Return to Ohio - Food

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

~ Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

On our last trip to Ohio we were surprised by the food and fell in love with many of the people who waited on us.* So, of course, we wanted to go back and visit some places we had enjoyed and find some new spots as well. We shopped at the same places, ate at some of the same restaurants, and found a pretty good alternate.**

Many of our meals were provided by our hosts for the Wildflower Pilgrimage. The food was good and the company wonderful. We had wondered about other members of Arc of Appalachia - who also loved these preserves and hikes. And I must mention the fabulous chicken salad (I will dream of it) and the chocolate/cashew topped bars. The menu always included a vegan option as well. No one went hungry.

But more of our time was spent at cafes and restaurants, as well as, at our own little kitchen (where we mastered (?) the French press), made oatmeal and enjoyed freshly baked bread and pretzels from the Mennonite Bakery nearby. We also had a few groceries we picked up in Chillicothe and some from JR's Store (just down from the road from the bakery). I think, maybe, JR owns both stores, but I could be wrong - whatever, we weren't going to starve.

Here goes:

R Kitchen on Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio.

Pretzel appetizer with cheese sauce. DH said, "These are the pretzels they serve you in heaven." I agreed until I tasted the pretzels at the Mennonite bakery. The are both great and very different. Maybe they serve both in heaven. One can hope.

Crab cakes. DH had them last year. It was a sure bet? Yeah, I ate the broccoli.

Scallops over cauliflower puree with kale and carrots. I made DH eat some carrots (but- of course - no kale).

Mama's West Main Street Cafe, Hillsboro, Ohio.

     Breakfast (we would have breakfast here on Friday and Sunday) --

There are loads of choices.

Simple, but good!

     Lunch Friday --

Mac & Cheese Burger with mashed potatoes and gravy

What was I thinking? Fried fish (it WAS Friday), hash brown casserole, friend mushrooms, and broccoli. The sauces were wonderful.

     Dinner Saturday --

No, DH. You cannot have that burger again!

This was the beans and biscuits served with every meal on Friday and Saturday night.

Pork chop, tots, and (surprise!) mac & cheese

Fried fish, sweet potato fries, and brocolli

When we went back through Chillicothe we discovered that R Kitchen is closed on Mondays. We had to make another choice. We decided on a barbecue-ish place - Old Canal Smoke House sounded good and was just around the block. We would just have a couple of burgers for Monday lunch.

Old Canal Smoke House, Water Street, Chillicothe, Ohio.

We thought we would just get a burger...little did we know...

DH had the buffalo burger and, surprise, mac & cheese

The Smokehouse Burger has smoked bacon and cheese and is topped with three enormous onion rings coated with a coconut batter.  It was clear I'd be skipping supper...and maybe breakfast too.

YUM!

I don't know about DH, but I'm on soup and salad for the foreseeable future...

NOTES:


*https://walkinthepark-padimus.blogspot.com/2018/05/ohio-adventure-miscellaney.html

** We liked a quirky little place called Doc's (Bainbridge, Ohio) last year. Doc's closed. There is another diner/cafe in town. I'm not a fan.

Cardinals Come Calling

Remember me in the spring, when flowers bloom and robins sing. 
~ Eugene H. Schlegel

Our second "home" for the Ohio trip was a small log cabin* at Coyote Creek Farm. They have only the one cabin at the farm and it is a lovely place - a quiet and perfect escape. The cabin isn't too big for one person and is large enough for a family to stay. 

Here are some photos so you can see how lovely it is. I cannot find my exterior photos (but I'll add them at the end if and when I locate them).

The stairs led to the bedroom.

There's room for three.

The next time we are here there will be more time for reading in this spot.

The walls had glass jars and bottles to let in light (and maybe catch a few spirits like bottle trees**).

Looking down to the living room. There are books and games in the cabinet.

The ladder leads to a loft that will sleep more. I did not climb. The bathroom boasts a large window. Yes, I saw a cardinal out the window on our first day. And yes, the tub is great!

As we settled in the first evening we started hearing some strange knocking. Was it the plumbing? No.
And then it stopped.

The next day we noticed the knocking again. This time it was coming from a different place in the cabin. 

The knocking was never in the same spot at the same time or for the same duration. We could not figure it out. 

On our final morning I was the last one to get out of bed. We didn't have to go anywhere early so I didn't get up. DH was dressed and about to go downstairs to start the coffee when the knocking started. This time the knocking - loud and persistent - was upstairs. DH spied the culprit.

"Quick! Look at the window! It's a cardinal!" he cried.

Sure enough - there was a cardinal pecking at the window. The bird had to be noticing his reflection and fighting "that other cardinal" for territory. It is spring after all and we had been hearing territorial "chips" from cardinals all through the woods.

