Our First Host Family

We've been living in Pataskala with my parents for over two weeks now:


Time has moved so quickly, like we're living in fast forward. We wake up early and fall into bed late, but all those hours in between seem to just disappear. Most of our time, sadly, has been spent shopping. Living in Athens (where our only major retailer is Walmart) is great and appreciated when you're trying to live simply; we never shopped because there were very few things to entice us (and we are natural non-shoppers). But when you require something very specific that needs to last for two years, the lack of retail put us at a disadvantage, I suppose.

*Despite the consumer frenzy, we've had so many amazing times with friends and family: wonderful dinners with the Podases, Whiteheads and co., and Pattersons; many lunches out with Columbus friends; a visit from the Davises; a trip to the Hartford Fair; and a farewell cookout and bonfire with some of our dearest and longest friends. It really warmed our hearts that everyone came out to the land of soy and corn to spend an evening with us. I know these memories will make us smile on the other side of the world.

[Smoke Rd farewell. Lesson learned: deck parties never change, in a good way.]

Three days from now we'll be in San Francisco. Between now and then we'll pack our bags, stop by the Pataskala Street Fair, and say some bittersweet final goodbyes.

Mystery Meat

I'm sure this is a common activity for anyone about to move. With Saturday being our last day in Athens, we've been scouring our pantry, fridge, and freezer so we won't have to take a bunch of food with us to my parents' place. So during these last few days it's a total free-for-all smorgasbord of all the things we haven't wanted to eat over the last couple years.

Some of it was given to us ['lil smokies' as a new year's gift, what?] Other stuff has been hiding at the back of the freezer [like that stockpile of pesto from last summer I'm still defrosting], but it's totally fun. For example, today I've baked a pumpkin pie, cornbread, and right now I have those lil' smokies in the crockpot. It also feels like a tv cooking challenge - like when Steph and I had to make TWO potluck dishes out of the random pantry stuffs [we came up with hummus and pesto pasta salad].

A sampling of items still to consume, in random order and combinations, include: a jar of FrogRanch pickles, almond butter, a box of orange push-ups, a ton of black beans, arborio rice for risotto, and the remaining herbs from our garden.

I Didn't Cry But It Doesn't Matter

What an amazing evening we had last night. The Rural Action and Earth Justice community threw us a going away party at the Kuhres' home, and we couldn't have asked for a better Athens send off. We've been reflecting on just how special this community is, and last night was a perfect glimpse into why: the people.

We had a potluck meal (of course), and then moved to the log cabin for a slideshow from the Kuhres' time in the Philippines - what striking images that help set the background for our journey. Before the slideshow, though, the group presented us with some incredibly thoughtful gifts, including a one-of-a-kind electron art piece (I don't quite understand the process, but was told to say it was made on a million dollar machine and is one of a kind!)and a KINDLE. This was totally unexpected, but was truly the perfect gift.

Those who know us understand that we are NOT tech-savvy and that this item ranks up there on the nicest-things-we-own list. See this unflattering photo as proof of my shock:


Although we don't know when, we know we'll be returning here to this very special place where we've learned what a community can be.

Details, Details

First I must welcome our first 'follower' - hello CGoody! now the rest of y'all follow suit, because I'm just vain enough to think you care about the mundane details of my life:)

Today, fittingly, my staging information arrived. It is fitting because it was my first day not working at Rural Action, my first day as a non-VISTA in over three years. I've started a new chapter today. And no joke, to herald this new chapter, bob fm (my new favorite West Virginia pop station) blared "Come Sail Away" at me as I pulled away from RA last night...

Anyway, the info came by email: We're leaving August 20th (coincidentally our preferred date, because this means we get to spend our last evening in Ohio at the Pataskala Street Fair - a staple for all native Pataskalans).

We'll be flying to San Francisco for staging in the early hours from Columbus, and we couldn't be happier about SF as our staging city. (Looking at the staging agenda, we might even have some time to see the sites during our whirlwind 24 hours in CA). We'll depart for the Philippines, via Tokyo, at 1:35 Pacific Time on Friday, August 21st.

