Infirmary Mound and Blogtober Day Three

 I didn't realize until yesterday, October 2nd that Blogtober was happening.  Coastal Ripples mentioned it.  So I decided I would give it a try again this year.

In comments on Friday Fave Fives,  a couple of people asked why Infirmary Mound used the word 'infirmary'.  I didn't know.  What did I do?  I looked it up.

Evidently, in 1850 a Poor House was established at that location. Later, the name was changed to The Infirmary.  Why was the word mound added to it?  It is also the site of an ancient burial mound built by an Ancient Native American culture.  There are many mounds all over the state of Ohio.  In fact, just 3.5 miles from Willow's Cottage there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Great Circle Earthworks and Museum.

So that's why the park is called Infirmary Mound Park.

A few photos from the years we have walked and hiked there. (The park is 316 acres!)

The actual burial mound is not very high any more due to centuries of erosion from farming and plowing done there.

The Fairy Trail is located there...

I could post dozens more photos of the fairy trail, but I don't want to bore you.  If you want to view more, THIS LINK will take you to a post I wrote in 2021 about the Infirmary Mound Fairy Trail.

First October Faves

 Now I'm convinced that Fall is truly here.  It's October!  And it's Friday.  It has been an active week and I have hardly even been on my computer much.  Time to hit a pause button and relax a bit and think about the blessings of this week.  Friday Faves Fives is my way to do that.

1.  I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets.  In a book that my Art Girls friends and I are reading, the author reminds us to notice how God shows us every day the beauty of His creation.  We have decided to share our sunrise and sunset photos with each other.  I sent them this one which I know I have posted here before.

2.  I am also thankful for rainy days.  Like today.  The rain replenishes our ground and garden so I don't have to water it.   There is something about rainy days that makes me feel it is okay to relax a bit.  Tea and a book and my knitting.

3.  I am thankful for my Art Girls friends.  Years ago, we all five lived in the same town in California and enjoyed our times together painting, knitting, discussing books, visiting art museums.  Then three of us moved away.  But we still maintain our friendships via texts and zoom meetings

4.  Two hikes this week with Mia and the dogs.  One of the hikes was at the county park Infirmary Mound.  The area is quite hilly and much is covered with forest.  There's a lake which we walked around.  Two or three miles here is definitely a workout.  This photo doesn't show just how high the hill was where we were standing.

5.  I am thankful that my daughter-in-law Jennifer  (PAL's mom) encouraged me to join Well Read Mom book club.  I am reading books that I would never have added to my list.  This month's read is So Big by Edna Ferber.  I am enjoying it and I don't think I would have ever read this book if the book club hadn't chosen it for the October read.

I hope you have found time this week to relax and remind yourself of the beauty around you.

Take a Fairy Trail Hike

 Yesterday, The Professor and I enjoyed a walk with Nurse Girl and the two granddogs.  One of our county parks, Infirmary Mound Park, is a favorite.  It is large, 316 acres, and has seven miles of trails, and even a historical mound on the property.  

One of the trails is a Fairy Trail lined with fairy houses.  These are only a few of the fairy houses.  Which one is your favorite?

The Fairy Trail

 Do you love the woods?  Do you love whimsical places?  If you do, you will love the Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound County Park.  (warning:  photo heavy post ahead)

Deep in the dark green woods live the fairies.

We know they live there because we found the trail to their town.

Many of the fairies in fairy town are hard working fairies who live quiet lives in simple houses.

Sometimes, even fairies take holidays.

Perhaps the king of the fairies will invite you to visit him at his castle.

But beware of the troll who lives on the hill at 4309!

Most fairies are friendly, but once in awhile you might encounter a curmudgeon.

Do you really believe that the fairies live in the deep woods?  Maybe some day, you will meet one like I did...

if you place a coin or shell or shiny stone in the wishing well.