Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

Recipes, Travels, and Stories

recent posts

about

  • Jammin’ on the Porch

    Join me on Saturdays where I’ll share my photos from my road trip with my mom.

    The Way Down

    The First Night

    Artisan’s Center, Town, and Hands

    Berea College Tour

    Thursday Afternoon – Noodles Nirvana, Old Town, Farm Store, and Random Statues

    After we had a picnic supper in our hotel room, we went to Jammin’ on the Porch.  On Thursday evening, various people gather and play bluegrass or country music.  Everyone gets a chance to play their instrument and sing a song of their choice.  Some played guitars, fiddles, or even washboards.

    During the summer, it is actually held on a porch in Old Town.  During the winter months, it is held at a local center.

    The musicians gather in a large circle.  They go clockwise one after the other twice.  We only stayed for one round because there was a threat of a bad storm coming.

    Out of respect for the musicians, I don’t have any photos of the actual musicians.  Instead I have some photos of the center that it was held in.

    20170330175006_IMG_0012-COLLAGE

     

    Here is a link for more information about Jammin’ on the Porch.

    Join me next Saturday for more of our visit.

    Have a magical day,

    Traci

  • Romance, Ghosts, and Mystery

    4. Book review!

    {This post is edited.  While typing it up, it was storming so my dog wanted my attention.  Meanwhile our bird was trying to help me type up this post.  I reread what I wrote so I’ve got to revise and edit what I typed up.)

    When I was in New York last month, I was introduced to a new author.

    My friend, Molly, and I were at Barnes and Nobles looking at Chick Lit books.  I finally decided on purchasing On Folly Beach written by Karen White.

    Once I began reading the book, I could not put it down.  The book flipped between present day (2009) and World War II.  This book has both romance and mystery.  Most of all it had the beach.

    However, this review is not about On Folly Beach, it’s about another book written by Karen White.

    After finishing the book, I decided to find other books written by her because I really enjoyed her writing style.

    That’s when I discovered the Tradd Street series that takes place in the historical area of Charleston near the Battery.

    I borrowed the first book in the series The House on Tradd Street on Hoopla so I could listen to the book while driving and cooking.  I completed the book yesterday.

    Hubby and I traveled to the Toledo Zoo yesterday.  I wanted to finish the book so we listened to it on the 2.5 hour drive.  We pulled into the parking lot as the story ended.  Talk about perfect timing.

    Now onto the review about the book:

    Melanie has inherited 55 Tradd Street.  The house needs to be renovated because it is in disrepair.  Melanie does not want the house because she is able to see and communicate with ghosts.  This house has ghosts – both benign and evil.

    In the meantime, she meets Jack, an author, who wants to discover what has happened to one of the former inhabitants, Louisa, because she suddenly disappears at the same time as another citizen of Charleston, Joseph.

    Meanwhile the mysterious Mark shows up.  Should Melanie trust him or not?  Jack believes she should not trust him.  He has a feeling that Mark is up to no good especially since he is the grandson of the Joseph.  Even though Jack warns Melanie not to date him, Melanie begins to date him.  How does the relationship turn out?  I’m not going to tell you.  You need to read the book to find out.

    There is also some missing treasure.  Jack, Melanie, and her dad set out to find the treasure while trying to find out what happened to Louisa and Joseph.

    I enjoyed listening to the story.

    A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to Charleston, SC.  While there, I visited some of the places mentioned in the book.  I’m glad I got to see those places.

    Here are some photos of the places mentioned in the book:

    Top Left – St. Phillips Church

    Top Middle – St. Phillips Cemetery

    Top Right – John C. Calhoun marker (Not the actual grave)

    Bottom Left – Queen Street marker

    Bottom Right – Dock Street Theater

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

    P.S.  Hubby and I started listening to the next book in the series on our way home from Toledo.
    Mama’s Losin’ It

  • Holland, Michigan – Monday morning – Statues

    Join me on Wednesdays for the Holland, Michigan photos.

     

    Sunday Night – The Town

    Sunday Night – Sunset

    Monday Morning – Downtown area

    (more…)

  • Happy 14th birthday, Imaginative One!

