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What we expect to see for 2026: here's an overview of the typical yearly schedule for the Marshall County Blueberry Festival in Plymouth. See what usually happens each year, including the Balloon Glow, fireworks, blueberry donuts, music, bike ride, parade, carnival, vendors, tournaments, and kids activities. Marshall County Blueberry Festival 2026 Expected Schedule Here's a list of main events that usually happen each year at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival, based on long-running patterns that return every Labor Day weekend. Main Weekend The festival runs Friday through Monday over Labor Day and fills Centennial Park with food tents, vendor booths, live music, carnival rides, and blueberry desserts. Most visitors treat the weekend as a full-park experience. Blueberry Donuts The blueberry donut booth is a festival icon. People line up early for donuts, ice cream, slushies, pie, and other blueberry-heavy desserts. Music Multiple stages run throughout the weekend with a mix of local musicians and festival acts. Evening sets draw larger crowds as temperatures cool. Bike Ride The annual Blueberry Festival Bike Ride typically happens on Saturday morning and offers several route options for cyclists. Parade The Labor Day Parade takes place Monday morning and acts as the closing event for the festival. It’s one of Plymouth’s biggest annual parades. Carnival The carnival operates all four days with rides, games, and a large midway area. Families often plan their visit around ride hours and nighttime lights. Balloon Glow Sunday night is one of the largest draws of the entire festival. Hot-air balloons light up the field after sunset, followed by the festival’s annual fireworks show. Fireworks The fireworks happen immediately after the Balloon Glow and bring the biggest evening crowd of the weekend. Getting a seat near the front usually requires arriving early in the afternoon but is not required to be able to see and enjoy the display. Vendors More than 300 vendors usually take part in the festival, ranging from handmade crafts to specialty foods and retail items. You can see vendor registration info, here . Tournaments Softball, volleyball, pickleball, and other sports events appear most years, drawing local teams and spectators. Kids Stuff Face painting, activity tents, contests, and blueberry-themed games rotate each year. Families often search for these details even before schedules are posted. Extras Some years include classic car shows, maker demonstrations, or special community exhibits. These aren’t guaranteed annually but appear often enough to be considered recurring features. Updates Links to official event info will be added here when schedule announcements are made for the 2026 Marshall County Blueberry Festival. Corky Lorenz December 25, 2025

Bamboo fleece makes a soft and absorbent topper for cloth pads. Use either side of the fabric, enjoy vibrant dye results, and repurpose scraps for pad cores. Can you use bamboo fleece as a topper for cloth pads? Yes. Bamboo fleece is soft, absorbent, and works beautifully as a cloth pad topper, whether you use the fuzzy side or the smooth knit side facing up. Lots of people really love using bamboo fleece as a topper for sewing cloth pads , because it is very soft and very absorbent. Usually when they are using it as a topper, they’re using the 300 or 400 gsm fabric weight. Often, people are getting the fabric from Nature’s Fabrics , Kinderel or Wazoodle. There are lots of other places I’m sure you could get it, but those are some of the common sources I knew of when I was most frequently buying fabrics for cloth pads. A lot of people who like using bamboo fleece as a topper think that the fuzzy side is really cute, and they like to have that as the side that faces out and is visible. When you think of a sweatshirt, the fuzzy fleece side is usually on the inside, but in the context of cloth pads and diapers, the quality of the fleece is better, and the fuzzy side is actually nice and desirable to be seen and felt. Some people still like to have the smooth knit side towards the body because it’s their preference and they want the fabric for its absorbent capabilities, but it can be used either way. The really nice perk about bamboo fleece or bamboo terry is that it takes dye very well. The colors are quite vibrant, and it’s a nice instant gratification activity if you want to have some beautiful, colorful pads. If you end up having scraps that are dyed and not big enough to sew a whole pad, you can just use them to bulk up the core section of the pad. Even if it’s dyed, it doesn’t matter, you can use it on the inside of the pad. Corky Lorenz October 22, 2025

Learn how to measure, trim, and install the air flow separation baffle in a ducted RV air conditioner. Step-by-step instructions for proper airflow and cooling efficiency. What is the air flow separation baffle in a ducted RV air conditioner? The air flow separation baffle is a divider that keeps the cold air supply and warm air return separated inside a ducted RV air conditioner. It needs to be trimmed to the ceiling height and inserted into the plenum bracket slot to direct airflow correctly. Installing the Air Baffle (Ducted Systems Only) In a ducted system, measure the height from the ceiling to the steel base of the air conditioner. Trim the baffle to match that height so it fits snugly between the ceiling and the base. Once trimmed, insert the baffle into the slot on the plenum mounting bracket . This creates a sealed barrier that separates supply air from return air, preventing circulation issues and improving cooling efficiency. Corky Lorenz November 6, 2025

Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens brought a stunning selection of Hoyas, variegated tropicals, and carnivorous plants to the October 2025 Tinley Park Reptile Expo, offering rare varieties like Thai Constellation Monstera at unbeatable prices. Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens at the Tinley Park Reptile Expo Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens is a returning favorite at the Tinley Park Reptile Expo, known for rare tropicals and affordable Hoyas. Their displays always stand out, colorful, vertical, and packed with hard to find plants. One of the main things I look forward to when I go to a reptile expo is hunting down the plants, particularly the Hoyas. At the Tinley Park Reptile Expo in October 2025, I found the vendor Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens. This was the third time seeing them, if I remember correctly, and they have had an impressive display every time. This year, they had a large variety of variegated plants that were previously considered rare and hard to get, at prices that were mind blowing. There were Thai Constellations in 4 inch pots with leaves already developing fenestrations for 25 dollars. On the second day, you can usually get good sales on plants because vendors prefer not to take them all home. If I remember right, there was a buy two, get the third free deal. They also had carnivorous plants and small species meant for terrariums, plants that grow in humid, closed environments. But most of the collection seemed aimed at people who collect houseplants and tropicals as a separate hobby from providing enrichment in reptile enclosures. This vendor sets up their displays in a way that is actually fun to browse, with stands that make use of vertical space instead of just tables. It is visually commanding, you can spot them across the room. I would say they are a staple vendor at the Tinley NARBC Reptile Expo, and I look forward to seeing them again in the future. Corky Lorenz October 23, 2025

The process of tie dyeing a shirt with grey fiber reactive dye. Color names and link to process video. Grey Tie Dye Shirt The process of dyeing a shirt with low immersion, for a crinkle dye pattern. Process This shirt was dyed with fiber reactive procion dye, from Dharma Trading Co. The shirt was pre-soaked in soda ash water, and then spun out before adding dye. This is a cotton shirt since tie-dye requires natural fiber, fabrics. You can also use this kind of dye on fibers like rayon, hemp, silk, and linen. Colors: seafoam & better black 1/2 teaspoon of dye powder per color Results I prefer the way the results look on the inside of the shirt. Next time, I don't turn the shirt inside out before dyeing it, and I would use more dye powder. Video See the full process in the YouTube video . Corky Lorenz January 29, 2026

This page documents a group of nine department portraits taken at the Elkhart Rubber Company in August 1928, originally located in Elkhart, Indiana. Elkhart Rubber Company 1928 Portraits This page documents a group of nine department portraits taken at the Elkhart Rubber Company in August 1928, originally located in Elkhart, Indiana. About this collection These photos (gallery at the bottom of this page) were preserved together in a box belonging to Thomas K. Burton, who worked at the Elkhart Rubber Company for most of his life and later served as president of the Elkhart Rubber Works Union, Local 32. This page brings together nine group portrait photographs taken inside the Elkhart Rubber Company in August 1928, based on handwritten captions visible on the original prints. Each photograph shows a different department or work area, with workers posed at or near their machines. Photographed by John Inbody, an early Elkhart photographer. The photographs were found together in a single box and appear to have been intentionally grouped. The box also contained images of factory interiors, exteriors, machine parts, gaskets, and materials, suggesting a broader effort to document the workplace rather than a single event. Related photos In addition to the 1928 department portraits, the same box included: Two earlier large-format photographs dated 1913 showing a building labeled Elkhart Rubber Works Exterior and interior photographs of the Anchor Packing Company, apparently taken during or shortly after construction Promotional or documentary materials connected to Lyndon Adams and the Anchor Packing Company. See building construction . These photos are not yet fully organized or interpreted and are presented separately as additional context rather than as part of a single narrative. See the main page for more images. You can email me at corkylorenz@gmail.com Corky Lorenz December 26, 2025

Learn how a hot soak speeds up tie-dye batching. Use hot water to set color in about an hour instead of overnight, with tips for safe fabrics and color control. What is a hot soak in tie dye, and how does it speed batching? A hot soak is a shortcut for ice dyers who want to see their results faster. Instead of waiting 24 hours at room temp, you soak the item in hot water to set the dye faster. I started doing it while testing geode style shirts because I wanted a faster feedback loop: tie it, dye it, rinse it, study it, repeat. A hot soak reduces batch time down from a full day to about an hour. How to do it: Place the shirt in a bin of very hot water (not boiling). Leave it for about an hour. Then rinse normally. If you’re worried about color loss, you can put the item in a plastic bag before soaking so dye doesn’t bleed off, but skip the bag when your piece has light or pastel areas next to dark ones. The pooled dye can touch lighter sections and cause blotches. When the piece is mostly dark or a single color, bagging works fine. And sometimes I leave it loose on purpose. The tiny bit of dye that washes away can create soft, radiant streaks that look like light rays. Use this trick only on 100% cotton or other sturdy naturals. The hot water can distort bamboo velour or polyester blends, especially if the fabric is tied tight in a geode fold because the heat and tension can warp the fibers. Also, if you are using a turquoise based blues, you might lose some vibrancy when speeding up batch time with heat. Usually, I'm not bothered by that, especially if my goal is to quickly test tying and dyeing techniques. Corky Lorenz October 10, 2025