I got up and went downstairs to finish my packing.*** Just as I rolled my suitcase out of the way and started reading my book I heard and saw the bird on the front porch where it began to knock on the window behind DH.

Is the message "go away" or "let me in"?

Whew! So, the place wasn't haunted. Or was it?
This was the day we would be leaving. We waited for breakfast**** and listened as this cardinal went from window to window - all over the cabin - knocking and knocking. Our landlady confirmed that "it's that time of year." She also said that closing the curtains kept them from seeing their reflections. But we had heard knocking at windows where the curtains had been closed.

The red at the antique window at the top of the stairs had to be the cardinal.

He flew to a bush just at the edge of the woods.

Then he looked at me.

A bit later he was at a different window. Tap, tap, tap....

There are many beliefs about sighting a cardinal - that it's a message from a deceased loved one, a warning or promise about relationships, a foretelling of a change in the weather and more.***** But we are "bird people" and know about the reflections and territorial behavior.
I do find comfort in the thought that they might be heavenly messengers of love, but we have also witnessed the craziest weather over the past few days....and so the weather prognostication might be it.****** Whatever the case, we were glad to solve the mystery of just who was tapping on our window.*******
[I should also mention the Northern Cardinal is a common bird in Ohio. In fact, the cardinal is Ohio's state bird. We saw them fly by as we hiked and drove down the highways and lanes. Cardinals perched in the trees and on fences. They were everywhere - and we loved it.]
NOTES:

*The owners have operated this cabin for at least ten years on their family farm. They brought parts of an old cabin and barn wood to create this refuge. Bits and pieces came together.

http://www.coyotecreekfarmoh.com/
**https://www.wideopencountry.com/bottle-trees-uniquely-southern-tradition/
***I left my things downstairs. For a few nights with no guests it made sense to skip hauling everything up and down the stairs. Yeah, it wasn't "neat and tidy" but worked for me.
****It's a bed and breakfast. Our last day was the first that we had the time for breakfast. The other mornings had us hiking by 9:30 a.m. at locations over 30 minutes away.
*****Google it. You will be up all night.
******We had bright sunshine and temperatures in the high 70s on Thursday. A cold front blew in, the temperatures dropped a bit, and it rained Friday. Saturday was a perfect day - sunshine and temperatures in the 60s. On Sunday we had two big waves of thunderstorms (tornadoes in part of the state) and gale force winds. The winds were so strong we chose to stop hiking in the woods for fear of falling limbs. Today was cold and there were snow flurries as we "discovered the identity of the knockers." See, just a little bit of crazy weather...maybe the cardinals were telling DH not to wear shorts today.
******* There are many songs about "tapping on the window" and "knocking on the door." You can Google that too. I'm not so sure I found the one I sang as a child (or maybe I did - Popeye and Olive Oil cartoon).
FINAL NOTE: Should I mention that I am having a difficult time formatting and editing this post? Funny that.
Oh, and I finally found a few photos of the exterior of the cabin....

Next time we will have to have try the fireplace.

The Rookery

"Do you know why they call this place the Rookery?” Elodin asked.

I shook my head.

“Because it’s where you go if you’re a-ravin’.”

He smiled a wild smile. He laughed a terrible laugh.

~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

US 50, known as the "Loneliest Road in America,"* crosses the country from Ocean City, Maryland to West Sacramento, California. It passes through small town America, including Bainbridge in southern Ohio. Bainbridge is the home of the Dental Museum (more on that later) and Arc of Appalachia.** Just to the west of Bainbridge is a large field on the north side of the highway. The far boundary of the field is Paint Creek. In the tree line at the edge of the creek are five or so trees containing giant nests. It's a rookery.

Last year we were in and around Bainbridge in mid-May. We saw the enormous nests, but had no clue who/what nested there. This year large birds could be seen balancing on the edges of the nests.

What were they?

Great Blue Herons.

Most of the roadways in Ohio have no "shoulders." US 50 is no different. We searched for a spot to pull off the highway safely. Then our friend KR from the Arc told us about Falls Road - paralleling Paint Creek to the north. She said that we could get a good look at the rookery from there and would not be bothered by traffic.

We tried for photos three times. We ended up with photos from both sides - from across the field and across the creek. We saw the adult herons and babies in the nests. It was one of those Ohio moments, a disclosure of something we had never seen before.

We knew there were thin places here. We had been to a few. This might just be one.

It was obvious these were nests and large birds, but we couldn't see clearly. After seeing heron after heron flying up and down Rocky Fork Creek. We were staying at an Arc property just off Cave Road and overlooking Rocky Fork Creek.

These "clearer" photos were taken from a dirt road just off US 50. I took the photos quickly in the event the landowner decided they didn't want us stopped there.

By this point I knew they were Great Blue Herons, but I hadn't gotten a decent view. My camera is just good enough to bring the birds into view. Clearly some are tending to young. One chick can be seen on the far left.

