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This is a test blog entry by Jason

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:28:56 GMT

This is a test blog entry by Jason

Red River Gorge Annual Hike and Camp

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:43:54 GMT

On Presidents Day weeked, about 12 of us headed to the gorge for some cold camping. Planned, well in advance, everyone expected to be camping in the snow. But on the weekend of Feb. 19, our cold spell broke and we were given a sunny weekend for some awesome fun and awsome sights.

Some of us, including myself were a little disappointed we weren't able to do it in the snow, but after the time we had, and a few photos later, we're pretty sure we got our first glimpse of Spring. We had a great group of people ready for some trails, some camping and some good forest food.

On Friday, everyone met at the cabin to plan, talk some smack, eat and drink. After a good nights' rest, we packed up Saturday morning and headed for Cloud Splitter.

We're pretty sure if it had snowed, we may not have been able to hike on some of the trails we did, nor camp in the place we chose. Camp was made at about 1-200 feet from the peak of cloud splitter. There, we had the last rays of sun on Saturday and the first rays in the morning on Sunday.

Cloud splitter features a pretty laborius climb and some serious shimmying to get through a narrow crack and out to the over look. But once you're looking out the face of Cloud Splitter over the whole valley, you think it was worth the effort.

2010 2nd Annual Apple Smash

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:49:54 GMT

The head count of the 2nd annual smash grew tremendously and along with many new families, we saw most of the Muddy Portage crew in attendance. It was great to see faces we haven't seen in a while as well as several new friends we've met over the summer.

There were enough people who pitched in to make the process go. As you can see, there are parts to fill with such an operation and without diligent help, it can go slow. Those apples didn't stand a chance.

I had mentioned we try to put together a video so that we can look back at how our families grow over the years. People took the "dressing for the part" quite seriously so I think we'll have some good you-tube fodder real soon. I have to say that my hat looked rather dumb compared to all the straw and cowboy hats correctly sported by others.

The apples "smashed" more difficult than last year. They were pulpy and it took more effort to extract all the juice. We have a rough estimate of about 28 gallons compared to the 47 gallons last year. While we're sure the dry weather had an effect, I felt the apples were a little too ripe (along with the fact that we had only a Gala, Winesap and Winter Banana mix - Not completely ideal for cider) Still, everyone had cider to take home and Glenn and I had plenty left over to make sure our other loves ones got some.

Thanks so much to Glenn and Mary Burris for not only providing a great venue, but going above and beyond to make this look like an event coordinated by a committee. The hay rides were an exceptionally nice touch and the kids loved it. A little background... the smash wasn't going to happen this year just due to how busy everyone has been. Glenn and Mary stepped up and said they were planning a fall party of some sort anyway and this was just the thing.

The apple smash means a lot to me because as a kid, I attended a number of these with my dad, along with steam-engine shows, berry picks, you get the picture. My dad refurbished this press and made all the wood parts, painted it and got it all ready to use. But, he never got to use it before a stroke in 2001. So, last year was its maiden smash... and this year was its second run. I hope to keep this going so that our kids can remember such things. I truly believe that by instilling the spirit of our fathers in them will make them remember, and even aspire to push it further... ultimately to become better contributors to society. I can still see and remember my first apple smash, and my dad heading it up, all to only be sure there was enough cider for everyone to take home. So, my heartfelt thanks go to Glenn and Mary for making this happen.

We'll be shooting for the first or second week of October next year. If you liked it, you might mark your calendar. The food this year was stellar. Thanks to all who brought something. That really made the food easy! We'll be thinking of ideas to completely eliminate the monetary apple overhead for the next time. It might be nice to get everyone to bring a sack or two of apples so that the apple purchase doesn't lie on one or two people. Bring apples, take cider! We're open to ideas. I hope you enjoy these pictures and watch for the video soon.

Love Susan, Jason and family

Michigan City 2010

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:52:02 GMT

Our forth trip to Michigan City fully documented here for our family. The weather and water has been the warmest yet. The highs have stayed in the mid-upper 80’s with just the right mix of sun and clouds.

The cottage is showing wear as other guest at the house hasn’t been treating it with total care. We were greeted with a wiggling door knob, a play station not working, a missing coffee pot, electric sockets taped over and not working, and an empty propane tank on the grill. Since arriving the door knob has been fixed, the electric is supposed to be working right again (afraid to check), and the rental office has given us another coffee pot. I haven’t told the office yet about needing a new propane tank for the grill. A grill is a must for a family on vacation!! Update: A new propane tank has arrived.

This trip has brought out how much Hannah and Nick are growing up. At the park Nick is swinging across a kid-zip line that he was afraid to in the past and Hannah is flying across the monkey bars just like a monkey. The monkey bars took her all seven days on the last visit to master. Both Hannah and Nick are riding their scooters to the beach verses us pulling them in a wagon. This is a bitter-sweet milestone and indicator that my babies are growing up. Nick says riding his scooter makes him think about food and makes him hungry. When we return from the beach it is usually dinner time and everyone is grilling out. He loves the smell!

Jason has been getting much needed sleep and relaxation with the family that he hasn’t been able to get in the past weeks, with work and the remodeling project consuming most of his time and sleep.

I have enjoyed eating all our meals together as we very seldom get to do, plus I have Jason helping with the food prep and cleanup, which is a welcoming break. I am looking forward to playing and spending time with Hannah and Nick on the rest of the vacation as school will start in a few weeks after we return.

Monday With the threat of rain in the forecast for the entire day, we spent the early part of Monday afternoon at the outlet stores. It ended up to be a beautiful sun shining day. Jason bought some new clothes and sandals, Nick bought an Iron Man 2 wrist shooter toy, and Hannah picked out some sparkly new shades, some school clothes, and a new Webkinz (that was promised for her birthday). We grabbed lunch out and headed back to spend the remainder of the afternoon at the beach and dinner at the cottage, cranberry-apple chicken (a recipe Hannah stole from Aunt Jen’s recipe book). The day ended with a trip to the park, card game of Uno, a little wine, and Sammy the Seal shows. Yes, Sammy the Seals show. Jason taught Hannah new tricks to perform with her newly adopted Webkniz pet seal, who she named Sammy. Sammy the Seal was the first longer length book she had ever read and originally was Jason's as a boy.

