Category Archives: Objects

Muncie T-shirt

By Jim Hejl | June 16, 2012 - 9:28 am |April 10, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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We were in Muncie, Indiana on a nice June Saturday to attend my niece Caitlin’s wedding. We got there early and were on our way to meet my sister, Catherine and Dale her husband at Oakurst Gardens, a very relaxing park in Muncie. Traveling down N. Wheeling Ave we spotted this Big T-shirt promoting the Outfitter Screen Printing and Embroidery shop. Catherine had to wait.

Muncie T-shirt

Tennessee Cross

By Jim Hejl | April 6, 2012 - 2:12 pm |April 13, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Sometimes it’s funny how you find Big Things. As we were on our way for a Spring Break trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee we stopped to get a photo of a patriotic chicken on Exit 141 at I-75 in Tennessee (see Big Animals page.) Once we were back on the interstate going South we immediately spotted this Big Cross. Figuring to get it on the way back we continued on. Four days later traveling back home I was surprised to remember this cross. Nice looking but neglected. It stands on Old Kentucky Road about 0.4 miles south of the exit next to the defunct Royal Blue RV Park.

Tennessee Cross

Knoxville Big Rubik’s Cube

By Jim Hejl | April 6, 2012 - 12:21 pm |April 13, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Sometimes getting photos of Big Things can be stressful and this is a case in point, not that you would know. This Rubiks Cube is located in a lobby area of the Holiday Inn Select in Knoxville, Tennessee. Getting there was quite an adventure. Once we arrived we spoke with Richard, who worked for the hotel. He escorted us to this object. A nice man who represented the hotel with pride, thanks Richard.

Knoxville Big Rubik’s Cube

 

Women’s Hall of Fame Basketball

By Jim Hejl | April 6, 2012 - 12:04 pm |April 13, 2015 Objects, Sports

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We had some difficulty getting to the Rubiks Cube, but sometimes good results follow in unexpected ways. This is a case in point. We were off target (thanks GPS) and pulled into a hotel parking lot when, lo and behold, Deb spotted this Big Basketball. Turns out we were next to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, in Knoxville. An appropriate location considering this is the home of Pat Summitt. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men’s or women’s team in any division. She has been coaching since 1974, all with the Lady Vols, winning eight NCAA national championships, second only to the record 10 titles won by UCLA men’s coach John Wooden. In 38 years as a coach, she never had a losing season. On April 20, 2012, the White House announced that Pat Summitt would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. What a great person!

Women’s Hall of Fame Basketball

Pigeon Forge Boot Factory

By Jim Hejl | April 6, 2012 - 8:53 am |April 14, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Surprisingly, this is the only Big Object we spotted in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There were many more “Animals” and “Food and Drink” big things. On our way out early Friday Deb spotted this Big Boot. I slammed on the brakes and pulled in to get this photo. This is on the porch of the Boot Factory Outlet on Rt. 441, everything in Pigeon Forge is an outlet. The Boot Factory wasn’t open at the time, too bad I may have purchased my first pair of boots here, with a couple free to “boot.”

Pigeon Forge Boot Factory

Basket of Eggs

By Jim Hejl | April 4, 2012 - 5:17 pm |December 2, 2017 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Wandering through the stores in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is like Ocean City, NJ only with the shops on both sides of a street rather than a beach on one side of a boardwalk and shops on the other. A lot of duplicate shops, (how many henna tattoo shops can stay in business?) There was an interesting little mall of quality shops and in the midst of this was this basket full of eggs. We had to stay a while to get this photo since it was popular with the children.

Basket of Eggs

Gatlinburg Golf

By Jim Hejl | April 4, 2012 - 3:56 pm |December 2, 2017 Objects, Sports

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We went to a putt putt course in downtown Gatlinburg since we had a two for one coupon from our rental agency. It was a course designed for minimal space, we played our way up a hillside and down the back nine. I was doing pretty well midway through the front nine only to be ambushed by 3 holes in one by Deb on the back nine. I had to buy dinner that night due to my confidence after the 6th hole. Oh well, it was a nice dinner, first week of April and we ate outside, I had trout (the local speciality fish.)

