A Walk in the (Ohio) Woods

I live on a hundred acres, in the middle of nowhere. There are dozens of hummingbirds that come to the garden everyday... We can go hunt for mushrooms, salamanders, whatever! You should bring your family out sometime!



It was that easy. An invitation, from a prolific writer (with four NEW books coming out this next month), who I had just met a day before.  Michael is an easy guy to meet. No ego, no agent, no fluff. He means what he says, as we quickly found out when we found ourselves driving up the gravel road, meandering through the wooded hills of south eastern Ohio.



Nor was he making up the mushroom, salamander, and the hummingbird bit. Accompanied by some four legged friends around a small pond, we slowly made our way through the woods, finding fungi, and critters, and a very scary looking tree.



Michael is knowledgeable about mushrooms: which one is good for eating, and which ones will kill you. We found several oyster mushrooms, puff-balls, and chicken-of-the-woods, among others. The host promised a sample of our find during what was turning into quite a late summer's feast.


Thorny Honeylocust



And a feast we had: alfresco, multiple courses, with a few hummingbirds buzzing about.



Thanks again, Michael, for a fabulous time on the hundred acre woods. We didn't see Pooh, or Piglet, or any of their friends. But we did have two very happy children who are already looking forward to their next visit to the enchanted forest full of discoveries.

Black Raspberries

It's become a tradition of sort in our family: black raspberry hunting in Western Michigan. We won't tell you where exactly because, you see, it's our private territory. Once fourth of July comes around, we won't let anyone know where we go to find these black jewels!



I am saving you, in many ways, from an incredible amount of mosquitoes that take up residence in the said territory once the weather is warm and humidity is high. They are big, vicious, and numerous. It's better if you don't venture into their home because you will most likely be eaten alive.



But our kids love this tradition. And so do we. So when we were back up there last weekend, we put on our mosquito-brave faces and out we went.



There was enough for a tub full of black raspberries. This time I think they are going to be turned into scrumptious sorbet, hand cranked the old-fashioned way in an ice cream maker. I know...that is a story in itself.



You will have to come here again (to this blog) to find out what that is all about! I can tell you it will be worth a visit back (but you will have to wait a few days)!

Snow!

A finch, seen from our office window

As I write, our children are enjoying the snow outside. They have been out there about an hour now, and I don't think we will see them until their stomachs grumble with hunger for mid-day food needs.



It was raining when we woke up, and as the morning grew, and the sun lit up more of the cloudy sky, the rain slowly turned into snow. And just like that, we are now having our first real winter snowfall.



Just in time for us to have a little fun before heading to the tropics! Thank goodness for the magic of international flights!



I can't say I will miss this white stuff, but the kids might! Or maybe they will be so happy to be living in their swimsuits for three weeks they will forget about it for a while...

Amish Country, Part II

How do they do it? How do they keep living their simple life when all around them exists the fast-paced, hyper-technology, materialistic, media-crazed world?


There is a little part me that wishes to live such a lifestyle. I know it is a lot more than that -- one can't just decide one day to give it all up, and go join the crowd (plus I would look out-of-place with my tan skin and dark hair). So the next best thing to do is to take a trip up to Holmes County and be inspired by the simple way of life, the bucolic landscapes. I do find myself feeling refreshed and re-inspired after each visit.



Last time we went for a day trip from Columbus to Holmes County, we only scratched the surface of the Ohio Amish country. For one, we picked the wrong day to go (Sunday - their sabbath!). We also thought Millersburg would be the center of it all (that's how it looks on the map), where in fact, Berlin and Walnut Creek are more centers of the Amish country.

We still did not make it to the latter two towns (saved for the next trip!). From Columbus, we took I-71 north to Hwy 39 which took us through Millersburg. Before we hit Berlin as we had planned, we got side-tracked and found ourselves heading south for Charm, Ohio. Yes, how can one say no to such an elegant name of a town? It was charming, indeed, and we had lunch at an Amish-style restaurant complete with creamed chicken and biscuits.

We also found ourselves, later on, driving on Ohio's First State Road which is a gravel road winding along the hilly landscape peppered with farm houses, beautiful old barns, horses and cows. We would occasionally pass by an Amish buggy containing well-clothed passengers (it was COLD!) who would wave to us from their small window.


