Earlier this week, Maine Momma invited me to take a walk with her. I was so flattered to be asked! And so inspired by the “walks” others have shared!
Today was a perfectly, bright and beautiful Autumn day here in Columbus.
As we headed out the back of our yard I couldn’t help but notice the brilliant sun, vivid colors and long shadows.
Come take a walk with us to The Whetstone Park of Roses. Click on the button below to view my slide show.
I am still here-really I am. Just not much in the blogging mood this summer.
This is what we have been up to……………….
A play in the park, a visit to Innis Woods Park, an Easter egg hunt in July!, summer hair do’s, camping,
working on flips off the diving board, a trip the The Ohio State Fair–to see the cutest baby pigs ever!, seeing THE REAL LAMBCHOP!!, baseball games. How is your summer going? Too fast?
I can’t believe how fast this summer is going by. We have a list of activities, projects and places to visit this summer and I feel like all of a sudden I am trying to fit everything in to our calendar. We have been spending most of our days at the pool. Ginger has taken up perfecting her flipping, jumping and diving off the diving board. Last week we did manage family night at the zoo, dime a dog night with The Clippers, a lecture on The Sells Brothers Circus, ( the Sells Circus was based here in Columbus), and a local church festival. We also spent a good deal of time lounging around with our new haul of books from our most excellent Main Library.
Today I asked what the girls wanted to do and this is what they choose:
a short hike to this:
Hayden Falls -a hidden gem not to far from us!
Followed by a picnic lunch in the park. A perfect afternoon!!
Now is the time most parents are signing there kids up for camps and making sure their summer vacation is accounted for. Keeping kids busy so they don’t get “bored.” Hmm. I don’t remember ever being bored in the summer. We played out side all day, rode our bikes where we needed to go, went to the pool, played board games on rainy days and generally stayed busy with out adult direction or direct instruction. We didn’t go to camp or take classes 3 days a week. We played.
I know-that was a different time. Things are more dangerous now. At least that’s what so many people think. I don’t buy it. I think that now we have so much media telling us all about all these bad things that happen that we have became afraid. It seems common place. When really, bad things always happened-you just didn’t hear about it as much. Now that doesn’t mean I send my kids out in the woods by themselves at night. But I do let my kids play out side by themselves, out in the park with friends or siblings with out me. They ride their bikes places and get this-they don’t have their own cell phones!!
I look so forward to summer time. Playing outside all day and really being tired at night. My kids usually take a class or 2 or 1 or 2 weeks of camp during the summer-but not this year. I am not spending the money and I plan to offer lots of fun around here along with lots of chances for undirected play. Abby and her family moved into our backyard a few weeks ago. So I am looking forward to lots of kids running around the park this year, making forts, digging in the mud and investigating the woods.
This weeks unplugged theme is BOOKS. I have several books checked out from our library that are choked full of outdoor, summer activities.
First off, if you need anymore reasons to throw your kids outside this summer you should read the national bestseller, LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS-SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER. By Richard Louv.
The next book is well worn and tattered for good reason. It is loaded with activities and games. I have lots of book marks in this one! GO OUTSIDE by Nancy Blakey.
THE BOOK OF FAMILY NATURE ACTIVITIES By Page Chichester has 50 projects and activities. These are a bit more complicated but not too difficult. Also, a bit more scientific, but great for older kids.
THE KIDS GUIDE TO NATURE ADVENTURES By Joe Rhatigan is full of colored photos and practicale how to activities.
Great environmental book that answers lots of WHY questions.
NATURE’S PLAYGROUND By Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield covers outdoor activities for all four seasons. And what I like best is that the activities don’t have a list a mile long of things you have to gather or go and buy. Mostly they are found, natural objects.
HANDS ON NATURE put out by The Vermont Institute of Science, is more like a manual but again, full of useful information and environmental science projects.
These are just a few, I am sure there are many, many more great books out there full of ideas to make your summer in the back yard a great one!
Broken humerus snowboarding with friends today.
Lucky he had a helmet on!
Bad timing!
We are leaving for an Unschoolers Conference at a water park for a few days, we have a quick ski trip planned, he has several circus performances coming up, helping out with a music video in the girls breakdancing class, and he and Joe were going to Jackson Hole for snowboarding and snowmobiling. (which may still be possible if he heals in a timely manner).
Ginger is sick and I spent most of the day at the hospital with Jake, so packing and shopping for our trip is not happening. So, I will be cramming in what I can tomorrow and then off for a few days of R&R. I’ll be back next week, hopefully with better news. Or at least I’ll be well rested.
I now call Clintonville home, but like so many others here in Columbus, I did not grow up here. Thanks to OSU my husband and I are transplants. I really like it here and if given the choice we would not move back to the east side Cleveland, but a visit back to your roots is especially gratifying when you have a small audience to help you enjoy the highlights of your past.
