wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Last Wednesday we left Cleveland very tired and so happy with our new, little family member. On the way home Todd was talking on his phone and missed our usual exit for the last leg of the trip. He didn't notice at all that he had passed it. The next exit was coming up, he was still chatting away with no indication that he would take this one. Me: "Are you going to take this exit?" Him: "Did I miss the last one?" Duh. Anyway, this alternate route took us through downtown Dayton and he suggested that we get a drink at the bar at the new Ardent Hotel. Cheers of joy to our new granddaughter, Hallie! 

What did I cook last week? Beef barley soup. A good ole neighborhood grocery store has the best meat department. You go up to the counter, take a number, and tell the clerk what you want. A couple weeks ago I ordered beef shanks which were in the back room and had to be cut. They came out wrapped in butcher paper. I like the butcher paper. It takes away adding plastic and styrofoam to the landfill. I also made a St. Patrick's meal with corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes (wait for Friday's post), and with the extra cabbage, slaw with a rice wine vinegar dressing.

Last Thursday and Friday were gorgeous days...sunshine and temps around 70°. It was glorious! I took a walk around Dayton and the next day at Hills & Dales MetroPark. On my Dayton walk, I was hurrying back to my parking spot; time was running out. I got to what I thought was my spot and my car wasn't there. Panic. Deep breath. I checked my parking spot number on the app. Right number...just the wrong block. Whew!

Thursday night was a perfect night to watch the lunar eclipse. I did wake up periodically to take a look at this celestial event, saw the moon turn red, but didn't make it to the eclipse. Moonlight and the night time quiet are so peaceful.

Friday the trail at Hill & Dales called and signs of spring were all around. Buds on the trees, daffodils in various stages of blooming, winter aconite's yellow bed of flowers covering the ground, lots of hikers taking advantage of this gorgeous weather. A playground and shelter are at one end of the trail and that area was filled with young families enjoying the sun and celebrating a birthday. Such a happy day! After a cold, gray winter, sunshine, warm weather, cheerful yellow flowers, and being outdoors really do lift peoples' spirits.

Our two days of lovely weather succumbed to heavy rain and strong winds. Our neighbor lost a tree and her neighbor lost part of his roof. The big excitement in the neighborhood will come when the tree removal trucks and grinders arrive to do away with the fallen giant.