Archive for April, 2012

ASE Feed and Supply will be on throwing a customer appreciation breakfast celebration on Saturday, April 14. Ken Jewell and his wife, Teresa, purchased the feed store and mill in 2001 and renamed it ASE in honor of their three daughters–Amy, Stacy, and Emily. They have been serving the Plain City community for eleven years!

If you stop by on April 14, you can get pancakes and sausage from 8 am to 1 pm. There will also be a 10 percent discount on anything purchased in the store. Experts in equine and pet nutrition will also be available to answer questions. The event ends at 2 pm when the store closes.

I have to thank Ken and everyone at ASE for supporting Black and Orange Cat Foundation for the past five years (or more). Carol Gaul helped Ken get the feral cats that were living around the mill and shop fixed and vaccinated. These cats kept the mice under control around the mill, but also tended to cross the street to the Gaul’s shop and often met unhappy fates on the road. After being fixed, they didn’t wander so much and Carol stopped worrying about them. Ken was also very glad to have the cats around.

Ken kindly donates food to Black and Orange every month, which we then distribute to people in need. Additionally, Ken donated a dog house to us last year for Peggy Meadows, who runs a small dog rescue (Happy Tails of Central Ohio), here in Plain City. We cannot thank Ken and ASE enough for all their generosity.

ASE Feed and Supply is located at 211 S. Jefferson Avenue (Route 42) in Plain City (they are across the street from McDonald’s). For more information, including hours of operation, products and services, visit their web site HERE.

You can also “Like” ASE Feed and Supply on Facebook HERE.

Sarah Reinhard has a new book available to help families spend more enjoyable moments with each other, rather than hooked up to telephones, portable tablets, or the internet. The book, Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless, which includes tons of activities and ideas to bring families closer together, was personally tested with Sarah’s own family (you can see two of Sarah’s biggest fans and critics of how fun an activity was in the photo to the left).

With chapters on “Silly Things to Do Together,” “Craft Projects,” and “Outdoor Adventures,” there is something exciting for any personality. Some of the recommended projects are things I remember doing with my sister, Bobbie, when we were kids. Scavenger hunts, puppet shows, and skits (which involved dressing up in elaborate costumes) were among our favorites. I also remember making a “Maundy Thursday Treasure Map” one year when we were bored over spring break.

Sarah also includes fun “Ways to Serve” and “Ways to Pray” to teach children that helping others and talking to God are also avenues to make our spirits soar.

Under the “Ways to Serve” page on the web site (click on Chapter 8 along the side bar), Sarah listed several places to have children visit to learn to serve. One thing I noticed was missing was visiting or volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue. Since I am a huge animal person, I had to make sure to mention that children are often especially in tune with animals and visiting a shelter, where they can pet neglected or abandoned animals or walk a dog that has not ever had much attention, can teach very important lessons in kindness and mercy. These visits also provide opportunities for telling stories about Saint Francis of Assisi who treated animals with dignity and respect, preaching the Gospels to the birds and calling animals his brothers and sisters.

If your children are not into cats and dogs, there are rescues and sanctuaries for horses (Last Chance Corral in Athens, Ohio), rabbits (Columbus House Rabbit Society), elephants (The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee), big cats (Noah’s Lost Ark in Berlin Center, Ohio), and any other animal imaginable where they could visit and learn more about that particular species and how compassion creates a better world for animals (and people!). For kids who have not grown up on farms or only know city life, a visit to Sunrise Sanctuary in Marysville, Ohio can allow them to meet cows and goats and chickens. There is even a wild animal hospital in Columbus (The Ohio Wildlife Center) that rehabilitates chipmunks, birds, raccoons, and other animals that often are the victims of careless humans.

For animals in shelters, easy-to-make beds, toys, and even treats can be a way for children to, not only have fun making something, but also learn to help dogs and cats in need. For homemade cat toy instructions, go HERE. For cat beds, go HERE (but you do need to know how to sew!). For dog beds (and some require no sewing!), go HERE. For homemade dog biscuits, go HERE. By making these items and then visiting a shelter to donate them, children can see how their efforts benefit homeless dogs and cats.

There are also tons of plans online for outdoor cat houses to keep kitties warm during cold nights. Many rescue groups that help feral cats would love to have these houses donated to them. Check out some of those houses HERE and HERE.

These are all projects that both Girl and Boy Scout troops could also do with only a small investment of time and money, while providing a great service to animals in need.

There are also other easily constructed crafts for children to make bird feeders and butterfly puddles to help out creatures they can watch from their windows.

Beyond crafts as teaching tools for compassion, there are also many lovely fables for children (and adults) about animals and the Holy Family, which promote kindness to our furry friends. One of my favorite stories involves tabby cats and the Virgin Mary. According to the tales, a cat jumped into the manger with baby Jesus to keep him warm. Mary was so grateful that she touched the little cat’s forehead and left the letter “M” emblazoned in the fur. All tabby cats now have that prominent “M” for Mary (or in other religions for Muhammad, who was supposedly such a cat lover that it is a severe crime in Islam to harm any cat).

In case you didn’t know it, The Pope is also a huge cat lover. In fact, his cat, Chico has penned (pawed?) a children’s book about the Holy Father called, Joseph and Chico.

One of my favorite books is a book of prayers called “For God’s Creatures Great & Small, Prayers for Pets and Other Animals,” which my friend, Monica, bought for me. Monica felt called to start a pet food pantry for people who cannot afford to provide food for their beloved pets. The service, provided through a local church in Plain City (The Vineyard), is part of their Daily Needs Ministry, which also gives items to help people with basic needs and serves a free meal once a month. Taking children to something like this would also be an awesome service opportunity.

But I digress. I was having way too much fun thinking of ways for children to also have fun while learning about and helping animals! Sarah’s book inspired me so much that I’ve spent a lovely morning at the keyboard daydreaming and having my own kind of fun! Thanks, Sarah! I think this is exactly what Catholic Family Fun is meant to do–inspire us all!

Sarah’s book provides a road map to allow families to brainstorm and create their own type of family fun beyond just the activities recorded on the pages (just like I did above). Catholic Family Fun should also come in very handy for Sunday school teachers looking to make lessons and learning joyous, too.

Follow Sarah on her virtual internet book tour HERE. Sarah will be interviewed or guest post about the book on a number of sites.

And “like” Catholic Family Fun’s Facebook page HERE.

Read more about Catholic Family Fun on Sarah’s “My Books” page HERE.

The Easter bunny seemed to be in a hurry when we passed him on a grassy lane off of Perry Pike. He was pedaling like mad–probably because he had a ton of Easter baskets to deliver and he needed to get back to Bunny headquarters to pick up the next batch that his little chickens were arranging for him.

If you spot the Easter bunny on his bicycle, please share the road. We don’t want any squashed jelly beans or unhappy children on Easter morning. Although you might be startled and want to stop and stare, please avoid the urge so this furry guy can get to his destinations safely. We were a bit disappointed that the Easter bunny was not wearing a helmet, but he did follow other bicycling etiquette. We heard him announce his arrival to several bewildered pedestrians: “Passing on the left.”

The Easter bunny would like to remind everyone that his rabbit, duck, and chick buddies do not make good presents in an Easter basket. Although adorable, they quickly grow up and require a ton of commitment and responsibility. So choose chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps over the living, breathing kind. The Easter bunny encourages you to read up on this issue, which he strongly supports, at the Make Mine Chocolate web site HERE.

We wish everyone a peaceful and Happy Easter. Be on the look out for our bike riding, eco-friendly Easter bunny (maybe next year, he’ll be driving an electric car!). Joe offered the use of the drugstore van, but the Easter bunny declined.

If you have an emergency over the holiday, please page Joe at 614-240-8421 (I’ll bet the Easter bunny will be calling Sunday morning, wanting to borrow the van!).

Join the folks at Darby Grace Brethren Church on Saturday, April 7, for an Easter Egg hunt beginning at 10:30 am. The hunt will take place at the church office located at 9899 US Highway 42 South, across from The Cheese House. There will be lots of eggs with prizes inside, drawings for prizes of all ages, including adults, and free coffee and donuts (this isn’t just for kids–Hurrah!).

On Friday, May 4, the Plain City Big Band Dance will swing into town. From 7 to 10 pm, attendees can dance to the music of the live dance band, Classic Swing, who will be playing vintage dance tunes. Admission to the dance is $5, with all the proceeds going to the Friends of the Plain City Public Library. Beverages, including wine from Eldchrist Winery here in Plain City, and light refreshments will be available to purchase at the event. A pictorial slide show will run throughout the evening showing Plain City during the 1940’s and 50’s. Additionally, there will be a picture honor roll of local veterans. The dance will be held at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church’s event center (the PAC, Parish Activity Center) located at 670 West Main Street behind the firehouse. No registration is required.

Registration is required, however, for the swing dance lessons that the Friends of the Plain City Public Library will be sponsoring in the library on Tuesdays, April 10, 17, and May 1 from 6:30-8 pm. The lessons are free, but there is limited space for the three sessions. Both couples and singles can register and attend. Couples should each register individually.

You can register for the lessons by going HERE. This link will take you to the Programs page for the Library. Click on the Swing Dance lesson on April 10 or 17 and register. You have to register for each class. Do the same for the class on May 1.

For more information on either the dance or the lessons, contact Chris Long at 614-873-4912, ext. 23 or via email: clong@plaincitylib.org

For more info on other Library programs, go HERE.