From the 'office' into the living room 

Well, I closed on the house on Friday, and Saturday morning my truckload of furniture arrived. I remembered it being so much, but it really is a couch, a bed, and a lot of books. Got all the unpacking done, and a healthy start on my to-do list. 

We had a little snow earlier this week. It took me a bit to de-ice the windshield. I don't think Tessa, my Truck, has ever experienced cold like this before. But she is running like a top, and just passed the 100,000 mile mark!! 

So, I have been house hunting. This is the one I fell in love with. Closing is scheduled for Friday.  

Recently, I have grown weary of the Marriott TowneSuites Hotel here in Findlay, Ohio. The customer service is almost non-existant...you should keep a list of items sent out for dry cleaning because they come back one or two at a time, spread over a week (despite the same day service and charge). Mail addressed to you at this address does not always arrive. Visitors staying for long periods of time get billed once a week, and so far, none of those I have received has been correct on the firstt (or sometimes second) try. But the biggest no-no in hotel management is failing to repair a reported leak. I noticed the bathroom wall bulging out last week, and pushed on it. Turned out to be water trapped between the wall and the wall paper. A service call was made, and the repair consisted of a tech slicing open the bulging wallpaper and soaking up the residue. I must have asked 4 times if this was repaired as opposed to just drained from the wall - that there is a leak upstairs from me and it needed attention or this seepage would continue. Almost a week later, my bathroom ceiling started raining in the night. Wallpaper bulges appeared and multiplied, and there were actual drips from various spots in the ceiling. I talked to the front desk, again, about this problem. They assured me it would be addressed. When I returned after work, this is the 'repair'. Apparently the maintenance worker stuck his thumb or finger through the ceiling (it was soggy) to drain it. In several spots along the bathroom. Wallpaper was peeled off where the leaks had occurred. I went back downstairs to explain to the young desk clerk why this was unacceptable. Then, she explained that the upstairs tenant apparently was embarrassed to call for help - when his TOILET OVERFLOWED - repeatedly. I could not stop the gag reflex. I then told her again how unacceptable this was. But now I was in a situation. I have everything I own strewn throughout a hotel room - have been living out of a suitcase for a few months now. They were bulging when I got here, and I have since bought an outfit or two, so moving to another hotel would be a huge hassle. Plus, it was 8 degrees outside. And, I get frequent flier miles for the money sent here, and then I get frequent flier miles from my credit card. Those are very valuable to me. So, I explained how this was a safety and health hazard, and how amazed I am at this facility's apparent lack of concern for their structure or their guest's satisfaction - especialy when they are from one of the two big companies keeping this town economically alive. So, I got a new, bigger room. Maybe this week, the billing will be right, too. 

Great Fall sunset....heavy, full clouds.... 

Findlay Fall Foliage. 

Back in Findlay, the fall leaves went through a fantastic array of color. This was back in November, though....they are all naked now.  

Entering Amish country......and Amish traffic! 

When driving in Amish Ohio, one must be especially aware of slow-moving traffic. 

Besides a large Amish population, there are also lots of German settlements here. Reminds me, somewhat, of the Texas hill country. This is Heini's Cheese Chalet....almost looks out of place. 

Elsewhere in Ohio's Amish country is the Smuckers farm. When I went by it was closed, but all decked out for the holidays. And I thought they were located in California! Must be confusing them with Knot's Berry Farm. 

Here is a larger image of the Wooster courthouse. Really nice building but I am not sure I like the red brick building abutting it.... 

One weekend I went into Amish country. Apparently there is a large Amish population in eastern Ohio. It is beautiful farm country and I had a cood crisp weekend to go exploring. I spent some time around Wooster, which had a great old courthouse. I have not seen column supports like this since visiting the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Poland. 

Well, I have not updated photos for a while, but I have been able to do a little exploring in Ohio outside of trips south to visit Mom and Dad. This shot was taken while driving, so it is blurry, but I really like it in a watercolor-y way.