Franklin Park

The plus about living in a big city is having a place like a Botanical Garden. We came here a few weeks ago, and wandered inside the conservatory and the Glass 'Hot Shop'. I will have to bring the camera next time and show you the cool things about this place.

Today, we returned for a picnic in the park. The day ended with beautiful summery weather, and so we had to go outdoors to eat! What did we bring? Chinese take out! The best part? They forgot to give us silverware...so, on with our hands (the best utensils ever made)!

Next to us, a big family from Somalia was having their picnic, too. A reminder that we are not in Santa Cruz anymore: another plus to living in a big and rather diverse city like Columbus.

Full on summer!

We are back in Ohio now, setting up our new home, and enjoying what summer really means: heat!

Lucky for the kids, they don't have to unpack the countless boxes, or think of the right places to put all of our things... That's why they get to play outdoors, with mud, and water, and good friends.

One more

We are back to civilization now, missing the peace and quiet of Lake Louise. Thanks to Jeff and family for the hospitality and friendship. We will remember the week we spent with you on this beautiful lake for a long time!

Loon on Lake

One of the many beauties of being on this lake: loons cruising by, singing to each other across the lake. Sadly, we have to say goodbye to this peace and serenity today. But the memories will last for years to come.

Au Sable River

We canoed down this pretty river the other day, downstream, for about 8 miles. It was very peaceful, but relaxing? No! We got competitive with each other and made it into a race which kept the young kids entertained for 2 1/2 hours! How nice, though, that the kayak rental place picked us up at the destination.

Country road

This barn is not far from where we are staying in Northern Michigan. There are also fields of wild flowers, wild raspberries (which we have picked and made pies with!) everywhere. If you know me, you know that I consider these things as part of heaven on earth.

Fishing

My favorite thing about our time on the lake so far is the lake itself. Or more precisely, the water of the lake: clean, clear, smooth like butter.

It reminds me of Walden Pond, where we spent a lot of time in 2007-2008. The pond holds many memories for our family, including the place where our children learned how to swim. The difference here is that we don't have to share the lake with hundreds of other people.

Serenity at its best.

Lake Louise

I don't think I need to say too much about this post. We are very lucky to be spending a week up here, in this peaceful lakeshore with good friends.

Blueberry Picking

We can't be in Michigan in July and not go blueberry-picking, right? And lucky us, we were able to go to Irvine Blueberry Farm, an old orchard of organic blueberry bushes. Today was their first day of picking for the season, and a beautiful summery day was ordered for us.

I could not help but think about the story Blueberries for Sal as I picked the higher berries on the bushes and my children picked the lower ones. Ka-plink, ka-plunk, I would hear the sounds of the blueberries dropping into the buckets.

I also thought about all the things we will make with the berries: muffins, crisps, pancakes. We will freeze some to bring back to Columbus with us, and take some up to the lake tomorrow where we will spend a few days with friends by the water.

To the Lake

We were back at Lake Michigan on a gorgeous summer day. We went to a different park this time, Kirk Park, which I think we all enjoyed as much, if not more than PF Hoffmaster State Park. At any rate, the water was the perfect temperature to cool us off from the summer heat. We caught a photo session of the newly wed couple on the beach, too. You think I should offer this photo to them? Hmm...

On the way, several farm stands and berry farms offered the season's produce. This corn stand pictured here had a self-serve/ honor system box. $3 for 12 ears of corn. I have never heard of such a thing!

We are visiting with the grandparents for a few days before heading up to a northern Michigan lake for a week. We are enjoying all the things that a midwestern summer has to offer!

Porch

At our new house, we have a front porch, and a backyard: novel ideas for a family from coastal California.

What's more, sitting on the swing in the front porch means that we can observe a family of rabbits going about their forage in the mornings and afternoons. Who said we can't find wildlife is central Ohio?

Hocking Hills State Park

We have been in Ohio for a few days now. A few very hot days, I might add.

The heat broke yesterday when we were blessed with a good amount of rain. And today was a beautiful summer day with blue skies, puffy white clouds, and relatively low humidity.

We had been studying up the possibilities of explorations around here. To our surprise, there are quite a few places within an hour or so drive that interest us. Because Columbus is in the middle of the state, we have a choice of all directions possible.

Today we chose to go southeast of Columbus, to Hocking Hills State Park, where we are promised waterfalls, and caves, and a lake to swim in.

Not too long after leaving the city, we started to see some hills. Yes, hills, in the middle of this flat, corn-everywhere-land. The closer we got to Hocking Hills area, the more we felt like we could have been somewhere in Maine, or Vermont, or New Hampshire.

The State Park itself was worth a trip (and it's free! All Ohio State Parks are free! Amazing). The lake was bath-water temperature. The kids enjoyed playing in it without getting cold. But I tell you, everywhere I looked: the landscape, the people, the plant life, I was reminded that I am not in California anymore.

And that's okay. Life will be just as full, and adventurous. Ohio, and its surroundings, will offer us plenty of beauty and surprises. I am sure of it.

Destination accomplished!

After more than 3,500 miles, 11 states, and 46 state license plates gathered, we are home.

The trip went surprisingly well, and I would even say, it was a relatively painless trip (physically and mentally). The kids deserve a badge of some kind. Asked what they thought of it? Momo said: "It was hard!". Would you do it again? "Yes!" he said.

I think there is a future long road trip for the boys in the family. As for the girls, we will be quite happy booking some plane tickets, thank you.

Thanks to all who followed us on our journey. We are happily settling into our new hometown of Bexley, Ohio. We have met most of our neighbors already, one of whom came in within the first 20 minutes of our arrival with a basket full of cookies and all of our mail (Thanks Abby!). The kids have climbed trees with their new friends, and we have acquired the ever so necessary library cards.

All of that, plus the 95 degree with high humidity weather have us confirmed that we are no longer in coastal California, but a truly hospitable midwestern town.

Roadtrip: Cherries

On the way back from the lake, we stopped at Rasch Cherries for some picking. How is it that I had never gone cherry picking before? All kinds of 'firsts' on this trip, which is the way things should be.

The kids also had their first experience picking cherries, which they quickly learned that it is hard work. The summer heat was not helpful either, but we did pick enough for some eating and pie making.

Roadtrip: Foraging

Just by grandma and grandpa's house, there is a path along Silver Creek. Last year, we found some wild black raspberries along here, so this year, we were hopeful.

And did we find some black jewels! Along with hundreds, no make that, thousands of mosquitoes! Oh, and at the end of the path were some golden raspberries...what a successful forage we had.

We are debating what to do with the find. A little tart? A pie? Or just eat them as is?

Roadtrip: Lake Michigan

We made it across the Mississippi River, into Michigan.

Our fun-stop yesterday was at Warren Dune State Park, in Western Michigan. The day was glorious, the lake was crystal clear. The kids asked if they could go to a spot "with not so many people?" Spoiled Californian children.

What's more, a homemade meal was waiting for us upon our arrival at the grandparents' house. Our journey is not quite over, but it's great to be back with family again.