This Weekend in Ohio (July 30-August 2)

I extended the weekend in to Monday this week, because there are some nice fairs that start on Monday, and also because I am off that day!  Enjoy this weeks list.

Ohio State Parks

Friday July 30
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
Luau Beach Party @ Headlands Beach


Saturday July 31
Christmas in July @ Jackson Lake
Campers Yard Sale @ Paint Creek
Girls Tri Too @ East Fork
Rudy & The Professionals @ Mosquito Lake
Wildcat Hollow Disc Golf Tournament @ Pike Lake

Sunday August 1
Triathlon & Duathlon @ East Fork

Please visit Ohio State Parks Website for more Information.


Fairs and Festivals

• Summit County (Tallmadge): July 24-Aug. 1
• Union County (Marysville): July 25-Aug. 1
• Senece County (Tiffin): July 25-Aug. 1
• Lucas County (Maumee): July 27-Aug. 1
• Pike County (Piketon): July 30-Aug. 7
• Preble County (Eaton): July 31-Aug. 7
• Auglaize County (Wapakoneta): Aug. 1-7
• Greene County (Xenia): Aug. 1-7
• Medina County (Medina): Aug. 2-8
• Gallia County (Gallipolis): Aug. 2-7
• Columbiana County (Lisbon): Aug. 2-8

Also the greatest fair around THE OHIO STATE FAIR is going to be going on all through the weekend and next week. 

I will be heading to the State Fair this weekend and I am sure to have lots of fun pictures to ahre when I get back.  Have a great weekend!

If you have any fun or exciting events that you would like me to share, please leave a comment!

A (hot) Day at the Adams County Fair

Why Hello There!

I had the super enjoyable experience of visiting the Adams County Fair this past Thursday.  Boy did we have a good time.  This is a true country fair with plenty of fun to be had by all ages.  The weather outside was humid and about 320 degrees.  OK it was actually only 95, but it felt like 320 just the same. 

Charlotte the pig agreed with me about the temperature.  Do pigs sweat?  I sweated enough for the both of us anyways.

This pig, lets call her pinky, was so hot that she had to put the cool bars of her pen in her mouth for relief.  My nephew was really enjoying watching pinky in action. 

These two are in love.  They are best friends and destined to spend the rest of their lives together.  I feel that way sometimes about my Cherry Garcia Ice Cream.

I know that I already posted this picture up above, but I shared a special bond with this little piggy.  I think we both wear the same size jeans!  Isn't she adorable all sprawled out and comfy with her water bottle within reach?  All she has to do is turn her head (no energy expended) and she will be rewarded with a cool clean drink of fresh water.

The fair is fun!  I rode the merry go round.  Me and my family ate our weight in fried foods.  I have lard coming out of my pores. 

This cow is the most perfect cow I have ever seen.  If I were to be reincarnated as a farm animal, I want to be her.  Her hair was fluffy, I saw them applying something from a spray can that looked suspiciously like Aqua Net.  Notice the distribution of brown to white on this girl.  She is perfect! 

If you didn't get a chance to experience all that the Adams County Fair has to offer this year, I would highly recommend putting it on your list of fun summer things to do next year.  You will definitely not be disappointed. 

This Weekend in Ohio (July 23-25)

Ohio State Parks

• Christmas in July @ Findley, Maumee Bay, Rocky Fork, East Fork, West Branch, Deer Creek
• Lake Festival @ Grand Lake St. Mary’s
• Butterfly Release @ Kizer Lake
• Friday Family Fun Night @ Cleveland Lakefront
• July Night Haunt @ Malabar Farm
• Summer Fest @ Portage Lakes
• Youth Fishing Derby (Saturday only)@ Jackson Lake
• Canning Workshop (Sunday only)@Caesar Creek

Please visit the Ohio State Parks Website for all the information on these events.
Ohio State Parks

 

Celina, Lake Festival
Main Street & Lake Shore Dr. Celina, OH
More info

Jazz and Rib Festival

Downtown Columbus Riverfront
Columbus, OH
More info

Brad Paisley

Blosson Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Island Fest

Division Street  Kelley’s Island, OH

Fairs

• Franklin County Fair July 17-24
• Crawford County Fair July 18- 24
• Fayette County Fair July 19-24
• Jackson County Fail July 19-24
• Ottowa County Fair July 19-25
• Warren County Fair July 19-24
• Carroll County Fair July 20-25
• Clark County Fair July 23-30
• Knox County Fair July 24-31
• Summit County Fair July 24-August 1

 This weekend looks like a great weekend to get out and enjoy all that Ohio has to offer.  Fair season is in full swing and theres plenty going on Ohio State Parks.  Get off your butt and enjoy the weekend at one of these fabulous events!!

