In Search of Dogwoods

Today, kiddo and I had a bowling tournament in the same town where my husband and I have Tuesday bowling league. It’s about an hour drive north of here and it was a beautiful day for a trip.

A lot of the trees are blooming around here right now and the redbuds are really putting on a show. But, we set out in search of dogwoods.

After the tournament was over, we tried the beach area on Clearwater Lake to see if any were blooming there. No luck and, actually, there wasn’t even a beach because the lake is so high.

April 8, 2023 sign at the bowling alley
April 8, 2023 water on the parking lot at the beach
April 8, 2023 water over the road at the beach

From there we went to Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area. I posted about awhile back, about how we never even knew it was there. We started our hike riverside and I was beginning to think we weren’t going to see a dogwood there either.

We got downstream, and right next to where kiddo planted himself by the water, was the lone dogwood of the day.

It was so beautiful!

Those white petals with green accents make me smile! I mean, how amazing is it, that something so tightly tucked away in a bud emerges so perfectly?

my favorite is a dogwood bloom with a blue lit sky
dogwood blooms at Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
April 8, 2023 dogwood bloom
April 8, 2023 Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area

Before we left, we went up the creek towards a waterfall we saw last time. It was glorious, once again.

April 8, 2023 waterfall near Piedmont Missouri

We didn’t win the bowling tournament, but we both got our averages and above. What a super fun mom and son day!

Thanks for reading!

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 Unmeasured Journeys

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 Jessica Adam- all photos, video, and words done by me

Photos Do the Talking

Went to my dad’s for the one year mark of my momma’s passing. So happy I was with him, it was a pretty hard day.

I decided to take a break from wordy posts and share some of the photos I took while there. It seems like sometimes, photos can do the best talking, all on their own.

an old pump my momma loved
a birdhouse my momma painted
a birdhouse with a missing back
a peeling pot in the shed
I stepped in a hole by the apple tree, fell on my back, but looked up to see the moon in one part of the sky and this sun in the other
a framed reflection
dad’s tools
peeling paint

Thanks for being here. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 Unmeasured Journeys

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 Jessica Adam- all writing and photographs done by me

Beauty Now Noticed

It’s funny how sometimes there’s a place that’s incredibly amazing within a few miles, but we don’t even know it’s there.

Every Tuesday since September, we’ve traveled 50 miles to bowl at a town north of us. I thought that in the past 5 months, we’d seen everything there is to see around that town.

Within 10 miles, there is an area called Clearwater Lake and we’ve ventured there many times. It’s very beautiful. One Saturday we went north about 20 miles and stumbled upon a campground, marina, and beach. So pretty there.

This time though, we took our feet to a hiking trail within 5 miles of the bowling alley. I’d heard about it, but we’d never been there.

My goodness. All I can say is nature’s grace was right around the corner! I was missing out and didn’t even know it. It’s called Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area and it’s part of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Whoa. Simply put, it’s stunning. Huge rock walls, waterfalls, granite, clear water, stone steps, a path along the creek. Breathtaking beauty.

It’s like a combo pack of places we’ve been. It’s a touch of Colorado, a smidgen of Klepzig Mill 60 miles west of here, it sort of reminds me of Castor River Shut Ins northeast of us, and it’s even a bit like Johnson Shut Ins by Elephant Rocks State Park. Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area feels sort of familiar, but it’s totally new.

Spring is starting to show her lovely face, bringing longer days and sweet wild flowers. We will definitely be returning there to see nature’s spring show.

Thanks for reading. Hope you find some ‘under your nose but you don’t even know it’ nature treasure, too. Beauty unnoticed becomes beauty now noticed. Love that.

Jessica

©️ 2023 Unmeasured Journeys- stone steps at Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
©️ 2023 Unmeasured Journeys- creek at Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
©️ 2023 Unmeasured Journeys- rock wall at Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
©️ 2023 Unmeasured Journeys- looking up creek, Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area
Lon Sanders Canyon sign at the start of the trail

©️ 2023 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sun Dog on the Lake

Yesterday, I saw the most incredible thing. The sun and a sun dog were reflecting on the lake at the same time. I mean, sunsets are awesome enough, but what a miracle to see a baby rainbow in the sky and on the water in the same moment!

Jaw dropped.

Nature… sometimes it takes my breath away. It’s soooooo beautiful.

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Jessica

Sun dog on the lake- ©️ 2023 Unmeasured Journeys

©️ 2023 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sunset at the Boat Ramp

We’re lucky. We live by a tiny town with a river that’s part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It’s called the Current River and is known for its clear water, movement that flows enough to carry canoes and kayaks, swimming holes, and fishing.

A couple of nights ago, my son and I went to the boat ramp in town. I was able to catch these sunset pictures. What a lovely evening it was.

January 27, 2023- sunset at the Current River
sunset at the boat ramp- January 27, 2023
snow in my mirror reflection- January 27, 2023
a tree in my window reflection- January 27, 2023
Current River view from the parking lot-
January 27, 2023

It’s so wonderful to have nature close by. It fills up this photographer’s heart a million times over.

