Water, Rocks & Beer in Yellow Springs

Happy 8th Birthday Olivia!

I slept in way later than usual. I wasn’t out of bed until almost 9am. As I slipped out of the room Mindy asked that I bring her some coffee. Since it was vacation day, I decided to skip Friday calisthenics. Immediately started a pot of Starbucks then stepped out onto the deck to get a sniff of the weather. Seasonably warm in the mid 50s under mostly sunny skies. Great to see the morning sunshine!

Coffee was ready in short order. I poured two cups then headed upstairs. Mindy wanted to snuggle. We snuggled in bed for the next 30-40 minutes. Quickly closing in on 10am, I knew I couldn’t do my run until after Ashley came and left. We were expecting her around 10am. Near 955am, I send her a text asking her ETA. She said about 20 minutes. Was more like 30 minutes but not a big deal. However, had I know she wasn’t going to be there until 1030am, I could’ve squeezed in my run.

Once Ashley showed up we sang Happy Birthday to Olivia and then let her open her birthday gifts. We went light on the clothes this year getting only base layers for skiing. In her bag was a Target gift card, some cool craft stuff, giant bags of candy, and those wicking layers. She seemed happy with it.

I teased Ashley bout our planned hiking event after balking about going to Yellow Springs with us. She and Olivia were instead heading home to spend the early afternoon with Steven before he needed to leave for work. Thinking they left around 1115am. Oh, before they left, Ashley gave us the stuff (me, a summer sausage, Mindy a Xmas ornament) we ordered from Olivia’s school sale a few weeks prior.

I headed out for my run as soon as they left. Haven’t run that late in the morning for a long, long time. Ran three miles in the lovely warm sunshine. Very nice! Mindy had some yummy scrambled eggs ready upon my return. She made them with feta cheese and spinach. Over breakfast, we discussed our afternoon plans. We both still wanted to go hiking, especially since it was so nice outside, not to mention the fact that I burned a vacation day. Neither one of the kids wanted to go, and Mindy had already acknowledged not making Jacob go since he’d been away in D.C. all week. He said he simply wanted to stay home and relax.

We offered to take neighbor Makayla with us too, hoping that would placate Bella, but she didn’t want to go. It seemed we would have to force Bella to come along with us alone. Neither one of us thought that sounded too good. We toyed with the idea of simply hiking Darby, but quickly nixed that idea. We were both set on another visit to Yellow Springs. We ultimately agreed to let Bella stay home too under Jacob’s watchful eye with specific rules. The kids were very agreeable. At least this way we could enjoy the hiking minus the incessant whining that she was ready to go.

We didn’t leave the house until 1pm after both of us got showers. Mindy made sure both kids had chores to do in our absence. Jacob pushed back hard at first but then agreed. His option was coming with us. 
Quick drive to Yellow Springs in what was shaping up as a gorgeous afternoon, by then sunny and 70. Expected peak color but to my eyes it looks like we might even be past it. Still pretty, though.

Arrived in Yellow Springs in just under 50 minutes, or very near 150pm. We got a premo parking spot in the small lot between the pizza shop and firehouse. In short order we were over the fence and hiking in Glen Helen. Most of the Glen Helen autumn foliage is yellow, and with the sunshine and breeze, made for an ideal autumn hike. We took the southern trail, much like we did last visit a few weeks ago. We stopped in the art gallery again too. This time, however, the small gift shop was opened. I bought myself a Glen Helen / Yellow Springs ballcap. Leaving the gallery, we opted a slightly different trail, and one that took us down along the water instead of up high like last time.

Very pretty down along the shallow river. About midway we stopped for a break on a rocky bed where I took a number of photos. Gorgeous! We hiked a little further south until deliberately making our way back up the hill. As we exited the preserve we happened upon an enormous granite monument which we later learned was the grave site for Arthur and Lucy Morgan, who both had their ashes spread there. Interesting pair.

Like we did a few weeks prior, we walked the popular bike path back into town, but this time we opted to go in search of the new Vitruvian Brew pub. According to Google maps, it’s very close to Yellow Springs Brewing – off Walnut St. However, from the minimal information, I wasn’t able to determine if they’re actually opened for business. Once near the parking lot, we opted to drive instead of walk.

We headed north on Walnut St until we happened upon the entrance to Yellow Springs Brewery which is essentially at the end of developed land. From there north it’s mostly old farm houses. Hmmm? I vaguely recalled the Vitruvian logo and there on the big sign at the entrance to the commercial complex where Yellow Springs Brewing resides was that same logo. Could Vitruvian be housed in the same complex?

We drove around the small complex looking, eventually Mindy suggested that she would get out and ask a kid working at this art foundry warehouse. While she did that, I got out and photographed some amazing giant dahlia’s growing in a fenced off portion of the complex. Only in Yellow Springs! Wow! I had no idea that dahlia’s could grow as tall as 5-6’.

Turned out, the kid at the art foundry had little knowledge of the new brewery, but guessed it going in just around the corner. We decided to head over to Yellow Springs Brewing. Perusing their beer menu, it looked like a host of new brews since our previous visit. Also noticed that their pricing is now more realistic – more in line with other brewpub prices. Guessing they’ve suffered a little.

There were two new IPAs on the menu. Mindy and I agreed to get one of each and share. We opted for some spicy beer nuts too. We took our two beers to the patio. Both good IPAs and both far better than their original IPA, at least to my palette. Out on the patio was a couple with a 4-day old baby resting comfortably on his mother’s chest. Awh! Enjoyed our beers and nuts from the patio. Pretty quickly, the brilliant sunshine was giving way to cloud cover. I wasn’t surprised. Unfortunately, the clouds and even a little rain was in the evening/overnight forecast.

Before we left, we bought a Yellow Springs ping glass. Pulled out of town near 5pm, or 4 hours after leaving the house. Easy drive home. Like the drive out, it took just under 50 minutes to get home. After a little downtime we discussed evening plans, which was staying in and making homemade pizzas. I took a brief nap before any of that. And while I napped, Mindy, Bella and Makayla whipped up an apple pie. Thinking it was near 730pm when Mindy made a run to Giant Eagle to pick-up some beer and pizza cheese.

While Mindy went after more pizza cheese I got started making the pizza dough – one thin crust and the other deep-dish. Once the dough was mixed the girls took over. Makayla worked on the deep dish while Bella addressed the thin crust. A time or two, Bella was a little out of control, but I quickly reeled her back in. By the time Mindy got back home, the girls had the pizzas almost fully decorated sans a little more pizza cheese.

While the pizzas baked, I got a text from Darwin inviting us over for a bonfire. Seems their Pumpkin festival plans got moved to Saturday. Let him know that we would likely join them after eating our late dinner. The pizzas were delicious, at least for homemade. Finished dinner around 9pm. Jacob and Lane came in just before we were ready to head to the McVey’s.

I had an issue with Bella just before we left for Darwin & Connie’s, essentially being incredibly disrespectful. It’s something that she’s been doing more frequently last few months. Decided to talk about it before we left for Darwin’s. Like a lot of 12 year olds coming in a split family, she’s got a lot of unsettled feelings about me, her mom, dad and now Molly. More specifically about why he and Mindy split up. Long story short, she badly wants her mom and dad to be together and apparently sees me as a problem to that end.

Believe it or not, I totally get what she’s saying/feeling. When I was little I wanted the same thing. Felt that would fix life. What’s different is that Bella was adopted so I’m guessing that only makes her feel more insecure. But on the other hand, I have been the ‘real’ father figure for most of her memorable life save for the daddy weekends. Truth is, that part hurts a little.