Gatlinburg Golf

Early Girl Iron

By Jim Hejl | April 3, 2012 - 3:59 pm |April 14, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Another planned photo from Roadside America located in Asheville, NC. We left the Biltmore Estate at mid-afternoon and we were hungry. Food costs at the Biltmore were in the style of the house, a personal pizza was $18 to give you an example, yikes. Fortunately, while tracking this Big Iron in downtown Asheville we found the Early Girl Eatery. Here’s a note from their website: “Early Girl Eatery opened its doors in mid October of 2001. Centrally located in downtown Asheville on historic Wall Street, the critically-acclaimed and locally beloved eatery offers delicious southern food in a casual, charming atmosphere.” While traveling we are always in search of local, non-chain restaurants and Early Girl didn’t let us down. Highly recommended.

Early Girl Iron

Berea Hand

By Jim Hejl | April 2, 2012 - 12:58 pm |April 15, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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On our way down to the Smokies we decided to stop for lunch in Berea, illness Kentucky, a nice college town and also the home of the Boone Tavern. Since Deb is a history teacher, the Boone Tavern sounded like a good place to eat. We drove through campus and into downtown and found the Boone Tavern. The Tavern turned out to be a little upscale for what we anticipated. White tablecloths, etc. Anyway we left and on the way to the car spotted the Main Street Cafe, a few doors down. This is a good local restaurant, The lunch menu offered a great choice of classic american food with enough trendy choices for the local college diners. Stop in if you are in the area Oh! I almost forgot, this big hand is next door in front of the Berea Arts Council.

Berea Hand

Big Kentucky Mortar

By Jim Hejl | April 2, 2012 - 11:27 am |December 2, 2017 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Not all Big Things are things of beauty, especially when they assume new ownership. This is a case in point. The mortar and pestal configuration has all aspects of a drive-thru pharmacy. Now it is a liquor store, not what I was expecting when I was planning a Big Things route for our trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The thing about planning ahead of time that sometimes you get great and sometimes lesser. This is the lesser.

Big Kentucky Mortar

Super Bowl Scarve

By Jim Hejl | February 5, 2012 - 12:18 pm |April 13, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Indianapolis was Super Bowl crazy in January 2012. I volunteered and received one on the 13,000+ hand knit scarves. I was surprised to see one around the neck of a dinosaur at the Children’s Museum where I volunteer once a week. The dino’s scarve is a story in itself. This is from the Indystar web site, “How do you knit a 30-foot scarf for a dinosaur? With broomsticks for knitting needles and 5,000 feet of rope, said Karin Schmitt, owner of Broad Ripple Knits, who helped make the dinoscarves.” Take a close look and see the dino is wearing a big whistle and headset with microphone. He probably was helping the zebras.

Super Bowl Scarve

Indy Ice Big Skate

By Jim Hejl | February 5, 2012 - 12:09 pm |April 10, 2015 Objects, Sports

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I spotted this Big Skate outside the Fall Creek entrance to the Indiana State Fairgrounds where the Indianapolis Ice play. This year they are playing downtown at the Bankers Field arena while the Pepsi Coliseum is being refurbished. The Ice are members of the US Hockey League, hospital stuff an U20 (players are under 20 years old) hockey league. These guys are looking at a shot to play in the NHL.

Indy Ice Big Skate

Columbus Globe

By Jim Hejl | October 28, 2011 - 1:18 pm |December 2, 2017 Objects, Other Big Objects

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On the campus of Indiana University/Perdue University in Columbus we tracked down this Big Globe fountain. Named Discovery it is called a kugel, from the German word for ball. A mere 12 pounds of water pressure supports the nearly 2, 300 pound globe, made from granite from South Africa. Each of the books is made from a different type of granite from the Bavarian Forest in Germany, and together they weigh more than 9,400 pounds.

