Air Force Museum

Do you like airplanes? History? War-time related artifacts, stories, movies? Here is just the place for you.



We had been talking about this place for a while, this place being the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It's got a great reputation. It's open everyday of the year except for a few (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's). And... it's free!



With the grandies visiting, one of them being a Korean War veteran, it was a no-brainer that we should just jump in the car, drive an hour or so West (of Columbus) on I-70 (so easy and straight that I almost fell asleep driving), and visit the impressively large and information-packed museum.



We could have spent a few days in there and only scratch the surface. Maybe we will bring a tent next time.



From the Wright brother's stories and replicas to the fighters in both World Wars, to the beginning of the US Air Force, Korean and Vietnam wars. Fascinating in every possible way.



From 7 years old, to 77 (and some in between), we all found something to enjoy, reminisce and take away from. It's worth the trip!

National Museum of the USAF
Museum Hours
Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
FREE admission!

Museum Location
1100 Spaatz Street
Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433
(937) 255-3286

Wexner Center, a portrait

The Wexner Center deserves a real, long, detailed post. I had but a short visit there today, just long enough to try their new eatery, Heirloom.

The day was so beautiful (must we say goodbye to this for many months?), I had to take a quick shot at the front of the building (graced with the current exhibition on landscape).

I will return to the Wexner, and do it justice, I promise.

Sunny Meadows Flower Farm, Revisited

A year ago, when we had just moved to Columbus, I looked for a small farm to find that sense of belonging one yearns for when they are feeling 'out of place'. Sure I had just transplanted myself from a different time zone, a different landscape and culture (yes, California has its own culture), but I knew that all farms share the same common denominator: earth with things growing out of it. And from my experience thus far, I have liked all the farmers I have met (regardless of where they are from), especially the small-organic-sustainable-farm-type farmers. It's easy for me to connect with them: it's easy for me to feel comfortable in their presence, and on their land. It makes me feel at home.




Sunny Meadows Flower Farm was the first farm I visited, and it gave me what I was looking for. The small farm reminded me of my friend's farm in Massachusetts, and Gretel and Steve felt like old friends with whom I could reconnect. I loved seeing their fields of flowers with so many different colors and shapes and sizes. Walking through the rows of towering sunflowers felt like living in an impressionist painting, only better.



Hard to believe that it has been a year since I was introduced to this hard working couple and their magical flower fields. Life got busy, and it was not until recently that I returned to the farm.



Steve and Gretel had expanded their growing space, renting a part of their neighbor's land for the season, to produce more flowers to meet their demand. They are still focusing on flowers, creating the most beautiful bouquets and wedding arrangements. On an impromptu tour, they showed me the different ways they tend their flowers; some need more TLC, some like to be under cover, and some just need more sunny days.



They also told me about their flower CSA which is quite a neat concept. Instead of getting produce weekly, you get bouquets of flowers. How cool is that? Imagine a house filled with beautiful flowers grown right around here. I'd say it's a swell idea.



A wise man named E.E. Cummings once said: Earth Smiles with Flowers. I could not agree more.

Sunny Meadows Flower Farm

(614) 361-5102
(614) 296-1637

SunnyMeadowsFlowerFarm@gmail.com

3555 Watkins Road, Columbus, OH 43232

Stratford Ecologial Center

It's the season of fall festivals. For the most part, our family avoid them... mostly because we are not the best at fighting crowds, wait in line, and spend a lot on really rather bad-for-you foods.



But I think that we just found the perfect festival for ourselves, and sadly, you all will have to wait until next year to experience it, too (unless, of course, you went there today!).



Stratford Ecological Center in Delaware holds an annual Harvest Festival. The place itself is worth a visit regardless of what is happening there (a working farm, animals, greenhouse, children's garden), but with the festivity, our family was impressed by the low-key, informative and fun afternoon we spent at the center.



The center's main mission is to educate young people about the food system, how food is grown, and how to respect the earth with organic practices. They have vegetables and well as livestock on site, plus a good flock of chickens and roosters in the orchard.



Today, families and children were treated to several activities, art booths, wool spinning, felting, sauerkraut making. Even the turtle lady was there (a very popular lady today, I've got to say).



Some got to ride horses, meet donkeys, and learn the differences between the two. Farm kitties appeared out of nowhere for children to follow.



There were goats, sheep, pigs, and cows munching on the just rained-on green grass being lit up by the much appreciated afternoon sun.



Secret gardens and hiking paths to the sugar shack were also good distractions into the wonder of nature.



Musicians entertained throughout the festivities. Folk singers, and bands took stage and sang nature songs. We had to remind ourselves that we were still in Ohio, and not back in Northern California!



After all, it does not really matter where we are, does it? The right spirit was there, shared by all the people attended. Together, we celebrated the earth, the harvest, and this day at the Ecological Center where its vision was, clearly, being realized.

Malabar Farm State Park

As a special birthday gift from my family, I was given a choice to go anywhere in Ohio for a day. My mind started racing. I grabbed some books I had been reading about this (still) new state of ours, and I knew that I had to prioritize where it was that would make sense for a day trip from Columbus that we would all enjoy.



