My family started spring with a bang this year. We took a nice little hike at Mary Jane Thurston State Park’s North Turkey Foot Area. It is right off on State Route 24 just before 109, six miles from Napoleon.

Hubby, son and I were joined by my 13-year-old brother-in-law. We had a blast. The trail is easy and flat. There are several trails which all loop around. In addition to trees, wetlands, and the Maumee River, there are some interesting sites along the way. We ran across the very old and crumbling Showman-Edwards Cemetery. There is also evidence of a community long forgotten, including an old barn, scary and dangerous steel and wooden bridge, and several stone wells.

A walk through the woods at Mary Jane Thurston makes it easy to remember this was at one time all swamp land. And the river provided travel for several Indian tribes.

We didn’t find any arrowheads on our hike, but we did have a good time. Check it out:

Signs of spring are everywhere at my house. Robins are singing, crocuses are blooming, and soccer gear is sitting on the dining room table. It is about time. Is time, or did winter last forever this year?

Sunday, March 20th is the official first day of spring this year. So in honor of sunshine and warmer weather, here is a list of what I am looking forward to this spring:

Working in the garden
Spending Easter in Nashville
Watching my 4-year-old attempt league soccer for the first time
Hiking
Spending time at my friend’s family farm in Indiana
Dropping the top on my convertible
Ice Cream
Short sleeves & sandals
Finding out if my new baby will be a boy or girl

I am sure there are many more things I will enjoy this spring. Stay tuned for more updates.

This winter has been an especially long one, so I have tried to keep my family busy with some weekend day trips. We recently paid a visit to Ohio Caverns. I haven’t been there in years and had forgotten how amazing it is.

Ohio Caverns is a show cave in West Liberty, no far from Bellefountaine in West Central Ohio. It has incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as an underground stream.

Ohio Caverns allows visitors to take photos, but not video. I receive special permission to shoot video for this blog. So, here it is:

It is finally March. I am slowly beginning to see signs of Spring. I’ve spied a couple of robins in the trees and my garden is showing the slightest bit of life.

I am beginning to get Spring fever and I am SO ready for warmer weather. At least I got my fill of sun back in January during my annual trek to Mexico. Here’s the final video of my trip:

I have been suffering from a killer cold/flu/virus this week. As a result, I ended up with laryngitis. (That’s pretty inconvenient for someone who works in television.) Unfortunately, due to my pregnancy (Oh, did I forget to mention that I’m having a baby?), there are not a lot of medications I can take. Instead I turned to home remedies. I can’t say any of there worked, but here is what I tried.

1) I drank a mixture of cayenne pepper, honey, lemon juice, and water. (It really just gave me heartburn)
2) I drank apple cider vinegar. (One word – yuck)
3) I gargled hydrogen peroxide. (Once again – yuck.)

I can honestly say, for me, not of these were a miracle fix. The only thing that helped was a sinus massage from my massage therapist. (Thanks, Miranda!)

So you have any home remedies for laryngitis. If so, email me at hmiller@foxtoledonews.com.

I’d like to tell you about my favorite spot on Earth: Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Isla Muejeres (Spanish for Women Island) is a small island off the coast of Cancun. It is only 4.3 miles long and 2,130 ft wide and can easily be navigated by golf cart (Think the Lake Erie Islands.)

The beaches on Isla Mujeres are pristine and it is a relaxing contrast to the hustle and bustle of Cancun. You can get there by ferry from Cancun for a decent price. I would call facilities on the island a little rustic, but that is part of its charm.

The island is know for its grilled fish called Tik’n Xic. It is white fish rubbed with achiote spices and grilled over a wood fire. Its worth a try even if you are not a seafood person.

There is surprisingly a lot to see and do on Isla Mujeres. Check out this video from my recent stop there:

This week I am bringing you video of Kabah Park in downtown Cancun. Most people are familiar with the beaches and resorts in Cancun, but downtown (Where not many tourists go.) is a bustling city Kabah Park is a little oasis in the middle of all the urban chaos.

Kabah is a public park. We were the only tourists there during our visit, but it was very busy with many Cancun Citizens jogging, walking, and exercising. There is a loop trail, a playground, a museum, a picnic area, and a duck and turtle pond. The park is full of wildlife; coatis (strange raccoon looking creatures) and iguanas can be spotted all along the trail. There is even a recreation of a Mayan homestead and a chicle camp (where workers would collect chicle to make chewing gum.)

It was fun to explore the jungle park and walk among the local. It was definitely worth the bus and cab rides to get there. Check it out and enjoy:

Okay, its time to shake off the cold weather and snow. The second installment of my Mexico videos is ready to go.

This video comes from Hacienda Mundaca on the small island off the coast of Cancun called Isla Mujeres. The Pirate Mundaca was a slave trader who eventually created a beautiful hacienda that eventually covered 40% of the island. Mundaca is often referred to as “The Lovesick Pirate of the Caribbean.” Legend has it he created a beautiful estate all for the unrequited love of a younger woman. The ruins of the estate have been turned in to somewhat of a park you can roam for a couple bucks (20 pesos.) The grounds include a unique garden of raised flower beds which served as a sundial.

Here’s Mundaca’s story:

Fermin Anonio Mundaca y Marecheaga was originally from Spain and roamed the waters of the Caribbean during the mid-1800s. He acquired quite a bit of wealth by selling Mayan Indian slaves to Cuban plantations. (He called himself a pirate, though, because it was considered more “respectable.”) He eventually settled on Isla Mujeres to create his estate called “Vista Alege” which means “Happy View” (and trust me, this place is gorgeous.)

Mudaca eventually came to fall in love with a woman much younger than he. She was called “La Triguena” – The Brunette. Legend says she was quite beautiful and considered quite a catch. Needless to say, Mundaca was not her only suitor. That did not quell the pirate’s affection. Stone arches in his gardens were inscribed with phrases such as “The Entrance of the Triguena” and “The Pass of the Triguena.”
Mundaca’s expressions of love were in vain. As he was out to seas, La Triguena married a man from the main land of the Yucatan Peninsula. The heart break was too much for Mundaca and he fled to the other side of the Yucatan to Merida where he slowly went insane and died.

Mundaca’s tomb in the cemetery on the North End of Isla Mujeres remains empty to this day. It is embellished with a skull and cross bones and is said to have been carved by Mundaca’s own hand. It is inscribed (in Spanish) with the words “As you are, I was. As I am, you will be”.

That is the story of the love sick pirate of the Caribbean. Now, here is video of what is left of his estate:

I’m back in the winter weather after a little R & R in Cancun, Mexico. I was joined by my husband and 4 year-old. I think I had more fun watching my son swim and play on the beach that anything else.

Even though I was on vacation, I was still up at the crack on dawn. I don’t adjust well to time changes. However, that means I was able to be on the beach to watch the sunrise. I shot a little video of one such morning. Enjoy!

There is an interesting new art installation in the waters surrounding Isla Mujeres – just off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. Artist Jason deCaires Taylor just completed work on it in November.

The underwater sculpture is called “The Silent Evolution.” It is comprised of 400 permanent life-size sculptures that form an artificial reef. I am really hoping to visit it while I am on vacation in Mexico.

The artist put a video of his work on YouTube. Check it out: