Ohio Village: 1862 in 2012

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the Ohio Village. I remember visiting the hot, smoky blacksmith's shop, smelling the rich tanned skins in the leather shop, and playing with wooden hoops and stilts.

When the Ohio Village reopened this summer to Ohio History Center guests after many years of being a special-events-only destination, I eagerly took Lil. My friend Kate (don't miss her blog about foraging and simple living) and her son came along with us.

The Village represents a small town several miles from the 'big city' of Columbus in the year 1862. Shops, offices, and homes are furnished with pieces common to the Civil War era. Volunteer reenactors introduce visitors to the tools and trades of the time.

We visited the school building where Lil drew on a slate and noticed the very few books children could read. At the tailor's house, the kids practiced washing dishes in an outdoor sink and later did laundry at the German immigrant's home. They investigated the bed made of a straw mattress on a rope frame.

Lil and I tried on lengthy dresses in the dressmaker's shop and were glad that fashion of today isn't so stifling. A reenactor at the ladies seminary taught Lil how to 'speak' the language of the fan. The uncrowded village allowed kids to explore at will.

I enjoyed looking at the gardens around the property including apple trees, a grape vine patch, a large heirloom garden and smaller herb patches. They are historically accurate and include vintage plant varieties like tobacco, dill, and beans.

I wished the printer and blacksmith's shop were open but understand that with a volunteer staff, we were lucky to see what we could. Lil did not miss what wasn't open. She learned words like 'ledger' and 'chamber pot', though she is too young to understand the context of the Civil War era. She advises other kids: "I think that the Ohio Village is a nice place because it's just interesting to see things in the past and it's really fun to play in all the houses and go to the school."

If you go:

• Bring snacks or lunch to enjoy in one of the covered picnic areas. No food is available for sale in the Village, though there is a small snack vending machine inside the Ohio History Center.
• Restrooms (with modern toilets) are available in the hotel.
• Dress for the weather - authentic to 1862, most buildings do not have heat or air conditioning.
• Consider a membership to the Ohio Historical Society. They offer discounts for many occupations and organizations. The very affordable membership gains you entry into museums and sites around the state.
• Parking is free most of the time. If there is a special event or during the Ohio State Fair, a parking fee may be charged.
• Visit Wednesday - Sunday before September 2. Hopefully if enough of us attend this summer, the Ohio Historical Society will open the Village every summer.

Ohio Village at the Ohio History Center 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH 43211

Doo Dah 2012 {Wordless Wednesday}

With our power restored as of Tuesday night, we were chilled enough to head out to the 29th annual Doo Dah parade, our favorite way to celebrate the Fourth. Doo Dah has few rules, lots of crazy participants, and represents the free spirit of Columbus.

Favorite shots: 1. mother/daughter patriotic manicures 2. face painting while we wait for the parade 3. crazy costumes 4. don't frack Ohio condom costume worn by the creative and hard-working Jennie Scheinbach  5. American Powerless Electric 6. peace out (totally un-posed, this is my hippie child)

Happy Independence Day!

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

People who visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as we did on Sunday, witness the creation and destruction of earth. We hiked from the Kiluea visitor center through sulpur springs and steam vents to an overlook, spying apapane, white-tailed tropic birds, and ferns of many varieties along the way.  After a packed lunch we cooled off at Thurston's Lava Tube and viewed the tree molds, lava molds of tree trunks set deep in the ground. Later we walked a pleasant 1.5 miles through a fern and koa tree forest at Kipukapuaulu Bird Park.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with its vast environs and odd creatures, is difficult to comprehend or describe for a simple minded person like myself. The wild, rough, young, epic land reforms itself, offering a rare glimpse of active modern geology. It is unlike anywhere else.

King Kamehameha Day

Yesterday afternoon we drove up the west side of the Hawaiian island from Keahou Bay to North Kohala on the north coast, the birthplace of King Kamehameha I. The locals put on a floral parade, decorate a tall statue of Kamehameha with hundreds of feet of floral leis, and set up a free outdoor festival for King Kamehameha Day every June 11. Unfortunately we were too late for the parade and drove in frustrating traffic instead.

Once we made it to the festival site, we watched hula dancers and ate from local food stands. Inside a community center, we talked with local artisans demonstrating their prowess in Hawaiian floral, quilt, saddle, weaving, and other arts.

Music and dancing continued throughout the afternoon, including this fine guitar player:

The crowds were a bit much to handle, so we left after about an hour. We drove part way back down the coast to stop at Pu'ukohola National Historic Site. Kamehameha and his legion of men built an impressive temple from hand-cut lava rocks on this site. The National Park-operated site includes a small visitor center, restrooms, 1/4 mile hike, and touch-table of native flora and fauna for kids.

Kamehameha's rule was violent and through his actions the Hawaiian islands were first united. He is credited with the 'Law of the Splintered Paddle', a law protecting elderly, women, and children from non-combatant violence. During his reign, Kamehameha sought the advice of British and American leaders, beginning the transition of the islands from native rule to US statehood. Witnessing the celebration of his birth and rule was a fascinating cultural experience.

