Hocking Hills Roasters: Coffee in the Hills!

Hocking Hills Roasters is just one more reason to visit Hocking County, and it's a particularly wonderful place to go when you want some indoor things to do (or when you're worn out from all of the outdoor things). It's located in the Hocking Hills Market on U.S. 33, south of Rockbridge. In two words: fabulous coffee.

Dave and I, and our friends Sherwin & Diane, made a stop there recently, to pick up some Ethiopian Limu coffee, roasted on site, and accidentally learned how to make a really good cup of coffee using a French press. The owner, Roger Varner, mans the shop on the weekends and he knows his stuff. He is very gentle about "adjusting" your ideas about how to make coffee. We have now learned from the master!

Hocking Hills Roasters also offers roasted nuts, fudge, Get Well teas and the largest, tastiest turtle (candy) I've ever had. Seriously, go there for coffee, but get a turtle too.

Mary from Marsh Hollow

Birds at our birdfeeder

Lately, the birdfeeder at our home has been dominated by what I thought were starlings. After peering at them through binoculars, I finally figured out that they are not starlings at all, but are blackbirds & common grackles. This morning when I looked out, there were easily 50 of these and absolutely none of our regulars. I realize they all need to eat, but how 'bout some sharing? This is the first year we've had a blackbird/grackle "problem" at our feeder.

I went out and starting clapping loudly. They all flew off and within minutes the regular crew was back! Cardinals, blue jays, tufted titmice, dark-eyed juncoes, white breasted nuthatches, sparrows and nary a blackbird. I wonder how long this will last?

Mary at Marsh Hollow.