First we rode The Rapid downtown…
We passed the usual looking scenes..
As well as a few new ones..
We visited The Great Lakes Science Center…
Also a new place to those that grew up in Cleveland. We decided to share one of the best things about Cleveland with our friends; Murray Hill AKA Little Italy.
First we had the worlds best pizza at Anthony’s and then had the worlds best treats at Corbo’s.
I tried making these photos smaller-but they really deserved to be big!
Then we rolled back to our downtown hotel that overlooked Playhouse Square.
Of course there was swimming.
Monday was a day of disappointment. First we headed to Edgewater Park for “a day at the beach.” Never mind that I poo-pooed that beach choice the whole way there. We NEVER went to that beach growing up. It turned out you couldn’t use flotation devices there so we packed up and headed to my beach-in Willowick. Well, remember how we learned about erosion back in school-my beach was a perfect example. It is the beach of no more. So we headed out to Mentor headlands where we all got sunburned and found lots of sea glass. A memory-check!
Then we headed back to Shaker to eat at Best Steak (not me-just everyone else!!). The sign said closed for a few days-but it looked much grimmer than a few days. My poor husband was about brought to tears. So we went across the street for the worst Chinese food in the dirtiest restraunt I have ever been in. It didn’t help that husbands families other favorite deli, Sol’s, was gone too. W hat were we thinking-we should have gone to Corky and Leni’s!
But now we are home and the reality of my life here in Columbus is hitting me over the head. I promise some crafty posts sometime soon!
Last night a few fellow, Columbus bloggers (her, her and her) and I attended a shindig put on by Experience Columbus.
It was fun to meet some new people as well as catch up with some ladies (her, her, her) I haven’t seen in a while. (Sorry if I caught up with you and didn’t link to you, I had Jenl’s ice cream on the brain and it took my techy self way too long to do that many links!)
Abby made sure I didn’t forget about her- or she might kick my stretchy pants covered butt!
They are trying out a new add campaign and we got to preview it and comment and snack and all that good stuff. Best of all we get to customize a free T-shirt from a local vendor!! Definitely the best gimme! Anywho, there campaign is based on what Columbus doesn’t have. I am a bit leary of this ad concept. I get that we don’t have bragging rights to the Eiffel Tower, or the Alps. I don’t think anyone in the three hour radius (those who most visit for leisure) is looking for those things. I am guessing you would be coming here to visit family, you probably have kids..or you are coming here to shop or visit OSU. Most every city has a zoo, malls, possibly a science center, art museum etc…I think there ad should focus not only on what we do have but the oddities, off the beaten path, free, and different things Columbus has to offer.
Because I do not have three hours to type out a really great add for Columbus, I will just list some of our greatnesses!
1. The short North-try to visit the art district on the first Saturday evening of any month, year around and you will not only be entertained by the street performers, the open galleries and stores, many different eateries and bars, but by the people that attend. Some of the best people watching around. We are The Indie Arst Capitol of the World you know! And the short North will prove how serious Columbus takes its Art.
2. The Park of Roses-Come here anytime through out the summer and be amazed by the Award winning rose gardens. Or come in the winter and hope there is some snow!
3. In the summer you can check out either one of these great free water attractions with your kids: The Dancing Bunnies or Homestead Park. Now neither of these are in Columbus proper but really no matter where your staying, it is fairly easy to get around here. Especially is you aren’t in rush hour traffic. But if you want water and you want to stay in the city-there is not only shopping galore (for those with money to spend!) but there are also free fountains to play in at Easton . There are waterfalls to play in here in Columbus too. Did you know that?
4.We have great shopping!! Some of the best thrift stores are here! Village Discount, Ohio Thrift as well as several Salvation Army’s and Goodwills and Volunteers of America stores. Antique stores like crazy!
5. Music and Food. Where do I begin?? Every type of authentic ethnic food as well as American eateries can be found here. We have many vegan and vegetarian options also. Now as far as music-well I think we have another title there too-aren’t we like the best new up and coming talent, hot live music scene too?
Well I could go on and on, beleive me I have so much more, but this took me too long and maybe someday I will do an insiders scoop of Columbus on the cheap-with and with out kid activities. Or better yet maybe someone will PAY me for all my good info!
So in a nut shell – Come visit us! There’s lots to see and do both ordinary and extraordinary. If you are planning a trip to our fair city and your are looking for something to do-drop me an email and I can certainly point you in the right direction! I can be like your internet travel guide!!
Moooooooooooo from Cowtown. Go Bucks. O_H_I_O We have a little bit of EVERYTHING here! That’s my new add campaign :
COME TO COLUMBUS-WHERE THERE REALLY IS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING!
