Wildwood Nature Preserve and Whetstone Woodenware

As we turned onto the gravel road of Wildwood Nature Preserve east of Silver Lake about 8:30 this morning, several orioles took flight from the tall grass on both sides. This ACRES property is quite extensive with several bogs and many trails. There was no trail map in a brochure nor on a bulletin board so we just wandered. The trail names were on posts we passed: Big Pine, Paw Paw, Raspberry, Jungle, South Wetlands, etc. 

Wading thru the dew-damped grass (thigh-high in a few places), my new Ahnu trail shoes were tested. I thought my feet were dry though the shoes were drenched, but when I got home there was a little dampness on the bottom of my socks. More than sweat I think. Still, for the most part the shoes worked well. In my old boots, the socks would have been soaked through.

May would have been the ideal time to visit in order to see wildflowers, but we had a lot of rain in May. There were a few flowers.

A sign at the entrance of the parking area said, "No Mushroom Hunting". We didn't hunt but we found some right in the middle of the trail.

I could hear birdsong throughout our walk, but I didn't really see the birds. I should have sprayed Deet on me; fortunately, I only see one bite in spite of the high-pitched whine of mosquitos whenever I stopped to take photos. There were wood duck houses near the water. We saw one deer.

We had breakfasted at Lakes Grill in Silver Lake. We drove west on Road 14 after our hike to stop in at Whetstone Woodenware.
We used to visit this shop in the Village of Winona, but several years ago the owner moved his retail shop next door to his manufacturing building in Silver Lake. It opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays.

People think whetstone is a clever name, but in fact it is the owner's name: John Whetstone. His store in this old brick building is attractively set up. Besides the spoons, ladles, cutting boards, scoops, rolling pins, etc. manufactured next door, he has some pottery pieces from Zanesville, Ohio, kitchen towels and hot pads, aprons from Cookin' Cute made by Lisa Mundinger and previously featured in the shop in Winona Lake (where she lives).

Something new seems to be the option to have words or pictures lasered onto the woodenware. Some general ones for sale, but also customized items were possible.

There were a couple of novelty items, though I am not sure they were for sale.

Oven peels

A giant spoon

All of the woodenware is made of hard maple. A couple from Noblesville was in the shop and since the man did woodworking he asked to see the manufacturing plant. We were invited to go along.

This man was turning rolling pins. See the chips fly!

The finished items are dipped in a type of mineral oil and left to drip dry on racks. 

The finished product.

 I saw Whetstone Woodenware in the gift shop at Lincoln's New Salem near Springfield, Illinois. He sells his wares on the internet also.

John said one of his employees who takes the rough pieces and refines and finishes them is in his 80's. He wasn't working while we toured.

We headed home going north on Indiana 15. We have wanted to stop in at the Maple Lane Bakery in Claypool several times, but it seems they were not open at the times we were in the area. It's a nice place with cookies, pies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, jarred jams and sauces. The surprise was that they sell handmade furniture on the side. We bought some bars I thought were lemon (no label on the package), but now that we have tried them they aren't lemony. Good though. My husband added a jar of strawberry jalapeno jam.

It was a pleasant morning. Fairly cool (low to mid 60's) when we started out with low humidity. The temperature has climbed so that this afternoon we are in the 80's. This weekend is going to be hot and muggy, Father's Day in the 90's. We carped diem when we had the chance on a nice day.