Yesterday we headed about an hour up North to Mansfield, Ohio to visit The Ohio State Reformatory.

I didn’t really know what to expect but I did have a few ideas of what I thought a jail would be like. Let me tell you–it was nothing like this!

Somebody with us described it as Hogwarts! The building was absolutely beautiful!

I never did take a picture of the whole building–what was I thinking? It was huge. The grounds were beautiful and did I mention the place was huge? Even with part of the building demolished it was huge. Apparently the back section was torn down before The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society stepped in to preserve the it. It was really hard for me to listen because I was taking so many pictures but I tried. It was SO very interesting and informative. The kids and I really enjoyed this tour. We plan to go back again sometime soon…after watching The Shawshank Redemption ( filmed there.) Several other movies, videos and photo shoots have also taken place at The Reformatory.

The first two floors were administrative quarters and offices.

Third floor was a chapel.

The rest of the floors were filled with cells—rows and rows of cells.

Little Wayne even filmed a video in this cell!

These are the showers.

This is a really bad picture of the tunnel used in The Shawshank—good thing I took a picture of this-everyone asked if we got to see “the tunnel.”

I just can’t say enough great things about this field trip. If you are anywhere near Richland County and can get to The Ohio State Reformatory you really should try to visit. Help preserve this rich piece of Ohio history by taking a tour.

Just down the road is The Historical Carrousel District in downtown Mansfield. A perfect place to stop for lunch and a ride at The Richland Carrousel Park

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Post tags: Carrousel District, cells, field trip, Mansfield, mansfield ohio, mansfield reformatory, Ohio, ohio history, ohio state reformatory, Preservation, preservation society, Reformatory, Richland, richland carrousel park, richland county, Shawshank, shawshank redemption, Shawshank---good

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I thought the play was phenomenal. Totally worth the trip! And as always– it’s so nice to travel back home to Cleveland!

After the play we headed to The West Side Market  and Ohio City for lunch.

Then we were off to The Great Lakes Science Center

Apparently there are people with a fear of knees. huh–who knew???!!

We did all of this in about 13 hours-including about 5 hrs in the car- start to finish. I’m going to bed now!!!

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Post tags: art, Artist, artist mark, broadway play, Cleveland, cleveland ohio, field trip, great lakes science, great lakes science center, homeschool, mark rothko, Market, Ohio, Play, Playhouse, playhouse theater, science, Theater, tony award, West Side, west side market

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The show was great. We have been to the Lincoln Theater several times. It was closed for thirty years before being restored to it’s current beautiful state of Egyptian Revival Decor.

The scarabs on the seats at the ends of the aisles are just beautiful. (forgot my camera so these are all phone photos!)

We also toured The American Whistle Factory.

When I think about a factory I picture a big place that Mr Rogers may have featured on his show. This place is small but very interesting!  I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the machines or the making of the whistles but we were told that The American Whistle Factory was featured on The Discovery Channels, How It’s Made but I wasn’t able to find it to link here.

They are the ONLY producers of American made whistles. Pretty cool for being just few miles away from our house! They make whistles for all kinds of important events such as The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Superbowl, and the NYPD.

Even closer to our house is The Flag Lady Store.

They are the official flag makers for Ohio State as well as many local communities that hang flags along their main streets.

Mary, (the flag lady), is well versed in everything American flag and loves to share her patriotism with everyone! Unfortunately, she has also been in the news for other reasons as well.

They sell flags from all over the world!

They showed us  how they make flags. They were also in the process of tea dying flags for a group in California.

The kids enjoyed a spur of the moment parade!

If you are local or close to Columbus, Ohio, these are just a few of the great field trip opportunities near by. We have a couple of trips to The Wexner Center and trash dump to look forward to in the near future.— Now the dump is a destination I can visit over and over again. I find it fascinating!!

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Post tags: american flag, blagg, Columbus, discovery channels, egyptian revival, field trip, field trip opportunities, field trips, flag makers, lincoln theater, Ohio, scarabs, wexner center, whistles

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It is a campground/beach that has been around for over 60 years. The “beautiful” emerald green lake is artesian well fed!

Most of the old school apparatuses seem barely safe which make them even more fun!

This place is definitely a hidden gem that warrants at least one visit a Summer!!

I haven’t been here in about 14 years….And nothing has changed!!

The girls really want to conquer those rings… so we will be definitely be seeing you next Summer White Sands!!

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Post tags: Columbus, delaware ohio, Ohio, photo, photos, summer, white sands

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Last week we took advantage of some of the last of the warm temperatures and fall colors and headed for a hike at Old Man’s Cave. Old Man’s
Cave is especially nice for younger hikers with it’s steps and bridges (and not too many scary drop offs and cliffs!).

If you are local, the weather forecast for this week is calling for a few days of Indian Summer. A perfect opportunity to head to Southern Ohio and check out some of the great hiking trails in Hocking Hills!

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Post tags: bridges, Columbus, columbus ohio, Fall, fall colors, hikers, hiking trails, hocking hills, indian summer, Ohio, photo, photos, side trips

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To welcome Summer today we went creeking

Ate lots of watermelon

Made wreaths from different plants in our yard

and set out some treasures from our creeking adventure

Happy Summer–here is to hoping it is filled with fun and adventure!

