It’s only 51-degrees but “Houston, we have made contact with sunshine!”

Friday and Saturday, despite being a tourist in Cincinnati and Columbus, the dreary skies, most rain-filled on Friday, would not cease. I was happy but the skies kept trying to puncture my balloon.

Friday was a near washout but we made it a great day, anyway.

One of my favorite cemeteries is Spring Grove Cemetery was mostly a drive-thru, no photographic exploration. Mount Adams was not the great view that can usually be found. But, the Hofbrau Haus did not disappoint with its delicious German feast. A drive through Covington, Kentucky is always an eye-thrill for me. I love the architecture.

Columbus was Saturday’s destination and we stopped in Union Cemetery to pay respects to Wendy’s founder and adoption champion, Dave Thomas. Each first meal with a new son began at Wendy’s to celebrate and to honor Mr. Thomas.

We spent nearly three hours enjoying and marveling the exhibits at The Columbus Museum of Art, especially the visiting Lego exhibit, which was the main purpose of the visit. I was excited to see a Degas still-life painting, something I had never before seen.

And, Chihuly. The Chihuly tree was

gorgeous.

By 3:00 PM we were famished and since we were only 6 minutes from Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant, the rental car was astute enough to know where to go without any nudging from its occupants. A second day of Heaven!

As we were leaving Schmidt’s neighborhood, another architectural buffet for me, I mentioned how I loved seeing the Chihuly and, at some point, would love to see the Franklin Park Conservatory. The car immediately aimed in that direction and we were there.

It was 4:25 PM. It closed at 5:00 PM. The Gods of Glass were kindly watching over us and the large-hearted admissions person, learning of our Chihuly quest, pushed us through for free with the request of leaving at 5:00 PM. Perfect! The adventures of glass blowing were mind blowing. Having grown up in a community with several glass blowing factories, this was so uplifting.

At some point on I-70 West, the sun actually burst through the clouds and beckoned us onward.

Two nights in a row, I battled terrific stomach aches, I am sure due to the overload of German food. I love soups and eat a lot of soups throughout the week; I am sure my colon was not receptive to the heavy loads of actual food bearing down on it. Coupled with the legs and feet aching from an abundance of walking, sleep was not forthcoming until after 3:00 AM each morning.

Seeing the sunshine brightening the world is so uplifting. I love it. I need it.

Off on some more adventures but with no destination planned. It’s a toss up.

But, it will be a great day!