Next Stop, Ohio

Our vacation wasn’t over. Some time ago when Rick and I first talked about going on vacation, he mentioned going to Michigan. Later he said told me about his cousin Tammy who lived in Ohio and that he’d really like to get there to visit sometime. Well…

I put two and two together and said, “Let’s extend our vacation and after we go to Michigan, let’s got to Ohio and see Tammy.” Rick loved the idea and it worked out with Tammy. So we made plans. I’m so glad we did as Rick and I had lots of fun with them too.

We left on Saturday morning from Michigan and headed to Ohio…the Toledo area. Before we left, Rick was insistent on one stop…the bakery.

This is an upscale bakery called Bit of Swiss.

Talk about eye candy…and belly candy.

See the missing cake in the top row. Yep. Rick bought that one to take to Tammy’s. I just love that he knows that it’s the right thing to bring a gift to the hostess. Some men wouldn’t have a clue.

I couldn’t pick what I wanted to eat for breakfast. There were SO MANY choices. Did I want sweet or savory??

I ended up with a cream cheese croissant. Oh my. It was the best ever!!

We headed out of Michigan and rain hit. Nothing terrible but the splash up from all the semis was annoying.

I kept myself busy working on English Paper Piecing. I had worked on it periodically while we traveled. Rick did most of the driving so I could.

We got to Tammy’s at about 1:30 in the afternoon. We went out to eat right away.

Tammy is married to Mario. He is originally from Mexico. It turns out Tammy’s sister Tricia and her husband came as well, as did Tammy’s son and a friend of his. Rick hadn’t seen Tricia since she was about 10 years old. It’s been years since he saw Tammy too. You would have never known. They were just like old friends and picked up right where they left off.

We had an amazing time with them. We stayed on Saturday and Sunday at Tammy and Mario’s.

On Sunday afternoon, they all decided that we should go to the mall. I told Rick it’s been years and years since I’ve been to a mall…and I don’t ever remember going there to shop for myself except maybe when I was in college. HA! Well Rick was having none of that. He took me to the perfume counter in Dillards and told me to pick some perfume.

HA!! It was hick day at the mall. I’m sure we gave the gal at the counter a good laugh. I told Rick I have never bought “real” perfume in my entire life and I certainly haven’t tested any. He couldn’t believe it and insisted I pick one out. The gal at the counter would giggle at me now and then but overall she was really sweet. Rick ended up doing the testing with me…it really was fun.

This is what I ended up with. I have to say, I really like it.

Sunday night Tammy’s whole family came over. We had such a great time and Tammy’s grandkids are chuck full of great manners. It really was a fun time just sitting around and chatting. Here is me, Tammy and Rick. I’m sad I didn’t get a picture with the family.

Rick and I jumped in the car for our nine hour drive home. We split the driving duties this time. Traffic was MUCH better coming home. No delays at all.

It was a wonderful time away…but it was good to come home to out little town.

Rick and I didn’t do much site seeing…we had a lot of family time though and I wouldn’t trade that for the world. Everyone was so welcoming to Rick and I. We definitely want to go again. This time I just met everyone and put names with faces, next time, I really want to get to know them.

Rick and I are having a great life together. It was really meaningful to me that he wanted to share his family with me. Seeing Lake Michigan, seeing him so happy there, was wonderful…it was like I could see the little kid in him. I can’t put into words how good that was.