Friends Reconnecting in Ohio, July 8-11

1 of 3 killdeer hatched

Nancy contacted me through classmates.com several years ago, we exchanged a couple of emails to update each other, but that was it.  Nancy and I originally became friends in elementary school.  We can't remember what grade we actually met in, but know we were both attending that same school in 1st grade.  We became close friends in junior high, and were both involved in band and drill team throughout high school.  But, a few years after graduating, we lost touch.

2 of 3 killdeer hatched

For some reason, I thought she lived in Wisconsin ... imagine my surprise, upon checking, to find that she was only an hour away from my current location.  And then, imagine her surprise when I emailed to see if she was available for a visit.

2.5 of 3 killdeer

When we got together for lunch, we started chit-chatting like no time had passed.  We were there for over 2 hours just catching up.  We had a lot to say after 37 years.  She and her hubby, John, graciously invited me to their home where I got to park near a very protective killdeer couple hatching their clutch of 3 eggs.  By the time I'd left, the eggs had hatched and the parents had taken their brood off to some other hidden location.  Thanks for the pictures John.

Longaberger Baskets Headquarter
Building

Nancy is a 4th grade educator and teaches Ohio State history.  It was great to have such a knowledgeable person with me as we explored some local cultural and historic sites -- Indian Mounds, Ohio Canals, and Amish Country.

But first, we checked out Longaberger Baskets.  Their headquarters is just off of the interstate.  When driving by, it's a hoot to see their office building in the shape of a basket ... made me smile every time.  We also checked out their factory where they hand-make each basket ... you can even pay to make your own basket.  It was fun watching the experts help the novices ... even these baskets must meet Longaberger standards.

Horses towing a
canal boat

In our explorations of the local sites, we stopped at the Newark Earthworks where ancient mounds of various geometric shapes are located.  We walked out to the mound that is in the shape of a bird ... maybe an eagle or a raven ... no one knows for sure.

Canal Boat

Ohio was known for it's canal system, from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.  Canals were built to transport commerce and people before the railroad.  They used mules or horses on towpaths to pull the canal boats.  We went to Roscoe Village where the main street has been kept pretty much historically correct to the era of canals.  You can take a tour of the shops or go on a horse drawn canal boat ride.  We had a yummy lunch there.  Very nice!

John and Nancy

Ohio has a fairly large population of Amish.  Nancy and I toured a working Amish farm, ate some delicious Amish food, and took many beautiful two-lane back roads.  We saw lots of buggies and a farmer plowing with a horse.  It was a long drive, but worth it.  I didn't take any pictures as the Amish consider pictures a "graven image."

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Nancy and John. I think we talked passed midnight every night I was there. I hope they come and visit me and my John sometime.

Sunset from where I was parked

originally posted 7/30/10