Day 15 (Chicago to Wooster)

I had been looking forward to this day for the whole trip. Maura and I got our butts up EARLY. I' talking I was in the shower with water on me by 7 (and those of you who know- KNOW). We had a quick breakfast with Marion and Dick and then collected Champ, who had been sitting idle for too long! We headed out and were in Indiana before we knew it! Indiana is unexpectedly green and pretty! We were not a fan of the 1,001 toll booths everywhere though! Every time you get off the freaking highway you pay a toll. WTF Indiana? Oh and WTF South Bend. So, Maura and I got a little curious about South Bend. We got off the highway and took a gander. Let me tell you - don't bother getting off the highway. We'll leave it at that.

We took another shot getting off the highway in Ohio at Wauseon. We ate at a place with a sign that read "Good Food". It looked SKETCHY at best from the outside, but the inside was all about the local vibe and the food was pretty decent. We ate late, but got right back on the road to Rick and Denise!

A little about Rick and Denise...

First of all, check out their amazing furniture company, Around the Bend. Rick and Denise design and make all of the furniture that they sell and are incredible talents and artists. If any of you have seen even half the paraphernalia in my apartment/home in CT you know how unbelievable they are at their work! What you don't is what incredible people they are. We were welcomed into their glorious home with open arms and had our first home cooked meal! Rick grilled chicken, made salad and Denise made bean stew with cheese! YUM. We were VERY happy.

After getting the grand tour and sitting down to a tasty meal in their beautiful dining room, we headed out to the barn with Rick to meet the pups! Arlo and Ozzie. Big fuzzy mounds of love. Their dogs are Great Pyrenees with polar opposite personalities. Arlo is a little troublemaker. Or I should say a BIG troublemaker. He is all personality, jumping and sniffing and loving. Oz is the calm, cool and collected type, but EQUALLY as lovable. After only gazing at Grizzlies from afar, this was a much needed doggie encounter! Rick stayed to do some work and Maura and I cuddled up with Denise to watch her favorite show, Glee! It was getting late, but Rick came in and we all played games until TOO late. I felt like I was home! We got into our cozy beds with flannel sheets and sighed. We love Ohio. :)