Columbus Globe

Colorado Guitar

By Jim Hejl | July 13, 2011 - 3:02 pm |April 15, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Colorado was a surprising cornucopia of Big Things. Right after finding the big so-called “Adirondack” chair, we happened upon this giant guitar. As you can see it is a pretty nice find, and unexpected. I was wondering if we would get to the park after finding the chair and also a rooster and heron (on the Big Animals page.) If you haven’t been to Estes Park, go. And take US-34 into town. It’s spectacular. I was there a few years ago when I was “working” and knew I had to get back.

Colorado Guitar

 

Rist Benson Reservoir Chari

By Jim Hejl | July 13, 2011 - 2:33 pm |April 19, 2015 Chairs, Objects

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An unexpected treat was finding this large Adirondack Chair on our way to Estes Park, Colorado, a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. It is on Eisenhower Blvd. (US-34) in Loveland, Colorado. In the background you can see a little of the Rist Benson Reservoir. Kind of ironic to have an “Adirondack” chair in the Rocky Mountains, don’t you think? Maybe a “Rocking” chair would be more appropriate.

Rist Benson Reservoir Chari

Klown Museum Doll

By Jim Hejl | July 10, 2011 - 12:38 pm |April 19, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Appropriately in a town that calls itself the Klown Kapital of Nebraska – Plainview is home to a Klown Museum right on US-20. There are 4,800 Klown Dolls in this small museum. I’m, pretty sure they could bill themselves as the Klown Capital of the world. I’m sorry we were there on a Sunday when the museum was closed they offer free tours and bottled water which we could have used, it was 99 degrees. This image is “Stumpy the Klown” and is the museum mascot which stands out front (stumpy since it was carved from a tree trunk – get it?)

Klown Museum Doll

Iowa Pitchfork

By Jim Hejl | July 9, 2011 - 3:05 pm |December 2, 2017 Objects, Tools

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A pitchfork like this is something you would expect to find in Iowa. And it’s a beauty. Created by Clarence Martin in 2003 it stands next to the Custom Steel Service building. If you look closely you can see the strings of lights wrapping about the sculpture. I was there in the daylight and don’t know if it is lit up at night or only for special occassions. If anyone from Ames,  Iowa knows, send me a note.

Iowa Pitchfork

Iowa City Nickel

By Jim Hejl | July 3, 2011 - 2:20 pm |April 19, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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Imagine growing up in Iowa City. Wouldn’t you think that this Big Nickel would be something that you knew about? It is right on Dubuque Street on the way out of town. Not the case, as I can personally attest. When I told Dan (Iowa City born) about this sight he knew nothing about this, nor did his buds who he consulted. Just shows what we can miss in front of our eyes.

Iowa City Nickel

 

Chiropractic Clinic Spine

By Jim Hejl | July 3, 2011 - 1:29 pm |April 19, 2015 Objects, Other Big Objects

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This 20 foot tall spine is carved from a tree trunk. Appropriately it is located in the backyard of the Rexroth Chiropractic Clinic in West Burlington, Iowa. We took this photo while accompanied by new Bird Doggers Ann, Beth and Jerry. It was Ann’s suggestion that I take my shirt off to “make a better photo!”

Chiropractic Clinic Spine

 

Home Show Guitar

By Jim Hejl | January 30, 2011 - 12:05 pm |December 2, 2017 Objects, Other Big Objects

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The Indianapolis Home Show is the first event that I associate with ending Winter and looking forward to Spring even though some years we attend in the snow. We see some of the same vendors each year making it somewhat comforting to attend. This year we found this booth for a cabinetmaker that had this Big Guitar. Turns out he made this guitar just for fun. Imagine owning a 16 ft. guitar. He made this in only a couple of weeks. Pretty cool!

Home Show Guitar