In 2022, Corky Lorenz collaborated with Dickies on the Blank Canvas campaign, creating custom hand-dyed workwear pieces sold through the Dickies website as part of a paid artist collaboration. Dickies Blank Canvas Campaign In 2022, Corky Lorenz collaborated with Dickies on a paid artist project creating custom, hand-dyed workwear pieces sold through the Dickies website. Project details Brand: Dickies Role: Selected artist collaborator Compensation: Paid commercial collaboration Output: 30 custom dyed garments & media content Timeline: Six-month production period Distribution: Limited-time product drop on Dickies.com Management: Third-party agency Haute Recruit coordinating artists Corky's posted content: Instagram content with over 7k likes. Tiktok video gaining nearly 1 million views. Dickies social media post . Published article from Paper City Mag. Corky Lorenz December 21, 2025

Find dates, hours, parking info, and the exact location for the Jan 16 - 18, 2025 gun show at the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. Held inside the Orthwein Pavilion with free parking and easy access off the Indiana Toll Road. RV Hall of Fame Gun Show Jan 2026 The Gunslinger Promotions gun show at the RV Hall of Fame next runs January 16, 17 & 18, 2026, inside the Orthwein Pavilion at 21565 Executive Parkway in Elkhart. Gun show dates and hours This show is part of the “Elkhart 350” series operated by Gunslinger Promotions USA. Friday: 2 PM to 6 PM Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday: 9 AM to 3 PM Address Orthwein Pavilion, 21565 Executive Parkway , Elkhart, Indiana This building sits on the same campus as the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum . Where the RV Hall of Fame gun show is located The pavilion is on the Northern Indiana Event Center campus directly next to the Hall of Fame. If you're coming off I-90 / Indiana Toll Road, it’s less than a minute from the exit. Entrance is across from Casey’s Gas Station Large paved lots with free parking RV parking available, first come first served Easy to spot from Executive Parkway The Orthwein Pavilion is next to the Hall of Fame building on the east side of the property You can use maps set to either: RV/MH Hall of Fame Northern Indiana Event Center Admission prices From Gunslinger’s published schedule: $6 per person 2-day pass: $11 3-day pass: $15 Kids under 12: free with adult Seniors 60+: $1 off Law enforcement: free Event notes Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult ATMs available onsite Food is usually available inside Other Gunslinger gun shows in Indiana 2026 Auburn 400 – Jan 2–4 Elkhart 350 – Jan 16–18 Shipshewana 325 – Feb 27–28, Mar 1 Elkhart 350 – Mar 6–7–8 Auburn 400 – Mar 27–29 The images below show the entrance to the Elkhart East frontage road, to get to the Orthwein Pavilion, and what the building looks like. Corky Lorenz November 23, 2025

Learn how to pre-wash bamboo fleece and bamboo terry for cloth pads. Washing and drying the fabric on hot three to five times prevents shrinkage and keeps your finished pads smooth and even. How to prep bamboo fleece before sewing cloth pads Bamboo fleece and bamboo terry fabric need to be pre-shrunk before sewing to prevent the final pad from becoming warped after washing. Wash and dry the fabric on hot three to five times, measuring shrinkage between cycles to know when it’s ready to sew. When you get bamboo fleece or bamboo terry fabric, it needs to be pre-shrunk before you sew with it. Bamboo fleece continues to shrink after two or three washes, so if you skip pre-washing, your final pad can look wrinkly or uneven after the first wash. To prevent that, wash and dry the fabric on hot three to five times before sewing. I like to use bamboo terry from Nature’s Fabrics because the loops haven’t been brushed out, which makes it easier to prep with less lint. The fleece version, where the loops have been brushed out for softness, creates more lint in the washer and dryer and seems to lose a bit of weight in the process. Both versions are beautiful fabrics, but bamboo terry is less messy when prepping. If you want to see how much the fabric is shrinking each time, measure four inches, make a small snip, and remeasure after each wash. When the length stays the same, it’s ready to sew. Corky Lorenz October 18, 2025