When I read the article about Malabar Farm in Edible Columbus last spring, I ear-marked it, knowing that I would want to get back to it at some point. Sure enough, it came in handy. Out of all the places I read about in this book, Malabar Farm was by far the most appealing place to spend the last day of my 35th year on the planet.



A bit embarrassed that I didn't know who Louis Bromfield was before reading about the farm, I did a little research before our journey to his farm up north. An accomplished author and a notable farmer, Bromfield was quite a pioneer in environmental conservation and sustainable farming practices (my kind of hero!). After several books (with a pulitzer prize to boot), and a decade or so in France, Bromfield returned home to Ohio and built the homestead where he spent the rest of his life close to the land that he clearly loved.



The trip from Columbus took about 1.5 hours, straight up I-75, and through beautiful small country roads. The farm is well marked, and is nestled in the rolling green hills of Pleasant Valley.



As part of Ohio State Park, Malabar Farm is free to visitors. You only have to pay fees for the tours through the main house, and the tractor ride that takes you around the property. We opted for a self-guided tour, with a map and descriptions of each building in hand.



The farm has several animal residents: goats, sheep, cows, chickens, turkeys and horses to name a few. It also has a smokehouse, and greenhouse, and several other features that made us feel like we were visiting a real operating small scale farm.



On the way out of the park, we drove up Mt. Jeez for a panoramic view of the whole farm cradled by the valley. The day was grey, the sky blanketed with heavy clouds. But the land still speaks for itself. It still embodies the man who had a vision, who lived his dream, and left it for us to enjoy long after his days.

It was a most wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of a new year.

Malabar Farm State Park
4050 Bromfield Road
Lucas, Ohio 44843
Phone: (419) 892-2784

Park Hours

Daylight, closes at dark.

Visitor Center/Gift Shop Hours

Memorial Day thru Labor Day

7 Days A Week 10 AM thru 5 PM

P.S. Before you reach the farm, Malabar Restaurant (and an adjacent small farm stand) boasts the locavore ideology and delicious creations. Too bad it was closed when we visited, but now we have a good reason to go back, don't we?

Malabar Farm Restaurant
3645 Pleasant Valley Road
Perrysville, Ohio 44864
419-938-5205

Black Creek Bistro

The truth is, we don't eat out much. When we get a chance, we opt to stay home and make something delicious instead of going out.

In the last year that we have been here, I pretty much documented all the eating places that we have gone to right here on this blog. No joke. Well, I did leave out some places that don't belong in the blog subtitled "authentic finds...". And there is one place that I should have written about, but I left the camera at home that night. This blog would not be as much fun without the photos, right?



The other day, my husband and I had a rare opportunity to eat out, at a restaurant, without our children. We didn't want to go to far from home, but wanted something good, and easy.



We chose to go to Black Creek Bistro, one of the first (non-chain) restaurants I heard about when we first moved here. And I did get to go there a couple of times with friends. This would be the first with my husband.



Black Creek Bistro sits in the corner of Parsons and Oak streets, in the sweet neighborhood of Olde Town East. We got there after the lunch crowd rush, so the pace was slow (arguably a bit too slow for lunch time, in our opinion), and we almost had the place to ourselves.



My husband ordered their corn soup which was nice and spicy, and a large Caesar salad with the custom-ordered anchovies on top (he was happy about that!). I went for the vegetarian option of portobello mushroom wrap which was fresh and delicious.

As we enjoyed our lunch, we did wonder what dinner would be like at this bistro (with a nice bistro ambiance and beautiful rotating artwork on their walls)... but at the rate we are going, we might not find out for quite some time!

On the way home, I could not resist stopping at The Angry Baker to get some of our favorite éclaires to bring home to the bakery's little fan club.

Columbus Museum of Art

It's a crime, I know.

How did I spend a year in Columbus and not have visited this museum until today? I wish I could say that it was the distance (which it is not, because we are only 3 miles or so from it), or that I didn't have time (that's always a lie when someone tells you they don't have time for ___, it's another way of saying they don't want to do the said ___. I think you would agree).



The important thing is that I finally paid a visit to the newly renovated art museum in Columbus today. And I am so glad I did.



The Columbus Art Museum, though small compared to other big city art museums, boasts an impressive collection of art work. I was happy to see some big names there: Monet, Picasso, Degas, to name a few. It is also housed in a lovely building that has well appointed lighting, mixed with a naturally sun-lit central foyer (where I assume a lot of functions and events are held).



Most impressive of all actually, was the creativity room designed for children ages 3 and older. I brought my 7 year olds along, and they were quite happy with several hands-on stations where they could creatively build something resembling the real pieces of art in front of them. We could have stayed in that room for a long time, but Mama needed to explore the rest of the museum. They only exited the room willingly when I promised to take them to the outside patio where they could play chess with gigantic pieces of pons, kings, queens and the rest.



I could go on talking about the different galleries and exhibits in the museum, but I am pretty sure that you would rather go and experience it for yourself! Admission is free through the end of August, and I believe on Sundays in general. But if you happen to get there on a different day, the cost to get in will be worth every penny, I promise.



Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad St
Columbus, OH 4321
Monday - Closed
Tuesday-Sunday - 10am-5:30PM
Thursdays - 10am-8:30PM