What should you bring/wear?

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Gogi Hale

According to the Hocking Hills visitors center, summertime in Ohio brings temperatures that are nearly always comfortable, ranging from 50° to 85° F, with cooler temperatures in the evening, in the caves and gorges and on the shaded trails. Try dressing in layers, as the Hocking Hills weather forecast varies throughout the year and temperatures can fluctuate often. Good, sturdy hiking boots or athletic shoes are important on the trails. Afternoon rain showers are not uncommon this time of year.

For BAGSFOW you may want/need to bring:

swimsuit, sunglasses, hat
luau clothes
light rain jacket – especially those going to see Tecumseh
hiking attire

yoga clothes

wedding attire – take a tip from the Pip, dresses are always in style (silly hats too I guess)… whatever you are comfortable in

Super fun clothes you will want to be photographed in… you never know where the paparazzi will show up!

What is there to do?

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Gogi Hale

Glad you asked! First, checkout the amazing calendar of events that are unique to BAGSFOW guests only.

In your spare time, here are some excellent caves, hikes, and other fun things to do and explore. http://www.1800hocking.com/ohiostateparkhockinghills

Like museums? They have ’em!

(These are pencil sharpeners)

Museums and Art | click for category map

Bowen House (The)

866-380-2253

Columbus Washboard Company

740-380-3828

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio

740-681-1423

Hocking County Historical Society & Museum

740-385-6026

Pencil Sharpener Museum

740-385-9706

Robbins Crossing at Hocking College

740-753-6344

Sherman House / Georgian Museum

740-654-9923

The Ohio Glass Museum

Athens Farmers Market	740-594-5522
Earth, Water, Rock: Outdoor Adventures	740-664-5220
Happy Hills Fun Park	740-385-6720
HHTA GeoTrails	800-462-5464
Hocking Hills Adventure Trek	740-777-2579
Hocking Hills Gem Mine	800-562-0251
Hocking Hills Nature Trails	740-592-2500
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway	800-967-7834
Hunting at Hocking Hills Cabins	800-385-4161
Rock Climbing & Rappelling by Hocking Hills Adventure Trek	740-777-2579
Sharp Farms Pumpkins & Corn Maze	740-215-8384
The Buckeye Trail	740-394-2008
Touch the Earth Adventures	740-591-9094
Walker Farm	740-385-6758
Wayne National Forest	740-753-0101
Parks \| click for category map
Ash Cave	740-385-6841
Cantwell Cliffs	740-385-6841
Cedar Falls	740-385-6841
Conkle’s Hollow Nature Preserve	740-385-6841
Hocking Hills State Park	740-385-6841
Lake Logan State Park	740-385-6841
Old Man’s Cave	740-385-6841
Rock House	740-385-6841
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

Besides the caves and trails, how about additional outdoor fun?

There is miniature golf, horseback riding, golf, movie theaters, zipline tours, canoeing… it’s all available through http://www.1800hocking.com/ohiostateparkhockinghills

But the most fun will undoubtedly be at BAGSFOW !

Kiss

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Gogi Hale

Three little girls react to the first kiss…

Boys on the other hand…

Eatin’ up a storm at BAGSFOW

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Gogi Hale

The main attraction at BAGSFOW will be all of the great eating. Here’s a sample of what you are going to get:

Wednesday Night: The meeting of the clans over local pizza and healthy salads (and beer). We’re keeping it simple on the first night – but brace yourself – for some serious down-home cooking is on its way!

Thursday: Breakfast at the lodge or make your own (includes cereal). Bagels/cream cheese, scrambled eggs with cheese, maple bacon, sauteed spinach and mushrooms, fresh fruit. Coffee/tea. Lunch> Make your own Deli Platter sandwich, potato salad, fruit, veggie tray. Dinner> Girls: Ham/cream cheese roll-ups, quiche, marinated mushrooms, potato skins with cheddar/bacon/green onions, stuffed olives, veggie tray. Strawberry daiquiris. Gina’s surprise desserts! Boys are going out for burgers and a boy’s night out.

Friday: Bfast at the lodge or make your own, same as Thursday. Also serving yogurt and fruit. Lunch> Grilled Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, salads, cheese, avocados, fruit. Dinner> Rehearsal Dinner at Uncle Bucks Riding Barn – Smoked Chicken, 2 sides, dessert and Portobello mushroom lasagna for our vegetarians.

Saturday: Bfast> Grab something light since the wedding starts at 10:30 am. Lunch> Sit down Reception Brunch at the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls! Sweet rolls and mimosas to start. Eggs Benedict, stuffed chicken breasts or marinated flank steak. Wedding cake! Dinner> Put on your Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts for the LUAU – Kalua Pork with shredded cabbage and carrots, sweet Hawaiian sauce and grilled pineapple salsa on Hawaiian rolls. Fish Tacos with coleslaw (Wasabi or mild), rice, 3 bean salad, cheesy potato casserole. Top it off with Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

Sunday: Free-for-all raiding of all the leftovers.

Legal Disclaimer: The BAGSFOW legal team requires we disclose that while we cannot condone overindulgence in Kalua pork, 3 bean salad, coleslaw and dessert – we certainly don’t want to discourage anyone from going back for second or third helpings!

