Hocking Hills Hello

Bev's Dirty Dog Shack

2008-07-11T07:41:00.004-04:00

There's ANOTHER new business in Laurelville: Bev's Dirty Dog Shack. Bev, an experienced pet groomer who used to operate a mobile grooming service out of Circleville, recently opened up in Dr. Palmer's old vet office at 16572 State Route 56, just east of Laurelville.

The day that my friend Beth and I visited, Bev was providing a free wash and grooming to a rescued German Shepherd. She works with a local pet shelter to provide free, first grooming to adopted animals. Now that is a good deed,isn't it?

Prices are set by the size of dog, and start in the low $20's. But that includes a lot of stuff. Bev has two mottoes: 1) Always accepting gentle animals; and 2) A place known for happy tails.

After vacationing in the Hocking Hills, you might enjoy that ride home more if you get Fido a good wash!

Call Bev at 740-478-5018 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome too.

BookCrossing.com Crossing Zones in the Hocking Hills

2008-05-25T11:18:00.004-04:00

One of our recent guests turned me on to a cool book sharing web site called BookCrossing.com. She left behind a recently read book, which she had picked up at a "crossingzone" in Canada. Inside were instructions for going online to register that I'd picked up this book (by its unique BookID) and what I was going to do with it. Since I'm a big reader, I love just about anything to do with books and sharing books.

So I've become a free member of BookCrossing.com and have created a Crossing Zone at our Marsh Hollow Pinewood Cabin and another at the wonderful Hilltop Bake Shoppe in Adelphi, just across the Hocking County line.

You'll have to make a reservation at Marsh Hollow to use our Crossing Zone, but you can stop by the Hilltop Bake Shoppe Tuesday through Saturday to look through the growing collection and pick up a new read. Or you can drop off a book if you'd like to -either already registered at BookCrossing.com or one you just want to leave behind.

And if you stop by the Hilltop Bake Shoppe, try the sour cream doughnuts. I guarantee these are the BEST sour cream doughnuts anywhere. And as I've mentioned in the blog before, the pizza is the best in the Hocking Hills.

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

2008-03-19T13:52:00.004-04:00

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!

2008-03-05T14:21:00.004-05:00

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!

2008-02-28T14:10:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-13T11:24:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-01-23T15:40:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

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!

2007-10-27T11:21:00.000-04:00

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

Great Outdoor Adventure Show (previously Paul Bunyan Show)

2007-10-05T07:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend (October 5-7, 2007) check out the Great Outdoor Adventure show at Hocking College in Nelsonville. This used to be called the Paul Bunyan Show, but the Ohio Forestry Association "owns" the name and has ended its association with Hocking College after 75 years of togetherness. So the "Paul Bunyan Show" still exists and takes place the same weekend but it's in Guernsey County. It is much more geared to the timber industry.

The Great Outdoor Adventure show is for people who enjoy the outdoors. Visit the show web site at http://www.hocking.edu/goa/ for a schedule of events and a map.

There are some great extras with your $5 admission fee:

Dock dogs competitions - dogs running then jumping as far as they can into a pool; some of the finals on Sunday will be televised.
Robbins Crossing - a 19th century southeastern Ohio village, with costumed interpreters and craft demonstrators.

And Nelsonville also is home to the Rocky Outlet Factory Store, a great place for all of your boot needs, clothing, home accessories, etc. Three floors of great stuff! Rocky's always has a display at the show, but a stop at the store is a must. It's right next to the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway station on U.S. 33.

Plus the show is a great place to pick up a chainsaw sculpture.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

http://www.marsh-hollow.com/

Treats at the Apple House & Thornybrook Farms

2007-09-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

The Apple House in Laurelville, on Route 56 in the village, has great apples, but is also offering apple slushies and parched corn. We haven't tried them yet, but recent guests told us they are quite tasty.

About 4 miles east of Laurelville on Route 56, Thornybrook Farms has pumpkins, gourds, mums & other plants, delicious homemade cinnamon buns, apple dumplings and bread. They aren't open every day, but usually Friday-Sunday.

More Wildflowers

2007-05-05T16:48:00.000-04:00

I've seen a lot more flowers since my last posting, here are the few I've taken the time to try to identify:

Daisy fleabane
Dogwood
Garlic mustard
Lady's slipper
Perfoliate bellwort

And a strangely colored violet, mottled white and purple - haven't figure out what it is yet.

Hocking Hills Wildflowers Right Now

2007-04-25T16:55:00.000-04:00

Friends Beth & Chuck recently hiked through the Rock House area to enjoy spring wildflowers. They report that trillium, jack-in-th-pulpit, Dutchman's-breeches and many others are on full display. I'll have to get over there.