Tuesday Today I woke up to the sound of rain. Hoping it was something else. It isn’t supposed to get out of the high 70's today, but weatherchannel.com hasn’t been right yet. I probably need to find out the weather in the local news. Here’s to another great day at the beach and hoping the weather man has got the weather all wrong again. Tomorrow is supposed to be a warm, sunny day in the 90’s. I have been enjoying a cup of Jason’s gourmet coffee every morning and some time to myself at the computer. I guess it has ended for me today as I hear the sound of little feet and Nick already playing with his new toy he got yesterday for a souvenir, now complete with lost pieces. I guess the hunt begins! All pieces found and look forward to another great day with my family!!!

The weather here has been rapidly changing. Now, the high for today is in the mid 80’s and a chance of scattered thunderstorms. Better, I think we will get ready for a day at the beach.

Today turned into the best beach trip yet. It was a nice sunny day in the 80’s. The weather man predicted rain throughout the day. Nick enjoyed tossing his water bomb ball back and forth he earned it at the library for participating in their reading program. Jason, Nick, and Hannah built a small kingdom of sandcastles. The stately sandcastles attracted some small pirates, who wanted to steal our buckets and stick decorations, and demolish the kingdom. I was really amazed the parents let their children run free as I watched them do it. I stopped the bucket thief in her (sand) tracks. We have taken a mid-day break and Jason has gone to the outlet malls and grocery store. He is on a hunt for a new bathing suit. We are going to go to the park and swimming pool after dinner if it isn’t too late. Update: Hannah and Jason went to the pool and Nick and I went to the park. Hannah and Jason took an evening stroll through Waterfall Park. We ended the day by watching Pete’s dragon and falling asleep.

Wednesday The start of the last two full days here. I woke up to sunny skies, better start than yesterday. I am going to try not to check the weather today, since it hasn’t been correct so far. The highs are supposed to be in the 90’s. I am looking forward to another full day at the beach, this time with sunscreen for me. Yesterday, I came back roasted. I am putting a roast in the Crockpot for dinner tonight. We should leave the cottage smelling good with all the cooking that has been going on in the kitchen. I brought Hannah and Nick to the park this morning after breakfast while Jason drank coffee and woke up some more. It warmed up pretty fast this morning, so we didn’t stay at the park long. We went back and prepared to go the pool only to get detoured because there was “an accident” in the pool. We came back to the cottage for lunch and are now heading out to the beach, wishing we brought our umbrella on vacation today. It is going to be a hot one. Nick would like a ride in the wagon today to the beach instead of his scooter. Update: Nick rode his scooter to the beach and back. I helped with little push breaks here and there. It was hot at the beach, but as always we had a great time playing in the sand and water. We spent some time relaxing back at the cottage, and Jason made us some banana/ strawberry daiquiris. We played game of shoots and ladder and went to the park while Jason finished up dinner. Nick made friends with a friendly 9 year old girl at the park. Hannah joined in on playing. I could stay on vacation forever, but Jason is ready to get back home soon.

Thursday The heat index could reach up to 105 degrees today. Instead of walking to the beach, I think we will stay closer and go to the pool. Packing and getting ready to head home. Planning trip to the beach after dinner… Update: We went to the beach after dinner to see it one more time and to watch the sunset. The sunset was beautiful and we stayed and played and built sandcastles on the beach till 10pm. The water was warm and the temperature wasn’t as hot. We should have spent more of the hot days there in the evening. We packed up when we arrived back at the cottage and headed home to make the drive during the night to avoid traffic and making stops with the kids. Can’t wait to do it again next year!

Saturday visit to Jim and Cindy's Apiary

Sat, 15 May 2010 21:59:45 GMT

So, Friday evening around 6:30 or so, as I was cooking a fine Indian dish to take over to Rabbit Hash, I get a call from beekeeping friend Jim. He told me him and Cindy were going to go through the hives on Sat. wanted to know if I was interested in helping. Of course. It was supposed to be a great day and the timing was just right.

Glad I made it over because it was a great opportunity to see everything from newly caught swarms to some nice established hives. There was also a significantly loud/active hive. It was definitely the most diverse bee day I've seen yet. As you will see in the pictures, we saw everything from eggs, to larva in all stages. It was particularly significant for me to get a good look at some eggs as it showed me just what I needed to find in my own hives.

We also saw some queen cells, still capped, and one emerged. You can see these in the pics too. We marked a number of queens and even established a new hive with one of several swarms they were queing up for in future integration. Their logging practices are diligent and sharp and they go into each hive with a lot of information from the last check. Really, I can't see how you could do it any other way.

We scraped open some drone cells to check for mites. Clean, for now. The hives were really thriving and their bees are calm and nice :)

I quickly scurried home anxious to get in to my own hives as it was time to begin seeing eggs. Sure enough, eggs and all stages of larva is both hives... including capped larva. I didn't see EITHER queen today and I went through the frames twice! I am just destined to not find this mystery queen, but I am guessing they are both there since all the other signs are there. One thing I did note was that I have 4 queen cell cups startin in the weaker hive. I left them alone for now. That's all for now. Video will come later.

Hived two packages of bees in 10 minutes today!

Mon, 03 May 2010 22:38:07 GMT

The post office called me at 6am and said my bees were in. After a rainy, gloomy weekened, I didn't expect to have them in by now. I ran down and picked them up and then hit up the weather channel to see what the day was looking like. "Partly cloudly!" Sweet! The sun was blazing down into the yard by 7:15 and I decided to get these babies hived before heading to work.

View some photos

It worked out perfectly. We will have rain tonight and that would keep them in there a little longer to get used to their new quarters. Everything went off without a hitch and the bees were pretty calm after 5 days of being caged up and shipped. They were dying to get out. I'm excited and can't wait to get back in to be sure the queen was accepted and is laying.

More later.

1st Annual Apple Smash yields 47 gallons of cider

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:11:35 GMT

The word for this weekend is most certainly "extraction" - that is, getting the juice from what mother nature has given us. Gently pressing, or violently smashing, it's all good. On Saturday, I helped the Specters press their grapes in Dave's refurbished grape press. On Sunday, we did our "1st Annual Apple Smash" using the cider press my dad refurbished but never got to use. Many years later, it finally did it's maiden smash. Two truckloads of green, red and yellow apples, a dedicated cart, wash, cut and smash crew, and we have 47 gallons of liquid gold. Everyone took home more then enough, and I have enough left to make 20 gallons of apple wine... and 5 gallons of Apple Jack.

Thanks to Dave and Sara Specter, Mark and Tracy Webster, Libby, the kids and my wonderful wife Susan. Special thanks to the Kinkers for providing the beautiful venue, the means, and some mysteriously good coconut curry soup.