 

*If there is an something going on in your neck of the woods that you would like me to mention , or a festival that I simply must attend, please feel free to leave a comment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whats Growing This Week?

This week at my house, the vegetables are ripening!  What an awesome time to have a garden.

This is what I collected from the garden this week

This green bean is as big as a banana.  I really don't think that it is legal for a green bean to be that large in the state of Ohio.  I'll have to check the charter.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Is there anything better than ice cream in the summer?  I think not.  This ice cream is a recipe that I have tweaked from several of my favorite ice cream recipes.  It is so creamy and yummy and delicous that you will want to eat it on everything.  Bologna and ice cream sandwich anyone? 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Half and Half

1 1/2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream

4 Egg Yolks

1 Cup Sugar

2-3 Tbs. Vanilla Extract (dependent on your love of vanilla)








In a medium sauce pan combine your half and half with the sugar.  Turn your stove onto low heat and whisk the two ingredients together.  Be careful not to scorch the half and half.

Once the half and half is warm, add the vanilla.  I use 3 Tablespoons, this gives the ice cream a rich vanilla taste.  If you want a more subtle vanilla taste, adjust the amount of vanilla you add.  Stir the mixture and continue to simmer over low heat.

While the mixture is simmering, place the 4 egg yolks into a mixing bowl.  Beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until they are light and fluffy and look like clouds from heaven.

Once you have your fluffy deliciousness all whipped up, it is time to temper the eggs.

To your beaten eggs, drizzle a small amount of the hot half and half/sugar mixture into the eggs. You want to do this very slowly a few tablespoons at a time and make sure that you whisk constantly.  We temper the eggs so that they do not turn into cooked scrambled eggs when we add them to the heat. 

Continue to whisk in about 1 cup of the warm mixture.  Once the egg mixture is warm, you can add it to the half and half mixture that is simmering on the stove.  Stir constantly while adding the eggs.

Continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat until your creamy yummy mix thickens up.  It will have the consistency of a runny custard when it is ready.  It may take more or less time depending on the heat of your stove.

In a clean bowl, pour the 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream.  Remove the half and half and egg mixture from the stovetop and combine it with the heavy cream.  Stir together until it is all mixed up and full of deliciousness.  Take a deep breath, smell the aroma of fresh vanilla ice cream mix and be in heaven for a moment. 

Cool the mixture down in your refrigerator for an hour or two, then add it to your ice cream maker.  Once it is finished in the ice cream maker, it will be soft serve-like.  If you cant help yourself, scoop some out and eat it immediately.  If you are patient, pop it in the freezer overnight and eat it for breakfast!  It is really much tastier when it is good and frozen.  Serve the ice cream with your very favorite cobbler, cake or just some yummy fried apples like me!

Delicious homemade ice cream, its really not that hard!

Feed Us!

This Weekend in Ohio (July 16-18)

In Ohio State Parks
Christmas in July @ Grand Lake St. Mary's, Dillon, Hueston Woods and Cowan Lake State Parks (campsite decorating, gift exchange, crafts, caroling, movies and treats from Santa!)
Kite Flyers Weekend @ Maumee Bay
Cast Iron Cooking @ Cowan Lake
Ice Cream Social @ Harrison Lake
Party at the Beach @ Indian Lake
Railroad Day Rendezvous @ Pike Lake
The Santa Fe Band @ Mosquito Lake
Zaleski Flint Knap-In @ Lake Hope
Mountain Bike Race @ Findlay
Please visit the Ohio State Parks website for more information on these events.
Ohio State Parks Website

Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association
Pastime Park, US 42 N.
July 15 - 18, 2010
Info Here

Clinton County Fair
Wilmington, Ohio
Daily gate entry, $6.00
Lawrence County Fair
Proctorville, Ohio
Madison County Fair
London, Ohio
Logan County Fair
Bellfontaine, Ohio

AWHA Regional Championship Show
Ohio Expo Center
More info


Washboard Music Festival
Logan, Ohio
More info

Festival of the Fish
Vermillion, Ohio
More info

Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
More info

For all the dairy lovers out there, remember that this Friday (July 18) is National Ice Cream Day! Make sure to visit your neighborhood ice cream parlor for some summer refreshment.
* If you have an event going on around Ohio this week or in the future that you would like me to share, or if you know of something cool going on that I simply must attend, please leave a comment.