Hope you have a great evening/day!

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

On Glimpses of Things

Yesterday we went to the river. During floating season, there are people all over the place and river ‘sounds.’ Things like: laughter, chit chat, boat motors, dogs barking, car doors shutting, music playing…

Currently, on the Current River, it’s the quiet time. The temperatures are cold in the water and in the air. I don’t mind the busy season, but I sure love the ‘nobody’s around you can hear nature’ time.

For instance, last night we were the only people there. For me, that brings nature back into sole view. Details called out. I noticed. There were pine trees swaying in the wind, leaves on the snow, pine cones sitting on overlooked paths, and my truck hood acted as a mirror.

January 27, 2023- pine cones at the river
January 27, 2023- snow as the perfect backdrop
trees on my truck hood- January 27, 2023
January 27, 2023- pine trees sway

On the way out, we were paused by a tree that crossed over the road. A gift really. A ‘slow down moment’ in days filled with hurries. So we did it, we paused.

tree leaned over the road- January 27, 2023

After going around it, I found myself looking, for color in the trees, for something that would demand a camera, or something that would make a stellar photograph.

Nothing really stood out ahead, but when I looked back perfection and grace were wearing the same coat.

My side mirror gave me a glimpse of what truck windows would notice, if they did such things. I stopped and got out. Here’s what I saw:

January 27, 2023- a scene that caught my eye
January 27, 2023- a window’s view

Glimpses of nature on some random Friday, filled up my lens, eyes, and heart with abundant gifts. Love when that happens.

Thanks for being here.

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2023 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Patterns

Math is my thing. I loveeeee math. Instead of seeing the whole of things, I tend to see the pieces and patterns.

Yesterday I set out to notice patterns so I could photograph them. Here are some that I found.

lines and curves
fence posts
decoys
insulators
sets
more curves
glass
circles

Thanks for being here!

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2022-2023 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Back to Photography

I’m going back to photography. For awhile, anyway.

Just came in from taking these.

Jessica

hydrangeas
pine
corn sheller
puddle
old jug
pretty mirror

©️©️©️ COPYRIGHT 2022 AND FORWARD- UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This and That of Home

More pictures of things around my parent’s home. Although my momma passed, it’s still their place, you know?

I took these photographs yesterday evening after I walked 44 laps up and down the driveway. Because of an aching blister, my shoes got tossed and I walked it barefoot.

For northern Missouri in late November, my time outside was pretty decent. If there was an invisible scale of “too cold to be out,” I fared quite well. The wind froze my cheeks, but the sun warmed my toes. Seems like a pretty even trade for winter.

field corn
sunset across the field
walking laps barefoot
old trailer handle
garden gate
a couple of inches
rain gauge
walnuts
a bunny on the porch

Tonight I think we’re going to have a big bowl-a-thon at the same spot my dad has bowled at for 40+ years. Sounds like a fun, memorable way to spend the 2nd day after Thanksgiving.

Hope you have a nice Saturday, too.

Jessica

©️ COPYRIGHT 2022 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS-ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tractor and a Sunset

Whenever I come to my parent’s house, I always wander around and take pictures. It’s in the country, with corn fields all around.

Thought I’d share some, just because.

Hope you have a great night.

Jessica

tractor frame
tractor parts
tractor key
tractor seat
tractor pedal
a sunset

©️ COPYRIGHT 2022 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS-ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME-ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Some Laughs and More Tears

Grateful for:

  • siblings
  • my dad
  • nieces and nephews
  • my husband and son
  • an Iowa farm
  • a giant meal
  • 2 fuzzy dogs
  • a crumb patrolling cat
  • a giant hike
  • a chit chat next to a tree, under a sky of blue
  • music on a hill
  • tears that streamed several times
  • memories of days gone by
  • my momma’s carrot cake and jello dessert
  • feathers
  • geese calling
  • a sunset that spilled across the horizon like berries that tumble from a too full bowl
  • 2 friends reached out even hundreds of miles away
  • more tears
  • some laughs
  • some stories
  • more tears
  • hugs goodbye
  • gratitude expressed
  • more tears
  • more tears
  • more tears

The first Thanksgiving without my momma was exactly that: without my momma. I missed her like crazy. One big holiday down, in this year of firsts. My birthday and Christmas are left.

To those who offered kind words, thoughts, and hugs, I thank you.

Jessica

sunset Thursday night

First Snow

Gratitude:

  • socks
  • a warm coat
  • enough camera battery to get some photos
  • our first snow

It usually snows here around February, so waking up to snow in November was a treat.

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday.

Jessica

bushes by our sidewalk
zinnia looking a bit chilled
curvy slide, curvy snow
vine by the barn
the reflections rest
tree stump by the barn
metal bird on the hose holder
those orange berries from ‘Around Home’ with snow

©️ COPYRIGHT 2022 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY ME- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED