Holmes County Fair

It's been a couple of years since we were able to go to the Del Mar Fair, so you can imagine my delight when every commercial on the radio was advertising a fair.  One thing about Ohio, the counties are very small compared to California.  Heck, I think we drove through five or six counties just to get to an Amish Flea Market.  Every county has a fair and ecery county is very proud of their fair.  We chose Holmes County because it was the biggest.  Parking was free, and the admission, including grandstands, was $5.00.

Food and rides are a big attraction, but the 4H animals are the real draw.

The cow wash was the best!

The display area was only one building, and the categories were interesting.  Gift wrapping:

Or, From my Garden:

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I loved the container gardens

Who knew you could win a blue ribbon for marigolds?

I thought this sunflower was pretty.  I guess the judges did, too!

And then there is the tractor pull.  I think everybody in the county came out for the tractor pull.  The grandstands were full on three sides of the field.  Had there been bleachers on the starting line I am sure they would have been full too!  Towards the end of the tractor pull they started running truck pulls on the far side of thr field.  The crowd went wild.  Several trucks blew transmissions and/or rear ends and had to be towed off the field.

We were were enjoying the show and paying no real attention to the time.  Ken leans over and says "What time is it?"  It was close to 9:30.  Our campground was a good 45 minutes away, and they unman the entrance booth at ten o'clock.  You can purchase a gate key to open the gate after hours, but we had not done that.  Needless to say, when we got back to our site the gate was down with no one around, and it was pitch black outside.  No moon that night.  Of course Ken tried to get the out gate to open, but it was no use.  We parked the truck at the office and walked back to our site. I felt like a kid that missed her curfew. It was quite an adventure.

Our time in Holmes County flew by, but we really had a great time.  It is definitely a place I would go back to.  The only downside that I can think of is the insects.  They have these little "no-see 'ems" that loved to bite my legs and arms.  The bites look like mosquitoe bites, but I really did not see very many mosquitoes.  The itching is driving me nuts!  We are headed to Sandy Springs Ohio, to camp on the shores of the Ohio River so Ken can finally get some fishing in.

Stay tuned for more living.

What's More Fun Than Goats on a Roof??

The goats on the roof at Hershberger's Farm and Bakery will certainly make you stop your car and say "what in the world are those goats doing on the roof?"  It got us in!  Besides the awesome Farmer's Market, there are many other sights to see at Hershberger's like Big Ben, the biggest and tallest Belgian Draft Horse in the world, weighing in at over 3006 pounds.  All of the animals here in the petting zoo were amazing.  Here are some of my favorites:

Had I been in the market for a puppy, this guy would have been my choice.  He was a 9 week old Bea-Bull.

It was hard to leave him, but I couldn't imagine trying to train a puppy on the road.  I know there is a time and a season for everything.

We are heading to a Country Fair tomorrow.  I think it will be fun!

Sunday in Portsmouth, Ohio

The Portsmouth Ward was 25 miles away.  When you drive that far to go to church, I think it is only feasible to check out the area while you are there.  We had read about the Portsmouth Floodwall Murals (2,000 Years of History - 2,000 Feet of Art) and decided to check it out.  The idea of the murals first came to resident Dr. Lois R. Chaboudy in 1992 after viewing the murals of Steubenville, Ohio.

Researching the muralist's that did the Stubenville murals, the name Robert Dafford kept coming up.  After much discussion, Dr. Chaboudy and his wife Ava wanted someone that could tell a story and bring the history of Southern Ohio to life.  From the early mound builders to early settlers to local figures, Robert Dafford has brought history to life.

The Floodwall Murals are amazing to see.  They stretch down the riverfront about 1/2 mile.  You can take an audio tour on your phone that describes what was going on in the area at any given time.There are 57 murals and they definitely instill a sense of pride and gratitude to the residents of Scioto County.  The first mural was finished in May, 1993, and 57 more have been completed since then.  You can check it out at
www.portsmouthohiomurals.com
We took a ton of pictures.   Here are a few of my favorite:

A Visit to Kirtland

While we were in Central Ohio we decided to make a day trip to Kirtland.  It is a small settlement in northern Ohio where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered shortly after the Church was founded.  Between 1831 and 1838, Joseph Smith ans early members of the Church estanlished Church headquarters in Kirkland, built a temple and laid a foundation of strength for the future.

We visited the Isaac Morley Farm.  This farm became a gathering place for many Church members who came to Kirtland.  Joseph Smith lived at the farm for six months in 1831.  There he received 13 revelations, which are now included in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The Newel K. Whitney Store was an important gathering place in the community.  Whitney generously provided rooms in the store forChurch meetings, offices, and a home for Joseph Smith and his family.  The school of the prophets room was especially sacred to me.

The Whitney home was quite fancy, with both a summer and winter kitchen.  I loved how there was a compartment above the central fireplace where blankets were warmed before bedtime.

The sawmill, powered by water, provided lumber for the construction of the Kirtland Temple.

Potash was produced at the Ashery.  They exported it to eastern markets and were paid a phenomenal amount of money ($200/barrel).  Funds from this enterprise were used to help sustain the Church.

They have reconstructed the Johnson Inn.  It is filled with interactive exhibits and there is a wonderful film recounting the growth of the Church while it was in Kirtland.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Kirtland and have a greater appreciation for the early Saints.

Amish Country, Holmes County, Ohio

Ohio is really a beautiful state.  One thing that was obvious to us as we crossed into Ohio from Michigan was the superior quality of the roads in Ohio.  We stay off of major highways as much as possible.  We headed down to Holmes County, home to the world's largest Amish community.  We had heard that the cultural experiences available here are unlike any elsewhere.  This region is as famous for its Amish and Mennonite heritage as it is for its home-style food.  The rich flavors and recipes that have been passed from one generation to the next are reminiscent of family feasts.  The quilts are amazing one-of-a-kind works of art.  Their handmade furniture is so comfortable.  The farms in this area are well maintained, neat and orderly.  They are a hard-working people with a simple lifestyle.

We found a quiet RV park located between Shreve and Wooster.  It was called Lake Wapusun RV Park.  It was quite big with lots of full-time campers.  The weekender area was not crowded at all, and we found a beautiful spot right by one of the six lakes.  They held a fishing derby on Saturday and kids were pulling fish out of the lake left and right.

The weather has been cool but pleasant with very little humidity.  I have heard from several friends that California has been super hot and humid.  We have really lucked out.  The mosquitos and flies have been bothersome,  and I kid Ken that my new fragrance is called "Deep Woods Off."

Here are some pictures of some of the little towns in the area.

Farewell to Michigan

We really had a great time while we were in Michigan.  It was fun to be able to blend in with family activities that happen - like Saturday morning breakfasts with Ken's brother, sister and mom.

 It was fun to hang out with Aunts and Uncles and Cousins.  Even though we might not see each other for years, when we do get together it is easy and fun.

Meeting my brothers for dinner and having them celebrate my birthday was super fun.  Hanging out with my sister-in-law Sue is always a good time.  She is as close to a sister as I could ever want.  It was cool to hang out with Amy and Jeremy and Nathan and Moiraine one last time before we left the state.

Our last night was spent at Chris and Stacey's.  They made a beautiful spaghetti dinner.  We loved being in their home and their delicious doggie bag made for a delicious dinner as we settled into our camp site the next day.

it was bittersweet to sag our farewells, but after four weeks, we were excited to be back in our little home on wheeles and ready to resume our adventure.  We headed out to Ohio on July 31.