With a week of gloomy, dank, cold rainy weather a week before, and a frost the night before, it turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day and a perfect end to a summer with a very strange crop cycle. I look forward to doing it again next year!

How I seasoned my entire cast iron cookware collection

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:27:02 GMT

I have all kinds of cast iron. Today, I decided it was time to clean and re-season all of it. There are a few key pieces that sit on my stove top and I've decided that it was time to break out some additional pieces. Particularly, a nice sauce pan with a lid and a double dutch oven (for lack of a better term). In all, there were two No. 8 skillets, a No 14 skillet (yeah, the big daddy) two waffle irons, two regular dutch ovens, the double dutch oven, an egg poacher, a cornbread pan, a muffin pan, and a star-shaped muffin pan. There was a sauce pan and lids for about each of them! I really needed another oven, or two, for the task. My oven was working at 250 degrees all day.

Anyone who cooks with cast-iron can never turn back. I'm ready to ditch everything else I have and commit to cast-iron cooking! Having your cookware properly seasoned and maintained only increases the performance of cast-iron. Here's how I did it:

Seasoning your cast iron

1. Clean your cookware real good. It's OK to use a mild soap as you scrape off any junk. I used a wire brush and scouring pad to get it as clean as possible. A wire brush is good for rust (also a clue that your pan is not properly seasoned.)

2. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F.

3. Dry everything off real good. You don't want any water on it before the rub-down with oil.

4. Rub it down using a paper towel. You can use canola oil, but I used Crisco vegetable shortening this time. I have used bacon grease in the past. People have used lard, bacon grease or ham fat or any other saturated fat. Saturated fat will stay in your pan much longer so while it may seem weird, think of it as cooking breakfast in it. Each time you cook, your surface becomes more seasoned. Go crazy... season it with bacon grease, we're talking cast-iron!

5. Let it cook in the oven for 2 hours. After two hours, turn off the oven and leave the pans in it to cool in the oven. Now if you have to do multiple oven loads like me, that may not be an option.

When the pans come out, grab your hot mitt and give them another rub down with a cotton wash cloth or something that you can work fast with. Just shine it up and that's it folks. Repeat this process as often as you like. Even better, cook with it... a lot! Bacon and anything greasy or fatty adds to an awesome seasoned surface. Eventually, with proper cleaning, your pan will achieve a natural non-stick, smooth-as-glass surface.

Cleaning your cast iron

When you clean your cast iron, be sure not to use high detergent soaps. Some will argue it's OK to use a mild soap, but I do not. If you need some scouring action, throw a little kosher salt into the pan under your faucet and get a scrubby or something to grind up the junk. Soaps will de-season your cookware. It will take off the black and you will begin to see the silver of the cast-iron again. You want your cookware to maintain a nice, even black shine.

When done washing, give a quick towel dry and then put it on your stove burner to completely dry it out. Don't over cook the pan here! A minute or two should do it. Leave it on just long enough to dry out.

Nick's Birthday Canoe Trip

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:11:20 GMT

We took a trip down the Whitewater River via Morgans in Brookville for Nick's 5th birthday. The weather was beautiful and we saw a bunch of wildlife including many turtles and a beaver as big as a pig. The river was busy as many other unthusiasts siezed the day.

Afterwards, we headed over to uncle Michael's to grill out and eat cake. Took some good pics to document the experience.

Michigan City July 2009

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:19:20 GMT

We took another trip up to Lake Michigan to refuel for 2009. It feels like we gained a week back in our life after this trip. We love the lake because it's not salt water, and the "community" where we stay is awesome. It's perfect for kids and just a short scenic walk to the lake. It feels just like the beach to us. Most of our friends have already heard us ramble about this place last year. We took two trips last year and just did our first one this year. We're already thinking about a possible weekend trip back up later this summer.

Brian Hensley and Jeremy Ostrow rode their bikes up for the day on Sunday to check it out. Since it's only about a 4.5 hour ride up, it was a good trip for them. We fed them dinner and sent them on their way. We're told it was a worthy trip for them.

The rest of the week was good to us. There was plenty of sun and a slightly overcasted day right in the middle of the week so we could take a break from the sun and hit the local scene to check out the outlets.

We really can't wait to go back soon. Since it's relatively close and totally cost-efficient, we echo again that the lakes are to the midwest like the Rockies are to the west.

It's officially summer when you make ice cream

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:06:53 GMT

On Sunday, we'll celebrate Hannah birthday a little early before we go on vacation. Strawberry ice cream was our test run Friday night. We'll do it again on Sunday with all the other kids and chocolate and butter pecan is on the menu.

We used this same ice cream maker when I was a kid. Yeah you have to hand crank it, but that's the point. The kids tend to tire out a little early, but when I take over to finish it off, I think back when my dad did this same thing with us. Our electric maker just collects dust. They make things so shitty now days. Plastic and thin metal for the canister. This ice cream maker has a solid, heavy metal canister with a lid. The point is so the ice and slat can cool it so cold, that the ice cream actually sets up. It gets harder to crank and you know, it's almost time. We added in the fresh cut strawberries and cranked it somemore.

Finally, on a sultry, sweaty hot night, the whole family about busted in to song as each of us felt the essence of summer.

Thinkin' this thing is going to come out a lot this year!

Images of Spring 2009

Tue, 26 May 2009 17:43:07 GMT

For us, spring is a busy time of the year, not just with all the work and school stuff going on, but the needs of the garden, grapes and other horticultural rituals we love to do. There is grape pruning, garden tilling, seed planting and bringing out the bananna trees. I have a habit of propagating anything I prune off my grapvines and jade plants even if it is to hand out to friends. I'm not yet sure of the significance to me of why I do it, but maybe it's just a friendship thing... from our house to yours. If that grapevine takes off and becomes something significant, someone might say, "we got that from the Morgan's back in the spring of 2009."

Hannah did her school play "Jack and the Beanstalk" and we've already been down to Louisville the weekend of the Kentucky Derby to make derby pie with Andy and Debbie... who by the way, made it up the very next weekend to do the canoe and camp trip.

Between the wildlife and floral and fauna in our back yard... to the images of all things renewed, Spring just rocks.

Morgan's Ft. Ancient Canoe and Cabin Trip

Wed, 13 May 2009 23:07:15 GMT

We shook it up a little this year for Susan's birthday. She usually likes to canoe and camp on her birthday and we usually go to the Brookville location. This year, we tried the Ft. Ancient location since it has been so long since we visited there. We also wanted to pay our visit to the June Morgan River Sanctuary.