Last but not least, we saw our first snow of the season! Yes, this is true. Some hills were actually covered with the powdery white stuff. Can you imagine the children's plea to stop to have a snowball fight? We reassured them that this would not be their only snowy opportunity.

All in all, it was another pleasant trip to the Amish country. We feel lucky to be close enough for a day-trip for a bit of rejuvenation, and a little reminder that indeed, less is more. Always.

Still some colors

I know that the time is coming.

It's the time of year, in this part of the world, when the only colors I see in my photographs are that of my children's winter jackets. I remember this from a few years ago living in Boston. I remember needing more life, more colors, more of something other than grey and leafless branches.

Columbus is going to be just like that. So I am taking in what is left, surprised that some hardy plants are still producing vivid colors even though the leaves around them are dropping every second.

I might just need to get a greenhouse, or go live at the Conservatory, or go home to Thailand for the next 6 months. Or... I know, I can just take it all in now, and live the moment.

Falling for fall

It's been gloriously beautiful around here. Fall has been good to us. The colors, the cool nights and warm days, the crunchy leaves and earthly smells.

Today, though, the winds came as did a lot of rain, and even some tornado warnings. I suspect that we will have a lot less leaves on the trees tomorrow.

It's quite alright, actually. I am ready for it. These distinct seasons help remind me to live life simply, one moment at a time.

Pear Juice, the old fashioned way

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Our friends from Michigan were in town for the weekend. Before they left to go home, we took them to Slate Run Historical Farm for a little taste of 1800s Ohio farm life.

Upon arrival, we saw a farmer with a wheel barrel by the pear trees. It turned out we had arrived too early, before the 11am opening time. The farmer did not seem too bothered. He told us a bit about the orchards; how the apple trees have a harder time with pests, and that these two pear trees can yield a lot more fruits than several of their apple trees can provide good apples. As we listened, we helped him collect the fallen pears for the old fashioned cider press.

The farm bell rang when they were ready for the cider pressing. The kids ran from the barn so fast you would think it was Christmas morning. They were allowed to help put the pears into the press as well as the pressing itself. How fun that they got to see and help with the whole process, from beginning to end.

And I hear (I did not taste it) that the pear juice was quite a delicious reward.

A New Outing

This marks the third weekend in my "need to do something new" mission before we leave California in one month.

The first thing we have to do was to think south instead of north (it's been our tendency to go north for beaches, state parks and the like).

It was not hard to find a place we had never ventured to in that direction. Just beyond Watsonville, arguably the agriculture capital of California, the coastline is also dotted with numerous state beaches. We settled on Zmudowski State Beach. Perhaps because of its name?

The day was sunny, but on the chilly side. We followed signs, driving by fields and fields of strawberries and artichokes (most of which end up all over the country, and beyond). Jim and I simultaneously remarked on how we felt like we were back in New Zealand, heading to a remote beach, a place we knew little about.

The road ends at Zmudowski State Beach with sand dunes blocking the views of the Pacific Ocean.

Just beyond the dunes, however, we were met with the ample deserted beautiful beach. It was windy, too, or should I say fresh (as the Kiwi would have described the day). Lots of treasures from the sea came home with us. It was a fun new experience: mission accomplished, for the weekend.

Reporter

Claire and I had the morning together. She wanted to write a report on something (because that is a budding reporter does, right?). We decided on Alan Chadwick garden since it is near by, and there is always something interestingly fun there.

We learned from some farm apprentices we met there that there is a red shoulder hawk in residence at the garden. And that the other day, the hawk had a snake in its mouth with two crows trying to get it away. That's news!

We also learned that the garden has some issues with gophers (most gardeners here have the same problem, unfortunately). And that they have a nifty device to catch these little pests.

We noted that the apple and plum blossoms were gone, only to be replaced by baby apples and plums. And that the citruses were in full bloom. One of our favorite fragrances ever!

That is the report for today, from Claire Yoon MacDonald.

More Apples

Our supply of apples was running low. So why not go pick some more?

We brought Jim this time to show him the magic of the place, and its simplicity, too. The kids enjoyed having him there. And the boys even got to observe a snake together while the girls nonchalantly picked some more apples. Who needs to be entertained by a snake anyway?