Ohio: Part IV

On our last day in Ohio, while still in the Hocking Hills State Park, we headed over to check out Old Man's Cave. This is a gorge area with lots of crevices, caves and falls. There wasn't enough water for the water to really flow, but it was still beautiful.

Ohio: Part III

While in Ohio, we headed to Hocking Hills State Park where we rented a cabin for a night. Apparently this region is a very popular vacation spot, because there were endless options for renting cabins. This one was perfect: gorgeous and secluded. We made dinner, played cards, watched football, soaked in the hot tub and roasted marshmallows over the campfire. It was so beautiful that we were sorry to only be there for a night. Next time we hope to stay longer and go canoeing.

Ohio: part II

Sara and Bobby moved to Ohio because Sara got a job as a professor of design in the art department of Marietta College. The college is right in the heart of the town, and a walkable distance from their house. It reminds me so much of my Alma mater, that of course I thought it was adorable.


Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts school with about 1,350 students, founded in 1835. The campus reflects this history.




Sara spends her days in the art/music/theater building (above). Upon touring the building it was evident that it is bursting at the seams trying to contain all that creativity.

We got lucky and caught the tail-end of Bobby's show, on display in the Third Floor Gallery. Sara will be participating in the Faculty Show next, of which I hope she sends photos.

Ohio: part I

During the second weekend of October (plus two days on either end) Mike and I headed to the buckeye state, Ohio, for a long-awaited visit with Sara and Bobby. Never having been to Ohio before (short of driving through the top half on my way East/West) I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I thought it would feel more "mid-west" with flat fields of corn. SE Ohio is a different story - it's really lovely. It's rolling hills, covered with trees and fields. There were barns, silos and lots of color.



Sara and Bobby live in Marietta, a small town at the convergence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. It's an old town full of brick houses and victorians. Marietta was established in 1778, and was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. Many of the streets are still paved with brick.

Sara and Bobby have been contacted about designing a mural for this wall.

Coming from Portland, a hub for microbrews, I was a bit concerned about what Sara and Bobby would end up drinking while in Marietta. While the Budweiser flows heavily in these parts, I was relieved to see that there was a local brewery as well.

Historic Lafayette Hotel

Ohio River

Muskingum River

Downside of the rivers... it floods here.

Just outside of Marietta, at the Dillon State Park, was a small, operating lock on the Muskingum. It was operated by hand, by a "lock" guy who lives on site.

Me, thoroughly enjoying the locks (and the 85 degree weather in October - note the sundress!)

Across the Muskingum River from Marietta is a small town called Harmar. The quaint downtown in Harmar Village is only open on the weekends and offers cute shops, including Butch's Cola Museum, where we enjoyed old-fashioned ice cream sodas (cherry) and smothered hot dogs (hot dog and bun in a bowl, with all the toppings).

There was also a great little antique furniture store, outside of which were these cool ladders and bikes. Not sure if they were for sale...

to be continued...

Chirp - Happy Birthday! - Chirp

Grandma turned 92 last month - and all she got was this lousy bird!

This little goldfinch was needle felted from black, gold, butter and white wool roving. The specs came from the book Wool Pets. It's eyes are 3 mm black beads and the legs are twisted from brown wire.