It was good to see all my cousins and my uncle Bob who I usually only see during the holidays or other significant gatherings. We stayed in the cabins at Riverside Campground and the place looked beautiful. Upon arrival Lori was weeding the flower beds and Dirk was making picnic tables. It's clear the Morgans go out of their way to provide a fun-filled experience with the grounds pleasing to the eye and hospitality equal to down south.

We were driven up the river to put in at the Livery. Cousin Randy opened the door of the van and greeted us while Gary gave us a tour of the livery and the upstairs museum. I'm so glad my family are the chief proprietors around these parts. They have collected knowledge of the area and responsibly documented it as well as organized fossils, points, stones and other artifacts for display and education. The Morgans truly are the keepers of this land and river.

The canoe trip was as scenic as ever. We stopped at Junes Sanctuary and talked about her pioneering the efforts to clean up this once polluted river. The weather was beautiful and we soaked in the scenery and even caught some turtles basking in the sun on a log (see pictures).

After the trip, I ran into my uncle Bob at Riverside campground and got to catch up and update him on my dad. Then, Dirk showed us a tree that was leaning over a little too far so he jumped on the tractor and pulled it straight. Sunday morning, I watched (with some guilt) Dirk pounding rocks and dirt around the planter to stabilize the tree that we straightened the day before.

Later in the evening on Saturday, Dirk and Lori gave us a tour of their home and we finally got our glimpse of the famed turtle rock as well as the other awesome artifacts in Dirk's personal collection. Later, they set up a corn-hole tournament at the campground that thoroughly entertained us and our guests. It's been a long time since I've been able to slow down and forget about work and responsibility and I want to thank my family for welcoming us and our visiting friends from Louisville and helping us forget about things for a while. For those of us over-worked and under-paid, it really goes a long way and means a lot. After our friends Andy and Debbie were stuck on I-71 for an hour and a half on their commute up on Saturday morning, it really meant a lot to them as well.

These pictures should capture the trip just fine. Enjoy, and we really want to go back soon!

Thanks and much love, Jason and Susan

Cincinnati Wine Festival 2009

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:44:04 GMT

This was the 19th annual Cincinnati Wine Festival. It's grown to be one of the largest ones in the country. This year, over 600 wines and 130 wineries were present. If you are a wine enthusiast, this is the opportunity to sample hundreds of wines in one place.

Since I am always on the hunt to find wines I like, I've found it is very difficult without doing the tastings. The alternative is to buy full bottles which can get real expensive, real fast.

The admission for the event is pretty steep at $70 for the grand tastings... and another $35 if you wan to attend the master tastings. While it makes it a little less a attrative for the person only getting into wine, it's w ell worth it if you ar going for the reasons I do. You also get to bring home a couple $20 Riedel glasses after the event. Much of the funds go to several big charities so that too makes it worth it for me.

The food is gourmet. The Cincinnati State Midwest Culinary Institute was present with some amazing food and desserts. I got a few pics. I have a lot of respect for this school and the emerging chefs that come from it. I've attended several events that were served by the students and it makes me want to go back to school.

Overall, another great event. My wife and I were able to escape for the first time in a long time, and we had transportation to and from... so we we did it right.

Canoe & hike trip, turned bald eagle sighting

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:44:19 GMT

Met up with the guys for a Sunday morning canoe and hike. The typical type. We get together as often as possible just to catch up and air out the brain once a week. They mentioned to me in the past about some local eagles, but you know how you never really think much into it until you actually see one? Sunday, I was not expecting to see one. Between it and the other really awesome features of this planet that you don't get to see on the beaten path each day, it was a pretty potent visual experience.

Of course, pics do it no liberty, but I was running on dying batteries and I can't complain. It was kind of windy when we put in. The idea was to canoe up a tributary and then hike around the ridge on foot. As we approached the bank we would start the hike, the guys in the kayaks up front spotted the eagles in the trees. One took off immediately.

We were pretty far up the river at this point. We were very quiet and let the water float us down stream. Being reasonably still and quiet, let the bird get used to our presence. I was certain it would take flight, but, it sat there and even allowed us to pass.

I caught some acceptable pics. Also on the hike, we saw some large trees that in relation to the rest of the forest, escaped the logging industry. To see these giants nestled between all the smaller trees around them was beautifully insane. All in all, just another journal entry for a Sunday outing, but this is the kind of stuff that makes you happy to be alive.

Arther E. Morgan, the collectivist in the family

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:26:13 GMT

We Morgan's have some pretty interesting people, in our lineage. From Sir Thomas Morgan, knighted in 1658, who was awarded the original Morgan coat of arms, to John Hunt Morgan (Morgan's Raiders,) Daniel Boone (whose mother was Sarah Morgan,) and other Welsh dignitaries. We had royalty in our lineage, really. Just ask my wife who is the authority on confirming these awesome connections.

We've traced back 100's of years, and together, we truly do love discovering our past. But, you only need to go back to 1878 to find, Arthur E. Morgan (1878-1975). Arthur Morgan was a thinker, a scientist, hydraulic engineer, ethical leader, and was the key figure behind the Tennessee Valley Authority, a project he was called on by Franklin D. Roosevelt himself. He was the de-facto master in hydraulic flood control at that time. He was also president of Antioch College from 1920 to 1936. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in northern Minnesota.

Arthur Morgan was a collectivist, with many social ideas. It was intriguing to me because today, there seems to be a hard line between liberals and conservatives. The word socialism is a taboo word today. It swims in the same pool as Marxism and Fascism, of which I understand as other shades of Communism.

To understand his thinking, we have to put ourselves in the context of life between 1878 and 1940. Liberalism was very different and socialism was not yet stamped with failure. Arthur found many social ideas appealing because of his strict, ethical principles. In 1933, he was astonished when President Roosevelt invited him to the White House and offered him the chairmanship of TVA. “I like your vision,” said FDR. Arthur Morgan dreamt of the perfect society, a utopia. Yeah, what we've all read about in school. He looked at his appointment to the TVA as a way to bring his visions together.

Morgan was famous for two things that might seem to have nothing to do with each other: building efficient dams for flood control, and believing in the perfectibility of humankind.

