Tom and I recently completed a joist insertion project that we had been saving for a time when we had several days at home. We have three decks around our house: a front deck and an upper and lower deck in the back. The lower deck in the back will be a big project, but …
From October 2020
Alum Creek Reservoir Hiking on Sundays
Tom and I live in between two reservoirs: Alum Creek Reservoir and Hoover Reservoir. Recently we have been taking advantage of our proximity to these two areas and doing some hiking and exploring. We get done with drive-in church at 10:45 on Sundays and leave immediately after church is over. But, what to do? It …
Hoover Gardens and Gift Center in Westerville
Hoover Gardens is our new favorite garden center. During September and October, Tom and I worked on outdoor projects as much as possible. September and October aren’t really the months for planting in Ohio so the garden center was never busy when we visited. Even better, Hoover Gardens is mostly outdoors, making it safer to …
Drive In Worship Services Over – For Now
Ever since Tom and I got back to Ohio at the beginning of July, we have been attending drive-in worship services at Lewis Center United Methodist Church. Every Sunday at 9:45 you can find us in our car in the Lewis Center parking lot. Because of the large lawn and spacious parking lot, the worship …
Turtles Transformation in the Front Yard
When we moved into our house it had turtles. Every homeowner does things to a home that makes subsequent owners say “what was he thinking?” The previous homeowner here took a bunch of dirt and piled it into two mounds on either side of the driveway. Then he covered them with chicken wire and slate. …
Poison Ivy All Over the Place
I am allergic, as most people are, to poison ivy. When I was a kid, I used to get really severe cases of it every year. Fortunately I learned to recognize and avoid the plant. In recent years I’ve only gotten little dots of it from time to time. Usually when Tom has been in …
Sticks and Grass and Other Boring Subjects
Tom and I have been busy moving sticks and planting grass. This isn’t the year we were planning on having, back in January and February, but it is the year we’ve got. So instead of visiting lots of interesting places, we are tending our home, visiting with family, and helping others. I’m afraid the …
Moving Mountains Faith: As Big as a Mustard Seed
Tom and I have been moving mountains – mountains of soil and mulch. We got the retaining walls built at John and Jackie’s house but then needed to even out the areas with more soil. We ordered 8 cubic yards of soil and 10 cubic yards of mulch, which were dumped in their driveway as …
Annas Greek Cuisine in Columbus
Tom and I recently tried Annas Greek Cuisine for the first time. Our daughter-in-law, Jackie, is always trying to expand our food horizons. She suggested getting takeout from Annas Greek Cuisine and we agreed to look at the menu. Although there were lots of Greek options (foods I have never tried) there were also menu …
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
I recently read the book, “How the Penguins Saved Veronica” and liked it so much I immediately read “Ellie and the Harpmaker” by the same author. I love discovering new (to me) authors and Hazel Prior is a gem. “How the Penguins Saved Veronica” is a wonderful, lighthearted story about a curmudgeonly 85 year old …