Thursday, April 28

The parking lot and trail head at the Headwaters of the Big Darby.

The trail head, before the rains began!

The wetlands outlook platform.

Skunk cabbage and marsh marigolds in the wetland area.

The rare Jack in the Pulpit plant was plentiful throughout the area.

The Foulk family is back home and recovering from jet lag and the time change. I imagine that it will be tough adjusting to the stormy weather after all those sunny 80 degree days as well.

Yesterday, Mr. B and I went to look at the Big Darby Headwaters Project in Logan county. Mr. Jainshig (Uncle Gary), left a sizable amount of his estate to the Nature Conservancy. We had hoped that there would be a project in Madison County that could be named for Gary but there just wasn't anything here. They have proposed a trail be named for Gary. A trail is being built this summer that will lead to an overlook at the headwaters or source of the Big Darby Creek. The drive there is only about 40 minutes and is between Mad River Mountain and Rt. 33 near the Honda Plant. We were very pleased with the proposal and the idea that there will be signage telling about the project and also a biography explaining a little about Gary. The trail, which will branch off of the existing trail that we were on, will be about a mile out to a new platform. The platform will overlook the source of the Big Darby Creek. The project is scheduled to be finished in the fall. Our hope is to have students from West Jeff visit the area as a field trip. Andy and I both agree that Gary would be very pleased to be connected to a project that helps to protect the Big Darby. We will let everyone know when the ribbon cutting will be. The rains held off just long enough to get us about a half mile away from the parking lot. Needless to say we did get wet but it did not dampen our spirits. I couldn't help but think that Gary was probably getting quite a chuckle out of the whole scene.

Thursday, April 21

The Foulk Family, Luke appears to be a little late for the photo shoot.

A very happy Miss Lily with her Aunt Sara.

Luke and Daddy paddle boarding.

It was so good to see the sun today! Too bad we won't see it again until next Tuesday. Not much going on here until the weather warms and dries up. The water is back in the yard and I imagine that all of the sticks that I picked up and threw along the creek bank are now going to be back in the yard again.

Trish and Chad appear to be having a great time and I know Sara and Matt are enjoying their visitors. They left today and will be spending the week end on Maui Island, my personal favorite. Enjoy the pics!

P.S. I'm including a video that I took of Lily when I was in Delaware (for those of you that aren't on Facebook)

Monday, April 18

The Foulk family at Haunama Bay.

Where's my towel?

Do you think he might be on over load??

Sara and Lily holding down the beach blanket while the rest are snorkeling

Lily with her daddy.

It really turned out to be a pretty nice day. Worked on picking up more sticks in the yard, a never ending job. Maybe I'll have them all picked up by the end of summer. At least with sticks down, I have an excuse for not mowing. I don't even want to think about mowing or mulching. I'm guessing it will be raining tomorrow. It usually does on my zoo Tuesdays. I'm doing a polar bear watch tomorrow to make sure they aren't picking the caulking out of the acrylic windows. Should be a fun morning even if it does rain.

I talked with Sara today and she said everyone is having a wonderful time. Luke and Lily are keeping busy swimming and playing in the sand. Even with the cast on, Lily is enjoying the beach. Yesterday they went to Haunama Bay to snorkel.

Sunday, April 17

Look out below!! ( I sense a belly smacker!)

Lily the Sun Godess

All Aboard....the Pinneapple Express! The Dole Pinneapple Plantation.

Swimming in the Hale Koa pool.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Palm Sunday. Our church service was especially nice today. It included some wonderful music and a special solo performance by Wendy Webb that made me cry. It was very touching. She will be singing, as I understand, at the Community Good Friday Service as well. This service is being held at the United Methodist Church here in West Jeff, Friday at 7pm. We are also having an Easter Cantata on Sunday at our 11 o'clock service. Nothing but music, should be a wonderful celebration.