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Post tags: adventure, dark winter, fun, Happy, happy summer, long summer days, longest day, Ohio, photo, photos, solstice, summer, summer solstice, sun, sunny days, Watermelon, wreath, wreaths, yard

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My two older kids learned how to hoop years ago. They have taken a few hooping classes and practiced on and off for years. They can do some tricks and walk around and keep the hoop up and going around effortlessly for hours.

These photos are from a few years ago at circus practice. I on the other hand never could get the hang of hooping.  Even as a kid I just couldn’t get the hoop to stay up. It always looked so fun but I also felt self conscious that I couldn’t do it so I didn’t practice at it much. And just figured I was just someone who couldn’t hoop.

Now fast forward to  this year. One of the great things about the internet and blogs is being able to see how other people live. I have been loving the new wave of unschoolers that have taken their lives on the road.  I have been  living vicariously through these families whose blog updates I  anxiously await just to  see what “we” are up to in our customized RV!  I so wish we could pack up and go–live an adventure on the road. But alas-my family says NO!  So as I sit here and dream I notice that many of these women have taken up hooping. They look like they are having so much fun.

And then Sara posted this giveaway and I entered thinking Molly would love a new hoop. But as I began clicking around her post I found that Lara and Superhooper were taking their hoops on the road and heading towards Ohio. Without a second thought I contacted Lara and invited her to Columbus.  And with that I decided eff it I was going to learn to hoop.  I didn’t care if I looked foolish. For three days my kids tried to teach me. Nothing. I watched countless how to hoop videos on Youtube and even checked a hooping book and DVD out of our library. I was dreaming about hooping.  Then it happened!!! On day 5 finally I could keep the hoop up for a minute or two. And each day it gets easier and I don’t have to make such huge exaggerated movements to keep the hoop up anymore!!! YEAH for me!!

Ginger learned too. But she is learning much faster and is working on tricks already. She literally went from not being able to hoop at all to using 2 full size hoops in less than a day.

One of our hoops broke and with 4 hoopers and being down to 1 hoop we needed more…we had to have more! So we went to Lowes and bought our supplies. (There are instructions and tips all over the internet.)

irrigation tubing  160 psi  3/4 inch

3/4 inch connectors

various colors of electrical tape and duct tape  (we found some metallic tape at a craft store.)

you will also need a hack saw and a blow dryer

Don’t be intimidated this is super easy

Measure your tubing –your hoop should come between your navel and your nipple.  The bigger the hoop the easier it is.  Mark it and cut it with a hack saw.

Heat one end with the blow dryer to soften up the tubing so the connector fits in easier. This only takes a minute or two. Once it is warm shove the connector in half way.

The girls wanted their hoops to make noise so we added rice to the tube

Next heat the other end and connect the tube together as close as you can get it. Then we wrapped a bit on electrical tape at this point to keep it together snugly.

Next–decorate your hoop however you want using electrical tape and  duct tape. The duct tape is a little slippery and wrinkly for hooping so electrical tape is recommended but we used both.

As soon as we finished we went and hooped in the dark in the back yard! There just isn’t enough room in the basement for three hoopers—unless we stand on the furniture!

Looks like we are set now! The white hoop in the front is actually an LED hoop that my husband made for Molly for Christmas a few years ago.  If you are local and are interested in joining us for free classes with Lara let me know!!! She will be here next weekend. Happy Hooping!!

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Post tags: adventure, back yard, blog, blogs, circus, Columbus, family, hoop, hooping, hoops, hula, Kids, Learning, Lowes, Ohio, photo, photos, practice, Superhooper, unschool, unschooler, Unschoolers

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I have been informed by my son that in six months and fourteen days he will have his temps. Who the hell let’s kids drive at 15 1/2? That seems crazy to me now that it is only a few months away. Wasn’t it just yesterday that he was in that little bike seat behind me or learning to ride his two wheeler?

Well that part wasn’t about my cushion–thought I would save that for only those that are really interested! So if you’re a pervert and  want to read about my ass I guess you will have to click over to The Ohio Moms Blog.

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Post tags: bike, bike seat, blog, butt, Moms, Ohio

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My post is about saying Yes to my kids more often. Below is a snipit from the post

……..As my kids and family size grew so did my impatience! “No” had become my knee jerk answer.  “Can I ……NO!”   “Will you….NO!” I started sounding much like a toddler with a new and powerful word and I imagine it was really irritating for my kids! Soon my predictable yet arbitrary NO had lost its power.

I think I am going to write more about this soon. Saying yes is just the begining, the start of so many possibilities.

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Post tags: blog, blogging, family, Kids, Moms, Ohio, possibilities, post

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Relating all of our adolescent antics and high school foolery in and around the Cleveland area made me a little sad that my kids were not going to experience some of these same stomping grounds. I love when our neighbors here in Clintonville tell tales of when they were kids; the local schools they attended; Whetstone, Watterson, IC. Or when they recreate our street into farmland and our house into “The Doctors” house.

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Post tags: blog, blogging, Cleveland, cleveland area, clintonville, Kids, local schools, Moms, Ohio, whetstone

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