventure and larger...

My Favorite Movies

I made this page about some of my favorite movies to give readers who are trying to pick out a movie some tips for selecting a good one. Now everyone's tastes are different, so I make no guarantees. But, I do suggest that if you haven't seen these,...

Foreign Film Reviews

I enjoy watching foreign films occasionally. They offer me a way to experience other cultures, to go places I may never have a chance to go, to explore other lifestyles, and experience events I might never have even imagined. If you aren't accustome...

Parents of Famous People

Parents are often blamed or credited for the way their adult children behave, the success that they have, and the misfortunes they experience. We often look to the parents to see where someone's values come from and to see who is "responsible" for...

Movies on DVD

This page is all about movies on DVD; both the future and the present. Here you will find the gossip, the reviews, the top 10 lists, and you'll even have the chance to rent the movies on DVD that you want. Anyone who loves movies on DVD knows Netfli...

The Gabe Dixon Band

Earlier this year I was poking around the internet and stumbled upon a fairly recent video of a song called "All Will Be Well". I listened and thought to myself, here's a new band that my husband would really like. If you sift through the old stuf...

My Food Lenses 

Homemade Vegetable Soup

As a kid, I used to love my mother's homemade vegetable soup. In the fall and winter it brought comfort and even years later when I made it for my husband, he quickly developed a taste for it as well. With simple, inexpensive ingredients my mother...

The Best Apple

Fruits are a healthy snack, a tasty addition to salads and other dishes, and often make wonderful desserts and sauces. Apples are one of the most popular fruits in this part of the world and easier to select than many other types of fruit to assure...

Broccoli Recipes

Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. I'll eat it by itself most of the time, just steamed with a bit of garlic and butter added for flavor. But I love cream of broccoli soup, sweet and sour broccoli salad, and warm casseroles as well. I'll sha...

My Recipe for Potato Salad

Some years ago, when I worked in an office environment, we often had pitch-in lunches. A co-worker of mine, a woman who was originally from Germany sometimes brought in her homemade potato salad which I always enjoyed. Of course, like many of us, s...

The Upside Down Tomato Garden

I love garden grown tomatoes. My time for gardening however is limited. Time to till, dig, stake, weed, and assure a pest free garden is hard to find in my household. On the other hand I have little use for the tomatoes you find at the grocery. You...

Beef Stroganoff Recipes

My husband, like many American men, loves beef. Not long after we met years ago, I made my first meal for him. It was beef stroganoff. Now, many years later, he still requests this dish periodically. This particular beef stroganoff has a bit more of...

How Squidoo Made Me Fat!

Hi, I'm Mulberry and I'm addicted to Squidoo. Unfortunately that also means I sit...a lot. In addition, it means I'm exposed to repeated attacks from fellow Squidoo lensmasters who have conspired against me. These same people who profess to be my onl...

A Delicious Graham Cracker Crust

The key to a perfect pie is often in the crust. For many pies, this means a good flakey crust made from dough that you prepare at home. For other pies, it's a graham cracker crust. Although I grew up loving fruit pies with a buttery, lightly sweetene...

Shopping 

Electric Fireplaces

Perhaps you have a room that doesn't stay as warm as you would like or maybe you've found the perfect condo except it lacks the ambiance you want due to the absence of a fireplace. Fret no more. No longer do you have to deal with major constructio...

Paper Towel Holder

Sometimes it's the details that really set a room apart. Yes, even a paper towel holder can help to create a certain look or ambiance. Now of course, these are functional devices too. Keeping paper towels neatly tucked out of the way; allowing quick...

Photo Albums

With digital cameras today, we have many options for preserving and sharing our photos including: online photo sharing sites, digital photo albums, and picture frames among others. These options can be convenient, space saving, and an excellent back...

Texas Instruments Calculator

Over the years educators and professionals have recognized the value of calculators. In fact calculators are generally allowed and even encouraged in advanced math, science, and engineering classes as well as during major exams. Professionals also u...

