This month marked the climax of Date Night 2013 (though there are, of course, five months still to come): the Big Expensive Date. Summer is a busy, busy time for a youth pastor -- like, so busy we missed our June date entirely. If I am alone more evenings than most women I know, it's multiplied over the summer, with camping trips and mission trips and meetings for the mission trips and extended youth group hours and so on and so on. I'm not complaining: it's a season, and we'll have long leisurely days together in August when Isaac has a million (or so) hours of comp time to use up. I mean, as leisurely as anything with three toddlers ever is.
I was, however, determined to plan a little getaway for the two of us in the midst of all the crazy. I knew we'd be heading up to my parents' house this month for a family reunion, so I grabbed the opportunity for free overnight babysitting and booked us a stay at a bed-and-breakfast not far from where my parents live.
The Mirabelle (Wooster, Ohio) is a darling little B&B, though I suppose in reality most B&Bs are both darling and little. We stayed there on our once-a-year overnight getaway last March, when I was hugely pregnant with Silas, and it seemed easier to me, planning a trip in secret and all, to return there rather than scope out a new place. This year, I splurged on the big room with the claw-foot tub and the king-sized bed (although why two people as short as my husband and myself would ever need a king-sized bed is beyond me). Four thumbs up on the rooms and the breakfasts, both this trip and the last one.
Wooster and the surrounding area is not precisely booming with interesting things to see and do, at least not compared to, say, a big city or something, but we managed to amuse ourselves satisfactorily. Friday night we ate at the Olde Jaol Steakhouse in Wooster, which was once literally the old jail. Isaac was quite happy with his sea bass, the prime rib was decent, the layered yellow cake with chocolate and vanilla mouse was perfect, and the conversation was of a sort we haven't managed since -- well, since April's date night, probably.
Saturday morning we lounged around after breakfast (okay, I admit it, we watched the Cosby show on TVLand) and then took a walk around the University of Wooster's campus, sparking all sorts of theorizing on our children and their future college experiences. Then we headed over to Orrville for the Smucker's Store and Cafe, which includes a little "museum" of the Smucker's history. Lunch in the cafe wasn't anything special, but by this point we'd been childless for long enough that we were laughing and goofing off like we haven't done in ages.
After lunch, we headed back in to Wooster for ice cream at Hartzler Family Dairy. Isaac swears that Hartzler's is the best eggnog anywhere, so my mom always makes sure to buy him a quart at Christmastime. I've seen their milk down here in the big city, at Whole Foods and one tiny little natural grocery co-op, but never the eggnog. Anyway, he's been wanting to try the frozen custard, and I'm pretty sure it lived up to his expectations. I always choose hard-serve ice cream myself, and that was delicious as well.
I meant to take the camera along, to maybe finally have some pictures of date night, but of course I forgot it. You'll just have to believe me that it was a highly satisfactory getaway!
I was, however, determined to plan a little getaway for the two of us in the midst of all the crazy. I knew we'd be heading up to my parents' house this month for a family reunion, so I grabbed the opportunity for free overnight babysitting and booked us a stay at a bed-and-breakfast not far from where my parents live.
The Mirabelle (Wooster, Ohio) is a darling little B&B, though I suppose in reality most B&Bs are both darling and little. We stayed there on our once-a-year overnight getaway last March, when I was hugely pregnant with Silas, and it seemed easier to me, planning a trip in secret and all, to return there rather than scope out a new place. This year, I splurged on the big room with the claw-foot tub and the king-sized bed (although why two people as short as my husband and myself would ever need a king-sized bed is beyond me). Four thumbs up on the rooms and the breakfasts, both this trip and the last one.
Wooster and the surrounding area is not precisely booming with interesting things to see and do, at least not compared to, say, a big city or something, but we managed to amuse ourselves satisfactorily. Friday night we ate at the Olde Jaol Steakhouse in Wooster, which was once literally the old jail. Isaac was quite happy with his sea bass, the prime rib was decent, the layered yellow cake with chocolate and vanilla mouse was perfect, and the conversation was of a sort we haven't managed since -- well, since April's date night, probably.
Saturday morning we lounged around after breakfast (okay, I admit it, we watched the Cosby show on TVLand) and then took a walk around the University of Wooster's campus, sparking all sorts of theorizing on our children and their future college experiences. Then we headed over to Orrville for the Smucker's Store and Cafe, which includes a little "museum" of the Smucker's history. Lunch in the cafe wasn't anything special, but by this point we'd been childless for long enough that we were laughing and goofing off like we haven't done in ages.
After lunch, we headed back in to Wooster for ice cream at Hartzler Family Dairy. Isaac swears that Hartzler's is the best eggnog anywhere, so my mom always makes sure to buy him a quart at Christmastime. I've seen their milk down here in the big city, at Whole Foods and one tiny little natural grocery co-op, but never the eggnog. Anyway, he's been wanting to try the frozen custard, and I'm pretty sure it lived up to his expectations. I always choose hard-serve ice cream myself, and that was delicious as well.
I meant to take the camera along, to maybe finally have some pictures of date night, but of course I forgot it. You'll just have to believe me that it was a highly satisfactory getaway!
Sometim you and Isaac will have to take a trip to PA and stay at a B&B called the Mansion. Carl and I have gotten to love staying at B&Bs ever since staying here. We've stayed at several since then and love the quiet and non- hotel smells, sights and sounds. Sounds like you had a lovely time
ReplyDeleteWe did indeed have a lovely time. Some day, when the children are older, maybe we'll be able to venture a little farther away from home (and babysitting)! But yeah, I love it so much more than a hotel stay. So much cozier, quainter, indulgent . . . well, I don't have to tell you, you know! :)
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