On Friday, I took Zoey to the vet for her annual vaccinations, met Suzie for lunch and then drove to join Jim at Patti and Tom's. Saturday was Jim's niece Lily's graduation. This is a big year for graduations: my two great nieces and nephew also graduated. Turns out Lily and Kelsey are both going to OU; Alex is going to Toledo University and Kenzie is going to Vet Tech School.
Patti and Tom, as usual, were the consummate hosts. We always enjoy visits to their house. Jim's class had a breakfast get together so he had a chance to catch up with friends from the Waynesville Class of 1966.
WEEK NINE—Chris Barney and Sandy Surface came for Memorial Day. Chris drove down from Michigan to play in the Barney Boys' golf tournament which begins on Tuesday. (Chris and John and I get together every year for a week of golf. This year it is John's turn to host, so we're playing southwest Ohio courses. It was good to move back into the winner's cricle after getting trounced by John last year. Maybe next year Chris will join us in that winners' circle–It's his turn to host and so far he has been shut out every year. I'm really enjoying the $50, guys...) While Jim's playing golf, I'm visiting Samantha in Grass Valley, CA. She and Nick have recently moved into a new house and this will be my first visit there.
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| Grass Valley is a very quaint small town next to Nevada City, an even more charming small town. Both have lots of boutiques, restaurants and bars. This was originally the heart of Gold Country in California and now it's the heart of Cannabis Country. |
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| Samantha and Nick's house near Grass Valley--really cute. |
I had a great time—met the duck grandbabies; did the Art Walk in Nevada City; had a fantastic dinner at the New Moon restaurant; had drinks at the Stone House; listened to really good music at the Golden Era bar; and met many of their friends including Karen and Ramsey. Karen is not only her landlord but also her mentor. They invited us to dinner at their lovely home not far from Samantha and Nick’s. AND, we also did yoga EVERY day I was there!
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| Hard to see them, but these are the ducks in their pond. |
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| Dinner at the New Moon. |
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| Samantha and Nick at the New Moon. |
Inevitably, we got around to a couple of domestic chores—painted an ice cream table and chairs for her back porch and weeded her vegetable garden.
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| Samantha's first experience with spray painting (mine too)--it's harder than it looks! |
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| Samantha harvesting collards from her garden.. |
We also visited The Forge which is a cooperative artists' studio where Samantha rents space. It is huge—20,000+ square feet occupied by a variety of makers including jewelers, welders, fiber artists, woodworkers, even a yurt builder.
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| Samantha's studio space at The Forge. |
Since I visited, Samantha and Nick have expanded their menagerie to include a kitten, Bobby, and two Nigerian dwarf goats.
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| Bobby, the new kitten. |
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Yet to be named kids! |
The country side is beautiful and the weather superb. I had a great time and am looking forward to coming back next spring with Jim to spend several weeks in Nevada City.
WEEK TENISH (AND ELEVENISH)) - I flew back to Columbus, Jim drove up from Wilmington and we spent a few days with Suzie and Jerry Picker who, once again, not only hosted us BUT played lots of bridge with us! We had a great visit with them. Jim was off to meet with a past boss, Mark Newsome, who wants him to help record the stories of his family. The idea is to end up with a book for the younger generations of the Newsome Family about the lives of the older generations—what a great project—one we all should consider. Samantha often asks me questions about my mom and dad’s family that neither Connie nor I can answer and there’s no one from the past generations left to ask. While he was in North Carolina with Mark’s family, I spent time again in Granville seeing friends and family.
When Jim returned, we went to a gathering at the Bogie Inn to remember Pat McCafferty who passed away recently. We also learned this week that Cathy Hunt succumbed to the cancer she has been fighting the last few months. We will miss both of these dear Zoo friends.
We visited Jerry and Lois Borin and saw their new house in progress. It’s going to be so nice—can’t wait to come back this fall after they’ve moved in. (And we got to see Bill Hoy-- how could you forget Hoy boy. Bill took us to the Zoo Board meeting where we got to see some old friends and coworkers. And eat and drink alcohol for free. That Hoy, he knows how to treat guests. On somebody else's tab...)
WEEK TWELVE – This is the week that we pack up and hit the road again. Since I drove my Prius from Florida to store in Granville, we’ve had our stuff distributed between two cars. Now is the time of reckoning—we have to fit everything in one car. It required only a little bit of hair pulling and a lot of cursing for Jim to get everything in the Outback but he did it. So after stowing the Prius in my friend Jim Jenkin’s barn, we said goodbye to Granville and headed for Montreal.
We made only one stop along the way—in Cleveland to see Maja and Julie. It was Julie’s birthday and her sister and mom were visiting as well. We got to meet them and the infamous Bronx, Julie’s 130 pound German Shepard who doesn’t like other dogs. With a little adept juggling, we were able to keep Bronx and Zoey separated so no blood was shed. This is the first time we have visited them in their new home. She and Julie have done so much work including laying new hardwood floors throughout the entire first floor. And by doing, I mean, they did the work themselves—impressive! (Of course, Maja had a great teacher, ahem....)
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| Maja, Julie & Bronx--who would believe he's a killer dog???? |
NOW, OFF TO MONTREAL!
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