When it's raining in the Hocking Hills: what to do with the kids

So what do you do when it's raining during your Hocking Hills winter or early spring vacation, especially if you have kids along.

• If it's only raining lightly, it's still a good time to go hiking. The waterfalls at Conkle's Hollow, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave & the upper and lower falls at Old Man's Cave will be awesome. This is also true the day after heavy rains. The best picture I have taken of the Ash Cave falls was in a light April rain.
• Shopping at the antique and craft malls at Rempel's Grove in Logan can be very kid friendly. Just don't expect to spend as much time browsing as you normally would. Then have lunch at Olde Dutch. There's a petting zoo there too, but I'm not sure of the hours.
• Schedule a potting (2 lbs of clay with 1 firing) or pottery painting class at Logan Art Gallery in downtown Logan. They are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 740-385-9455 for more information. Dave and I made terra cotta turtles with grandkids Maggie & Makenzie. Fun!
• If you're in Logan for a art class, we also recommend a stop Hocking River Emporium, just across the street from Logan Art. Cool stuff, including hemp clothing. Then how about lunch at the Spotted Owl, the Sandstone or Julie's Cafe?
• Visit Leota at Hutchison's Hilltop Haven in Rockbridge for a basket weaving class. Call 740-385-8130 for more information. Also sells dried flowers & arrangements. Leota is apparently quite a character! Our grandkids will be here in June and we plan to take them here.
• Visit Parrot Place on the Ridge , on Thompson Road, to learn more about parrots as pets and to check out the great selection of bird related accessories, including wild bird feeders. You'll get to meet some pretty awesome birds. Call 740-332-3014 for more information. Hours are Thursday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• For more shopping, consider driving down to Rocky Outdoor Gear Store in Nelsonville. If you don't come out of there with a new pair of boots or shoes, or some other article of clothing, you have more willpower than I do. It's on U.S. 33 in Nelsonville. We always eat at the Coffee Cup located on U.S. 33 just before you get to Nelsonville. Of course, there's other shopping and arty things to do in Nelsonville.
• If the kids are just too full of energy, consider going roller skating either at Circle D (phone 740-474-5070) on Route 56 in Circleville, open 6 to 11 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays; or at Amanda Roller Rink (740-969-4131) in Amanda, open Fridays & Saturdays, 7 to 11 p.m.

As always, call first to make sure these places are open. If you've got other suggestions, please let me know and I'll add them to this article.

In our cabin, we always have games and puzzles available, plus now that we offer DISH Network satellite TV, your favorite programs are too.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

The Hilltop Bake Shoppe now open in Adelphi!

Adelphi, Laurelville's sister village just across the county line in Ross County, has a new restaurant/bakery. It's called the Hilltop Bake Shoppe and is located on Route 180 in Adelphi. The street address is 19186 Concord St., but that's Route 180.

The owners are John and Yvonne LeMaster, the same energetic couple who opened Thornybrook Farms, a garden/produce store, last year. Some of John's baked goods were sold at the garden store, but the additional new store will feature not only his yummy breads, baked apples, cinnamon roles and pies, but also coffees, pizza and sandwiches.

Dave and I have picked up pizza twice and it is very, very, very good. The crust is too wonderful for words, as is the sauce. We've had a pepperoni & mushroom pizza twice, then added on the barbecue chicken pizza when we had family visit last weekend. It was incredible and I highly recommend this combo, but there are some other good ones available: buffalo chicken, Hawaiian, pulled pork, Philly cheese steak, etc. We like our pizza "well done" which crisps the crust and toppings nicely without burning them.

Without question this is the BEST pizza in this area, and even out of this area. We are already planning to make it a once-a-week treat.

Currently, the hours are limited: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, but these will be extended soon. Only take-out is available, but the dining room will be furnished in the near future.

Call 740-332-0500 (local call for us) to place your order.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Hocking Hills Roasters: Coffee in the Hills!

Hocking Hills Roasters is just one more reason to visit Hocking County, and it's a particularly wonderful place to go when you want some indoor things to do (or when you're worn out from all of the outdoor things). It's located in the Hocking Hills Market on U.S. 33, south of Rockbridge. In two words: fabulous coffee.

