~Simple Relaxation Techniques!~

~Our 4-day stay at the little cabin in the woods aka. "The Rustic Chalet" was the most relaxing time I had had in quite awhile! I packed entirely way too much clothing and "stuff" because we spent most of the time running around in flannel shirts and it was so well stocked that I never used half the things I brought!!

~The fellow that owned the cabins was really nice and I could tell he got great pleasure from renting them out to people and providing a place to get away from all the stresses of life!

~When we first rounded the bend of the dirt road leading to the cabin, there was an old barn that was falling apart and, thinking it was our cabin, my heart kind of sank! But then we rounded the next bend and I got to see the chalet for the first time!


~It was definitely "rustic" but I couldn't wait to get inside and look around!!



~I was actually singing as I unpacked and settled us in! Loved the high, vaulted ceiling and notice the "retro 60's" hanging light over the kitchen table?! So cool!!



*Steps leading up to the loft area!! We joked that there was a "2 or 3 Beer minimum" on those as they were literally straight up and down...But still very quaint!



{*Satallite TV and a Hottub on the deck!! Woohoo!!}



~View from the loft area and ME looking down! {Yes, those are Christmas lights strung everywhere! Apparently there are quite a few people who enjoy spending Christmas at the cabin!!}



~The cozy little bathroom with a jazzuci tub and shower!



~This tin sign was on the shelf in the bedroom! I've actually been to "Wall Drug" when I was younger! Haha!! Thought that was pretty cool!!



~Our kitchen with the beautiful view of the woods! *Notice the painted wine bottles on top of the microwave that someone left for others to enjoy! There were little "trinkets" like that all over the cabin and we made sure to leave a few of our own!



~The sitting area! There were crocheted blankets and quilts everywhere for people to cuddle up in and the Amish bentwood rocker was absolutely amazing!!
*Notice the old potbelly stove with the tea kettle on top! On our last morning there a huge rainstorm came up and water trickled down the pipe, hit the kettle and made a quaint "pinging" sound!



~On the old sideboard under the loft stairs was a basket filled with journals that people staying there had written in dating back to the late 1980's. We enjoyed reading other's accounts about their stay at the cabin and every morning I got up early to write in the one titled "Is There Enough Beer?"...By the end of our stay I had filled about 5-pages with illustrations as well as humorous entries about our many "adventures"! I hope someone enjoys reading them as much as I did!




~Denny making breakfast our first morning there!



~YUMM!!! Bacon, eggs and toast!!!



~The tall Pines lining the woods by the side of our cabin! I thought it was beautiful the way the setting sun shone through them!



~Denny gathering some wood to make a fire.....



~Roasting marshmallows over the firepit! YUM!!!



~The steps leading up to the cabin with the darkness all around!



~Denny carving by the firepit.....



~And this is the little "Tiki-Man" he carved to hang on the Christmas Tree in the cabin! Pretty cool, huh?!!



~Another picture of Denny carving out by the firepit...This time he made a walking stick!



~One of the many rock "Cairns" we built to mark the road leading up to the cabin!


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~*EXPLORING MOHICAN STATE PARK*~



~The overlook at Clear Fork Gorge...I was pointing at a small Garter Snake sunning itself on a tree stump below!



~Denny and I standing on the overlook with the breathtaking view behind us!



~The park firetower...I though this was a cool angle!~



~I could have wadded around in the river all day!! The water was absolutely amazing, not very deep and several areas of little rapids to play in!! Pure Bliss!!!



~Denny under the covered bridge reliving some childhood memories from when his parents used to take him here as a child!~



~A Blue Heron waiting for it's lunch!!~



~This devilish little fellow would steal anything you left laying out and carry it off into the hole he had burrowed out in the wood piling!
We layed our apple cores there, turned around for a minute and they were GONE!! Haha!



~Baby frogs everywhere!!!~



~This is "Landoll's Mohican Castle" that is built literally out in the middle of nowhere-land!! The fellow who owned "Landoll's Publishing Company" moved to the area with his wife upon retirement and it was his dream to build a castle in the woods for others to enjoy!



~Amazing archetechure and what a lucky fellow to be able to forfill such a dream!~

~*So there you have it!
These are my "Simple Relaxation Techniques!" and a tribute to 4-days of doing absolutely NOTHING but having fun and enjoying each others company!!!

~Even though we never found time to go canoeing, and it rained and got quite chilly, I was totally relaxed and happy to just laze around the cabin, walk in the woods and take a few trips into town for dinner and some shopping.

~I really could have stayed another week or so but definitely will be venturing back someday to the little "Rustic Chalet" in the woods!!~
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Rest In Peace Ruby

~On Wednesday, July 11th {2007} my "second Mom", Ruby Best, passed away. She was a beautiful person, both on the inside and out and was loved by many!

It is hard to describe all the many emotions that ran through me when I found out she was gone that evening. We were just settling down to watch a movie and I looked out my window down towards her house like I always did to check on her.

My heart sank when I saw two rescue squads with lights flashing in her driveway. They must have went by without turning on the sirens because I ALWAYS would check to make sure they weren't going there {or any of my other neighbors}.

I ran out the backdoor in my nightgown and down the street but her daughter-in-law met me just at the driveway shaking her head and telling me that she was already gone.

My mind instantly went back to a couple of days before when Denny and I stopped to chat with her for almost an hour...then to the next day when she called to ask about my garage sale and how we ended the short conversation with "Love You!" like we always did.
I am really glad I got to tell her that one last time.

~Rest In Peace Ruby~
"Love You!"

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Ruby Kathleen Best, 80, of 608 Chamberlain Drive, Marietta, went to our Heavenly Father on Wednesday (July 11, 2007).

She was born April 1, 1927, in New Matamoras, to Harold and Jessie Alloway Earley. She had worked at Broughton Dairy for 11 years, then managed the dairy department at Big Bear for several years. Following her marriage to Reginald Best, they had owned and operated Best Groceries, a group of five stores, in the Marietta area. For 25 years, she had volunteered her time and talents to the Devola Volunteer Fire Department. Ruby was a Protestant, by faith. Her children and loved ones were the most important part of her life.

She is survived by a son, Richard Best (Gina) of Marietta; four daughters, Phyllis Offenberger (Phil) of Marietta, Linda Warren of Lowell, Kathy King (Bob) of Davis, W.Va., and Brenda Arnold (Charles) of Taylors, S.C.; a stepson, Reginald Best Jr. of Belpre; 15 grandchildren, Karol Frodsham, Tracy Gaughan, Chuck Arnold, Amy Ewell, Michelle Moats, Steve Arnold, Ricky Best, Anne Reed, Jason Warren, April Morris, Lynn Warren, Joy Lutes, and Becky, Bobby and Elizabeth King; 20 great-grandchildren, Kelly, Tommy, Scot, Ashley, Andrew, Carrie, Emily, Carrie, Alan, Eric, Sydney, Kyra, Charles, Andrea, Zane, Veronica, Alex, Philip, Kaylee and Chloe; five brothers, Richard Earley (Rita), Roger Earley (JoAnn), David Earley (Sandy), John Earley (Sherry), and Jimmy Earley (Linda) all of New Matamoras; and six sisters, Ethel Hubbard of New Matamoras, Phyllis McCormick (Tom) of Pittsburgh, Pa., Beulah Apperson (Carlos) of McConnelsville, Marjorie Butler (Dale) of New Matamoras, Twila Griffin (Heb) of Shreve, Ohio, and Norma Buegel of New Matamoras.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Reginald Leroy Best on Aug. 21, 2001; they had been married on Aug. 25, 1958. She was preceded in death also by three brothers, Harold, Paul and Floyd Earley; and a sister, Mary Fox.