Lake Michigan, How we love you!

This summer we took a couple mini-trips, but we also included our regular trip to Lake Michigan.  

When we head to the lake, we go to Warren Dunes State Park.  They have nice campground facilities and great sand dunes.    

This year, however, we were setting up our campsite in the rain.  Not so nice, but we managed.  We set up expecting to get more rain than we knew our tents would like, so that's the reason for the tarps.

Both tents received the tarp treatment by those of us who aren't afraid of a little rain,
while some (who shall remain nameless) chose to stay dry.  

It wasn't raining hard, but enough to make things wet and dreary.

OK, so what's to love about Lake Michigan?

Well, once the rain had passed and we accepted the cooler than normal temperatures, we enjoyed the things we came here for.

The camping and family bonding time.

The beach, the water, the sunshine, the relaxing.....ahhhh.

The sand dunes.

We were very glad it warmed up enough to enjoy the dunes and the beach.  The water though, was absolutely freezing, so not a lot of swimming happened.  

We did collect some great rocks for next year's wedding reception though!  WaHOOO! 

South Bass Island, Lake Erie

We took an early vacation day this summer in June and went to South Bass Island, Put-in-Bay in Lake Erie.  We had a wonderfully relaxing day on the island, and a perfect weather day as well.

Here we are waiting to board the Miller Ferry.

The Miller Ferry is a nice, relaxing 20 minute ride.  There is another ferry line as well, which promotes a speedier ride (and twice the cost), but in all honesty, 20 minutes is not very long and this is a vacation day, so no need for speed.

Once on the island, the main transportation for visitors is the rented golf cart.  It was wonderful and well worth the rental price for the entire day.

One of the main attractions of the island is the fact that during the War of 1812, Oliver Hazard Perry and his men stayed there during the war and the Battle of Lake Erie took place near by.  Perry and his men found a crystal clear, fresh water source inside the cave on the island.  An underground spring feeds the pool inside the cave, which is a wet cave environment where stalagmites and stalactites continue to grow.

It was a steep descent down into the cave. 

The Perry Victory and Peace Memorial is also on the island.  They are celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Once inside there is a tribute to the men who lost their lives, and an elevator which took us to the top observation deck.

We were allowed to spend as much time as we wanted at the top.  I particularly liked the interpretive boards which explained exactly what direction you were looking and what you were seeing.

We took along a picnic lunch, we played and relaxed at the park, we shopped, we drove around the island, and we had a very nice dinner at a local Italian restaurant that had excellent chicken alfredo pizza. 

Towards the end of the day, we went on an adventure to find the island lighthouse.  

I love lighthouses, so I wasn't about to leave the island without seeing it.

Ahhh....  Can I live here?  It would be perfect.

I would take very good care of it.  I promise.

We eventually made it back to the ferry, and back to the mainland. 

It was a beautiful, family day.

Fort Meigs ~ Perrysburg, OH

The next day after our visit to the art museum, we planned to explore Fort Meigs, 

a War of 1812 fort along the Maumee River.

We have an Ohio Historical Society membership which provides free entrance to all OHS sites.

Fort Meigs is not only a reconstructed fort on the original site, but a museum with history displays, archaeological artifacts found on-site, and a museum store.
The 7 blockhouses serve as mini-museums as well.

One of the hands-on interactive displays in a blockhouse.

Several blockhouses were open the day we were there.
Just so you know, we were there on a school day and had the whole place practically to ourselves.

Hmmm.... I wonder where they got that cannon from?  Very cool.

I'm hoping to visit again during a reenactment event.
Maybe in the spring when they celebrate their 200th anniversary.
Sounds like another great Ohio field trip!

The Mohican Fire Tower

     On our trip to Mohican State Park to do some hiking a few weeks ago, we stopped at the Mohican Fire Tower which is located within the park along the main road.

Built in 1934.

Stands 80 feet tall. 

Almost 100 steep steps (I counted).

Single file. 

No more than 6 people allowed at one time.

Climb at your own risk.  

Hmmmm..... sounds good.  

So up we went.

All 5 of us.

To the very top.

 Or, at least as far as we were allowed to climb.  

