Enjoying a couple of days in South Central Ohio

I am sitting here on my brother Phil's porch with a nice cool breeze making this blogging experience oh so pleasant!  We arrived here in Lancaster, OH (home of General Tecumseh Sherman) yesterday afternoon, and the last two days have been wonderfully carefree and unscheduled!  (Can you believe that Phil once presented a Rotary Banner from the Lancaster - Sherman Rotary Club to the Atlanta Rotary Club.  Understandably, there were mixed reactions to a banner with a picture of General Sherman.)

We arrived in time for a nice lunch at the local deli, and then we enjoyed catching up with them in the afternoon on their back porch.


As dinnertime approached, Kim concocted a wickedly delicious batch of cosmos for her and me to enjoy, while the boys sat back with some beers.  

While we waited for our dinner to cook on the grill, we played a couple of rounds of Corn Hole.....what a hoot!  Joan and Uncle Phil were the big winners!  (Let's just say that Bronwyn should not plan to earn a living playing Corn Hole.)


After dinner, Phil and Joan entertained us with some music ... Phil on the guitar and Joan on the harmonica.  They were really quite good together!  (Perhaps we should say that Phil was good and Joan was entertaining.) 

After a delicious dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with a sauce composed of fresh blueberries and Cointreau, we rolled ourselves into bed.


This morning, we decided to let Joan sleep in after so many early wake-up calls this trip.  Once she was up, we headed for a mini-hike up Mount Pleasant.  We were hoping to find a letterbox at the top, but alas it was not there (or at least we could not locate it).  The hike was worth it, as the view from the top was quite nice.


We hiked back down and enjoyed spending some time on the playground.  Joan really liked the merry-go-round, so we did that before we left to go to lunch.  Just as we are arriving at the restaurant, Joan turns to me and says, "I don't feel very well."  Luckily, I was able to get the car door open fast enough...poor thing.  I remember as a child enjoying the merry-go-round, but then I also remembered not feeling so great afterwards.  Fortunately, she was feeling better in no time.


After lunch we visited an historic covered bridge and grist mill, which is thought to be the oldest surviving mill in Ohio (built in 1799 and remodeled in 1824).  Historic Rock Mill

Upon returning to Phil and Kim's, we had a nice, lazy afternoon...playing Rummikub and Corn Hole.  Joan ended up the big winner in both games....and I promise that we did not let her win!

We have had such a nice visit, and this has been a nice way to end our big adventure.  One more day to go.....a short 6 hour drive back to Charlotte!