Greetings, friends. I just wanted to pop in and say I’m still around even if I haven’t been present here for some time. My days are currently more mentally taxing than normal and the thought of writing even one more paragraph feels like too much most of the time.
This is a season and not a permanent way of life even though it does feel like it will never end.
My No Spend Challenge kept me mostly at home, resting, reading and turning inward this winter. That’s officially done now but I unofficially haven’t changed much. It’s an act of self preservation at this point but Adventure Season will start in about six weeks and I’m looking forward to it. There are several day trips I would like to take, some new-to-me bookstores and diners and maybe some longer adventures too.
Life will eventually return to normal and I’ll get back on some kind of writing schedule here too. I actually have a ton of travel stories to tell you from last fall but simply haven’t had the mental energy to do it.
Last November I announced that I wanted to hike as much as possible this winter. I had big plans for hitting the local trails.
And then reality set in.
The weekends were too harsh for hiking with frigid temperatures, icy trails and hazardous road conditions that kept us away. Then the snow melted into mud and ice. And then the wind moved in, making it unsafe to be under trees where a falling limb could land on your head at anytime. And then the rain came, ushering in a period of flooding.
Such is life in Ohio.
I did get to walk the Moonville Rail Trail a few weekends ago and then made it to a nearby trail at Old Man’s Cave in the Hocking Hills yesterday.
Fresh air and a good stretch of the legs will change your outlook on life.
The wind is back today but it’s about 65 degrees right now so I turned off the heat and opened a few windows to air out the house.
Sunday is always a reset day for me. Laundry, a little food preps and some small chores help to make the week go more smoothly. Some rest, reading and lots of hydration will help me feel like facing it.
I like habit and routine to keep me honest. I like adventure days for keeping me happy and fulfilled. I also believe in listening to my body and mind and in giving them what they need especially when in a season of challenges.
Through it all Scout has remained my steadfast companion and perhaps the only one in my life with no demands other than dinner and no judgement of me except when dinner is late.
We all need someone like that in our lives!
Go forth and adventure when you can. Dream of better days when you can’t and remember that rest is importantly to feeling well enough to face your day.
I’ll be here taking it easy and gearing up for better days!
Back in December I proclaimed that I wanted to hike a lot this winter.
Cue the polar vortex and the weeks of snow and ice on our trails that made it nearly impossible to safely get in the woods.
BUT, it was fifty degrees and sunny on Saturday so we jumped at the chance to get out for a little saunter through the woods. We chose the Moonville Rail Trail for its proximity to home and all around easiness. After all, we hadn’t been out for months!
We even made a new friend. It seemed a little early and chilly for him but he appeared quite satisfied enjoying the day in the sun.
It was a good choice and a beautiful day for fresh air, exercise and some bonding with nature. I came home feeling refreshed and not worn out. I was calmer, rejuvenated and better.
It was a powerful reminder to keep looking up! Happy Monday, friends. Keeping looking up.
PS- The temperature plummeted and the snow returned yesterday so our timing was great!
When I travel, if given a choice I’ll always favor a local restaurant over a chain. Not only is it often a better experience, it’s also a literal taste of the community.
When we were in Wooster last year to shop at this fabulous downtown bookstore, we first needed a bite to eat.
Even a book dragon needs nourishment before setting out to build their book hoard.
So we found this local hangout called Muddy’s which has an extensive menu of sandwiches, pizza, salads and more. It’s in an old Cadillac dealership and has nostalgic garage decor.
The service was terrific and our food came out quickly. I recall enjoying my meal but can’t begin to tell you what I ate. This is why I take pictures of my food when I think it’s a place I’ll someday recommend!
It was some kind of sandwich maybe with tots? All I know is that it was good and quick and we had enough time to scope out that bookstore before heading up the road to the holiday lights at Stan Hywett.
Want to visit Muddy’s? Check out their website.
One of the most perplexing things I’ve seen lately is this Goodwill store with a silo in the middle of it. It’s located on a busy street in Medina, Ohio.
We had just loaded up on breakfast at a nearby Waffle House when I saw the silo and knew I had to stop and browse. It’s a nice enough store but I found nothing to buy except a large framed painting that someone else was already buying.
That’s how it goes sometimes!
The internet is oddly quiet about why this silo has a Goodwill attached or, from a different perspective, why this Goodwill has a silo. There’s a Reddit board where lots of people are reminiscing about the good old days when this was a farmers exchange. Evidently the silo once housed an ice cream shop.
That seems like a reasonable use for a silo, if you ask me!
The day after Christmas I ran away from home to peruse the booths at Antiques Village in Dayton, Ohio. I used to love treasure hunting in antique malls and junk shops but haven’t made the time to do so lately.
The name is sort of misleading because this vendor mall is 80,000 square feet and filled to the brim with vintage pieces, crafts, books and all manner of items beyond the advertised antiques.
I skipped the rows of glass cases mainly because they tend to make my eyes glassy and still managed to spend half of the day there. Honestly, I wrapped it up because I found the one thing I wanted and it was well past lunchtime. Plus, my cart was sort of full.
I’m always intrigued by the things you see in these places.
Like the family photos that have been discarded.
The collections!
The artistry!
And the weird stuff.
Sometimes I like the weird stuff best.
I came home with a few of those photos as well as several small things including a bust of Mark Twain, a side table with a shelf for books, and a silver teapot with nice patina to put flowers in. It was quite the haul of treasures!
If you go, wear your walking shoes and get a cart. It can be inconvenient but anytime I have not gotten a cart, I’ve had to backtrack to retrieve one. The restrooms are clean and there’s a place to sit and rest or to leave your spouse when they get cranky because you’ve been there too long. That day, the rest area looked like time out for middle aged men.
Most of all, go with an open mind and remember if you see something you want, you need to grab it before someone else does!