Memorial Day

Have A GREAT Memorial Day Weekend.  Be Safe and make sure you dance every chance you get!

Fun Filled Friday, Chicken Style!!

Today is Friday, do you know what that means?  It's time for another super edition of Fun Filled Friday! 

                                                                                                                                                                              As you may or may not know, about a month ago I got some baby chickens.  I would like to introduce to the world Daffodil, Daisy and Petunia.  Why didn't anyone tell me that chickens grow so fast? 

A few short weeks ago, these cute little babies fit in the palm of my hand. Let me just take a moment to weep a few tears at how quickly my babies have grown up.  *Sob sniff sniff cry snot*...OK, Im done now. 

This is Petunia, she is different than the other 2 chickens.  I am not aware of chicken varieties, but I think she is a Cornish Hen.  A miniature chicken if you will.  Today while I was taking a shower, Petunia decided to break out of the aquarium I have been keeping the little sweeties in while they grow.  Petunia landed on the toilet seat...and then she pooped in the toilet.  Yes that IS chicken poop in my toilet.  Has anyone else ever had a potty trained chicken?  If so, I would love to hear about it. 

My dad has spent the better part of three days working on this Chicken Coop.  I have been helping him with it and I even got a few injuries today.  Injuries on fun filled friday, how silly.  I managed to smash not one, but two of my fingers while nailing the roof on this place  This is not just a regular old chicken coop either, it is the Hilton of chicken coops.  I think the girls will be very happy in here.  They spent a few hours inside this afternoon and enjoyed it thoroughly.  The coop should be completely finished tomorrow and ready for move in day.  I believe we will have a small party for the chickens complete with refreshments like crickets and cracked corn.  I might even make some cupcakes for the humans!  Come to the party!  It will be fun. 

That is all I have for this week's edition of Fun Filled Friday!  It was a whole day of chicken coop building but it will definitely pay off when my little cuties start laying those yummy eggs. 

Stay tuned for more infomation!

~Mary

A Sunny Day in Columbus

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Columbus with my husband on a beautiful spring day. Hubby and I are often in Columbus, and I am amazed at how much stuff there is to do so close to home. After picking the husband up after another long week of truck driving, we set off to explore the city. Did I mention how beautiful the weather was? It was literally a day out of a story book being sunny, warm and breezy.

Our first stop of the day was a picnic at the Columbus Park of Roses. This place is beautiful. USA Today newspaper calls it “one of the largest and most celebrated municipal rose gardens in the United States.” The park is huge at 13 acres and includes several different gardens with all kinds of flowers, herbs, bushes, trees and of course roses! Whetstone Park which offers plenty of shady places for recreation of every kind is a truly awesome place to take the family for an afternoon or a whole day of fun. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a penny to enjoy everything that this great park has to offer. 

The next stop for the day was the North Market located on North High Street. The North Market has been around since 1876. When first opened, it was located in the north end graveyard! Since then it has been hosted at a few other locations until it found its permanent home at its current location. In addition to a great selection of outstanding local food vendors, the market also offers a Farmers’ Market on Saturday and Sundays are home to the Artisan Sunday’s Handcrafted Market. The market is a great place to pick up anything you need to complete your dinner. From artichoke hearts to chicken feet and anything in between, you can probably find it at the North Market.

While at the market, I picked up the inaugural issue of Edible Columbus magazine. You can pick up the digital edition free of charge by visiting http://www.ediblecommunities.com/columbus/ I was very impressed with this magazine; it has so much useful information about eating locally. Kudos to the Editor Tricia Wheeler who trained at the French Culinary Institute in New York, this girl knows her food! There was one article in particular at the end of the magazine regarding a lady who had such high ambitions of raising an amazing organic garden in her first year of gardening, only to be let down by the weevils and rodents who snacked on her tender tomatoes and precious peppers. The article shows us that we are not alone when the beetles eat our zucchinis and that we should continue trying to garden even if we don’t have the most perfect plants.

My day in Columbus really was exciting and full of fun. I can’t wait until the next scheduled service on hubby’s truck so we can do some more exploring in Columbus!