Rotary Phones

Whether you are into vintage rotary phones as a collectible, you long for the nostalgic feel of the dial and the distinctive ring, or you simply want the retro look for a home or office, there are antiques and modern counterparts to suit your needs...

Stop the Madness: Get a Remote Organizer

Do you have more than one remote control in your house? Do you have multiple people who use them? Do you ever misplace your remote control? If the answer is yes, a remote organizer may be something you need. We'll show you some organizers that can s...

Which are the Cutest Puppies?

Puppies have power. The power of cute. They can turn your worst day bright with just a wriggle and a few laps of the tongue. On this page we have dozens of cute puppy pictures, and better yet you can purchase any of them as a poster, or perhaps a fr...

Travel Umbrellas

Potentially protecting you from rain, sleet, snow, sun, and even some wind, an umbrella is a handy thing to have around. The full sized version is great but sometimes portability is more important or you won't be inclined to keep it with you. On th...

Forest Pictures: Bring Nature into Your Home

Nature possesses a timeless beauty and power. It has a unique ability to revitalize us, to bring us tranquility, and to put us in awe. Taking time to enjoy the forest and all of nature is important for many people. Unfortunately, we don't always have...

Products That Work As Advertised

I'm a consumer. When I buy a product I expect it to perform as advertised. I'm not afraid to return things and I'm not at all hesitant to write a manufacturer to let them know if something fails to live up to it's marketing. I'm n...

Heavy Duty Electric Pencil Sharpener

You have your pencil sharpeners and then you have your heavy duty pencil sharpeners! If you have high volume use, a variety of pencil sizes, or you simply want something a bit more sturdy and powerful, then a high volume model might be the way to g...

Fall Pictures: For Autumn Splendor Year Round

Autumn is a splendid time of year. The excitement of change and the amazing beauty of nature's transition are just a few of the wonders of this season. It's unfortunate that it's so fleeting but perhaps you can enjoy the glorious views year round w...

Pictures of Snow for Your Home or Office

Although winter is often known for it's harsh conditions, it's also a time of immense beauty. With the snow, frost, and ice, all of creation is transformed, light is altered, and a stillness that's unknown the rest of the year can settle in. You ca...

Bike Tire Pumps

Properly inflated tires are important on a bicycle. Safety and comfort are both at stake. Keeping your tires inflated is easy with a quick check at home before leaving and a pump along in case of disaster. You can see the various types of bike tire...

Safe Drinking with a Water Filtration Bottle

The safety of our drinking water is often in question. You buy a filter for your refrigerator, your faucets, or even your entire home. You may even have a water filtered pitcher. But for those who are active, having access to clean fresh water whil...

Breakaway Cat Collar

We love our cats and we want to protect them. Losing a cat can be traumatic but it happens every day. If you take a few precautions however you can help reduce the likelihood that your cat will wander off one day and never be seen again. A breakaw...

Atomic Travel Clocks: Keeping Perfect Time

If you travel and want an accurate clock, an atomic travel clock is your best bet. These clocks can automatically synchronize with International Atomic Time and you don't have to do anything. On this page, you can learn a bit more about true atomic...

Rain Pictures from Around the World

Rain can represent change. It can be peaceful or it can be powerfully destructive. It can conjure up images of renewal and joy or depression and sadness. The images you find in rain pictures are merely up to your interpretation. On this page we have...

Bag Clips

Whether you call them bag clips or chip clips doesn't matter. They may be simple little devices but they can certainly make life eaiser. Whether you use them to seal up foods to keep them fresh and free from freezer burn or you just want to keep othe...

Cute Bunnies

Some people have dogs, some have cats, and others have birds. However, for those of us who just want a pure bundle of love, we have a bunny. Whether sprawling on the floor, tucked up in a ball, or hopping about, bunnies are undeniably adorable. For...

Pictures of the Sun

Pictures of the sun can evoke feelings of hope, renewal, peace, or joy. Sunsets can be romantic and sunrises inspiring. For those who want to enjoy the beauty of such scenes, we have a page here that's dedicated to you. Browse through these images a...

