My Letter Home - April 16

This week started with a fabulous win for my boy, Adam Scott. I’m not a golfer, but Paul is and he likes to watch the big matches on Sundays. I have gotten to know some of the players and picked the cutie from down under, Adam Scott, as my favorite. It was so nice to see him win and to be so gleeful about it. Great job Adam.

From UK Telegraph.com

In other news this week, Paul and I, and our entire congregation, were invited to the neighboring church, the United Methodists, for a potluck luncheon on Sunday to welcome us to West Liberty and to introduce us to our neighbors. When I say neighboring church, I mean right next door – only a parking lot separates us. Ideologically, we’re pretty similar. It was a great feast, and no one expected that more than 60 people from our congregation would show up since many of them are set in their routine of leaving church right after service and heading to their favorite restaurant. We had so many people show up, that the Methodists had to get even more tables and chairs for their congregation. We hope to do a lot more with them, such as movie nights, vacation Bible school and maybe even field trips.

Note: There were 5 different kinds of macaroni salad, 4 kinds of potato salad and sloppy joes – Paul was in heaven. I loved the fruit salad and spinach salad along with coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate and almonds – yummy.

Where St. Pete nightlife was all about going out to eat, drink and be merry, nightlife in West Liberty is about high school sports. We’ve been going to baseball games several evenings to cheer on the West Liberty-Salem Tigers. Several of the players go to our church and it’s nice to speak with their parents out of the church setting, plus the boys are really good. The girls softball team is pretty awesome too with a win last night of 20-0 against the Catholic school, or as Paul says “The Papists”.  

With the house almost completely together (I only have the silver left to polish), it’s time I start looking for a paying job. I’ve done some freelance, but that is few and far between. I would like to get back into the game, but now it’s all about what I want to do. As a writer, I have several options, but in a small town only a few opportunities. Do I want to drive the hour plus to Columbus for a full-time marketing job with all the stress I left behind, but with the perk of being in a city? Or do I want to try to get a part-time gig locally at Adriel, the assisted living facility or maybe a funeral home? I’ve been teaching myself In Design and PhotoShop so I can expand on my resumé and maybe do some other freelance pieces. For now, I am just enjoying the freedom to be a housewife.

Thing I Miss Most About My Old Home: Being 10 minutes away from downtown where I could get any food I wanted and enjoy the action.

Thing I Like Most About My New Home: Being 5 minutes from downtown (walking) where a nice afternoon walk is picking up the mail, getting a cup of coffee at the cupcake shop, browsing in the local thrift store and going to the grocery all while chatting with people and feeling quite alive. 

My Letter Home – April 10

Aren't I just the cutest thing you ever did see?

The big news for this week is that Doctor Who is back on! Really this is big news for Paul and I who are so excited about the new companion, Clara and the final season of Matt Smith (David Tennant is coming back). Now that I got that out of the way, let’s move on.

This is a short letter home since I was sick most of the week with a cold and then a nose infection. I spent most of my time resting and knitting watching mind-numbing TV and so disappointed that True Blood on Demand was only for one week – Damn HBO.

Paul's Chicken Pie - perfect to nurse a cold.

And it’s no wonder I am getting sick so often since the weather here is very Sybil-like with 75 degrees one day and the next never reaching above 40. We had a couple of warm days allowing me to sit on the front porch and enjoy the spring air, but it wasn’t warm enough for this Florida girl to break out the shorts. They say next week should be warmer and I can get to work in the garden, though I have been warned to not plant until Mother’s Day.

On the upside, I sold my house this week with only 3 months on the market saving me some cash and releasing me from homeowner responsibility. I also got to spend some more time with baby goats, which always makes me happy. Paul and I are trying to set up an opportunity for some of the kids at Adriel to spend time on the farm with the baby goats to show them how a farm works (which I would love to learn) and to see where their food comes from – the farm also has chickens for eggs and lots of goat’s milk for cheese and ice cream.

Thanks for reading and I miss you very much!

Thing I Miss Most About My Old Home: I miss my old home where I enjoyed the past 14 years of my life.

Thing I Like Most About My New Home: The anticipation of a beautiful spring. 

My Letter Home - April 3

My Little Princess - See Her Crown

Spring seems to be coming to West Liberty. Saturday, we had a beautiful day with opportunities to work in the yard and take a long walk to explore the parks and trails around the town.

We took the dogs with us up Adriel Hill and got a bird’s-eye-view of the entire town and the surrounding farms. It was lovely. At the top of the hill is the main entrance for the Adriel school, as well as a cemetery dating back to the mid 1800s. I am going to go up there more often since it is so peaceful there and cemetery exploring is interesting to me.

I Love Memorial Art 

Easter was very nice with the morning spent at church for a youth service, breakfast, Easter egg hunt and the regular service. Our neighbors, Jim and Jill, who also are members of the church, invited us to have Easter dinner with their family and it was delicious. We even got to enjoy Marie’s chocolates for the great day.

