Day Off

Sunday started like this....

My two kiddos, making my favorite kind of mess, during the 37 seconds that they actually played Calico Critters together.  37 seconds to hold on to!

...and ended like this...

Nat, the pool shark, about to dominate during our first and only win of the night...

...with a whole lot of wonderful in between...

Gram took the kiddos for the night and they got to enjoy a day at her friend's resort-like pool...

..while Nat and I took off, just the two of us, in search of the elusive west-side beach...

We worked our way along Lake road from Lorain to Rocky River, passing at least 8 parks, stopping at 3 of them, and finding an actual (new to us!) beach to explore at one..

Our first attempt (Shell Cove Park), a glorified overlook, did not even merit a photo.  Our next stop, Miller Park,  afforded this lovely view of the power plant from behind the fence blocking our way to the closed beach.  The non-existent beach, as it turns out, due to the high lake water.  We did meet a very sweet 6 week old puppy, though, so it was totally worth the stop.

 We found what we were looking for at Columbia beach.  Down an unassuming flight of stairs, a stretch of beach hid against a shale cliff, offering shade, sun, friendly dogs everywhere, a city view, a WATERFALL of all things...

When you give someone in our family a waterfall, they are going to try to build a dam on it.

... and even-- I kid you not-- lucky stones.  Real, honest to goodness ones just like at Long Point.   Got to be a sign.

 A new favorite place, for sure.

 We stopped for a lovely dinner out at Forage, an trendy little "eat local" place with a great patio, and then it was off to the Fair!

Two times in two days!  Yes indeed.

You do what you have to do for Demolition Derby Finals night.

We joined our friends there-- they've been child-free for almost a week thanks to their kiddos visiting an aunt in California-- and proceeded to drink beer, cheer for cars, and generally pretend to be in our 20's for the next 6 hours.

 Riding the Ferris Wheel at sunset, looking at weird collections, and cooing over bunnies with our best friends?  Can't get much better than that.

Unless maybe you close down the fair and then go to a townie bar in Berea to play pool and drink Budweiser and let the night linger while you talk and laugh together, the conversation and the night easy and warm and free.

Sunday was a pretty good day.