During which Time Nobody got Frostbite

Ohio is wearing her winter wardrobe right now, and - I gotta be honest - I'm always a little intimidated by it. A toasty fire, a good book, slow-cooker stews and warm, homemade bread are a little more my pace between Christmas and St. Patty's Day. But, because I've created a family with a crazy man who owns coveralls and an orange hat, I have countless opportunities to learn about new things to love. Like 6 hours of January adventure NOT INDOORS with the six people I love best in all the world. 

The reward for my bravery? Glittering ice and snow, rock stairways leading to mysterious gorges, emerald green moss, caverns, tumbled boulders, stately trees of all kinds, frozen lakes and waterfalls, sights of ice-fishermen, and a rushing river. Oh, and there was ice cream, too! But only after the 2 mile hike with a baby on my back. 

Stops this past weekend included John Bryan State Park, Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, Buck Creek State Park, and Kiser Lake State Park. It was a total winter wonderland, and a dream come true for a Saturday family outing!

Happy 146th birthday to Young's Jersey Dairy! When you're tromping around in the cold, a good meal and a heaping pile of Cow Pattie Ice Cream are a welcome lunch. (I argue that no mother can ever consider it a crime to sell such a whopping dose of delicious for just $1.46.) 

Ohio is a beautiful place to live no matter what season it is. I know that the winter quiet will eventually give way to a loud eruption of majestic beauty here, and so I'm compelled to go back to these spots with Joe and the kids when I need to pack sunscreen instead of lip balm. The kids dare you to put on your boots and mittens and go out and have your own experience of God's gorgeous creation sometime soon! 

Contagion of a Different Kind

"Wash your hands!"
"Cough into your elbow, please."
"Stop wiping your nose on Mommy's shirt."
"Wash your hands with soap."
"Where's the Lysol?"

Every Ohio parent says those things this time of year, with crazy temperature fluctuations and all of the sickness that tends to go right along with that. But I'm happy to welcome this nasty case of Ohio Pride that entered our household last week.... and with open arms! We're literally covered in it.

Joe, the kids, and I are so honored to have received our very first partnership/sponsorship from Austin Holsinger and Danny Stull, the creators of Be Ohio Proud. They condensed a powerful message into one perfect word. Now, while we visit some of our state's most scenic and family-friendly venues, we'll be able to share their vision and do our part to spread Ohio pride.

Can you  help us to thank these guys by checking out their website and mission? Maybe you'll want to be a part of it. You can also take a look at their fine merchandise at BeOhioProud.com. Making a purchase helps keep Ohio Pride contagious. Trust me - you want some of their sweet gear! Extremely attractive, super comfy, and washes up real nice (a bonus this time of year).

Gotta Start Somewhere

There's no denying that Ohio winters are a grab-bag. The dawn of 2015 brags zero snowfall - but plenty of sunshine! Thank goodness, because yesterday was the day we took off on the first leg of Seven thru the State. We stuck close to home for this one, and decided to visit Lake Loramie State Park and Grand Lake St. Marys State Park. A short, underwhelming undertaking for the premier excursion!

One last look at the map while the kids ask, "Are we there yet?"

Just a few minutes down the road, we have a hidden gem. You can read more about one of our backyard treasures here.

Lake Loramie was constructed (yup - Americans build lakes!) as part of the Ohio canal system, which was completed around 1840. Just 175 short years later, families like ours visit the lake for a serene escape from the bustle of the rat race.  

800+ acres of really cold water.

Fishing, camping, and boating were obviously out of the question because of the weather, so we did what Schmiesings do best - we hiked!   

Joe and 5 kids go off-road to look for the Blue Blazes that mark this segment of the Buckeye Trail.

The Miami-Erie Canal Feeder Trail is riddled with relics of a by-gone era, including old fence posts and gates, collapsed stone structures and busted bricks, eroded canal beds, and a variety of tree species. (Rosemarie is quick to spot Hedge Apples - and even quicker to pick up the frozen fruits and chuck them deeper into the woods - while Thomas can spot a wild Cherry from a mile away.)
Of course, there's always the surprise relic with which a kid almost always injures himself. This time, it was a bottle with a well-preserved label:

"It'll Tickle yore innards"
Anybody know more about this soda?

Speaking of relics (sorry - I'm a bit into relics. What can be said? I'm Catholic!), we decided to make a pit-stop at St. Augustine's Cemetery in Minster to see if we could locate the tomb of the kids' great-great-great grandparents, August and Rosa Schmiesing. Success! But more on that another time....

May they rest in peace. 

Our visit to Grand Lake St. Marys State Park consisted mostly of making the grand loop around the lake and making a couple quick stops to observe some of the unique scenery that a wintry lake setting offers.
Like gulls gathering on a slush patch:

Or seven people smiling for a self-timed camera:

Making the loop was cool, since it offered some nice, ocean-like views from the road, as well as a chance to cruise through some obscure towns and villages. Here's a map of the place, to help you appreciate how heroic this undertaking really was:

In summers past, we've all had the pleasure of boating on the waters, seeing the spill-way, and fishing, and have promised Bruno that he will get to kayak on it just like his bigger siblings have been able to do in the past. But for now, a drive-by of Ohio's only inland lighthouse satisfied the little guy.

Lastly, we soaked-in a late afternoon view of the water. Or rather I soaked it in. By that time, two kids had been lulled to sleep by the easy drive. Joe took one for the team and stayed in the van with them while I hopped out and got a crisp taste of silence. Sweet...silence....

Built by 1,700 Germans laborers, Grand Lake St. Marys was the largest man-made lake in the world...until the Hoover Dam was constructed. 

All's well that ends well. Home safely from the afternoon outing, we treated ourselves to a fine glass of red wine. Well, Joe and I treated ourselves to the wine. The kids had to content themselves with buckeye candies.