This morning, I took a tour of Adriel, a refuge and school for abused and neglected children who have some emotional and behavioral problems. Our house is pretty much surrounded by the school with the girls’ dorm on one side and the boy’s dorm as well as classrooms behind us. I wanted to learn more about the kids, the history and what I could do to volunteer and help these children. It’s hard enough growing up with a loving family, but these kids don’t have such a basic need met, and Adriel is trying to help them feel loved, valued and make them an important part of society.

Oh yeah, and baseball started this week. Go Reds! Go Rays!

What I Miss Most About My Old Home: Being around friends and family for the holiday.

What I Like Most About My New Home: The opportunity to truly make a difference and be of service to those in need.

My Letter Home - March 28

Getting Ready for Opening Day!

It has been a wild week and that’s why there haven’t been any blog posts plus the delay of my Letter Home. I was sick for a couple days thanks to some bad food that knocked me off my feet and made me wish for death for about 24 hours. But all is well now as I rejoice in losing a few pounds and jumpstart my way back to healthy.

This week was all about new adventures both locally and out of town. Friday night, the church hosted a Lock In for the youth inviting kids from the church and their friends to spend the night in the church, play games, watch movies, eat tons of junk food and drive the adults chaperoning the event crazy. I was lucky to have the puppies as my out with Paul choosing to sleep on the hard floor of the church basement with about 30 kids and some parents. I went for the first couple hours to play some “get-to-know-you” games, watch the first part of The 10 Commandments and see how man Cheetohs a 12-year-old boy could shove into his mouth at one time.

One of the games involved either/or questions such as, “Do you prefer to live in the desert or Artic?” Paul and I at the same time answered, “Aren’t we living in the Artic already?” That got a laugh from those folks who consider 40 degrees to be spring.

With the man who turned me on to baseball - Go Reds!

For the next two days I was in bed, while it snowed and the world went gray. But I was ready to go on Tuesday when we ventured south to Cincinnati to see Paul and Heidi who were visiting folks in Lexington. We went to this great restaurant on the river, Moerlein Lager House that had the most fantastic Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Coleslaw that was amazing. Since I was still getting over the crud, I kept to ginger ale instead of their artisan beers, but I definitely want to go back. We spent the rest of the day at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum which helped put me in a baseball state of mind. I will miss my Rays, but I figure since the Reds are the oldest professional baseball team, it’s historical. Plus, they don’t play each other – unless they both get to the World Series and then yes, I am all the way – Rays!

The secret to vibrant applique is to use fabric that has some motion to it.

On Wednesday, I went to my very first Quilter’s Guild meeting. I have never been to a guild meeting and one of the ladies in our church invited me to go with her and her daughter. It was a pretty cool time. 

I love this design!

I learned about a festival in Logan Ohio that is dedicated to washboards, got some tips and tools regarding applique, had so many people offer to help me make my first quilt, delighted in a delicious lunch from Mumfords, a down-home favorite, and took home an armful of books about quilting. The whole event was inspiring and these ladies are true artisans when it comes to turning fabric into art.

Isn't this just so amazing - and it's all done by hand. 

With today being Maundy Thursday, the week and Lent are coming to a close. We have a busy weekend and then I am hoping to just spend time creating next week, I have so many sewing, knitting and cooking ideas rolling around in my head that I must get them out.

I miss you all and take care,

Patricia

What I Miss Most About My Old Home: Wearing sandals on Easter Sunday with a cute dress and not having to layer it with a wool coat and stockings.

What I Like Most About My New Home: The creativity and simple pleasures I have learned from the locals and that I ignored for so long. 

My Letter Home - March 20

Rambo the Rooster

I am a day late, but I do have a lot to share with my friends back home. This week was all a about getting to know new people (and critters), discover new places and find new ways to use my time wisely.

I just wanted to take them all home.

I went on a couple visits with Paul this week and shared time with some people from the church. One of the highlights was our Friday date night. This is usually the time Paul and I spend alone, but this week we went to a meet and greet with goats. Holly, and her son are championship dairy goat farmers and she has about 20 adult goats, but this is a precious time since she has tons of babies jumping and playing everywhere.

I haven't had this much fun since playing with Fiona's puppies!

The babies were so friendly as Paul and I sat in the stalls and let them romp all over us. Paul even tried his hand at milking one of the mamas and he was a natural. It was one of the best date nights we have ever had.

On the people side, I had a great day out on Monday with Julia, one of the ladies from church as she took me exploring the small town of Urbana (bigger than West Liberty, but still a small town). We went to lunch at Teabaggers, a quaint café on Main Street. This is such a great place to eat. The husband is the chef in the back and his wife is the waitress, hostess, barista and all-round-nice lady in the front. I had the special of French Onion Soup and half a Reuben sandwich. It was spectacular. The soup wasn’t too salty, like French onion can sometimes be and the Reuben had slices of banana peppers on it which really brought all of the flavors together. Afterward, we shared a slice of chocolate chip cheesecake that was divine, and I don’t really care for cheesecake. I am adding this to my list of favorites from now on.