    Today is the Imaginative One’s 14th birthday!  I don’t how that happened.  It’s as though I blinked and 14 years had gone by so quickly.

     

    This year is different for me.  I’m not with him to celebrate his 14th birthday.  He’s in Kentucky at Boy Scouts Camp which is something he truly enjoys.

     

    Dear the Imaginative One,

     

    During this past year, you’ve lost your aunt and had his one grandma move in with us and then moved into an apartment 3 minutes away.

    You got Password, our Quaker parrot.  That bird trusts and loves you.

    You’ve have traveled to Orlando and Charleston.  And have volunteered at a Vacation Bible School and a search and rescue for a task force.

    You’ve grown A LOT and your voice has changed. You are now at least 5 foot 7 inches, maybe more.

    You’re still the sarcastic, animal loving, book loving, gifted, chocolate loving, and a sometimes mama’s boy.  You make us laugh A LOT.  You frustrate your brother with your strict rule following at times.

    You’re the only one that I know that has read the ENTIRE student handbook for the fun of it.

    Happy birthday, my 40 year old in a 14 year old body – my old man.

    I’m proud to be your Madam Gasho, mom, or dearest mother depending on your mood of the day.

    You make us proud everyday!

    I can’t wait to celebrate your birthday next week in Hershey, PA!

    Love,

    Your Madam Gasho, mom, or dearest mother, depending on your mood

     

     

  • Our Fourth of July – The Parade

    Every year, our town hosts a Fourth of July parade.

    Last year, I was too ill to go to the parade.  This year I decided the boys, Hubby, and I should watch it even though we had the chance to walk in the parade.

    collage #1

    Before the parade begins, there is a fly over.  This year we had two different fly overs which was cool.

    The Wee One has freckles normally.  They are even more pronounced because of being in the sun last week.

    collage #2.jpg

    If you haven’t heard about the Honor Flight, click on this link to find out more information.  I live in the town next to where the Honor Flight was started.

    The owner of Foy’s was driving the Ghost buster’s car.

    collage #3

    Ohio State University is HUGE around here.  We had the guy who dresses up for all of the games in the parade, a guy who looked like Jim Tressel, and a guy yelling “O-H” up and down the street.  I didn’t take a photo of the Jim Tressel look-a-like.

    The Wee One was all about getting the candy.

    collage #4.jpg

    The librarian who was driving the Bookmobile noticed the Imaginative One was reading a book while watching the parade.

    One of the floats had a random grill on the back of it.

    collage #5.jpg

    The Wee One saw candy caddy corner from us that had not been picked up.  When there was a lull in the parade, he made sure it was safe to cross.  Then he picked up the candy and waited there until it was safe to cross back over to where we were sitting.  I was so proud that he was thinking through his actions.  The candy was shared with his brother and cousin.

    collage #6.jpg

    One of the photos in this collage is the street cleaner.  We knew at that point that the parade was over with so we packed up and walked the three blocks back to where we parked.

    Here are some videos from the parade:

    I hope you had a great Fourth of July!

    I will share the photos of the fireworks next Monday.

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Psalm 146:6

    psalm

  • Noodles Nirvana, Old Town, Farm Store, and Random Statues

    Join me on Saturdays where I’ll share my photos from my road trip with my mom.

    The Way Down

    The First Night

    Artisan’s Center, Town, and Hands

    Berea College Tour

    After the college tour, I went to pick up my mom.  We went to the Old Town part of Berea for our lunch.

    Old Town

    Old Town is known for their artistic expression.  It reminds me of Yellow Springs, a town close to where I live.

    We ended up at a place called Noodles Nirvana for our lunch.  We loved the Pad Thai there.  Delicious.  I’m glad I looked up restaurants for us to eat at before we left.

    20170330115656_IMG_1611-COLLAGE20170330121537_IMG_1621-COLLAGE

    After we left Noodles Nirvana, it was time for dessert.  We went to a Fudge shop in Old Town for our dessert.  We got fudge and some chocolate treats for the Imaginative One.  I got myself some chocolate ice cream.  I forgot to mention that it was 80 degrees on that Thursday.  It was extremely hot for late March.