Trish, Chad & the kids are visiting Aunt Sara and Uncle Matt. They have been providing pictures so I will be sharing them here for those of you that do not have a facebook account. Enjoy your Easter week. And remember, Jesus doesn't need you to be a fan, he would rather you be a follower. Thanks Pastor Pat for your thought provoking message this morning.

Saturday, April 16

A Sichuan Takin. Lives in the bamboo forests of China. Relative of the goat

Cheetah

Cheetah

The African Wild Dog

White Rhinocerous & baby

We've been busy cleaning up the yard on the nicer days this week. We have our new chain saw up and running and have been clearing the debris left behind in our yard from the flooding. I didn't feel so guilty going to the Wilds today since it was too wet and rainy to work at home.

Our docent organization planned a charter bus trip to the Wilds and although the weather wasn't perfect we were able to tour the facility in relative comfort. We had a great time visiting with our docent friends while viewing the many rare and endangered animals that roam the 10,000 acre wildlife conservation center. You may want to consider a trip to the Wilds near Zanesville for a unique safari type experience for you and your friends or family. Check your pepsi cartons for discount opportunities on admission. Something new that will be available this summer is a new zip line as well as horse back riding tours. Check out their website for details. http://www.thewilds.org/

Sunday, April 10

Grandma and I were up early this morning. She wanted pictures of my new purple cast!

Can't smile now, I'm watching the Wiggles.

Friday was a little disappointing. Lily's doctor decided that her cast should stay on for 3 more weeks. Not the best news if you are planning a trip to Hawaii but at least the cast should be off for her 1st birthday. I had a wonderful week in Delaware. Despite the weather, cold and rainy, we went for walks, played in the back yard, built legos and played Super Heros every day. We even found a lizard under a rock on one of our hikes in the "jungle". This morning Luke took me out to breakfast and he asked for a table for two. We were seated at the window so we could watch the ducks and geese on Silver Lake. After a breakfast of hot cakes and bacon we made a short stop at Toys R Us before going back home so I could load up to get started on my trip back to Ohio. The trip home was uneventful, I finished the book Water for Elephants on the drive and if you haven't read it, I would certainly suggest that you do. It is a great book and the movie is coming out soon. Monday, is the Madison Co. Retired Teachers luncheon at Ben and Joy's. We will also have to make a trip to the grocery as Mr. B depleted his food supplies during the week. Let's hope the warm weather is here to stay. Let the yard work begin!!

Thursday, April 7

This bird house kit is a hands-on project!

Luke, adding the finishing touches.

Here it is, painted and ready to hang.

Lily has decided that if the doc doesn't take the cast off...she may have to do it herself!!

Today it was sunny most of the day, maybe 55 degrees but the temperature dropped rapidly once the sun went down. With the wind it was down right cold outside. This morning though, while the sun was out, Luke and I finished our bird house project by painting and hanging it. We played quite a bit outside. Delaware is about 2 weeks ahead of Ohio as far as spring goes and most of their flowering trees are in full bloom. Trish and Chad's neighborhood is just beautiful and full of color. Tomorrow is a big day for Lily. She goes to her orthopedic doctor for an x-ray and we are all praying she will get to come home without a cast. Keep your fingers crossed!

Monday, April 4

Well the change of venue certainly is a very pleasant one. Not only is it fantastic to see Luke and Lily (and Trish & Chad) again but the 80 degrees today was the icing on the cake! Unfortunately, I think tomorrow we will be getting the wind and rain that passed through Ohio today. If we had checked the weather sooner we may have spent the day at the beach! But we had a great day just the same just hanging out together. Mr. B opted to stay at home so he is in charge of Molly. Or perhaps she is in charge of him but he seems to enjoy the independence of staying by himself. Lily is a bundle of energy and her leg cast certainly doesn't slow her down one bit. It will be interesting to see what she does on Friday if she get her cast off. I'm betting she will be pulling herself up within the day and walking very soon. Look out Aunt Sara, you better get your running shoes on if you are going to keep up with the two of them!! Tomorrow, Luke and I are going to see the movie HOP.