I have been thoroughly enjoying the change of seasons in our new yard on daily walks. While the number and variety of wildflowers has waned with winter approaching, we have seen some fall blooms. Early one November morning we noticed something. A bit of white fluff among the fallen leaves. Frost Flower, Ice Flower, Ice […]
Elusive Frost Flower Sighted Read More »
The first stop of the day was at Dog’s Bluff Access on the outskirts of Houston, Missouri (ironically, it’s in Texas County). It was just down from the main road (not too big or busy). The land area was small, but this park was all about the water, The Big Piney River. There was a
River and Beer Flowing -The Big Piney Read More »
Having comfortably toured this Byway of America by car, in the heat of July, we headed back to Glade Top Trail to explore a bit more. We invited a friend who lived close to the trail and was happy happy to join in. Not only was she familiar with the trail, she grew up on
Have Friend, Will Explore, Return To Glade Top Read More »
This was an “on another trip” trip. I start out with one place in mind and end up passing others en route to my goal and I have finally begun to write them down. I am still traveling a perimeter not far from home, most places within an hour or two drive. Today’s adventure brought
More Than Just a Pretty Mill Read More »
I have walked, hiked and ridden along scenic routes in Missouri, but usually a trail is a bit of an effort to get to a vista and then it’s all worth it (usually). Recently, I toured the Glade Top Trail in southern Missouri, closest to Ava. This trail is best viewed by vehicle, although there
Taking in the Views on a Hot Day Read More »
In a one hour drive on a sunny day, an escape over the border brought me to Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. It’s a scenic drive that passes through some tiny towns before leaving Missouri. While I made my way south, under the ground thousands of gallons of water rush along through an underground cave system, from
Water, water everywhere… Read More »
Taking in historic tours brings one to mills in Missouri. Many of the preserved mills, mostly no longer operational, were centers of former towns. Using water, of which Missouri has tons, mills grind grains like wheat into flour with hydropower. Flour was such a food staple in the past that towns were often centered around
Touring a Mill Doesn’t Have to be a Grind Read More »
A pretty surprise in the front yard. Wildflower growing on side of road. Purple wild flower in park. A group of tan mushrooms growing in yard. Red mushroom growing in yard. A mushroom that sprouted in a compost pile. A tiny grasshopper helping on a job. A butterfly with pretty black and blue wings. An
Life that Crawls & Grows Around Me Read More »
The best trips are often the least planned. As I spend more time venturing out to neighboring towns, often on an errand, I make notes of places I want to further explore on a return trip. At least in the Ozarks, there’s a pattern of each little town having a square and certain businesses being
I recently went camping in one of the many nearby conservation areas Rippee, just outside of Ava, Missouri. It was primitive camping, so no: person in charge, shower, flushing toilet, running water or electric hook-ups. It was also gorgeous and free. The sites did each have a concrete picnic table, fire ring, and gravel drive.