Home Again in Cincinnati

July 29-Aug. 5 (week) Reunion  Winton Woods, Cincy, OH

Mom said this week is all about catching up with family and friends. I met Mike’s youngest sister Laura last night when we arrived. She brought M & D Skyline Chili for dinner which they loved. She was really nice to me too. It was a pleasant visit catching up on what's happening here with her and her family.

It turns out dad's mom and dad use to bring their RV here to Winton Woods Park in Hamilton County and spoil their grandkids...now, we know why! It's not big, but it is quite lovely...

Today M and D had to concentrate on laundry and groceries. Once again they left me behind to watch the Olympics alone. They enjoyed seeing the latest changes Jim had done to his massive, unusual grocery store, Jungle JIm's in Fairfield, OH, five minutes from where M & D use to live. According to my folks, they claim Jim is always coming up with new ideas. He’s enlarged the store again, even adding a bourbon bar in his Oscar Station on Thursday nights from 4-10 PM. Above you can see Jim on his Segway, but he was busy, so they didn’t bother him.In the bottom photo, they made it to their favorite First Watch Cafe for a late brunch...

This Jungle Jim's supermarket started out with Jim selling bananas out of the trunk of his car; while he was in college...he eventually quit college and started a fruit stand. It's grown into this gigantic place with another one across town. His two boys are now working with him. This market has been written up in so many national publications that mom has lost count. Jim is another successful immigrant story. He and his family are delightful, caring, intelligent individuals who have had a very positive impact on Fairfield, OH...Providing jobs and supporting Lord, only knows, how many sport teams and other non profits...

As is so typical of Jungle JIm's, we see this parking lot sign as we pull in. In Maine we were paying $29.99 for a lobster roll. His lobsters are in a large tank, still alive for that price...Incredible!

Tonight we are having a Dewey Pizza Party at Jo’s which means I get to play with her furry girls, Phoebe and Ella. Jo’s house is the most dog friendly house ever!!! I was so excited to see Jo, Bekka, and Lori! I love them so!!! I even got to meet longtime Bekka friends, Jeremy and Debbie. (Mom said dad married them a few years back.) It was such a good time that it went by way too fast!!!.

Bek and Houdini came back with us! I was thrilled to have more company!!!

We were scrambling to get ready for the the family reunion Sat morning. With three people and two dogs, none of us were moving fast. 

We weren’t able to visit the Red Wolf Sanctuary that was located close to dad’s sister Barb and her husband Bob's house in Rising Sun, IN. (Kevin, dad’s cousin had set up our private tour and a number of our relatives went there in the morning.) Everyone is coming back afterwards for the Sage’s reunion lunch and get together...which usually means a dinner too, before everyone takes off...YUM...more treats for me and Houdini!!!

On Sunday afternoon, Troy and Kim Marwehe came for a short visit. Troy was mom's NWSH student whom she loves...He was a wonderful art student and individual and is now a fabulous person, husband, father and grandfather...Wow! How the years have flown by...They have been able to keep up thanks to Facebook.

Mom so enjoyed their visit! The last time he had seen Bekka, she was a small baby.

Our next stop was Brian and Kathleen Judkin's house in Mariemont for a Sunday night dinner. M & D really enjoyed Brian's fantastic Creole? shrimp and sausage dinner with salad and bread. Stephanie and Dean (Brian's mom and dad) were C. Mike's other parents when he and Brian were at St Xavier HS. (Dad's HS alma mater too!) The St X men have been besties ever since! Annabelle, Brian and Kathleen's daughter made us a delicious chocolate chip cookie cake and demonstrated her impressive gymnastics skills on their outdoor trampoline. Their son, Davis was enthralled by his latest book series that both sets of grandparents had given him for his birthday last week. I loved exploring their backyard and meeting Maisie, their rescue dog...She was less than impressed with me...Sorry...

Tim and Maryann were kind enough to invite us over for Monday brunch with some of our other mutual friends, Hope and Ron Stetler and Bob and Sue Riebel. Tim has the most incredible green thumb! Everytime we come there, we are blown away by their backyard! We couldn't have asked for a nicer summer day to hang out with all of them. I really loved them all and their yard! While M & D got caught up with them... I spent the majority of the time just running around the yard... Everyone had a wonderful time!!! I was so exhausted by the time I got home, I could hardly move!

On Monday evening, Mom and dad had their friends, Pat Bruns and Rodney over since they were golfing close by at Glendale Golf Course. Mom surprised them with a simple chicken fajita dinner, courtesy of Trader Joe's and Penzey Taco spices...Then, they just talked the evening away while playing ball with me... We all loved it! 

The next day dad took a break to read, but mom caught up with more of her arty women friends, Marge Lebrecht, Moya Jones, and Lynn Elzey for a Century Inn lunch...Sounded yummy! Mom said it was great catching up with them and knowing they are busy and doing well! 

After playing ball and feeding me, M & D left to see their old 'work' stomping grounds, Hamilton, OH...The top right photo was mom's art center, The Fitton Center for Creative Arts and the lower right was dad's courthouse. Dad helped restore it, before they built the modern one, dad was in at the end of his career. 

Dad had the honor of overseeing the building of the new courthouse too. It turned out so well, and still looks good today. His chambers can be seen in this shot. He had a view of the downtown and river from his corner office on the third floor.

Downtown Hamilton has this beautiful, new Marcum Park down in German Village with lovely old Victorian homes overlooking it on one side and new apartments and businesses overlooking it on the other... M & D ate at Tano Bistro with our dear friends Greg and Robin Beane. They told me it was good and they loved Robin's dessert at their Fairfield house following...I wouldn't know since they didn't include me...UGH!

Our final day here, the morning/afternoon was spent at dad's sister Jackie and  Jan's home. Jan, dad's brother in law made us all, delicious shrimp, beef or chicken fajitas. Barb and Bob were there to enjoy it too...Mom was thrilled to have Graeter's for dessert, her favorite hometown ice cream. Everyone played ball with me, so I was happy! Once again the time went by way too fast. In the above photo, Jackie is pointing to Laura in their last sibling photo; they had taken, so she could be included in this latest one. She had to work...Boo! She keeps retiring and going back to work...

We packed a lot into our home visit, not knowing when we will be able to return again. Mom and dad have lots of travel plans in the next year...I'm nervous because I'm not sure how much of those plans will include me? 

We are off to Lexington to the Kentucky Horse Park Campground for the next couple of days...I'm excited because I'm told Bek, Jo, Ed and Lori are joining us here. More friends to play with me!!!