Calling all Scots!

Northern Ohio is calling all Scots and all those interested in being a Scot for the day! The annual Ohio Scottish Games will take place next Saturday, June 28th at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington. It will be a day full of heavy athletics where you can see the ever popular caber toss, the stone put, hammer throw, weight throw, and many others. If you prefer something musical, then you can sit in on the fiddle or harp competitions and get a thrill listening to the bagpippers and the celtic bands.
Prefer dancing? Then stop by the Highland dance competition where you can watch the dancers perform such things as the Sword Dance, Highland Fling, Deann Triubhas, Scottish Lilt, and Hornpipe to name just a few. The events go on and on beginning with a barbeque on Friday, British car and motorcycle display, solo piping and drumming, the kilted mile, golf, crafts and vendors all weekend. If you are of Scottish descent, then you will want to stop by the Clan
Village where you can get assistance with family and genealogy questions pertaining to your clan. Tickets can be purchased in advance at numerous locations. Visit the official Ohio Scottish Games website: http://www.ohioscottishgames.com/ for tickets and more information.

If you've already made plans to attend the Games, then we say 'Welcome!" If you want to come, and you know you do, then visit the website above to get oh so much more information. You won't be disappointed and you'll have lots of fun!

A Food and Wine Celebration!

So what are you doing on Saturday, July 19, 2008? Would you like to make a tax deductable contribution to the not-for-profit Veggie U? Would you like to meet famous chefs from all over the country and taste wine from top U.S. vineyards? Would you like to sit in on a food demonstration given by none other than Iron Chef participant Michael Simon? If you answered yes to all of the above, then have we got an event for you! An annual Food and Wine Celebration is taking place at The Culinary Vegetable Institure in Milan, Ohio just 25 miles northwest of Oberlin. Not only will you meet famous chefs,
taste great wine, sit in on food demonstrations, but you can participate in a silent auction and be musically entertained all evening! The event takes place on Saturday, July 19 from 5-9 P.M. at the grounds of The Culinary Vegetable Institute, 12304 Ohio Rt. 13 in Milan, Ohio. Tickets can be purchased by calling 419-499-7500 ext. 119. Ticket prices are $145.00 per person with $75.00 of that cost going to the not-for-profit Veggie U. For more information visit The Institute's website: http://veggieu.org/assets/misc/TicketInformation.htm. There really is a lot to do in northeast Ohio. Come on and visit. You know you want to!

Hot Air BalloonFest!

Hey All! If you're looking for something to do this Friday, June 20, you might want to consider coming to Wellington for the first ever Hot Air BalloonFest! The launch sight is at the American Legion, 518 S. Main St. which is also State Rt. 58. It's about 1 mile south of State Rt. 18 which is the center of town. The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with 11 balloons scheduled to lauch. There are many other events scheduled for that evening also. At 5 p.m. there is an ala carte dinner of hot dogs, steakbergers, bratwurst, potato salad, baked beans and beverages. At 6 p.m. is the Southern Star Band.
The flight launch is at 6:30 p.m. with Para-gliders at 7. The Four Lads perform at 8 p.m. (ticket prices are $8.00 per person) and at 9:30 there will be a balloon glow (lighted balloon in flight). Throughout the evening there will be children's games, face painting, balloon sculptures, clowns, and 50/50 raffles. In case of rain or high winds, come on June 21 for the launch at 7 p.m. If you do come, and you know you want to!, bring blankets, chairs, and don't forget your camera! The entire fest is FREE except for the dinner and The Four Lads tickets. For more information go to Wellington website. http://www.villageofwellington.com/CurrentEvents.asp?EID=132

Then you will want to spend the night at Hallauer House B & B so that you can enjoy the festivities in Oberlin the next day, June 21! Oberlin is hosting the very popular 3rd annual Chalk Walk which is sponsored by the Allen Memorial Art Musuem, Main St. Oberlin, Oberlin Public Library, and FAVA (Firelands Association of Visual Art). The
masterpeices are being done by professional sidewalk painters but everyone will have the opportunity to let their creative juices flow! Pick up the FREE supplies and create your own chalk walk creations! Last year more than 400 people put chalk to sidewalk and many more were on hand to watch.
For more information go to the AMAN website. http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/OberlinChalkWalk.htm

Also taking place in Oberlin on June 21st is the Walk the Walk; Chalk the walk at the Oberlin Heritage Little Red Schoolhouse. You can drop in there and enjoy a number of free, chalk related games, including hopscotch and beanbag toss, blackboards, slate boards. There will be full tours of the historic buildings at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. ($6.00 fee for adults) For more information go to the Heritage website: http://www.oberlinheritage.org/upcoming.html#chalk

So come on over to Lorain County to Wellington and Oberlin for some close to home fun! We'll see you there!

I Can't Believe It!

Like I said in the title, "I can't believe it!" It being the fact that my last post was on March 27 and here it is June 12! Where did the last two months go? Well, to begin, April is one of our busiest months with accepted Oberlin highschoolers coming back for 'All Roads Lead to Oberlin' for final decision. Then there are the very numerous OC Conservatory recitals along with high school juniors coming for a first OC visit! And considering that Joe and I do all the work, we barely had time to turn around!





Then May came and family issues took the forefront! Driving our Coast Guard (Our daughter's CG Cutter Mohawk)

daughter and her car down to Key West was the first order of business that required 8 days of travel and leisure. One can't go to Key West and not take in the sights!

The Key West sunset!

But while we were there, our new granddaughter was born 8 days early! So as soon as we arrived home by plane, we rushed to spend time with Baby Georgia! Then a last minute cancellation for Oberlin College commencement sent us scurrying to find a replacement. (Thus our new graduation policy!) And then a somber moment when our oldest daughter needed surgery and help with recuperation. So now it is June and things are getting back to normal. Time now to enjoy the summer, the pool, and the gardens. Come and join us! I just finished the 'bigger stream and bigger pond!' (Let's hope it doesn't leak! We're filling it tomorrow!) Come and sit in the
Pavilion. Listen to the water fall into the pond and think about the important things in life! You know you want to!