Tropical Beach Pictures

Most of us live with the harsh reality that the sand and surf of a beach is many miles away. We realize that vacations are also few and far between, making a tropical island getaway something that's off in the future. Luckily, tropical beach picture...

Personalized Door Mats

Door mats or welcome mats have been around for a long time. They were designed to catch dirt and debris from the shoes and boots of your guests before they entered. They've also served as a greeting to all those who come to your door. But whether yo...

Thunderstorm Pictures

Thousands of thunderstorms occur each year. They can be powerful supercells which threaten everything in their path with incredible winds, lashing rain, hail, and intense electrical activity; or at the other end of the spectrum, may not even result i...

Pet Hair Remover Tools

Many millions of us have indoor pets, or pets that are indoors at least part of the time. With all of the love and companionship that a pet brings, comes fur. Lot's and lot's of fur. It stacks up over time, and in the spring, when shedding is at it'...

Discover the Pressure Cooker

I received my first pressure cooker in my early 20's.  It was a handy-me-down from my aunt that had already seen many years of service. It was a 4 quart Mirro-Matic that made quite a clamor when cooking. I was single at the time and&nbs...

Rechargeable Batteries and Charger

Last Christmas I asked for, and received, an inexpensive point and shoot camera. Because it operates off of two AA NiMH batteries, I also got some rechargeable batteries and a charger to go along with it. I've been pleased with my simple little came...

About Kids and Learning 

Language Development Activities for PreSchool Age Children

Many years ago while I was in school, I had the chance to co-lead a preschool language stimulation class. It was a lot of hard work, and it taxed my brain to come up with fun and creative ways to stimulate minds and provide language enrichment experi...

Television and Children

With the right programming, a television can provide entertainment and education for children. However, as we all know it contains a significant amount of negative images. Television violence, harsh language, and sexually explicit content as well as...

Comprehensive Sex Education Should Be Taught in Schools

There are only a few people who oppose sex education in schools, but more people oppose comprehensive sex education over abstinence-only programs. Although I understand the value of wanting kids to wait, I think it's misguided to think that having go...

Influence of Media on Children

Television can be a powerful entertainment and education tool for children given the right programming. However, studies have shown that television, and media in general, can also have a very negative influence. Some studies indicate it can shorten...

The Influence of Advertising

The influence of advertising on our lives, for both children and adults, has changed over the years. In the early days, advertising for toys and other products for children was primarily targeted toward parents and their message was direct. Today h...

My Zazzle Lenses 

Your Personal Flower Mug

A mug can hold your coffee, your tea, hot chocolate, or other beverage, but it can also be an affordable way to enjoy a bit of art and start your day off right. On this page, I will feature a few flower mug designs with some of my photographs. If you...

Flower Postage Stamps

Face it, much of your communication may be online, via cell phone, or something other than traditional mail. But still, you mail an occasional card or perhaps even a letter. There's something special about receiving that physical piece of mail so why...

Floral Design Blank Cards and Postcards

Sometimes a greeting card just doesn't express exactly what you want to say. Blank note cards and postcards can fill this gap nicely. I've used some of my floral photographs to create some collections which I have featured on this page. Cards are av...

The Flower Mousepad: A Campaign Against Drab

Who says a mousepad should be drab and boring? I don't. A colorful mousepad, especially one with flowers, can brighten up any office or workspace. For those who love beautiful flowers, this page should present you with some nice options. All of the...

The Unique Keychain

A keychain is a very functional device. It keeps your keys handy and all together. But if you like to express yourself, there are keychains that are more personalized, a bit more unique, or perhaps simply more attractive. I have gathered together so...

Indiana Gifts and Souvenirs

I've lived in Indiana for much of my life. When most people think of Indiana, they think of flat, open spaces filled with corn and bean fields. Perhaps some cows and pigs, but not much beyond that. For those of us who live here, we know that alt...