Tools and Things

Yesterday’s post was on handles. Today, I have some more cool pictures to share.

I love the idea that someday I’ll be reading my old blog posts and I’ll see these photos and remember traipsing around my dad’s tool shed, chasing the daylight.

Another thing I love, is that these things seem to have earned their places. They are not so new and a little worn, but they are still useful and somewhat charming, right where they are.

Hope you have a nice Monday.

Jessica

small shovel
vintage cabinet
blue and red
wooden toolbox
lantern and minnow bucket
tools that have done their share of work

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

Handles

Handles… and not the CB kind. (Think old fashioned radios truckers used and cool names.)

I’m visiting my dad. After doing my walking laps, I got this idea to see if I could photograph some handles. I struck it rich with an old tool shed and some equipment. So many cool ones here.

Hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Jessica

a rusty trailer
vintage tiller
water hydrant
tools
toolbox
shovel
drawer
my momma’s mower

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

Vintage Windows Iowa Style

On my walk around Ricketts, Iowa last Sunday, I saw some cool windows.

front view of the gas station windows
windows through windows behind the pump

Up the block from the gas station, I saw a reflection in this window.

scene in the reflection ~ Ricketts, Iowa
small windows in the mini train station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
church window~ Ricketts, Iowa
reflections on a window of windows in the mini train station and old gas station ~ Ricketts, Iowa

Window are so cool, aren’t they? They allow us to see in, see out, and even see behind us sometimes. I always watch for reflections in windows because it’s fun to get to see something more than once.

And, completely off subject, oh my gosh, you guys! This morning, I was researching the old gas station in Ricketts, Iowa and the town itself.

While looking through internet images, I saw my photos on the internet search! The ones from ‘New Favorite Building’ are on there!

I about fell over! Ha. I’ve never seen my photographs on there before!

Here’s the screenshot of it. How cool is that?

screenshot of my photos on an image search of ‘old gas station Ricketts Iowa’

Thanks for joining me on my Iowa trip recently. I had a wonderful time there.

Hope you have a great day!

Jessica

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

** screenshot taken by me of my photographs that were in an image search

New Favorite Building

I have a new favorite building. It’s in Iowa. After filling up on potluck food, I went for a walk in Ricketts. This is the last building going out of town, or the first building coming in.

my new favorite building~ Ricketts, Iowa
a rainbow roof~ Ricketts, Iowa
not sure if it’s still a business, but I love the sign
windows that don’t see out or in~ Ricketts, Iowa
vintage door~ Ricketts, Iowa
on the building’s window reflection, I could see the mini train station and gas station down the block
back end of the building ~ Ricketts, Iowa
sliding door~Ricketts, Iowa

In this age recycle, recycle, recycle, this building models using what you’ve got. That’s my favorite thing about it.

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

Jessica

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

Family Potluck in Iowa

We had a family potluck in Ricketts, Iowa today. It’s a tiny town, in the midst of corn fields and farms. Seriously, I saw two streets in town that ended right in a corn field, with no dead end signs even.

When I was a kid, my grandparents had a farm not far from there. I spent a good amount of time in town, at my cousin’s house. There used to be a tiny bowling alley we went to. These days, the bowling alley is long gone.

A walk around town this afternoon led me to some pretty cool opportunities for photographs. Thought I’d share some of Ricketts with you.

old gas station~ Ricketts, Iowa
a mini train station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Railroad Street~ Ricketts, Iowa
bell in front of the fire station ~ Ricketts, Iowa
Ricketts, Iowa post office, love how the sun tossed the trees on the side of the building
remnants of the old bowling alley ~ Ricketts, Iowa
church on a hill~ Ricketts, Iowa
a town I love in Iowa

Thanks for reading.

Jessica

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

Miracles and Gratitude Day 10

Gratitude:

  • having a truck that will get us down Forest Service roads that are steep and bumpy
  • natural springs
  • turning leaves
  • waterfalls
  • history
  • a fun afternoon stop with my son

On the way home from my dad’s, we stopped at a place I love. We hadn’t been there since we took my parents to see it, four years ago. My gosh, it was so good to go back.

It’s called Falling Springs and I’ve written about it before. It’s nine miles south of Winona, Missouri, on highway 19, then off on some old rickety rock road.

off of highway 19, south of Winona

There are a lot of natural springs around here and they are all absolutely stunning. This one is pretty unique because there’s an old log cabin homestead there, too.

log cabin at Falling Springs,
near Winona Missouri

It’s very peaceful there. Some people came, but after they left, we had the place to ourselves.

I was reminded about why I love photography so much. Varying where we stand, can completely change the picture.

For instance, this first photograph is from the front of the mill’s water wheel. The second one, is from the back of the mill.

Results?

Two cool pictures of the same thing.

water wheel at Falling Springs
from the front of the mill
Falling Springs mill’s water wheel
from the back of the mill

Miracle photos:

One of my favorite pictures for the day~

photo I took at Falling Springs
near Winona MO

And, the waterfall. It’s stunning.

waterfall at Falling Springs near Winona, MO

M I R A C L E S

Thank you for reading.

Jessica

@ COPYRIGHT 2022 Unmeasured Journeys

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 9

Gratitude:

  • pretty days to drive
  • 2 lane country highways
  • a day with my boy

Yesterday, we finished the second half of our trip home from my dad’s. We took country roads a lot of the way and saw some old buildings and tiny towns. Love that.

a stately building with a wagon in some town
care for a sit?

At an intersection, I saw this sign on a building and laughed. I asked my son if there’s a store where we can get A’s too. Ha ha.

‘N’ store in the country that we saw

Miracle photos:

I had my highest game ever bowling last night!!! I got a 123! A few weeks ago, I had a 49.

my highest score ever!

I also broke a 100.

scored 100+

What miracles are you seeing? Noticing any big or small ones? Feel free to share, if you’d like. I love reading them. Thank you.

Jessica

© COPYRIGHT 2022 UNMEASURED JOURNEYS

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 7

Gratitude:

  • having a whole Saturday with my dad
  • going to garage sales with my dad
  • getting a hug from my dad

Yesterday, Saturday, my son and I spent the day with my dad. We went to garage sales, out to eat, saw a Memorial for veterans, and went to a quilt show in a small town.

It was fun going to garage sales with my dad. I love watching him shop and get bargains. I got a few things for my art and my craft booth. I have a craft show on October 8th.

Dad didn’t go into the quilt show, but I wanted to see what it was about. My goodness, it was amazing!!!!! So many gorgeous quilts made by people in this area.

Next to the Memorial Building is the Veterans Memorial.

the Memorial Building in Rock Port Missouri
looking up at this gorgeous building
quilt show in Rock Port, Missouri
a quilt at the quilt show in Rock Port, Missouri
quilt show in Rock Port, Missouri
Rock Port, Missouri quilt show
Veterans Memorial Rock Port, Missouri, next to the Memorial Building
Veterans Memorial Rock Port, Missouri

Miracle Photos:

lunch out with my dad

yum! fajitas I had out to eat with my dad

This beautiful wood trim:

wood trim on an old building
I saw with my dad

Those may not seem like miracles, but they are to me. Doing anything with my dad, after losing my momma, is a gift that feels like a miracle.

Hope you have a nice Sunday.

Jessica

© COPYRIGHT 2022 Unmeasured Journeys

** all writing and photos are by me