The enclosure at the top was boarded up and inaccessible, but the view from the highest point we could reach was fantastic.

We had a little rain earlier in the day while we were hiking a trail, but the skies were now clear and you could see for many miles.

Can you imagine how beautiful this will be in the fall?

April and Little J enjoying the view at the top.

We've had a long hot summer, and I'm excited for fall to arrive.  

We already have some leaves changing and falling in our front yard, which is early for us due to the lack of rain throughout the summer and the cool nights that have finally arrived.

School has started for us as well; the sure sign that summer is over, but the perfect time for field trips. 

Mohican State Park

It's late August and many of the local schools are starting back up again.  So, in honor of the first day of classes for Erica (on the 20th), who's at Ashland University this fall, we decided to go hiking at Mohican State Park.

 We started out at the gorge overlook with a little natural history lesson.

I always stop to read 

historical markers.

My family must think I'm crazy, because they just pass them by.

They really start to roll their eyes when I read the information out loud to them!

But I refrained this time.

I took a picture instead so I could read it to them later... HA!

The gorge is one thousand feet wide, and over three hundred feet to the bottom.  It contains a rare forest ecosystem that is virtually unchanged since it's creation by ice age glacial waters.

Now see, I find that amazing!  And Johnny Appleseed even planted apple orchards nearby.


The things you can learn about from just a little sign.... ahhhh.
But.... ONWARD.  It was time to find the Big Lyons Falls.  It started to rain a little too, so thought it was best not to linger too long.

The trail to the falls is a 2-mile round trip, and we had to wait for the rain shower to lessen, but we finally got there.

HAHAHA..... Where's the water??   

There was very little rain this summer.  Remember?  Oh yea.
So this falls must not be very big to begin with.

Here's a close-up, where you can actually see the falling water.
Maybe we'll have to go back next spring and compare.

On the trek back, the sun came back out and I made everyone 

put their muddy shoes in the trunk!

We weren't finished yet though.  

On the way out of the park we stopped to climb the fire tower.

I think that will have to be another post though, or I'll never get this one posted.

New Beginnings.... Round 2.

My two amazing and wonderful adult daughters!  Wow... why does the time seem to go by so fast?
And yet, it seemed like it would never arrive.

Time is funny like that, I guess.

This past spring we graduated Erica not only from our home school, but she graduated from the culinary program at a local career center.  Our spring was quite busy with a backyard party and 2 graduation ceremonies.

And then she waited...all. summer. long.  She worked, she did community theater with friends, she waited some more, but the day finally arrived.  Last Friday we dropped her off at the college dorm at Ashland University.  A new beginning...
A grand adventure.


There was a time when our grand adventures looked like this... not so long ago really. I'm so very proud of both of them.

The journey we have all taken together has been wonderful, and now their separate journeys move us along to new things.  It is wonderful to see them adventuring into the unknown and growing more confident in who they are and who they want to become.   I'm so thankful for the years we've spent growing together.

My role has changed with my daughters.  

I love this new adventure we are on.

What's Been Lurking in our Backyard.

After the Sun and Moon, what are the next two brightest objects in the night sky?

Venus and Jupiter!

Right now, in the western sky, Venus and Jupiter can't be missed.

They are extremely bright and close together, and we have a very clear night to view them as well.

No telescopes needed.

I took this tonight from my back porch looking west.
We have a beautiful view.

Venus is the brightest one on the right, and Jupiter is on the left.  They will not be this close together again until 2036.  So, if you can, go take a look.  The picture doesn't do justice to the amazing brightness of these two planets on a clear night.   Also, after looking at Venus and Jupiter, turn around and look east and you will see an orange-red object.  That will be Mars.  

So what else was in our backyard today?

This lovely little creature.  A common snake in Ohio, the Eastern Gartersnake. 

And how was he discovered?  

BigJ almost stepped on him with his bare feet while playing in the backyard with LittleJ!  

He gave out a pretty big scream too.  BigJ, not the snake. Haha.

We watched him for a while and then saw a second one.  The second one was smaller and scurried along much faster.  As for our first friend, we followed him (or tried to shoo him along really) towards the neighbors yard. 