In the meantime, I hiked into the woods behind our house (same woods our Marsh Hollow cabin is near) and found the following beauties today:

Bluets

Common blue violet

Cut-leaved toothwort

Golden ragwort

Hispid buttercup

May-apple (not blooming yet, but getting ready)

Poor man's pepper

Rue anemone

Smooth phlox

Smooth yellow violet

Spring beauty

Sweet white violet

White trillium

I can only hope I got the names right because I'm using the 1968 edition of A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America by Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny. Things can change in that amount of time.

Ash Cave Falls in February

2007-02-24T13:44:00.000-05:00

We've had almost a week of somewhat normal temperatures after weeks of well-below-normal temperatures. Dave and I decided to check out the Ash Cave waterfall to see if it was frozen. On our last trip in January, it had big stalagtites reaching down to a really big stalagmite of ice.

Yesterday, it was running freely and there was still a nice pile of ice at the bottom:

Beware: the trail in was a solid sheet of ice. VERY SLIPPERY!

Feeder Birds in the Hocking Hills, February 5-10, 2007

2007-02-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

Last week, our very kind and patient guests reported the following birds at our Marsh Hollow feeder (sunflower seeds in a hopper and a suet cake):

American crow
Black-capped chickadee
Blue jay
Brown creeper
Carolina wren (my favorite, next to roseate spoonbills who live in Florida)
Downey woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Northern cardinal
Red-bellied woodpecker
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Tufted titmouse
White-breasted nuthatch

And an unidentified hawk, possibly a Marsh hawk (that would be appropriate, wouldn't it?).

The most unusual creature reported at that feeder, but only in summer, was a flying squirrel.

The feeder area at the Marsh Hollow "homestead" is crowded with gold finches and dark-eyed juncoes, and mourning doves. No kinglets or creepers, but all of the others. Our feeder menu is a little more extensive and includes thistle seed, safflower seeds, and shelled corn.

Photographing Frozen Waterfalls

2007-02-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

The Old Bear's Den is offering an all day photography workshop Saturday, February 17, 2007, focusing on frozen waterfalls. This is definitely going to be a great weekend for frozen waterfalls. We walked up to the ones at Conkle's Hollow last Friday, late afternoon and they were the best we've ever seen. Beautiful blue-green shading, amazing shapes and sure to be even better after the storm this week and VERY COLD temperatures today through the weekend.

More information is at: http://www.theoldbear.com/workshops.html

I really need this workshop. I've got lots of bad pictures of frozen falls!

Our creek is doing its version of a lateral frozen waterfall. There's a layer of running water on the bottom, a thick layer of ice, then another layer of running water. I'm expecting solid ice by tomorrow afternoon.

Birth of a Frozen Waterfall

2007-02-04T17:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday (Saturday, February 3), we had a wonderful day out and about in the Hocking Hills with our friends Diane & Sherwin.

First stop: Ash Cave. We got to see how a frozen waterfall begins - it grows from both ends. Right now a pile of ice is forming into a sort of stalagmite on the ground. The water is still falling freely, but has also formed a line of huge icicle stalagtites. Dave & I plan to drive back over on Monday to see how close the mite is to the tite. We saw a similar formation at Cedar Falls.

While it was very cold (in the upper teens), the sky was so blue and clear, and the sun was bright. Since I needed boots, Dave needed gloves and Diane ended up needing a sweater, we drove down to Rocky's in Nelsonville for some shopping. Then we met Sherwin's son Dirk and fiance Meredith at the Coffee Cup for lunch.

To finish off our excursion, we stopped at the Midwest Glass Outlet in Logan so Diane could buy 20 candy dishes to celebrate her office's move into new quarters.

Perfect day!

Hocking Hills Indian Run

2006-09-18T08:20:00.000-04:00

I'm beginning to feel a little tender from the 5k "Indian Run" race at the Hocking Hills State Park on Saturday. Dave and I ran/jogged/walked over the trails, and while we improved our time from last year's event, we dropped in the standings! But our Kelly won her division!

This is a great event, with 5k, 10k, 20k, 40k and 60k runs. While some of it is on paved roads, most is on trails. Plenty of hills and tree roots to navigate. Check it out at http://www.1800hocking.com/indianrun because there will be another one next September.

6th Annual Washboard Festival

2006-06-18T07:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Dave and I met up with our good friend Sandy for some great music at the Washboard Festival in Logan. Year after year, this festival features incredible music, and this year was no exception. It's not too late for you, because the music continues today (Sunday) until 5 p.m.

The bands must all have a washboard in them, and since the washboard is a funny-kind of instrument, most of the bands are pretty funny too. They all have such a great time, the audience just can't help but join in. The music ranges from jug to blues to jazz to zydeco, plus just plain silly. These are professional musicians and all are very talented.

Yesterday, Dave and I got to see Big Mama Sue & Friends (the voice, the banjo, the piano playin'), the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs (funny funny funny), the Juggernaut Jug Band (such harmonizing) and Robin Lacy & Dezydeco (young, tight leather pants). These were all great, but my favorite was when Buffalo Ridge and the "Washboard Ensemble" took the stage. In addition to the great band, the ensemble included a bunch of amateurs and other professionals. Amatuer might be the wrong word, these people take their music seriously. The closing tune, "When the Saints Go Marching In" was toe tappin', foot stompin', hand clappin' good stuff. And you've never seen that many washboard players in one place. And yes, I might have to get me one of those 'boards!