Reading his diaries and several other books I found on him, he was a genuine individual with good intentions. He believed in hard work and our responsibility to contribute to society. He was good friends with Thomas Edison, Charles Kettering, and he was at the "first flight" launch in Dayton with the Orville brothers. As you can see, his peers offered a lot to measure up to.

Morgan's TVA boasted low accident rates, high worker morale, and ingenious solutions to tame the wild Tennessee River.** However, he butted heads with David Lilienthal, another young director on the committee. David suggested to distribute the power produced by TVA would be better to let a network of local public utilities handle the job. Arthur argued that the TVA enter into an agreement with the existing private utilities to distribute electricity. It seems Arthur he just didn't like David and considered him a political opportunist. Arthur went as far to suggest to the president David not be re-appointed. The fighting went on for quite some time, and when it finally spilled into public view, Arther was asked to substantiate his claims, and either could not, or would not. This is another story in itself.

In the end, President Roosevelt suggested that Arthur resign, and when he refused, he was ultimately fired by FDR for insubordination. He was 60 at this time and most thought he was at the end of his career. But, he returned to Yellow Springs, and lived for nearly four more decades, and maintained a strong interest in Antioch College. He served as a trustee for many years and as a perennial lecturer. In retirement he founded Community Service, Inc., to promote recognition and development of the "small community." The small, self-sufficient community was the vision and desire of Arthur Morgan. He published a string of thoughtful books on topics ranging from the ideas of Sir Thomas More to dam-building by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His last work, “The Making of TVA,” was released in 1974, just a year before his death at age 97. In it he documented the creation of the dream he had done so much to shape, but had seen fulfilled by by others.

I'm blown away by the accomplishments of Arthur E. Morgan and I've not even touched on them all. The point of this blog was to lay out a collection of interesting facts I have been dying to document as well as make a contribution to our Morgan genealogy. Additionally, it has again shown me the importance of while we don't always see things eye-to-eye today (and it's harder than ever today as life has become so complicated,) we should first seek to understand... and then be understood. I look back at a successful man by any standards we use today but I see some flawed visions that may not have been apparent by the standard of thinking during the time. Still, it's something to live up to and it reminds me that the role we play now is likely only the start of something bigger when we are gone. I hope we leave a legacy that our children will be proud of.

Internet Sources:

* http://www.tva.gov/heritage/visionary/index.htm
** http://www.phd.antioch.edu/Pages/APhDWeb_Prospects/arthurmorgan
http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/morgan.html

Books I've read and have referenced for this article:

Finding His World, the childhood diaries assembled by Lucy Griscom Morgan
My World, Arthur E. Morgan
FDR's Utopian, Arthur Morgan of the TVA (still reading)
Arthur Morgan Remembered

Wine Cellar Event Sat. Feb. 21

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:46:13 GMT

On Saturday, we ate, drink and were merry with good friends. Over the last 2 years, I have really been digging the red wines. To me, reds *are* more complex animals and hard to figure out both in the tasting and making. But I drink what I like and it spans from sweet to dry. I look at the craft in the style of wine in reds more so than whites. It seems there’s more tinkering done in the cellar with red wines… and rightly so.

These are NOT all the wines that were available. They were this years, “featured selections.” My idea is to feature a diverse group of wines from sweet to dry and cheap to expensive, both red and white. People liked some, but not all. Seems my homemade peach wasn't so hot. In fact, it tasted soapy :( - But, I plan to play with it some more. You watch, I may just bring it around. My Plum wine however, was something to gett jiggy to.

Here was the official line up, but it didn't include many wines that were brought... and additional wines that were pulled from the cellar.

Reds

2007 Menage A Trios (a blend) - Folie A Deux
2007 Chianti – Ruffino
2005 Syrah Petite - Stags Leap
2005 Syrah - Columbia Winery
2004 Syrah - Red Bicyclette

Whites

2007 Voignier - Stags Leap
2007 Moscato - Sutter Home
2007 Gewurtztraminer - Chateau St. Michelle
2006 Savignon Blanc - Bogle
2007 Chardonnay - Bogle

Sparking

2005 Champagne - Valley Vineyards

My Homemade

2007 - Concord
2008 - Peach
2008 - Plum
2008 - Strawberry
2007 - Niagra Ice Wine (juice from a kit… real deal stuff)

Thankfully, my wife shares the passion enough to where we’ve sinfully set up a budget for wine-buying. The goal was to put some good stuff in the cellar, but it’s so hard to keep our hands off it! So the cycle repeats. We find ourselves being wine junkies to the extent of grabbing a quick bottle of the shelf to try something new. It’s cool when you find a good $5-10 bottle that you really like. The point of my featured selections is not to wow or woo. It’s to expose everyone to a variety of wines… and particularly, ones I’ve been drinking lately. Around here, we “drink what we like.” If you like it, and it happens to be priced right, remember who introduced you to it :)

Wine is fun and finding people who appreciate it the same is a blast. Thanks to all those who contributed something to the wine and food. What a great experience. So, see you at the next taste. Check out the pics from this years event.

Our memorial to Edith Balsly

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:30:46 GMT

Edith was the matriarch of our family... the glue that held our families together and she will forever be an inspiration to us all.

My grandma played a large part of NOT ONLY my childhood, but my entire life. She has always been there... at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and every other significant event. I am grateful for the time that we have had with her. I'm grateful for the time my children have had with her. I *think* they will remember her when they grow up.

Her sense of humor, and love of travel have carried her far. She was a humanitarian, a role model, the unsung hero in many of our lives, and a gift to us all. While I can't speak for but a fraction of this rich, woman's life, I can say this:

She was Extraordinarily loving: never missing a beat when it came to acknowledging an accomplishment or special event for someone else or having the foresight to know that we had to save so that we can properly take care of our families.

She was Genuinely forgiving: when we messed up, sometimes violating the very principles that she stood for, forgiveness still followed.

She was Uncommonly strong: the discovery of a box of Ralph's old letters to her during the war surely kept her going during his almost 6-year absence. That, along with a diligent exercise regimen for so many years... and even up until this October.

Anyone remotely connected with our family knows of her adventure to California, much of which is documented on video.

Her love of God inspired many years of service in her church from Deacon to Women's Society President and Circle leader for years. We also found notes from circle meetings in 1979 & 1980.

She practically raised her grand children and has influenced everyone she met for the better.

And during the last years of her daughter Pat's career, she shopped and cooked meals for 4 people, 3 nights a week, followed by many Bridge games. She was an avid card player and has requested a deck of cards be in her coffin!