Dave and I, and our friends Sherwin & Diane, made a stop there recently, to pick up some Ethiopian Limu coffee, roasted on site, and accidentally learned how to make a really good cup of coffee using a French press. The owner, Roger Varner, mans the shop on the weekends and he knows his stuff. He is very gentle about "adjusting" your ideas about how to make coffee. We have now learned from the master!

Hocking Hills Roasters also offers roasted nuts, fudge, Get Well teas and the largest, tastiest turtle (candy) I've ever had. Seriously, go there for coffee, but get a turtle too.

Mary from Marsh Hollow

Birds at our birdfeeder

Lately, the birdfeeder at our home has been dominated by what I thought were starlings. After peering at them through binoculars, I finally figured out that they are not starlings at all, but are blackbirds & common grackles. This morning when I looked out, there were easily 50 of these and absolutely none of our regulars. I realize they all need to eat, but how 'bout some sharing? This is the first year we've had a blackbird/grackle "problem" at our feeder.

I went out and starting clapping loudly. They all flew off and within minutes the regular crew was back! Cardinals, blue jays, tufted titmice, dark-eyed juncoes, white breasted nuthatches, sparrows and nary a blackbird. I wonder how long this will last?

Mary at Marsh Hollow.

The Ridge Inn: New Restaurant in Laurelville!

There is a GREAT new addition to dining in Laurelville: The Ridge Inn. My friends Beth, Beth, Kathy and new friend Pat met there for lunch today. I had the cusabi chicken salad and crab chowder. Crab chowder in Laurelville?! Both were wonderful. The salad included diced chicken, pecan pieces and dried cranberries tossed in cusabi dressing, a light cucumber flavor, and was served over mixed greens. The crab chowder was so good I ordered some for take-out - my Dave is sure to love it tonight for dinner.

Everyone enjoyed their lunch, including really, really good coffee. Kathy & Pat ordered hot tea and got to pick from a selection of very fine teas from Harney & Sons. Beth and I had biscotti for dessert, and Beth had a muffin.

So far, the Ridge Inn is only open for breakfast and lunch, Tuesday through Sunday. But they are planning their grand opening for next week and then will start serving dinner.

The lunch menu includes hamburgers, cusabi chicken sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, the Ridge salad and the cusabi chicken salad. They also usually have 2 soups and 2 specials.

The building is brand new and the ambience is very fresh and modern. Since very few new buildings and businesses are ever added to the Laurelville village proper, this is a bit of a shock. But the design fits in.Almost all of the tables are near windows. Plus the second floor has a meeting room that can be reserved.

My friends and I HIGHLY recommend the Ridge Inn.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

P.S. I need to ask the owner why she named it "The Ridge Inn" when it is most definitely NOT on a ridge!

Yet another lunch at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls

My girls (Beth, Kathy & Julie) and I had our monthly lunch at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls on Monday. They offer yummie soups, salads & sandwiches, plus desserts on their lunch menu. I had the 1/2 a sandwich/bowl of soup combo for $8.00 (excellent chicken salad), then shared an incredible brownie & oatmeal-raisin cookies with Beth.

It's a little pricey but the high quality and rustic/cozy ambience make it all worthwhile. Plus you're only moments away from Cedar Falls, if you'd like to take a little hike before or after lunch.

If you are staying at Marsh Hollow, the Inn & Spa is a 25 minute drive. Or if you'd prefer in-cabin massage therapy and spa services, we recommend Blue Valley Massage.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Garden Accents Factory Outlet Going Out of Business!

Oh! This is sad. Garden Accents Factory Outlet at Logan Clay (in Logan) is closing for good on October 31, 2007. We have purchased some wonderful, beautiful, durable clay garden decorations over the years from this outlet: bird baths, stepping stones and planters.

I've always thought that one of the problems with the store was not being open on Sundays. Hopefully, Hocking House will still offer some of these items for sale. Hocking House is the home & gallery of Jean Magdich, the artist responsible for many of the Garden Factory's creations.

I think I'll have to pop over to Logan on Monday to make my final visit. You should too.

Mary at Marsh Hollow