 Happy trails.... 

And I hope we don't meet again!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Christmas Leftovers!

The Rainforest at The Cleveland Zoo

We took a little trip up to the Cleveland Zoo 

to spend some time in The Rainforest.  

Monday was a great day to go since it was in the low 40's and there were hardly any people there.

The low temperature was hardly a concern though since it's a pleasant and humid 80 degrees

 inside, which made for a nice winter get-away.

BigJ and LittleJ starting down the path through the forest.
It leads to a hidden spiral staircase to the upper level.

Here are a few of the animals that were on exhibit.

This chameleon was on the move, slowly and carefully to the top. 
Their front "hands" are so interesting in the way they grip around the branch.

I have to say, I really enjoyed watching the anteaters in this exhibit.
They are amazingly weird looking creatures!!

Can you believe this snake?
I was very surprised when it opened it's mouth like that!

We also saw bats, crocodiles, porcupines, poison dart frogs, different types of monkeys, birds, and fish, and the orangutans.

 I ♥ the zoo. And since we have zoo passes, we'll be heading back there soon before they expire early summer.  This was definitely a fun adventure on a cold winter day, and another favorite Ohio field trip!  

Who's That Chef?

Look it's Erica! 

She and her culinary class from the career center were cooking at the Wayne Co. Fair this year.  It's a senior tradition, and of course they get out of school for the day, so they are very happy!

Now, lets just say, no matter who's cooking at the tent, they can grill up a fantastic pork loin sandwich.  But last Wednesday the culinary students were cooking and serving up a few extras. 


Erica and one of her fellow classmates were serving cajun-style bourbon pork over rice, with some black bean concoction over it as well.

I wasn't so brave on the black beans, but I did like the bourbon pork and rice.  It was VERY good. 

Will she be cooking this at home?  Probably not.... I don't think she knows the recipe!  She did bring home some delicious cinnamon raisin bread today though that she made herself.  YUM!!!

The Ohio State Fair

I love the fair. 

It must be from growing up as a 4-H kid and being at the fair every summer, but whatever the reason, I know I love going and looking at all the exhibits.
 

We travel to several different county fairs in our surrounding area every summer, and this year we decided to add on the Ohio State Fair.  The last time we went was probably about 10 years ago, so it was definitely time to go back.

Of course, I always have to check out the animal barns whenever I go to the fair.  Part of my 4-H experience involved animals and swine barns.  Yes, I was one of those kids who chased a her hogs around a show ring!  It's not the most favored places of everyone else in my family, but they are willing to humor me!



The swine barn looked newly renovated and so did the sheep barn, and had a beautiful show ring in the center. 
Check out that HUGE fan on the ceiling.

We also went through various display buildings, even though we didn't make it to the 4-H building until 5 minutes before it was closing.


One building had a large pedal tractor maze made from straw bales. 
LittleJ enjoyed his many trips through the maze.

In the open class building, they had a
"decorate a throne" contest..hahaha.



This was one of my favorites of the professionally decorated cakes.

 They also have an official Ohio State Fair Band, and since Tim was a member years ago, he wanted to listen to their concert on the lawn.  They also have a choir, made up of members throughout the entire state, that gave an excellent concert as well.

 

LittleE and LittleJ got in a nap while listening to the band perform.



We also spent time at the Natural Resources Park and was able to pick up a lot of brochures for our state history unit study this year.  We toured through the native Ohio animals section, which included this Great Blue Heron.  I've never seen one this up close before, usually only flying or on a distant shore, so I was glad to get a good picture.



I was also able to get this picture in the butterfly house. 
It butterflies were very active that day.

There was so much to see, and do...



... and eat!  I really could not believe this one!  Instead of a bun, there was two glazed doughnuts, and yes there were some people eating them.  I can't imagine all that sugary yuck on my burger.  What will they think of next?!? 

We had a very full day, and I know we didn't even see it all.  Next time I'll definitely be riding the Sky Ride. 

The Ohio State Fair is definitely another favorite Ohio field trip, and thankfully there was plenty of open lawn, benches, and picnic tables for relaxing and just enjoying the atmosphere.