We've all enjoyed numerous photo albums and are grateful for the technology enabling us to share some of them with you today. (in the other room, you'll find almost 400 pictures from birth until death)

Many celebrations were held in her Kreis Ln. home of 64 years. She has been blessed with good health for 95 years and was thankful to enjoy that final birthday celebration in October before her illness was diagnosed. She had a full life and confidentally told everyone "I'm going home to die". She even called her friends to tell them goodbye. All she hoped for, was to go quick and pain free.

Most don't have the opportunity to have "Death and dying parties" and she reveled in them! She told us final words of wisdom... like to count our blessings, and be thankful in all things, and bury any sorrows in doing good deeds to others. Then, we too, can have a legacy like hers. Maybe not as long as the 34,718 days she was on this earth, but hopefully close.

Before she knew she had cancer, she whispered to me at our birthday party that she lost much of her appetite and was concerned about losing 10 pounds. She said, "that's not good for a person my age." ...knowing I don't talk to many other 95 year olds. Only days later, we got the diagnosis.

At one of these "death and dying parties," I told her it would be nice to have her around for the upcoming holidays, and her response was "...oooohhh no, I'm ready to go and in fact, I hope to be with Ralph in time for our anniversary" (This Sat. Nov. 22nd) She expects Ralph to be anxiously awaiting her at the gate and greet her with, "Edie, What took you so long?"

Well, we all know that reunion happened Tues. morning. So, my tears are tears of happiness, and it should be for everyone here. For she's been preparing for this occasion with great fervor and dedication, other traits for which she'll always be remembered.

Michigan City, Our new Beach Vacation Spot!

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our family vacation is going wonderfully. We spent our first night exploring the beach resort. Our house is situated across from "waterfall park," and overlooking Lake Kai, one of the man-made lakes. So that is where we went first. It is a pond surrounded by tall grasses and has a waterfall in the middle and a dock that extends out in the water. While we were there, we spotted a beaver at work, he was pulling sticks across the pond and took them under with him. Then we went to go find Sheridan beach, since we planned to go there in the morning. Along the way, we toured the streets and admired all the beautiful houses. The community is perfect, from the houses to its people. Everybody is very friendly. The community is very diversed and everyone seems to get along well. Nothing like you find in the city. When we arrived at the beach we went across a long board walk that is surrounded by an aray of plant life, trees, and birds chirping. The sounds the birds make are very relaxing and beautiful and is only a prelude to what it is like at the beach. I would never have imagined these freshwater lakes would be like the ocean, and even more breath-taking. We played on the beach some, and then headed back to out house, when it started to get dark.

The next day we went to Beachwalk's community park for children. Hannah wanted to go the night before, but it got too dark. The park has lots of tires, slides, a treehouse, and is equipped with a zip line just for small children. Nicholas likes playing on the tires and Hannah likes the zip line. After the park, we went to the beach. The kids have really got into playing in the sand and water. We have fallen in love with the community and could even imagine living here.

Sunday we woke up and got ready to play on the beach. After the beach we retreated back to our house and ate dinner. We went to the park and headed back home when the bugs started biting. We have played in the houses back yard with their yard toys and of course the red wine has been flowing. We ended the night playing boards games with Nicholas and Hannah.

Monday was pretty much like Sunday, more relaxing times on playing on the beach and at the park. Jason played in the sand with the kids and sculpted a crocodile. The kids loved it. We also brought the ipod for tunes at the beach. The weather and everything couldn't be more perfect.

Tuesday was Hannah's birthday. I woke up and baked a cake for her 6th birthday. I can't believe it has been six years already. We first spent the day playing on the beach. Jason made another crocodile for the kids. I don't know who is enjoying the sand the most. We also brought the ipod back again, so we could enjoy the tunes while we were relaxing on the beach. Then we came back and ate lunch. Hannah wanted to go to the park and Nicholas wanted to go to the swimming pool. So that is what we did. Jason took Hannah to the park, and I took Nicolas to the swimming pool. Jason played hide and seek with Hannah in the park, and Nicholas and I played "going on a shark hunt" in the pool. Nicholas loves the water and can't get enough of it. That night we ate a crock pot dinner along with birthday cake and played in the backyard with their yard games and bubble guns, I packed. After the bugs started to get thick we headed indoors where they all enjoyed playing on the playstation.

Wednesday we went to the beach, it was a little breezy, so we didn't stay as long as the other days. We went out into the water mostly since the sand was really blowing on the beach. Hannah and Nicholas wanted to come back home to the "purple" house, so we headed back and stopped at the heated swimming pool on the way.

There are people across the street who live in Moores Hill, IN. They came over and said hi and they knew a friend of Jason's. They also gave us access to their wireless network, so Jason doesn't have to go into town to check his email. We've used all the amenities of the house fully. Jason sits out on the top deck with his guitar (or laptop) and we've been through the yard toys and games inside. We're only half way through the vacation. We have a lot of pictures and video that we'll get up when we get back.

More in day or two, Susan.

October Water Skiing

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Who'd a thunk it? A beautiful day in October on Brookville Lake. The water was great. Here's some pics of a fine day out on Brookville Lake with Michael and the kids.

September 2007

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We celebrated our six year wedding anniversary and managed to squeeze in a night out alone. Jason's mom and grandma watched the kids. We had a very nice dinner together. The kids enjoyed staying at home and playing with their grandmas.

We celebrated Bill and Shirley's 50th wedding anniversary together at the Canoe Livery. It was great seeing the whole family. We hope to get to see everyone soon.

Hannah continues to work very hard in school and has completed her first grading period.

Hannah went on her first field trip. Susan went too. They went to an apple orchard. The whole class got to pick their own apple, and later peal and eat it together. They saw how apples are sorted, washed, and stored. The class played games together and had storytime. They even got to go on a hay ride. Hannnah had lots of fun.

We managed to get a few extra swims in at our friend's pool in the month of September. That is one good thing that has came out of all the hot September weather. Hannah and Nic have become quite good getting around in the pool on their own.

Susan, Hannah, and Nic went boating on Susan's brother boat. It was Nic's first time on a boat. We were uncertain how he would react, but he kept saying "faster, faster". Hannah went tubing with her cousins Abby and Andrew. She didn't want to get out of the tube when it was time. It was a wonderfully relaxful Sunday. Too bad we forgot our camera, but we drew a picture when we got home.

Jason has remained busy throughout the month of September working most nights and weekends. Despite his hectic schedule, he is making time to practice with his band to get ready to play at a benefit. If you are interested in attending the benefit and contribruting to a good cause, contact Jason for more details.