Meet the Shermans: Michael, Michelle, Andrew and Alyssa

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Gogi Hale

This is Andrew (age 2), my grand-nephew (one of many). He is Michael (my nephew, Gina’s son) and Michelle’s (Matron of Honor and my good friend) first child. He is showing me a cool rock he found. Andrew loves to read and do stuff outside. Bugs, rocks, running, and (recently) swimming are all things that he enjoys.

This is Andrew now (4) and his new baby sister, Alyssa. Alyssa was born as Brian and I were having a transcendental moment, bike riding down Mt. Haleakala. It appears that Alyssa mostly wiggles a lot and looks cute in between napping, eating and diaper changes. In reality, her brain is working non-stop on mastering language, social skills, motor skills and how to get what you need. It’s a very tiring job and so you can see why she might sleep more than we do.

Speaking of sleep…

Here are A & A’s sleep-deprived parents: Michelle and Michael. On top of raising the kiddees together, Michael is a master gardener and runs his own landscaping company in Southern California. Two years ago, he spent one vacation up at my house, putting in an extensive drip system for my massive garden.

One year they spent their Christmas break with me. And they also were visiting me that fateful summer, when I went out on my first date with Brian. Afterwards, Michelle told me that she knew something was special about that date. It was written all over my face. Michelle is a highly regarded elementary school teacher. Her students love their Mrs. Sherman and while she enjoys them as well, right now she is loving the summer break! M & M also enjoy hiking, barbequing, crafts, camping and church.

The Shermans have the honor (responsibility, unfortunate luck) of being the only Quiring nephews/nieces at BAGSFOW. This hasn’t made them extra popular with my many other nephews/nieces but c’mon people! I have a BIG family. I’ve promised them that they will likely leave with good blackmail pictures as a reward. Michael’s mother and stepdad will be here too (Gina and Curt).

Another important event linking us together is that Brian proposed to me on their wedding anniversary… What will come next?

This is the fourth post in a series of notable events for people appearing at BAGSFOW – if you have an announcement – let us know! Click the family category to see all the posts!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Gogi Hale

and food, drinks

and …

Karaoke! Time to channel your inner rock star, sultry singer, secret extrovert. We are kicking the boys out (don’t feel too bad for them, they are going to see the outdoor play Tecumseh) and then breaking out in a night of girly fun.

There will be super fun makeup, props, and over 1000 songs to choose from. Sing a song and pick a prize!

And if you are worried that this will happen, remember that we are all family and will love you even more if you stink at singing. The pictures won’t tell how good or bad you are!

Oh yeah, girls just wanna have fun!

Hoedown in the Hocking Hills!

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Gogi Hale

Yeee-Haw! Swing your partner and do-si-doh! Hey, keep off the toes. That’s right. Get out your steel toed cowboy boots and your prettiest crinolines – the Hale/Quiring clans are going square dancing. Friday July 19th, after the rehearsal, we all head over to Uncle
Buck’s Riding and Drinking Barn for a finger lickin’ good meal and then an evening of old fashioned square dance fun. It all begins at 6:30 PM.

Starting at 7 PM, Gary Lehman and the Country Strings will be performing – and some of their wives will be there to show us all the ropes. (This isn’t actually their picture…)

Here is what Logan Daily News’ LESLIE GRAY has to say about them:

LOGAN — This week’s Music in the Park performers are Gary Lehman and The Country Strings, who will take the stage at 7 p.m. Friday in Logan’s Worthington Park.

“We’ve played here for a number of years off and on since it started,” Gary Lehman, lead singer and drums, said. The remaining band members of Gary Lehman and The Country Strings include Paul Sneider of Lancaster on steel guitar; Bob Holland of Hebron, lead guitar, rhythm bass and vocals; Bob Parsley of Groveport, lead bass and vocals; and Stephanie Magill of Groveport, bass and vocals.

The band formed based on friendships and associations with other musicians throughout the years. Lehman and Sneider have performed together for about 40 years, beginning in a different band. Holland has been with the group about 25 years, Parsley about 10 years and his daughter Magill about five years.

“We really do a lot of old standard country,” Lehman said. The group also plays square dance music when the opportunity arises.

For the past 25 years, Gary Lehman and The Country Strings have performed at the Gibisonville Recreation Center the first Saturday of every month from November to March for round and square dances.

Good Food! Square dancing! In a “drinking barn”! What more could you ask for?

Bob and Gayle’s Stupendously Fabulous Orthodox Wanderings

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Gogi Hale

When we originally registered BAGSFOW.com we didn’t realize how versatile the name would be.

BAGSFOW is honored to be the unofficial non-corporate sponsor for Bob and Gayle Born’s (one of my big sisters) trip to Russia. Their trek takes them on a tour of Orthodox churches, museums and historical sites throughout Russia. They say they’ve been walking up to six miles a day (at that rate it will only take them 3 years to cross the entire country).

We’re looking forward to being regaled around the campfire with tales from their journey – and I know they’ll be glad to be back in the USA eating some fine southern Ohio cooking! However it’s not all cabbage and Borst in Russia…this is where they ate in Saint Petersburg.

On the 4th of July, they were at Red Square. Pretty spectacular! All the way USA, comrades!

This is the second post in a series of notable events for people appearing at BAGSFOW – if you have an announcement – let us know!

Gina’s Gourmet Desserts

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Gogi Hale

This photo is the inspiration for BAGSFOW’s wedding cake! Ours will be two tiered with raspberry and custard filling, and lemon cheesecake filling. Yum!