    20170330123849_IMG_1630-COLLAGE20170330170305_IMG_1660-COLLAGE

    20170330112805_IMG_1592-COLLAGE

    We then went to an Amish deli to get our food for supper.  Mom had a lot of fun looking at all the different foods at the deli.

    20170330155744_IMG_1656
    The Birch beer we got at the deli.  Yum!

    Berea College also has a farm store.  We stopped there to get the remainder of our dinner.  I got myself hummus, lettuce, and an apple while there.

    IMAG1843-COLLAGE

    My dinner – Lettuce wraps with hummus, hard salami, and bacon cheddar cheese.

    20170330160817_IMG_1657-COLLAGE

    While we were driving around, we found this statue.  I had to stop and take photos of it.

    20170330142420_IMG_1652-COLLAGE

    20170330142149_IMG_1641-COLLAGE

    Join me next Saturday for more of our visit.  That evening we went to Jamming of the Porch.  What’s that?  You’ll find out next week.

    Have a magical day,

    Traci

  • Rolls in His Sleep

    3. The last thing that made you laugh.

    Last week, I wrote my Writer’s Workshop post on my phone.  This week I’m back to using my PC.  So much easier.

    While we were on vacation last week, we had so many laughs.  When you are in a house with a 12 year old, an almost 14 year old, a 14 year old, and a 15 year old, there is sure to be some laughs.

    I think the moments that made me laugh the most was the time the Imaginative One decided to call me Madam Gasho with a French accent.  He supposedly worked at the hotels in both Greensboro and Charlotte, NC leaving chocolate on pillows.  Since it was so hot outside, the only chocolate he could leave was tootsie rolls.

    His payment for the job was buckets of snot.  I know gross but he’s almost 14 and a boy so we hear a lot about farts, snot, and poop at our house.  Sorry.

    He told us that he should not have signed that contract.

    Fortunately I took a video of him talking about the contract.

    During the first night, he ended up sleeping on the floor of the hotel room because he did not want to sleep in the same bed as his brother.

    The second night, he did sleep in the same bed as his brother.  He hated it.

    If you sleep in the same bed as the Wee One, he will poke at you through out the night.  He also moves around in his sleep – A LOT.  The Imaginative One was not too happy about sharing a bed with his brother.

    Here is a video of him explaining why he did not enjoy sleeping in the same bed with him.

    Those were only some of their antics last week.  I wish I had a video of them running the hotel as though they were a T-Rex or the dinner time conversations at the beach house.  Those were hilarious.

    I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything.

    Just so you know, I’ve started writing posts about our trip.  They will begin on July 29.  A new post will be posted every Saturday.  It’ll take at least 6 months or more to get through all of our trip because of all we had done during the 10 days we were gone.  I only took 3,500 photos.

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

    P.S.  Laugh a little every day.
    Mama’s Losin’ It

  • Holland, Michigan – Monday morning – Downtown Holland

    Join me on Wednesdays for the Holland, Michigan photos.

     

    Sunday Night – The Town

    Sunday Night – Sunset

    (more…)

  • Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of July 3, 2017

    I have a menu!  I have a menu!  Yeah!

    We’ve been gone on vacation. My sister-in-law made sure we had dinners each day we were at the beach house so I haven’t menu planned in a few weeks.

    Today I went to the store to restock.  While I was there, I made a menu.  I know that’s kind of backwards.  Actually I had an idea for a few meals.  Once I got there I nailed down the actual menu for the week.

    Sunday – BBQ chicken, potato salad or French fries, corn

    Monday  – Sloppy Joes, Hash browns, carrots and celery

    Tuesday – Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Carrots and Celery, Potato Chips, Potato Salad

    Wednesday – Brown Sugar Ham, Rice, Peas

    Thursday – Breaded Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Veggies

    Friday – Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese, Veggies

    Saturday  – Weekend Fun – Leftovers for Dinner

    Here’s a printable menu.

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

    P.S.  There will be no menu next week.  The boys will be at camp so it will be only Hubby and I for dinner.

    P.P.S.  This menu is linked to I’m An Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday.