So, we got out of our play clothes...
...and into something that felt right. Because Bob would wear a tie!
I think Rick's friend Bob would have had his heart filled with joy to hear the wonderful things people were saying about him and all the love that was there. I had only met Bob on two occasions, but he was a big force in Rick's life -- and from what I heard, a big force in others' as well.
It was nice to have time to meet his lovely wife at the reception after. It couldn't have been a lovelier venue. Yes, Bob would have thoroughly enjoyed.
After that it was a change of clothes and off for Rick's birthday concert! We were headed to Blossom, a music venue in a national park in the Cuyahoga Valley. We spent a little time in the town of Peninsula.
The train station was pretty charming and there were walking and bike paths.
And of course a few galleries! I loved the garden at this one.
After picking up sandwiches for our picnic, we headed to Blossom. We got there in plenty of time to beat the crowd and had our pick of picnic tables!
Then it was off to the venue. We got lawn seats for the Cleveland Orchestra.
And what a perfect night for it! A blanket, a cooler, great music, ideal weather, no bugs! Happy Campers!
The guest was a cellist, who was very good...
...and the last act, Elgar's Enigma Variations, featured both the Cleveland and Kent State Orchestras. (We saw the last act under the pavilion!)
Home late, but the next day was filled with fun things -- not the least of which was a family potluck that turned into a surprise birthday for both Rick and me!
We even got to hear the traditional Cleveland Birthday Song Medley that my family does each birthday -- you need to blow out the candles before it begins or you'll have wax on your cake!
The youngest guest was Baby Ben, five months old. I won't show a photo here, but instead I'll share my second favorite cat, Colby, who had to be sure Ben's carrier was comfy enough. (It was!)
Then back home the next day. Perfect weather until after we stopped for a wonderful lunch at a favorite Italian restaurant in Ann Arbor. Then this.
And this.
At least the basement was dry when I got home!
Sharing with: Best of the Weekend
40 comments:
Is that cat in a baby carrier?
Looks like you had a great trip filled with everything good about families, food, music and friendships.
Jeanie.
You have me in tears here.
I think Bob had the funeral we all "are looking forward to".
It sounds beauti- and peaceful.
And that picnic must´ve been the perfect topping.
Colby is a beauty. And I certain,y love the rain pics!
Even though attending a funeral isn't fun,(but often it is better to go and say goodbye), the rest of your trip looks like fun. My daughter has been to Cuyahoga NP and it looked beautiful in her photos, but how fun to go to a concert. Especially an outside concert. I'd say it was a great birthday trip for Rick and a nice getaway for you. I have put it on my list. Happy new week. Hugs-Erika
Rick probably has more ties than I do, and perhaps more "formal" clothing too. I have one suit, sixteen years old, three ties that are even older, and then I have a sports jacket and a pair of slacks that are a little more recent. They leave the closet only for funerals and weddings! And most of those I try to avoid! Especially weddings which wind up costing a small fortune. When I wear a tie these days it seems really odd, and I wonder when it was that a piece of coloured cloth around a man's neck became de rigeur. I am glad that you had great family visits and enjoyed the Elgar concert. I have no doubt that you will feel sublime for weeks. Elgar, combined with your love for Britain, makes me think that if ever you get a chance to attend the Last Night of the Proms, it would be a very exciting event for you. You can watch previous years on You Tube.
You two are such an adorable couple!!! And the concert sounds like lovely!
The cat and the cellist steal the show.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, with good weather, lots to see and do, a concert, picnic - just perfect! Hugs, Valerie
You are a beautiful couple☺
What a charming town. Outdoor concerts are so fun. With an Orchestra, it is even better! Colby probably thinks the baby seat was purchased for him since he fits so perfectly in there. Those rain showers when you can't see through the windshield scare me! We recently had to pull over in one because there was 0 visibility.
Ah, reading these last few posts has brought back fond and great memories: I was born in Lakewood, OH, raised in Parma until 13 then my dad, who was a newspaper pressman with the Cleveland Plain Dealer (and part time at the Press) was offered position at Boston Globe, so we moved to New Hampshire until my last year of H.S., when we moved back to Ohio, which sucked having to move that year! This time to Strongsville for my senior year, then few years in Brunswick, where then I moved along on my way, lived in West Salem, Ohio 2 years, then Medina Ohio, then HAWAII for five glorious years, Georgia to Florida for 12 years and then I moved back to Georgia. Whew... But I have wonderful fun memories of sledding in the parks in Cuyahoga County, ice skating, summer fun swimming, concerts at Blossom, Geauga Lake, etc. Oh yes. (my dad was from Buffalo, NY, Mom from Marlboro, Mass). I have loved reading your visit to Cleveland!!!
I think you had a memorable trip Jeanie, one filled with old memories for Rick and saying goodby to making new memories. Looks like a lovely town. I do not like driving when it is raining like that! Glad you came home to a dry basement..........
What a lovely trip!
We dont want a funeral:) Nor visitation nor a get together..we're weird I guess..we want nothing at all.
Had to do to too many funerals of my most loved ones young.No more especially not for us.
Fun trip..so many nice memories:)
So glad the basement was dry. That is awesome to come home too. Love the furbabe in the car seat! But I totally love the bridge. That is really nice. Great pics. Looks like you had a great time but you always look so happy anyway.
I'm sure it was sad to say goodbye to Rick's dear friend, but apart from that you had a lovely trip.
Love Colby in the baby carrier seat :)
Wow, that sky certainly looks menacing!
I'm glad it was a sendoff Bob would have enjoyed, and that the rest of your trip was so wonderful.
Sounds like a perfect trip -- including the dry basement when you got home.
We are coming up on the age when memorials are more and more a part of our regular schedules....
Hooray for friends, and sunny-but-not-too-hot days, and flowers.
Jeanie, I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Rick's friend. You both look so nice dressed up for his memorial service. The venue looks lovely. I love that photo of the cellist. It really looks like it could be in a magazine. The family potluck looks Yummy, and how nice they prepared it just for you and Rick. So glad your basement wasn't flooded when you returned home. : )
~Sheri
Your picnic sounds wonderful and no mosquitos! Love, love a good cellist. And rain on the way home. We may get a little rain on Saturday, which will be nice to freshen things up a bit.
Jeanie, I am so sorry for your loss and isn't it wonderful when so many people give someone you love such deserving comments and you know he would have been so happy and proud. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time and you both do clean up well..Happy Wednesday..xxoJudy
I'm sorry for your loos, and Rick's, but glad there were good parts to the trip as well.
Cats are so funny about getting in things. It seems like they especially like baby stuff. Colby is adorable! I'm a sucker for orange tabbies. :-)
What a nice trip you made. Sounds like it was a lovely memorial service and reception. The concert sounds wonderful. The potluck and surprise birthday party looked wonderful! Well at least it didn’t rain until you were on your way back home.
A funeral with sincere, happy celebration is wonderful to be a part of . . .
Bob must be smiling . . .
Love your picnic pictures, family friend pictures, outdoor concert pics too . . .
Happy times indeed . . .
And dry in the basement, yippee . . .
It looks like a lovely, serene place.
I'm glad there were warm memories for Rick's friend at the memorial.
OH MY GOSH JEANIE how are ya....
First of all, thank you for your kind words on my blog! I have not been blogging much, so much has changed. I'm on Instagram and that's about it! It's so lovely to see you and Rick here, enjoying all you can from your beautiful land of lake! Enjoying retirement? AWESOME!
Even if the reason for going is a sad one, it sounds like you enjoyed the time away.
Colby is a cutie.
Funerals are never pleasant, but then to be remembered in the way Rick's friend, Bob was does make it less sad if that's possible. Looks like you had good times with friends and family afterwards and a nice concert and picnic as well.
Your trip appears to have been a delightful and serendipitous interlude. I adore that you enjoyed the concert in the park, blanket and ice chest at hand. Bob had to have been smiling looking down on you all, a great love story from the looks of it. Thanks for stopping by Entertaining Women for a visit. I hope that you'll visit again. I primarily post about entertaining and tablescaping, but I thoroughly enjoy sharing my travels with my friends from Tales of the Traveling Totes. Thanks for allowing us to tag along on your adventure. CherryKay
It was a lovely outdoor orchestra.
Lol, Colby said the carrier is comfy enough for Baby Ben :)
Have a great one, Ms Jeanie!
What a nice time, I'm happy you had nice weather until you were headed home.
Ha, cats seem to love cozy baby spaces. I was so worried Oscar would hang out in Paul's bassinet but she had no interest!
Sounds like a nice roadtrip, aside from the memorial service - although those are important to attend. The outdoor concert sounded wonderful! I was hoping to catch one at the bandshell by the lake in our area of Minneapolis but Paul's early bedtime makes it hard to go to concerts... hopefully next summer we'll go!
Goodness, Jeanie, yet another birthday type celebration for Rick (and you, too). Sad that it had to be for a memorial, but it sounds like there were lots of good memories involved.
Don't worry about your internet, dear. I'm really late visiting, so I totally and completely understand. We're here when you get back.
I'm so sorry about Rick's friend. It sounds like he impacted a lot of people. Happy birthday to you and to Rick. I'm glad the basement was dry.
Jeanie, Condolences to Rick at the loss of his friend. Glad there was a birthday celebration for Rick after the memorial. I loved all the happy photos of you and Rick. Blessings, xoxo, Susie
I did enjoy seeing all of your photographs and reading about your trip.
That concert sounds wonderful.
All the best Jan
How lovely - a concert in the park! I love it! I once - many many years ago - visited an open-air concert in London, in Hampstead Heath. The last piece the orchestra played was Händel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks" and it ended - of course - with fireworks! I hadn't thought about that for years, but your post brought back all these memories. Thank you!
That was some serious weather - but I do like the dark atmosphere in your next to last picture.
very nice trip and nice story. share a memories in a photograph. old but gold for this one
Sounds like a wonderful trip - a loving farewell to a friend, and new memories as well. I think I have read about a National Park in Ohio that has a train - I was looking into it as a thing to do with the kiddo! That must be where you were? And that music venue sounds super cool too.
The memorial service sounds lovely, considering the sad event. I'm sorry for your loss.
Well, what a lovely post. I am sorry your visit was to attend a memorial but it is so good to remember Bob with cheerfulness and affection and it's touching that you were thinking of him by wearing more formal clothing too. And WOW that impromptu (for you) birthday party was terrific! Isn't it nice to think of them secretly planning it. A birthday concert is a nice idea, and even better that there were no bugs. Altogether a memorable trip, (even though the rain also did its best to be memorable at the end. )
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