I can’t take credit for this headline. It was in last Saturday’s Logan Daily News, which is the quintessential small town newspaper. I love reading it every day, especially the police and sheriff reports. And obituaries for some reason.

Anyway, turkey vultures are back in Hocking County doing their best to keep county and township roads clean. Clean of dead animals only – they leave the rest of the trash for someone else to pick up. They arrived in March, a sure sign a spring. The goldfinches are also starting to turn yellow. They’ve been in their drab winter dress, but dating season is upon us so the boys will be be bright yellow and black before long.

The Hocking County Tourism Association has a “birding” web page at http://www.1800hocking.com/birding. It includes a link to the Hocking Valley Birding Trail site, which includes a checklist to use during your visits to the area. It also points you toward great places to go watch for birds.

I’m about ready to go out to feed the girls (goats) and boys (horses). While I always enjoy it, the birds will be singing up a storm this morning making it even better.

Just about everybody we know could see this coming: we’ve decided to keep “Bode” since no one has come forward to claim him, and because he is a very nice dog. He’s been to the vet for shots and “fixing” so now he’s definitely a keeper. Dr. Roll thinks he’s about 2 or so.

When I went over to Pinewood Cabin to clean today, our pet goats Crystal and Stormy were there to greet me (not a good thing). Bode was a little too helpful rounding them up, so we’ll have to work on dog etiquette around goats. Mac did a wonderful job of keeping himself between Bode and the girls. He’s a real protector and doesn’t hold any grudges: Crystal and Stormy have horned him a couple of times in the past, when he got a little too close.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

We are not sure what to call this stray dog. He’s been with us since January 31, when we noticed we had 3 dogs on the front porch instead of the usual 2. He needs a home:

He’s a young, un-neutered male dog, very friendly and non-aggressive with other dogs. He hasn’t shown any interest in chasing the horses and goats, and since he got zapped by the elecric fence has no further interest in going into their fields.

We have been feeding him outside, so I am not sure if he is house-trained. He would LOVE to come in and I have a feeling he has been in a home before.

There has been no response to the flyers we distributed up and down nearby roads.

If you are looking for a large, sweet dog with a big appetite (for love & food), please contact me at marshhollow@direcway.com or 740-332-9202.

Mary from Marsh Hollow

Update: Sadly, the Grouse Nest and Etta’s are now closed, but Glenlaurel and the Inn Cedar Falls still provide the most elegant dining in the Hocking Hills.

Within the last month, Dave and I have dined at the 3 top restaurants in the Hocking Hills. This is unusual behavior for us, but we need to keep on top of the dining situation for the sake of our current and future Marsh Hollow guests. It’s a a great job.

Last week, we did a double whammy: dinner at Glenlaurel Inn on Friday night, followed by lunch at the Grouse Nest on Saturday after a long hike up Long Hollow. Glenlaurel has undergone a change in management. The previous proprietor, Michael, was a wonderful innkeeper, and had more poems in his head than anyone I’ve ever known. I can reassure you that the new owners and innkeeper have followed in Michael’s fine tradition. We enjoyed an excellent 5 course meal. Speaking for myself, the Mahi mahi was excellent. And the dessert was a chocolate molten thing that was to die for. Plus, it’s a dry township, so we got to bring our own wine. “A+” for Glenlaurel Inn. The inn itself is lovely and out in the middle of nowhere!

On Saturday, along with our friends Diane & Sherwin, we mapped out a multi-stage geocache which we hope to post at geocaching.com. Needless to say after all that hiking around in the woods and through streams, we were hungry. Dave suggested the Grouse Nest, and it turned out to be a great suggestion. We all enjoyed our meals, but I can report that the butternut soup was DELICIOUS. It was served with a hard roll and butter. That actually would have been enough for lunch, but I added on the turkey wrap – also quite tasty and big enough for 2 people. Diane took her 2nd half and mine, so that she and Sherwin could have a quick lunch before they left for home on Sunday. “A” for Grouse Nest lunch. We have been here for dinner quite a few times. Give them an “A” for dinner too! The restaurant itself is nice, but kind of generic. Well, the cathedral ceiling is nice. Friendly staff, of course.

Earlier in January, we decided to drive over to the Inn at Cedar Falls, which has always been a favorite, particularly because it’s in an old log cabin, which has been expanded into a nice size restaurant. Among the 3, the Inn at Cedar Falls wins the ambience contest. Rustic & charming. The food was also very good, especially the chocolate mousse! Very fine dining, indeed. Give the Inn at Cedar Falls an “A” too.

Etta’s General Store & Lunchbox Cafe is not “fine” dining (and I’m sure the restaurants above are confused about being included in the same article as Etta’s), but it is a great place for lunch and a bit different than any other restaurant around here. I was there on Tuesday with friends (Beth, Beth, Julie & Kathy) and we all had great homemade lunches. I had chicken corn chowder – wonderful. And a BLT. Where did they get such good tomatoes in the middle of winter? I understand that they will also pack a lunch for you to take on your hike. Hundreds of lunchboxes are on display. We sat near “The Man from Uncle” lunchbox, and with the combined brain cells of all 5 of us, were able to name the actors and the characters they played. Not immediately, but after much deep thinking. And to think I was so-o-o in love with Illya Kuryakin. But who wasn’t!

