Pumpkin Patch with the Family: October 2012

Yesterday we went to the Nickajack Farms as a family.  It was so much fun.  And really challenging.  I am paying for it in spades, but it was so worth it.  I wasn't able to do as much as I normally would like to do with the kids and be ask active as I like to be (stupid foot) but we had a great time.  The kids had a great chance to play together, go through a corn maze, go on a hay ride, and pick pumpkins.  We then finally had the chance to go out for my older brother Andy's birthday and spend some more time together as a family.  It was a really great day and I am glad we had the time together.

Now, today I am spending the day on my bed resting as even walking around with a crutch for the small amount I did was a lot and my foot is really mad (swollen, pained, etc.)  I really hope this gets better soon...Anyway, it is giving me the chance to start editing photos and I have the first set of 15 pictures from yesterday of the kids and family done.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. (Now, I'm off to figure out what I'm doing wrong with my phone to get the rest of my pictures from yesterday uploaded to my computer.  Technology is not my friend right now.)

Flowers in the Fall

Since the weather is so lovely today and I needed to get outside for a little exercise, I decided to go on a short walk around the neighborhood.  It was really worth it.  Fall is really upon us and the shots I got were amazing.  I am so excited to be working on these photos.  I've divided them up into three separate posts: Flowers, Fungus and Misc. 

So, without further ado here is the first set: Flowers.  Basically these are just flowers in our yard and in the Historical Center Area behind our house.  (It wasn't a long walk, but I was sufficiently exhausted when I got back and I was more than glad that I took my crutch with me!)  Enjoy the photos!

Missing you...Columbus

I'm missing being outdoors hiking, camping and generally exploring.  I'm missing being free to go where I want, when I want.  Right now, most of all though, I'm missing Columbus. 

I've been in the city multiple times over the past few months for appointments and such but I don't have the chance to drive around, get lost and explore the city like I enjoy doing.  I haven't been to any events, festivals, parks, restaurants, museums or just had the chance to walk around.  I miss Columbus.  A lot. 

My love of Columbus came on slowly.  Growing up in Northeast Ohio I never spent that much time in the city.  We usually went to Akron and then on to Cleveland if we were going anywhere.  Columbus wasn't a huge draw for us.  But, since I've lived in Athens it has become a city I've gotten to know more and more.  First, just traveling through; shopping; going downtown for trainings for work; and staying with my cousin in Dublin.  Then, I started having some health problems and began to rely on The OSU Medical Center for all of my care.  Frequent trips for appointments; prolonged stays due to procedures and surgeries, etc. really had the city growing on me.  The more I became familiar with my surroundings, the more I liked it. 

Then, one day I realized that this Columbus was where I wanted to be.  My trips became more frequent.  I went more and more for pleasure.  I moved all my doctors to OSU since they are so much better and it gave me a bigger reason to be in the city.  (Plus the facilities, customer service and just general care is hands down EXCEPTIONAL as compared to the clinics and hospitals that I had been going to.  I will now drive the 1.5 hours to Columbus to go to the ER at OSU Medical Center if I need to instead of going to the local ER.  I've done it-twice!)  Now I have signed up for a gym membership in Columbus too.  (I'll coordinate my physical therapy schedule around my visits for now.  I'm so excited to go swimming in the beautiful lap pool!)

So for now, I'm missing my city.  My City.  I never thought of myself as a city girl.  I grew up in the middle of nowhere and went to college in a small town environment (BG is not like OSU.)  But somehow I've fallen in love with this city that is on the edge of a great reform and transition.  The riverfront is growing and moving forward.  Downtown is making progress and I adore work that has been done on the buildings, the new park and seeing new restaurants and unique shops pop up.  The city's economy is trying; and the diversity is vast. 

I really love Columbus.  All of it.  The neighborhoods around the city are so interesting-the German Village; the Short North; Arena District; Easton; OSU; then all the suburbs.  I'm a big fan of Upper Arlington, Dublin and Worthington.  The shops in the downtown areas of the suburbs are divine.  I spent waaaaaaay to much money when I spent a day shopping in Worthington.  But walking around and enjoying the summer and the pleasant town was worth every cent.  I've taken all of my short weekend vacations there and am praying hard and working hard to find a job in the city soon so I can move in the near future. 

Will I want to live in Columbus forever?  Probably not.  I've found I have a bit of a wandering spirit.  I loved living in Florida, but was ready to leave there after a few years.  The same has been true with Southeastern Ohio.  More to the point there are other places around the world I really want to explore.  I'm dying to travel to South Korea, Scotland, Germany, and the south of France.  I'd like to see myself living in Korea for an extended period of time, (I really need to start working a little harder on learning my Hangul!)  Possibly Scotland too.  So, who knows what my future holds.  However, right now I want my foot to heal so that even if I can't move to Columbus when I'm all better I can at least start enjoying my city on the weekends and long breaks again.

Where do you want to go?

September 29: A short walk around the neighborhood

Yesterday Mom, Kayla, Logan and I took a short walk around the neighborhood.  Very short, in difference to my foot, of course.  We walked around the front yard and garden to look at plants and to collect leaves for a project Kayla and needed to work on.  (Which turned out soooo cute!  Kayla is so creative!) 

We then crossed the street and went over to the Elementary School so that we could look at some of the plants in the front yard of the school, collect some more leaves, Kayla could play on the playground and in a vicious turn of events, Duke could roll around in some sort of poop.  Yeah, it was really gross and we had to leave him outside until Dad got home later that night from a training to give him a bath!  Sorry Dad!

Anyway, it was nice to get out.  The weather was PERFECT, the kids had fun, I got some lovely pictures, a little bit of exercise and Logan fell asleep in his stroller and had a nice fresh air outdoor nap!  Lovely experience!  Below are the photos I took of the nature shots.  Hope you like them!  Enjoy!

Out and About (Kind of...)

Today I went outside.  I walked around the yard for about 10 minutes.  It was amazing.  This was the first time I've been up and really walking around without crutches on just my boot.  I have been broken for over a month now (5.5 weeks).  I was so happy to be outside, on my own, taking photos of flowers and just feeling a little free; if only for a few minutes.  Yes, my foot is sore now.  Yes, it took effort to walk around in that stupid boot without the help of my crutches.  Yes, I still have a long way to go; but it was still worth it. 

So, while I may only be allowed to be up for a short period of time (about 15 minutes) every few hours; I am going to try to start walking a little more in the coming week.  I have physical therapy starting on the 24th of this month and hopefully will be able to go back home and to modified duty at work on the 25th of the month.  I really can't wait!!!!

Anyway, for now enjoy the pictures I got on my short walk around the yard.  It had been raining and I took advantage of that and the lovely flowers and plants still in my parents garden and around the house.  Have a nice Weekend!