Movin Out

Just a sampling of the STUFF we've rid ourselves of recently or will be ridding ourselves of SOON:

1 car, all living room furniture, our bikes, a 7' artificial Christmas tree [what a bulky and ridiculous item that's been a nightmare to unload in July].

all outdoor furniture and a grill [many a tasty hotdog has been made on that thing].

superfluous kitchen gadgets, including: a 'quesadilla maker,' sno-cone machine [grandma is out of control with gifts like these:], milkshake maker [yes, a machine whose sole purpose was making milkshakes was actually taking up space in my life (although in the bottom of a closet - sorry mom)]. i know. don't judge.

all easily-replaceable furniture [random bookcases and shelves], Brandon's n64 and xbox [this was somewhat of a shocker], and our last remaining VCR ['but we might NEED one someday and HOW will we watch all those awesome VHS tapes, including my Star Wars box set?!']

Like a Speeding Bullet

I need to stay on top of this before all the good memories blur together and slip away... It seems like yesterday we were facing the "three months left" mark in the house, and now it's somehow two and a half weeks.

This weekend we'll have our final Athens yard sale - this makes five that we've held so far. My parents will come down on Sunday afternoon to do our first big move, hauling away the few pieces of furniture we'll keep. We've been moving boxes little by little, with the goal of fitting everything into one closet at my parents' house.

The farewell tour has continued with some pretty excellent visits. First, we went up to Pataskala and then Sugar Grove to celebrate the 4th. We watched fireworks in the Grove and then camped out on my parents' property.


Then we got to see Liz Cooke while she was in Athens for a record-length two day visit!


We spent an evening on the Jackie O's patio and the next day had Casa breakfast, followed by some marathon strolling through the uptown shops. A whole day with nothing specific planned, and it was excellent. A perfect Athens day. Plus, I bought some ridiculous postcards.

This past weekend, Brandon became all sickly with bronchitis, so I went to visit Jane & Dannette and their crazy-fun posse at a Hocking Hills campground, solo. Those folks are so much fun, going camping every other weekend in their vintagey pull-behind campers, and having a total blast. I have so many good memories with them and they continue to inspire me to have FUN with life.

On Saturday, I took in the farmers market with pals.


Then on Sunday we had our first formal farewell with a going away party with our Presbyterian Earth Justice group. Our wonderful host Susan had us all out to her farm in Millfield where we had an amazing meal, good times together, and then explored the farm.


Collecting eggs and visiting with the goats (Helen and 'not-Helen') were some of the highlights.




We've really enjoyed being part of this special community and hope they keep on capturing all the enthusiasm the group has for living in more energy-responsible ways.

Farewell Tour Kicks Off

We've started the extended goodbye-ing - spending lots of time with all our people, trying to pack in the fun and memories to last us all awhile.

First was Steph and Dan's runaway beach wedding in Virginia - the perfect way to spend a weekend and celebrate love.

Then there were back to back visits by ktd and Peach, my former-VISTA pals. I'm lucky to know these talented, kind ladies and am excited about where they'll be by the time I return.


Last weekend some of the TPat clan came down to Athens to get a little glimpse into our lives here, since they haven't been here since our wedding (when we were still living out of boxes). We went to the farmers market (which is moving up the rankings, now at #5 on the national survey or so); made a trip up to Trimble to see where I've spent a good chunk of my time with Rural Action; then on to Burr Oak - a nostalgic place for the fam, where they went camping together 40 or so years ago.


Today was my last VISTA Gathering for RA. We all went out to Lake Hope for a nice afternoon full of bocce, grilling & potluck, and a super serene canoe float. The water was so still, so the reflection of the sky and trees was perfect, and Maddy picked cheery pink water lilies for us.

The [soon to be far from] Home Stretch

Just over eight weeks till we head out of here for our next adventure. daaang... This means only six weeks left in Athens, our home, before we go stay with family in what now seems like a once-upon-a-time-land.

Life right now is filled with wrapping it all up - packing up the house, selling stuff, buying other stuff. tying up work projects and transitioning things in progress to others. transitioning community projects to new leadership - I don't think I realized just how many things I had my little paws into until it's time to step back. But hopefully all this transitioning will continue to move along smoothly. we'll see.

No 'free' weekends left between now and leaving town - until then, we're booked with parties, holidays, birthdays, sleepovers, camp outs, scuba classes & exams, picnics, and more. How wonderful to be surrounded by amazing people, almost constantly, who show they care so well.