The Steussy Ranch

This little chocolate shop is one of the finest I have ever been to. And that includes shops in Southern California, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic. It puts Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco to shame (though Ghiradelli has a cooler building and a knock-dead view of the Golden Gate bridge). And this little shop is located in Kenard, in Henry County, Indiana.

The key to ordering from them is to emphasize the chocolate. Their fillings are quite good, but the chocolate is second to none.

Everyone is urged to order there now. This shop is barely out of the nineteenth century, not to say in the twentieth. Not having air conditioning, they shut down every summer when we usually travel to Indiana. They do not have a website – you have to call them (it is OK to call from a cellphone, but I guarantee you will be answered on a landline).

Good’s Candies
116 S. Main St., – Kennard – (765) 785-6776

The kids got a tour of the chocolate making facilities, where the candies are shaped by hand. Proof is below.

This little chocolate shop is one of the finest I have ever been to. And that includes shops in Southern California, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic. It puts Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco to shame (though Ghiradelli has a cooler building and a knock-dead view of the Golden Gate bridge). And this little shop is located in Kenard, in Henry County, Indiana.

The key to ordering from them is to emphasize the chocolate. Their fillings are quite good, but the chocolate is second to none.

Everyone is urged to order there now. This shop is barely out of the nineteenth century, not to say in the twentieth. Not having air conditioning, they shut down every summer when we usually travel to Indiana. They do not have a website – you have to call them (it is OK to call from a cellphone, but I guarantee you will be answered on a landline).

Good’s Candies
116 S. Main St., – Kennard – (765) 785-6776

The kids got a tour of the chocolate making facilities, where the candies are shaped by hand. Proof is below.

It was a great little visit. We stayed at Nic and Marti’s house in Indianapolis, camped in the two cold upstairs rooms which used to be David and Cally’s bedrooms. We ate, drank, talked, drove to family and ate, drank and talked some more.

All of the photos are below the line …

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We stopped in Lafayette to check out Nic’s living and working accommodations. This photo shows our invasion (five people is a big group) to Nic’s shared office in the basement of the Lily building at Purdue. Nic and the other mad scientists were hard at work.

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I forgot that I had this photo. It is taken from Aunt Mary’s book detailing the construction of her house in Arkansas, with the comment, “The house that shadows me everywhere.” (paraphrasing here). This photo is circa 1942, but may be as late as 1944. I’m assuming earlier, since it is unlikely that both boys would be home at the same time except soon after enlisting.

In the photo are: Robin Steussy (21), Edwin Steussy (47), Helen Steussy (45), Calvin Steussy (19), Mary Shanahan neé Steussy (6).

The window in the upper right is to the small, enclosed bedroom where Calvin and Robin grew up.

On Sunday afternoon, November 18 before Thanksgiving, Winna Steussy gave Gabi and me a tour of Madison. The coup of our entire trip happened when we were passing by Dad’s boyhood home at 730 Miami Pass in Madison. We stopped on the side of the street to look at the house and saw the owner fixing her screen door. I jumped out and said, “My father grew up in your house.”

She invited Winna and me into her house, and let us take photos.

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On Sunday afternoon, November 18 before Thanksgiving, Winna Steussy gave Gabi and me a tour of Madison. The coup of our entire trip happened when we were passing by Dad’s boyhood home at 730 Miami Pass in Madison. We stopped on the side of the street to look at the house and saw the owner fixing her screen door. I jumped out and said, “My father grew up in your house.”

She invited Winna and me into her house, and let us take photos.

(more…)

Back home again in Temecula. And, boy, it feels good. More later, after I sleep 12 or 14 hours.

Congrats to Rich for winning the football pool …

Sorry for not posting. Lot’s of good adventures. Big Thanksgiving. Christmas shopping with Dad. Visit to New Castle. Hajj to 601.

All of these will be posted when I have time …

Oh, and a joint anniversary tonight in Indy – 6th for Gabi and I, 29th (?) for Nic and Marti.