August 2007

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The whole family came together to celebrate Nicholas's birthday. We grilled out and played games. Hannah started kindergarten so Susan busily gathered school supplies and clothes for her. Nicholas got a lot of exercise riding his new and much bigger bike he received for his birthday. Hannah continues to read lots of books.

Both of us continue to work around the yard. The garden was our largest, and most successful ever. The grass is officially the worse ever due to the drought. We're glad we didn't pay a lawn service this year.

Here are pictures for August.

July 2007

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

July was a busy month for us. At the beginning of the month, Jason had his neck surgery. He was back at his desk in 4 days but taking it easy. Five days after, we went to a riverside party at a friends.

The following week, we went to Moonlight Gardens at Old Coney to see Old Crow Medicine Show (a concert Jason scheduled his surgery around.) Jason's brother Kyle came in from Korea with 9 of his extended family. We hosted a Saturday at our house, and we prepared about 7-8 American dishes. Most things were grown in our garden and Jason served plenty of homemade wine and beer (dark and light).

For the kids, Susan arranged activities from sack races to roasting marshmallows over the fire. We hoped to provide the real American experience and look forward to seeing our extended Korean family again soon.

February 2007 Ice Storm

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I say ice storm because it was icey and cold and went on for a two week stint... not that I'm complaining. I loved it. We're talking natural tree pruning at its best. The weather conditions were ideal for enclosing EVERYTHING in a thick case of ice.

It made for great pictures, although the pictures do it no liberty.

I like the midwest because we get to experience all four seasons. I'm more upset when we have a warm winter with little snow. I even like being stranded at home for a while. I got to get the kids out for a little sled riding too.

Hope the season finds everyone happy, healthy... and warm!

Morgan Christmas in Brookville

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The Morgan family Christmas took place at the Brookville Canoe Livery. A White Elephant gift-exchange was thoroughly entertaining and spirits were high and happy.

We remembered June Morgan who we lost in August.

We were happy to see all the family and look forward to seeing those who didn't make it SOON!

November 2006

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Here's photos for November 2006. A lot of photos taken by Susan capture the essence of Fall quite well. Also included are some photos that I left out from October... the pumpkins and Susan in her Raggedy-Ann get-up.

A quick, overdue visit to Louisville to see Andy and Debbie really hung Susan up on the pinball machine. Susan didn't really have a lot of time for small-talk and to socialize since there was a 790,000,000 high score to beat. Great fun.

We hope November finds everyone in good spirits and ready for Turkey. If you stop by the site, sign the guestbook so we know you're still alive. We look forward to seeing everyone for the holidays... or shortly after? Until then, be safe, have fun and hug your family for us.

October 2006

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

October is a busy month for the Morgans. Of special meaning to me is celebrating my Grandmothers birthday. Edith turned 93 this year and she's truly an amazing woman. She still drives to the spa and gets in her workout per the doctors orders. She takes her friends on bus trips through Branson, MI to see stage shows and still watches her grandchildren whenever she can find a free moment. She's an example and inspiration to us all that truly loving life and enjoying your family can bring longevity not known by people half her age. We love you grandma.

October brings birthdays for myself and Aunt June as well. Included in this album is a picture of the October birthday crowd, the kids and happnin's around the house. Hope this month finds you well too.

Coyote Creek Farms

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Friends Freddy and Anna invited us to join them at Coyote Creek Farm (a local trip!) for a family day of pumpkin fun.

Highlights of the day were the pumpkin sling-shot, the corn-cob shooter, buffalo burgers, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, and of course all the animals on the farm! The kids were in heaven. Time was well spent and the weather was perfect!

September 2006

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Finally got that new driveway we've been wanting since we moved into the house. Bit the bullet and did asphalt. Held out so long for cement, but it would have been a cool 12-13k and I knew I'd never spend that kind of cash on a driveway. I found a few flaws already, but the dude is coming back and hopefully squaring things away.

Plenty of pics of the kids and the new driveway in use already! The kids are growing faster then I'd like! Hannah was a natural in preschool and looks forward to every day of it. Here's the pics for September.

Our 5th wedding anniversary

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

It was all Susan's idea. Of the many things she could choose from for our 5th anniversary, she wanted to do a canoe trip with just the two of us... something that has not happened since "before kids."

It was a great idea, and it turned out in a manner that is noteworthy. It was Labor Day weekend. The weather was already if'y. Since it was just the two of us, we didn't have to pack bottles, a ton of food and countless other articles. We simply took one dry-bag with our camera, a couple towels and a small cooler with some tuna salad and vodka and cranberry... of course.

We were ready and even expecting rain. We did get misted on a little but I think it made it all the better.

It was a great trip and I wouldn't have changed a thing. It reminded me that we are still capable of taking a lightweight trip and willing to take whatever Mother Nature intended.

By the time we got off the river, Greg had some people setting up the field for a huge fireworks display. These were genuine Class 6 works (see the picture of launch tubes) - They took the whole day to set up and the field was staged for a huge, private display. There couldn't have been more then 30 people (family) here watching this awesome display.

The show lasted longer than the WEBN fireworks and of the same caliber too. The picture here does it no liberty, but my accompanying video does.

These guys just got back from Japan to "test out the latest" at the canoe livery. It turns out they struck a barter (canoe and camp for fireworks display)

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate 5 years with my lovely bride.

Pictures for August 2006

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

An album of pics through August has been put up. August was a hard month. June Morgan (Jason's aunt) died on August 10th. A big surprise. She was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer and died 17 days later. She was a very accomplished woman, wife of Bob Morgan and Morgan's Canoe Liveries, and touched the lives of many. We have placed a memorium on the home page of the site that will link you to her large obituary in the Cincinnati Enquire, as well as a number of photo albums that included June. She will be missed.

Other news in August is that we find outselves rather happy, healthy and fortunate. We hope you can say the same and we look forward to seeing friends and family soon.

Farewell to a Morgan

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

View June's Obituary

June Morgan passed on August 10, 2006, but she remains in our hearts. She was an incredible person who meant a lot to us all. She was a devoted, loving mother and wife and we will truly miss, but never forget, her. May she rest in peace and watch over us from above. God Bless you, June. We love you. -Jason Morgan and Family

June Morgan, age 72, resident of Warren County, Ohio died Thursday, August 10, 2006. Born in Muncie, Indiana, June was the daughter of Virgil and Mildred (Artrip) Dugger. June graduated from Western Hills High School in 1952. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert W. Morgan, on September 11, 1954, when they were both students at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. They are the proud parents of 5 sons.

