Spring, birthday, Tuskegee Airmen

Spring in Ohio is unpredictable. We've had lots of rain (perhaps record-setting, according to the newspaper). Farmers cannot plant their corn and soybeans, since the fields are muddy and the low places are flooded. Rain does not necessarily mean it's cold out. It can be cold and rainy, like California. Or, it can be 70 degrees and suddenly the plan to wear a fleece jacket under the rain gear does not seem like such a good idea.

On Saturday, we went to WACO air field here in Troy for a presentation on the Tuskegee Airmen. Representatives of the Ohio Memorial Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen gave the talk and answered questions. We were fortunate to have an actual Tuskegee airman, Mr. Malcolm McCoy, come down from Lima, OH, for the event. He's very old and uses a walker, but he proudly shared his memories. What an honor to shake his hand! The Ohio Memorial Chapter is so busy giving presentations during African American History Month in February that they don't have time for everyone, and must play catch-up all spring.

Bob's birthday was April 22. He got two bird feeders from me and the cats - a suet feeder and a nyjer feeder. The cats enjoy watching the birds come to the feeders (for cats, this is "bird TV"). We had a red-bellied woodpecker come to the suet feeder this morning. Cool.

I can't believe it's May 1st next Sunday. On the 29th of April, we'll have been here a month. I hope the rainy pattern changes soon. It will be nice to have warm and dry weather.

Saturday in Ohio

Well, it isn't as hot as California - cold wind, temps in the high 40s. But, no snow and the daffodils are out. A few hardy trees are beginning to leaf out, but most look quite wintery. Robins everywhere - even in Wednesday's snow, they were out looking for food. Down by the river, there are lots of Canada geese. Bob has seen a cardinal; I haven't.

We're tapping into Night Sky Cafe's internet. It's a nice coffee shop and cafe. It's downtown, not far from the traffic circle and fountain (no water in the fountain in the winter).

It's a bit cold for bicycling, but there are lots of bike trails to use once it warms up a bit. The trail is being extended and will end up by a really good Mexican restaurant. What a win-win for the restaurant: go biking, stop for a tostada.

Our rental house is right across from an elementary school. The cats are having fun looking out the front window at kids playing baseball on the ball field. Edward probably wonders what happened to his SLO cat friends and the wild turkeys that walked down our street. There are lots of tree squirrels here, though - and they're very entertaining. Bob and I saw a woodchuck yesterday, rummaging around in the corn stubble in a farmer's field.

No more news right now. Updates will follow, I promise.