The Girl and her Dog

A peak at this view made me happy yesterday. She was the main influence behind us getting a pup. She's made all of us happy to have the addition to our family.

Tenting it in Perry County

I would be over-stating it, if I said that we went 'camping'. It was more like we went to visit a good friend, and slept in tents instead of on beds. So,... I guess... we went tenting.



With the kind of meals we had, and the facilities we were offered, we were barely 'roughing' it. The kids got to sleep alone in their own tent, however. With the dog, even. And nobody got up before dawn when we heard the roar of thunder and sprinkle of rain. It was a success.

By that time, a gourmet breakfast was awaiting.



Thanks, again, Michael, for your generous hospitality. We loved every minute of our little get away at what is now becoming more and more like a home away from home.



Thank you, too, for this most exciting bonfire ever made in human history! And the show that you had the lighting bugs put on just after that was something else, too.

California visit

It had been almost two years since we left our old hometown behind. We drove away not knowing if and when we would return. The several previous attempts to leave for good, only put us right back where we started (Right on the same street, even. Twice). California has that power, obviously.



But this visit was truly what it was. A visit. A visit to our favorite spots. A visit with our friends. It was a visit that felt like being back 'home', completely and utterly comfortable. We knew where everything was. We knew what we wanted to see. We even knew what the weather would bring. We were visiting 'home', and yet, we had no desire to stay.





It was better that way.

So we enjoyed it all, for what it was. The beaches were lovely; the sand was warm; the ocean air was refreshing. We loved seeing friends whose children had grown just as ours had. And yet it was as if no time had passed.



That's the way we like it.







We enjoyed the city, too, and all that came with it. The sights and sounds; the colors and vibes. It was the same old California we had known and loved. It was fresh and delicious and inviting.



We even crossed the famous bridge and went over to the rugged Marin headlands to find some peace and solitude and even more beauty.



We caught up with friends and family, most of whom had known us before we became parents, and some who had known the children before they could crawl.



We loved the connections we have with these amazing souls!



And then, the day came when we had to leave. Sure it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the coast, to the views, to the people we love. Surprisingly, we were all ready. We had drunken it all up. We had relived the past and enjoyed the present. We loved every minute of our California visit.



It was time to come home.



Home where our dog Katie lives; where the clucking hens roam; where the fuzzy bunny sprawls. We returned tired, but happy. We returned to our family life where the neighbors welcomed us back and the summer break is knocking on the door.



Katie and I are back on our walks. The walks that bring me a lot of peace and solitude here. The walks that remind me that there is beauty everywhere.







We look forward to our next visit to the coast. Yes, we do. But for now, we are happy to be home.

Chilling out, second grade style

The last block of the kids' second grade year, their school work focuses on 'healthy living'. They learn about eating good, healthy foods; they also learn about how to be physically healthy. So for three weeks, twice a week, all the second graders (and their parents are invited), bring mats or towels, and practice yoga for 20 minutes, first thing in the morning out on the front lawn of their school.

Sounds good eh? And we didn't even have to move back to California!

Jim and I joined them a few times to stretch out like "monkeys", "snakes", or "giraffes". The instructor has a clever way to direct the otherwise fidgety children through the poses.

We are missing the last week of it... but get this... we will be able to have our own yoga sessions... on some of our favorite beaches... a couple of thousand miles from this grassy lawn.

Chilling, we will be.

Roses are pink

Oh the beauty of technology. It can't beat the beauty of these roses that Katie and I see and smell on our walks. And yet, how easy it was to snap a few shots without the hefty camera in hand.

I think of the month of June when I think of roses... At least it was so in previous years. This year, roses bloomed early. I don't blame them. Summer is predicted to be a scorcher... and if I were these roses, I would bid adieu long before then.

Mid May Day

Not too many words to share today. If you can tell from these photos, though, you must know that we are enjoying May. Though it's been a busy stretch, but we are all content, happy and healthy. Not much else we could ask for. Hoping that is true with you, too!

Find to Feast, all in a day

My infrequent visits to this blog does not have to do with my lack of wanting to share tales of our life and photos of our days. The time that used to be spent taking and loading photos, writing and posting on the blog, is now primarily taken up by a small 25lb canine named Katie.

Katie and I, we walk.

We walk the streets of Bexley, sometimes in the dark, sometimes in the heat of the day. Sometimes we walk in silence, and sometimes I am entertained by podcasts, interviews, or music.

In short, instead of spending time on this page (which has changed on me since I logged on last time... has it been that long?), I am out and about, lost in my dog-walking world.



Until we stumbled on a pile of wood planks. They were left outside on the curb, to be taken by the garbage collectors. What I saw was not 'garbage', but potential. I grabbed one, and walked the dog home, with a 6 ft long piece of wood under my arm. The next walk took us back to the same pile, so I grabbed another. And then, I got smart and drove back with a car to pick up a few more. I had a plan.



And that's how this table was born. With a couple of abandoned shelves in the basement, and a few long nails, we made ourselves a new piece of outdoor furniture. Pretty much for free.



Within minutes, the table became a chemistry lab with a mad scientist.



And then it became the buffet table for a late afternoon feast of grilled pizzas and grilled caesar salad (thank you for sharing, Michael!).







It's a wonder how we lived without this table before, just hours ago... Within a day, we embraced and enjoyed this new addition and everything that can fit on it.

Weekending

We are all enjoying a warm, blustery, springy kind of day. I hope you are, too.

Spring!

We are enjoying a magnificent spring over here in Ohio. More photos can be seen on Cool Columbus blog, but this one here is our very own dogwood taken in front of the house. A special bloom amidst the spectacular season.

A flurry of a lot of things

We've had quite a week.



We left Columbus on a brisk day, just as Spring was about to knock on the door. Daffodils were blooming; the heat was about to be dialed up to record highs.  We drove East, all the way to where Lady Liberty stands proud and tall, facing the Atlantic ocean toward our friends across the pond. There, in the city that never sleeps, we were greeted with unseasonal temperatures and sunny skies. We were also greeted by many familiar faces, all belong to those we call friends.



We played tourists and went to the well known spots. We also played friends and took walks in the parks, shared meals, and reminisced about the old days. We toured the harbor; we took the subway; we even helped a stranger who suffered a seizure right there on the platform. We ate out, and in, and enjoyed one ethnic food after another, never repeating once.



We marveled at the sound and sights and talents of a show on Broadway. We even spent time with Monet, Van Gogh, and Rodin.


And Rocky, too, on his very steps leading to such an incredible place of the arts! Philadelphia...I will do a better job and give you more time, next time.


Then we turned around, drove south, then west again. We returned to Columbus in FULL BLOOM.











And one very happy dog. Happy Spring to all!