Hiking, Lunch at Etta's Lunchbox, & Rocky's Boots

2006-06-18T06:59:00.000-04:00

Pat, Patty, Maggie & Makenzie (daughter & family) drove up from Georgia week before last to visit all their folks in Ohio. We were lucky to have them stay with us for almost a week (in the cabin, not in the house for goodness sake).

We had a wonderful time showing them the sites. M&M are finally both old enough to do a little hiking so we tripped over to Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. Then it was off to Etta's Lunchbox Cafe for some eats. Motto: "we're not your Mom, but we'll pack your lunch." Very tasty.
Next stop was Rocky's Outdoor Gear in Nelsonville, one of my favorite places to shop. They've got much more than boots. It's 3 floors of house stuff, clothes, gifts, knives and boots, boots, boots. DEFINTELY worth a stop (about 45 minutes from Marsh Hollow).

Where in the world are Maggie, Mary & Makenzie?

Driving Dangers Differ in the Country

2006-05-13T18:58:00.000-04:00

Our Spring magazine from Geico had a nice little article for teens about different driving dangers, comparing the city to the country. Excellent advice, which I will paraphrase here:

On rural roads:

SLOW DOWN. Our roads are more curvy and hilly than most other highways in Ohio. Please drive slower or you may end up crossing center line accidentally. It happens, with tragic consequences.
BE PREPARED FOR LACK OF LIGHT. It's dark out here. Use the center line or edge line, if there is one. See point #1: SLOW DOWN.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANIMALS. It's tough to see at dawn and dusk, and that's exactly when animals are most active. Deer are very large animals, but blend in and so are difficult to spot. And where there's one, there's sure to be more. Of course, see point #1: SLOW DOWN.

Enjoy your drive in the country. Just SLOW DOWN.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Whip-poor-will

2006-05-05T08:58:00.000-04:00

For the past week or so, Dave & I have been listening to Whip-poor-wills singing their songs. They are to be heard in the evening, and last a long time. According to A Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America (1983), the song lasts 55-60 minutes! We have never seen this bird, but enjoy its song, as a sign of spring, year after year. The song can be quite loud as the bird gets closer, and one blog writer described whip-poor-wills as "unshut-able."

On another topic, I have mentioned how much I enjoy reading the police & sheriff's reports in the Logan Daily. Here's a sample from the Thursday paper:

Andy Ucker, Cox Road, reported that he found a roofing nail in his driveway on Saturday, April 29. A deputy talked with a neighbor who said he didn't see anything suspicious in the area.

There's probably more to this story, but don't you WISH you lived somewhere where this is considered an important reason to call the law?

Have a great weekend!

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Lilac Time

2006-04-30T20:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, the lilacs are in full bloom as are the dogwood trees. They've been blooming for a week, but this weekend must have been the peak. The redbud trees are starting to leaf out, so the blooms are fading. I really can't decide which is my favorite of these three - guess I don't have too!

Even more exciting news: Dave saw a single hummingbird earlier this week. I'd better get the feeders washed, filled and hung up. Those little birds are very demanding.

Our Eastern phoebes built their regular nest on our front porch. I haven't checked for eggs yet, but mama and papa phoebe are always around. Little Six (our black kitty) loves to sit on the window cell and watch them fly back & forth. They've picked a good spot - Six cannot climb up to the nest.

Mushroom Hunt (Wildflower walk)

2006-04-24T10:02:00.001-04:00

Our friend Sandy came over yesterday to hunt for mushrooms (morels). In past years, we have found a few, but expected better results 'cause we thought Sandy, being a born and raised country girl, would give us an edge. Not so. She told us we had lots of prime locations, but we found no mushrooms. Even the usual little patch had zip. We'll try again in a few days, after we get the next rain.

However, we found a lot of wildflowers, among them Bluets, Violets, White Violets, Wild Sweet William, Large White Trillim and Golden Ragwort. The May Apples are sprouting everywhere, but the flowers aren't open yet . Dogwood blooms appear to be floating at the edge of the woods, and the Redbuds are really putting on a spectacular display this year. Speaking of Dogwoods, there is an absolutely gorgeous old, pink Dogwood on Route 56 in Laurelville, just east of the Apple House. It blooms beautifully, year after year.

While not wild, our crabapple trees are heavy with flowers this year. And smell wonderful. The lilacs should pop open in a few days! My favorite.

Wild Turkeys!

2006-03-30T07:23:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post - this morning I heard a lot of gobbling (as in many gobbles) from the pine grove near our Marsh Hollow cabin! Turkeys are very clever and we don't see any around our home because of our dog patrol (Juice, Mac & Boede). It's spring in the Hocking Hills.