If you go (unlikely, but I wish I had some advice to read before heading out for the celebration):

• Either drive to North Kohala and park before 8:15 am or wait until late morning after the parade. We hit right during the most crowded time and wasted an hour in traffic.
• Bring cash and expect a short wait for each food vendor. The food was of good quality, even the poi balls.
• Wear sun protection. There is some shade but not a lot.
• Pair with another activity or two - Hawi town had cute art galleries, Kawaihae has a beautiful pier with boats and nice fish shop, and walking to view the Pu'ukohola site only takes 20 minutes.

Mangoes! {Video}

Our Hawaiian rental house has a fruit tree grove. Naturally Lil and I explored it as soon as we arrived. Green mangos hang from long studded tails, ripening and reddening as they sink to the ground.

These fresh mangoes have succulent smooth flesh, not at all like the sometimes-stringy import versions we can buy in Ohio. We are enjoying them fresh with breakfast and mixed into drinks with limes from trees on the property.

Before we left, Lil shot this video of one way to peel and slice mangoes. The other 'hedgehog' method is pictured above. Lil's commentary is cute, but the subtitle should be 'why Rachel needs a tripod and not a six year old holding the camera.' Sorry.

Do you eat mangoes?

About that Hawaiian Vacation {Friday Five}

In 24 hours Alex, Lil and I will board a plane with twelve of my relatives bound for Kona, Hawaii. It's a similar trip to one we took to the Big Island nine years ago with most of the same people, my clever Tayse family. Excitement doesn't begin to describe our feelings about the details of this trip:

1) We're staying in the house mansion where John Wayne was married! 2) We will visit an organic coffee farm and the only tree-to-package chocolate business in the US! 3) Volcanoes! Waterfalls! Mountains! 4) Sea turtles! Manta rays! Tropical birds! Plumeria! 5) Our house is still for sale here - will we come back?!

Just in case you want to follow along (or know exactly how to ignore me), like Hounds in the Kitchen on Facebook, follow @racheltayse on twitter, and follow RachelTayse on Instagram. I have some fun things lined up for the blog in the coming ten days, so return right here too!

Nationwide Children's Hospital {Wordless Wednesday}

1. four foot tall carved wooden squirrel from Mansfield Carousel (one of many such characters) greeting visitors to the magical forest 2. color changing lights (that kids control) and lift in rehab room 3. sunlight, edutainment system, and private bath in rehab room 4. working kitchen for families to learn how to take care of child at home 5. car for families to practice transporting children with mobility issues 6. view from a patient room on to underground garage roof garden 7. signage in cafeteria includes diet and allergy information 8. indoor cafeteria seating 9. secure outdoor cafeteria seating 10. another friendly character 11. hidden pictures in magical forest mural

I recently toured the newly expanded Nationwide Children's Hospital with a group of bloggers. Unlike traditional scary and sterile hospitals, I found Children's full of whimsy, hope, light and natural materials. Our guides revealed that modern medical technology, sustainable energy practices, and staff support are behind the beautiful facade.

Though I hope none of you ever have to visit in an emergency, if you do so you'll find your stay full of thoughtful details and the highest level of technology, comfort, and care. Families can tour the new facility at their Community Celebration Sunday June 11, 2012 and view Youtube video from our tour and panel Q&A.

Disclosure: Nationwide Children's provided me with lunch and a few pieces of hospital branded swag. Opinions are my own.

My Clever Grandma {Friday Five}

My father's mother Joyce is one smart lady. She knows how to cook and can everything, is an early and adept adopter of technology, and raised three smart, clever kids. Grandma has always been thrifty, first out of need and now out of habit. Every time I visit, as I did this past weekend, I find new tricks to save time, energy, or effort. Here are five:

1) Enlarge The Hummingbird Feeder - Grandma must have gotten tired of filling the hummingbird feeder at some point so she wisely upgraded the 8 ounce jar to a 2 liter bottle with a little wire extension of the top ring holder.

2) Know Smart Design - My dad told me that this tool rack has been around for decades. With the divided sections and hardware cloth bottom, this sturdy rack is brilliantly designed to hold a lot of garden tools. Alex, can you make me one?

3) Cord Buckets - Keep extension cords in check by winding them into a large bucket. You can't see the small hole on the bottom of the side to allow for one of the ends to stick out. This idea may have come from my Aunt Mo (hand pictured above).

4) Save Everything - Aunt Mo is going to kill me for saying this but Grandma has a lot of treasures in her house among what many would see as a lot of junk. This box of jars I spied in the garage, for instance, clearly contains some of my favorite square vintage jars. There are also some seriously antique lids! If collecting (and using!) canning jars is wrong, Grandma and I don't want to be right.

5) Use That Family - Grandma is taking all of us (her kids, their kids, and my kid) to Hawaii this summer. THANK YOU GRANDMA! Then she decided she needed a little help with yardwork. Guess who showed up and gladly put in 30 people-hours in a single hot morning? My sisters, cousins, parents, and aunt did. I told you Grandma was a smart lady.