Good Things in Small Packages

Good Things in Small Packages

In a disconnected world, run by electronics, Troy Homecoming reminds us of better days.  Where people are friends in real life, and not on a computer or phone screen.  Where sports are played outside under the big blue sky and not in front of a television.  Where we get to hear truly talented musicians, not masked by synthesizers.  The joyous activities of the weekend bring family, friends, neighbors and strangers together.

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Geauga County Fair Entries in Ohio

Geauga County Fair Entries in Ohio

There are so many wonderful things you can do as a fair participant.  Years of experience have yet to teach me that I can not manage all I would like to.  I just want to try everything.   If you have any hobby, you will find a niche in the fair.  The list of possibilities is long and detailed, allowing everyone to share their talents and prowess for timing and preparation.

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Troy Homecoming, an Old Fashioned Community Festival

Troy Homecoming, an Old Fashioned Community Festival

This homecoming is not a high school dance (though you could dance to live music throughout the weekend). Rather, it is a century old, free, community festival held annually in southern Geauga County in Ohio. According to local historians, Troy Homecoming started in 1911 when the township celebrated its 100th birthday.

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Shout for Joy, O Barren One

Shout for Joy, O Barren One

Regularly, I spend time at dinner tables that are not my own and vacation with people who love me.  A couple of years ago, I traveled across country with my friend Grace and her five boys.  Now, I am again blessed to travel across country, this time with my niece and nephew.  I relish every minute that God has given me to love and be loved!  It is wonderful to be present when children experience new things and are introduced to landscapes they have never seen before.  

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Belfast and Northern Ireland

Belfast and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is beautiful.  I am a northerner and convinced that the further north you go, the prettier the world becomes.  I had initially visited Belfast, Northern Ireland over a decade ago.  At the time, there was still political strife and the air in Belfast was thick with tension.  Fast forward 16 years, Belfast is renewed.  People were out an about, walking the streets, shopping, mingling, exchanging welcoming glances.  It is beautiful.  My heart is glad for this city.

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Skijoring in Montana

Skijoring in Montana

Skijoring is a combination of Montana’s favorite things:  snow, skis and horses.  There is a long course where the horse and rider run straight down the middle while pulling a skier behind with a rope.  The skier maneuvers through obstacles.  The object of the game is to go as fast as you can through the course.  It is a thrill to watch. Many of the horses and riders are dressed in their finest cowboy frills.  The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.  

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Cigar Factory New Orleans in Louisiana, USA

Cigar Factory New Orleans in Louisiana, USA

The diligence and skill of the folks rolling cigars at Cigar Factory New Orleans is captivating.  They do not falter in their performance, even while being interrupted with admiration by observers.  The warm, brown interior of the shop indicates years of producing and savoring a delectable leaf that has been enjoyed by countless people through history.  The thick, spicy musk of unburnt tobacco mingles with the humidity of New Orleans and makes me smile. 

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Scuba Diving on Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) in Cuba

Scuba Diving on Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) in Cuba

The water around Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) in Cuba is warm and the visibility is good for scuba diving.  There is an oppresive atmosphere in Cuba, due to the their governing process, and the scuba gear is quite old and worn.  

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Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery on Algiers Point, Louisiana in the USA

Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery on Algiers Point, Louisiana in the USA

A short ferry ride from downtown New Orleans, across the Mississippi River will take you to Algiers Point.  Algiers Point is refreshingly quiet and full of pleasant experiences, such as the Rosetree Blow Glass Studio and Gallery.  The studio is housed in an old Art Deco movie house.  You can watch the artists in action and even purchase a one-of-a-kind, hand-made glass item.  

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Delicious Food in Krakow, Poland

Delicious Food in Krakow, Poland

Krakow, I found, is amazingly rich in the history, architecture and culture I crave. Main Market Square on a Saturday night is alive with activity and food to tempt, even on a full stomach.  Unparalleled street food, less tourists and more people from the countryside, are what you will find on a Saturday night in the Main Market Square.

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Auschwitz and Birkenau

Auschwitz and Birkenau

During my visit to Krakow, Poland I wanted to tour Auschwitz and Birkenau.  I felt compelled to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, in order to remember and reinforce my awareness of the horror and inhumanity, the unfathomable capacity of humankind . . . lest we never forget.  There are no words to describe the experience.

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Bainbridge Swing Dance in Ohio

Bainbridge Swing Dance in Ohio

The Bainbridge Swing Dance in northeast Ohio is a well-established dance that averages 180 people every first Friday of the month.  New and seasoned dancers, from all generations, gather each month to hear a live band play Big Band, Swing, and/or Blues music. Attending the Bainbridge Swing Dance is like watching an old movie.  It is, unquestionably and consistently, one of my favorite dances.  The atmosphere is welcoming.  No partner is required and there is an hour long dance lesson before the band begins.  

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