Monday, January 13, 2020

What better day to get inspired than a Monday? Or the first month of a new year, indeed a new decade?  Or the 13th day of the month?  So, today is it.  Potential areas for inspiration - sort of like New Year's resolutions but instead of promises, this is a list of potential adventures driven by inspiration.

Sources of inspiration:
* A movie such as Julie & Julia
* A book such as Palm Sunday by Kurt Vonnegut
* A calendar, an awareness of time
* Visits to natural and cultural sites
* Walks, exercise
* Mindfulness

Potential areas of inspiration:
* Cooking, meal preparation, mindful eating
* Gardening
* Applying for historical status for house
* Money management strategies
* Enjoying what I have and making the most of it
* Pursue love and friendship
* Genealogy pursuits
* Photography - new photos and old photos

I am 73 years old now and live alone in my old home town of Piqua, Ohio.  I have love in my life, economic stability, reasonable state of health, and have many interests in life.  I feel the excitement of inspiration welling within me.  I don't know what the future holds but I am optimistic about it and am ready to embrace it.  A new year, a new decade, a new outlook on life.

I completed a 5K Volksmarch today (June 24, 2017) here in Piqua, Ohio.  We could choose from three trails - the River Trail, the Historic Trail or the Parks Trail.  I chose the River Trail.  It was beautiful weather and I had been very curious about following the trail along the Great Miami River.  We just had a deluge of rain yesterday from Tropical Storm Cindy so the river level was just above the banks but not on the trail itself. 

Easter Sunday March 27, 2016  The Redman Family at 208 N. Downing St., Piqua, Ohio

Pictured left to right, Back row: Owen Cornell, Dennis Redman, Kevin Redman, Elijah Redman, Bill Redman.  Front row: Katie Redman, Monica Kohart Redman, Lucy Redman, Heather Redman holding Stella Redman (Cornell), Dax Redman, Sara Bachman Redman.  Nancy Minton Roof Redman took the picture.

7/27/2015 Now living in Piqua, Ohio

On May 9, 2015, Dennis and I began living at a fantastic historic house in Piqua, Ohio.  Located at 208 North Downing Street in Piqua, this house is right up the street from the house I lived in when I was born at 717 South Downing Street.  Dennis and I both were born and raised in Piqua, so our lives have come full circle now having returned to our hometown.  We will miss our views of the Ohio River and its fascinating barge traffic and the deer wandering through the forest of our Cincinnati home.  But it is good to return to our roots and small town living having left Piqua 50 some years ago in 1964 after I graduated from high school.

The original part of our house was built in 1840 by Richard Miller, a entrepreneur who came to Piqua to build a steam mill.  Fifteen years later, in 1855, the house was doubled in size.  Later in 1914, a remarkable front porch and two story solarium was built finishing the Greek Revival style home.  In 1920 a beautiful garage and carriage house was built.  That makes this house 175 years old. 

More river traffic on the Ohio River.  Here are some pictures/video of the Anderson Ferry which we can see from our windows taking passengers back and forth from Ohio to Kentucky.  Some people actually use this as their daily commute as the distance to use the bridges are inconvenient. The ferry has been operating since 1817!  (By the way, we have not yet had the nerve to use it - ha!)

River traffic on the Ohio River

I find it very interesting to watch the river traffic along and on the Ohio River, the rise and fall of the river level, the changes in the atmosphere (sunrises, sunsets, fog, mist, clouds, etc.) and we love to drive along both sides of the river.  I am learning about barges, the reliance that the tri-state region has on the coal and salt that travels up and down the river, the building of dams and hydro-electric plants, the pollution from upstream (especially West Virginia), the history of the river especially its role in slavery days.  We enjoy seeing occasional river boats and plan to take a trip on one yet this year.  The river carved its way through this area leaving large hills on either side, floodplains and beautiful views.  Much wildlife depends on the river and its many tributaries.  It is a most interesting place to live.

Christmas 2013

Here are pictures from our holiday season for 2013.  Josh, Annie, Morgan, Wyatt, Sage and Jacob came to Cincinnati to our house for Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 21.  Dennis's children and their kids and spouses/significant others came on Sunday, Dec. 29.  Both events were thoroughly enjoyable.  Dennis and I spent a quiet Christmas Day together.  It took me awhile to get into the holiday spirit this year but eventually I did.  Oh, we also skyped Ana, Damien, Nara and Yuri in Australia while Josh and all were here.  A very nice holiday season.