Other rookeries I have seen have always been too far away or too crowded to get a view of any details. This was so interesting.

Some nests appeared empty while others appeared to contain birds incubating eggs.

"Unipedal Resting"***

From Falls Road the view is a little difficult due to the growth of trees along both sides of Paint Creek. And the brush is full of creeping creatures - I brushed off flies and danced the "get off me" tick dance.

It was pretty windy at the nests.

I was frustrated trying to get photos.

I hesitated to walk too far into the brush and too close to the creek.

Great Blue

There are small ditches along the roads and leading to the creek.

DH waited in a small "pull-over."

NOTES:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50
**http://arcofappalachia.org/
***https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2013/12/28/why-do-herons-stand-on-one-leg/

With the Cub Scouts at Berry Springs Park - Sort of - It Was A Virtual Hike

...lightning forked toward the dry earth, 

the white light streaking across the sky 

as if bony fingers reached into the purpling cloud. 

Thunder shuddered through the early night, 

the vibrations of it rolling through the cracked soil.  

~ Alannah K. Pearson, Bone Arrow 

The email was looking for someone to lead a hike at Berry Springs, one of my favorite parks. Why not? I have wanted to develop more hikes for the park.*

And my thoughts began: "You have led this hike before for Cub Scouts IN OCTOBER.** You have enough time to prepare. You can do reconnaissance on Friday."

April is a perfect time to hike. Texas Bluebonnets, Texas Paintbrushes, and Texas Yellow Stars (and so many other wildflowers) are at peak bloom. Birds and other critters are active.

Texas Bluebonnets

Texas Paintbrushes (with Bluebonnets)

Texas Yellow Star

A follow-up email warned of the weather forecast. Thunderstorms were expected. It could be bad. "Ah," said the thoughts...prepare a backup plan" (one can never really trust Texas weather or weather forecasts).

I did the math.  With 250+ photos of Berry Springs wildlife we could take a virtual hike.** I would prepare a PowerPoint (no, not 250 slides - only about 50) of some of the typical birds, mammals, insects, arachnids, reptiles, amphibians, and invasive species. It would be limited to things out in the park right now. 

And so two hikes were planned - reality and virtual reality. Both fit in the backpack.

The rain came pouring down. The library offered a room. The virtual hike was on!


Who welcomed us to the park? Just guess.

 Who always welcomes us to Berry Springs?

So what did we see? We saw Eastern Bluebirds and talked about the nesting program. 

Nesting pair - Eastern Bluebirds

We saw the Western Rat Snake slithering through the grass and looking RIGHT AT US.

Western Rat Snake

The Texas Cooter sunned itself on a log.

Texas Cooter

We caught a Blanchard's Cricket Frog and listened to its call.

Blanchard's Cricket Frog - "Click-click-click-click-click"

Williamson County's special Winecups were admired.

Winecup Mallow

Non-natives and invasive species were discussed. Second graders are good at understanding that something that is not a native species may have benefits. Non-native is not the same as invasive. Some of the subjects of the conversation included Western Honey Bees, Chinaberry Trees, and Rapistrum rugosum.

Chinaberry Tree

Western Honey Bee

Rapistrum rugosum

As we ended our hike the Scouts solemnly promised (in line with Leave No Trace principles) to leave the snakes alone. They received "glow in the dark" snakes to remember their pledges.

They are great hikers and have the makings of excellent citizen scientists. I hope to go hiking with this bunch again.

Five Cub Scouts and snakes.

NOTES:

* I am a push-over for scouts.  Scouting has long been important in our family. I have tried to encourage the local scouts to "take advantage" of what the Master Naturalists can offer. [I ran into a young person in the hall who happened to be at the Webelos level of scouting, tried to recruit him to join the hike, and handed dad a card. Gotta work that room.]

Oh, and they brought me tulips and a card! That was so nice.

**Nothing (much) is blooming in October. Some years even the frogs disappear about that time. All is dry and brown. It takes work to lead a hike in October. April should be easy.

***Let me make this clear - there is a virtual tour accessible from the Berry Springs Park and Preserve webpage.  It shows all the facilities/infrastructure the park offers.

http://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=5519e471e8ea4c97baa6744da59242d6&webmap=dfeb1f992ec542d399d38b7acd2ccc19=true 

FINAL NOTES:

1. Weather - You had to see it to believe it.

This was the highway on the way to Georgetown at about 1:30 p.m.

This was Georgetown as I left the library at 4:30 p.m.

2. What does a virtual hike look like?

This was the set up (with hiking gear on a separate table).

This was our group. They were curious and engaged. I was impressed! And the parents all took a look at the iNaturalist app!

But the MYSTERY is how this happened:

How do you walk 2 miles on a "virtual" hike?