It’s a little bit out of the way, but if you’re going to Lake Hope via Route 56, Etta’s is a great place to stop. Be aware: it’s funky! But it gets an “A” in its own little category.

There are plenty of other great places to eat in the Hocking Hills, but the 3 “inns” are very special. And Etta’s is unique. Come down to Marsh Hollow sometime, and splurge on a great restaurant or two.

Mary at Marsh Hollow

Just a quick post to let you know that the transformation of our well water is complete. If you’ve stayed with us at Marsh Hollow before, you have experienced some pretty strong well water. I just cleaned the cabin, getting ready for our next guests, and there were no stains, no spots to remove from ANYTHING.

I could actually smell the orange aroma in my dishwashing liquid. And one of our guests this week reported that she developed shiny hair, after washing with, yes, our well water!

So the already fabulous Marsh Hollow vacation log cabin experience just got better.

Now all we have to do is get the trench graded and re-seeded. Probably not til spring.

At last! Our new filtering/sanitizing water system is good to go. While we think our Marsh Hollow cabin offers just about the perfect Hocking Hills vacation, the well water has left a lot to be desired. And filling the hot tub with it has always been a tiresome experience.

But Bob of Hill’s Services has installed a pretty nifty system that promises to keep the pretty water flowing. He had to dig a pretty long trench to complete the project so now we have some grading/landscaping to do – after it thaws and dries out a bit.

Come visit us at Marsh Hollow and check out our new improved water!

This Saturday enjoy a special Hocking Hills hike. Celebrate the season with a quarter-mile lighted stroll to Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park. Also enjoy a bonfire and refreshments, visits with an old-fashioned Santa and decorating a holiday tree for wildlife. Hours: 5-7 p.m. Free. Call 740-385-6841, or go to www.hockinghillspark.com.

Well, it’s really a quilt garage. I have admired the many quilt patterns that are being painted on a variety of structures in the Hocking Hills, so I painted this “Ohio Star” on the garage/storage building at Marsh Hollow.

Adams County has created a driving tour of more than 20 quilt squares. You can view them online at http://www.adamscountytravel.org/BarnQuiltSquares.htm.

Fall color seems to be making an extended stay this year – the Hocking Hills are still absolutely gorgeous this week. Yesterday, my daughter Carolyn and I drove along Chapel Ridge Road and Route 374 to the Wind Chime Shop at 29205 Ilesboro Road. Just incredible views of oranges, reds, yellows, purples and greens. Plus the Wind Chime Shop had the perfect chime for a wedding gift for friends.

Here’s a sample of yesterday’s fall color:

Carolyn atop Dusty, Cash looking on

The past few days have been pretty rainy, which is good for the waterfalls, but hard on the leaves. Fortunately, there are still quite a few trees that haven’t even started to turn so the next week should offer good color. Let’s hope the sun comes out.

All summer, deer visited our apple trees for snack time. Lately, they seem much shyer. Or maybe they are sick of apples! Last week, I drove past a large buck (with a very nice rack) on Big Pine Road, just past the intersection with Wagner Road. Our guests (at Marsh Hollow) saw another one near the cabin. Love is in the air!

I am pretty sure this is the same doe & fawns we saw all summer long.

Photo by Dave Kellerman
Despite the rain, this time of year makes me so happy. I enjoy looking at all of the fields we mow and thinking that there are really only 1 or 2 mowing days left. You cannot imagine how comforting that is.

An update on the September 17th Indian Run, which is the series of races that the Hocking Hills Tourism Association offers every year. Dave and I both entered the 5k. He won his age group (well, 1st out of 1 entry), and I was 3rd in mine (well, 3rd out of 3). And we WALKED the race. Overall, there were over 400 entrants – but most were much, much younger than we are.

Country Living, the official publication of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, is a great little magazine that we receive every month. The September issue included a very informative article “Six Adventures in the Hocking Hills.” Here’s a quick summary of what was included:

Canoe the Hocking River. There are at least 3 canoe liveries, and they offer 1 to 6 hour trips, daytime and nighttime trips. Hurry because canoe liveries do not operate in the winter:

• Hocking Hills Canoe Livery
• Hocking Valley Canoe Livery
• Old Man River Canoe Livery

Rappel at Big Pine Road. This is for experienced climbers only as you are on your own. However, it’s fun to just watch, either from the top of the cliffs or below. The rappeling area is located on Big Pine Road, between Route 374 and Hockman Road. There are also bridle trails in this area, so watch out for horses.

Race the Indian Run. Better really hurry for this one because it’s next weekend, September 17. Dave and I have registered for the 5K version this year, but if you are up for more, you can also run 10, 20 and 60K versions (only 15 souls (30 soles) completed the 60K last year). This race is challenging because it’s on trails through the Hocking State Forest and Park. Visit the official web site at http://www.1800hocking.com/info/10/803 for more information.

Birdwatching by Kayak. Birding trips by kayak are available for both beginners and experienced kayakers at Touch the Earth Adventures. While the owner offers quite a few adventures in the Hocking Hills, she also coordinates nature trips to South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia & Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The Hocking Hills Scenic Byway. I can’t quite understand why it took so long for the powers that be in Columbus to recognize that Route 374 is THE scenic-est highway in Ohio. A very nice description of important mile-markers is available on the Hocking Hills Tourism Association web site. Stay on your side of the road, and be careful around the corners.

Mary at Marsh Hollow