Bob taught at Sycamore High School and to supplement his income, he and June began "Canoe Trails" in the late 50's, a program which took hundreds of boys from the Greater Cincinnati area on 2-3 week long camping and canoe trips in Canada, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee. The boys knew June as "Blooming Flower", since she often would find wildflowers and wear them in her hair. On these trips, she was famous for her cooking- especially the yeast doughnuts she would make and let rise on the side of a hot canoe.

Bob and June established their first canoe livery, Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Center, on the Little Miami River in Ft. Ancient in 1964, where they have resided since the early 1960's.

Throughout June's life, she was always involved with children and nature. She was a 4H Leader and taught children about conservation and nature. She also was instrumental in getting the Little Miami River designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, where she served on the advisory board of the Little Miami Incorporated. She served as president of the Middle Council of the Little Miami Incorporated for a time in the 60's. In 1969, she was the first woman to descend down the Gauley River in West Virginia on a whitewater raft with Bob. In 1970, she was chosen by Family Circle Magazine as Homemaker of the Year, where she was featured with her 5 boys and their pets, along with some of her famous recipes. As the grandchildren started to arrive, she instilled in them this same love of nature and animals. Her 16 grandchildren know and love her as "Jumie".

In the late 1990's, cable station HGTV featured June, Bob and their family on the program, "TheGood Life", which was broadcast nationally. By this time, 4 of their 5 sons had taken over the family canoe and outdoor businesses located in Ft. Ancient, Ohio and Brookville, Indiana. This allowed June and Bob to travel extensively in the Fla. Everglades and Louisiana where Bob would fish, and June would often paint scenes from nature.

Bob and June continued their love of sharing nature with others, by opening a small bed and breakfast eco-lodge called Morgan's Jungle Lodge in the late 1990's on the remote and pristine Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica . National Geographic lists this area as one the most "biologically diverse places on the planet". Here, she acquired yet another name, "Jungle June". June enjoyed the daily visits from the white-faced monkeys, the howler monkeys, macaws and other various rainforest animals. Many area families traveled to the lodge and recognized this as a very special place run by a very special lady.

June was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Nancy (Dugger) Theobold. She is survived by her husband, Bob, and five children, Greg (Tracy) Morgan, Gary (Moira) Morgan, Dirk (Lori) Morgan, Rob (Michelle) Morgan and Randy (Joni) Morgan. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Jon and Drew Morgan; Chas and Mary Cate Morgan; Hunter Morgan, Teisha (Morgan) Widmer, Jessica, Jordan, Joni and Jadey Riewoldt; Ashley, Anne and William Morgan; and Amanda and Randall Morgan.

The visitation was held at the Bolton Lunsford Funeral Home, 3042 Harrison Ave, from 5-8PM on Wednesday August 16th.

A memorial service was held at Westwood United Methodist Church (the church they were married at,) 3460 Epworth Ave, Cincinnati, OH on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 11 a.m.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The June Morgan River Sanctuary Fund, c/o Lebanon Citizen's National Bank, 2 North Broadway,

Lebanon Ohio, 45036. This has been set up in June's honor and will provide a place of rest and reflection for paddlers on the Little Miami River.

View June's Obituary

July 2006 Camping at Morgan's Canoe

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Another great trip was had by all. It was good to be with friends and family on this not-so-easy-to-assemble trip. Greg allowed us to take the canoes out and we just headed up river to some sandy banks. The dogs were in heaven.

It was a bright sunny weekend in Brookville and we had the sweetest spot we could imagine on the riverside. We could have easily fit another family or two at our site.

I look forward to doing another trip again whenever people speak up and say they want to. Thanks and love go out to everyone and we look forward to not staying strangers too long.

Email me if you need any hi-res versions on the pics.

Gatlinburg, TN 2006

Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing complex.

This year, we wanted to do a vacation that was different from the rest... you know, one of those vacations where upon return, it's not like you slump down on the couch and say "Scccchhheeewwww... it feels good to be home!"

Well, don't get me wrong... we have kids... and it feels good to be home. But this trip rocked. It was just what we set out for. Easy booking... no check-in... impressive accomodations! ...at a great price too, nature so accessible, you jump off the porch into it.

I got to try out the new camera in many of the environments I have been wanted to try. I took the video camera... but it made it as far as a walk-through of the accomodations. I'll probably put that up later for family.

My brother-in-law and I fished the lake just outside. We caught us 7-8 blue-gill and decide to eat them. Alas, I need to refer to my local country einstein for the refresher on cleaning blue-gill. While we managed to get a few slabs and some pop-corn sized bites, still delish, I thought there was a better way to go at it. Scott?

There's something about nature that everyone can relate to... and you've maybe felt that feeling before when you're leaving the forest without having found what you went for in the first place.

Well, that was not me this weekend. A strong chord was struck that the whole family danced... no, not danced... aggressivley "jigged" to.

My little girl was so receptive to the nature around her, it brought a tear to my eye. We did two nice hikes and saw two great water falls. We made it to the aquarium... another thing we meant to do. And despite the Gatlinburg traffic (that we expected :) we still got to and fro.

For future trips to Gatlinburg... the "Gatlinburg By-pass" is a must to remember.

Last but not least... it was Susan's 30th birthday. We had a little party out on the spacious deck with hammock and citronella candle.

Anyway... I could really go on, but I hope these pictures will say it all.

Talls Stacks '06 and Old Crow Medicine Show

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I love Old Crow Medicine Show and it was even sweeter to see them in such a setting. River boats along the Ohio River... imagine that. I was thoroughly bummed about missing the Aug. show in Louisville. I was full of shame... then I found out they were playing Tall Stacks. I was originally in disbelief, but the moment it was confirmed, we snagged some tickets for a cruise and said screw it's on. Susan and I were able to get out and take a cruise on the Belle of Cincinnati and then catch Old Crow at 9pm.

The weather was perfect. I was so giddy, I was taking all the pictures I could, video too. Tall Stacks in Cincinnati has become quite an event. I'm looking forward to the next one already. The charm of cruising a riverboat (the ski club was also in attendance,) coupled with a great night of music was just the thing we needed. Huge thanks to my mom for playing both baby sitter and chauffeur. It just wouldn't have happened otherwise. Mom's so great!