This was so delicious and rich, I had to save half of it for the next day. 

We perused some of the antique and country stores on the block and then Julia took me to the old train depot to show me where we can pick up the bike trail to Simon Kenton bike trail. I don’t know much about Simon Kenton at this writing, but this is the trail that is supposed to go through West Liberty in the fall. There are so many bike trails around here that I am looking forward to warmer weather when we can get out for a ride. For now we will drive to Urbana, get a coffee at the Depot Coffeehouse and get moving.

Knitted Graffiti!

Paul and I ventured to a little town called Yellow Springs about 45 minutes away. Called “Hippie Town” by the locals do to its proximity to Antioch College and the liberal lifestyle of its inhabitants, Yellow Springs has a lot of cute stores with local goods, great places to eat, their own brewery (set to open next month) and the best book store I have seen in a while. Think of Dunedin and Safety Harbor together, with Haslam’s thrown in. That’s Yellow Springs.

Art can go anywhere

Of course, I was intrigued with the crocheted and knitted graffiti throughout the town to add color to the leafless trees. And I also loved the Yellow Springs Irish Stout they served at the Ye Olde Trail Tavern, the second oldest restaurant in Ohio.

All of this playing and exploring kept me busy, but I still feel like I have to do more. My freelance gig is up today and I am trying to not feel useless. Going to last week’s Ladies’ Missionary Aid meeting helped. This is a group of ladies at our church who get together every month to discuss the needs of the church and community, what they can do to help, spend time in fellowship learning about different women of the Bible and have a lunch together before they go out and get working.

This month’s focus was on revamping Angels to the Rescue, where folks volunteer their time to cook, clean, do yard work and run errands for people in need within the congregation. I signed up to deliver meals this week and it’s a very fulfilling task. As you all know, I love to cook and I like meeting with the people I deliver to as they tell me stories about themselves and their town. Another focus is on finding ways that we can use our crafts to help those in need. At next month’s meeting we will put some charities on the table and see who wants to do what. I already have a list and have started on projects.

I am still adapting to the weather and the new lifestyle, and finding my place, but it all feels right. I miss so many of you and ask you to keep in touch and let me know what’s going on.

Love,

Patricia

What I Miss Most About Home: Going for Saturday morning bike rides (or any time I want to ride my bike)

What I Like Most About Here: Seeing new life all around me and the appreciation of it. 

My Letter Home - March 12

It has been a busy week with lots of ups and downs, literally. Paul and I explored a lot more of the area, including working in a date night at Mad River Mountain to go tubing. It was a first for both of us. Though I was nervous, I kept my cool since children, that were a quarter of my age, seemed to be braver than I when it came to sliding down the hill, but we did it together and after the first round, I was hooked!

It’s exhilarating, fun, dizzying and such a powerful experience. We went about 13 times, when the unlucky occurred. The guy who flings you down the hill decided to add even more spin to our tubes and the centrifugal force shot me clear out of the tube as I braved the hill on my back and then my front. No worries. I wasn’t afraid, nor hurt, and not even bruised, but that called an end to the night. I can’t wait to go back next year.

On Friday, we ventured out with our friend Cory who drove us around Columbus including OSU. We had coffee in Grandview, which is like Hyde Park. I had a lemon and cherry scone that was so delicious with a crunchy sugary crust and tender inside and a wonderful cup of coffee. Cory took us through downtown Columbus to show us the cool theatre (where we can catch documentaries and the independent of the independent films), German Village (where there is a walking tour of food and beer) and the Half Price Books Store (priceless). Paul and I want to go back and maybe catch a movie and dinner sometime to check out whatever else the city has to offer.

As I mentioned in last week’s letter, I was waiting for snow, and we got it – about 8 inches. Wednesday morning we woke up in a winter wonderland. Since we slept in snuggled warmly in our bed, we had to get to work as soon as we got up, shoveling our front sidewalk and driveway, as well as helping out at the church. I’ve never seen snowplows and told Paul that’s what I wanted for Christmas since it seemed like so much fun to push the snow around. After 2 hours of shoveling (which scored me a lot of activity points) I made a snow angel and a few snowballs until it felt like my fingers were going to freeze right off. The rest of the afternoon, I watched the neighborhood kids sled down the hill behind the house and enjoy their snow day. It was a wonderful day!

The weekend warmed us up with highs in the 50s and I could shed a layer and watch the crocus emerge from the snow.

What I Miss Most About Home: The Beach – “The beach is a place where a man can feel he’s the only soul in the world that’s real” – Pete Townsend.

What I Like Most About My New Home: Tubing!!!