Vintage Windows Iowa Style

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022 / Jessica / 5 Comments

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

*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

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

New Favorite Building

November 28, 2022 / Jessica / 10 Comments

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*

*not sure if it’s still a business, but I love the sign*

*windows that don’t see out or in~ 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*

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

Family Potluck in Iowa

November 27, 2022 / Jessica / 25 Comments

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.

*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*

Thanks for reading.

Jessica

Miracles and Gratitude Day 10

October 5, 2022 / Jessica / 22 Comments

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.

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

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 9

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 / Jessica / 13 Comments

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*

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.

Miracle photos:

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

I also broke a 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

** all photos and writing are mine

Miracles and Gratitude Day 7

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 / Jessica / 12 Comments

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*

*a quilt at the quilt show in Rock Port, Missouri*

*Veterans Memorial Rock Port, Missouri, next to the Memorial Building*

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

** all writing and photos are by me

Bollinger Mill and a Covered Bridge

May 28, 2022 / Jessica / 8 Comments

Today we got to do 2 pretty cool things. Saturdays are our family day out. We ventured over east of us and started our day at a 100 mile long yard sale.

We did a lot of looking, but not much buying. It was fun to look at so many different things for sale.

At the end of the 100 miles, we stopped at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, near Jackson, Missouri. I love that place. Why?

There’s a 3 story mill and a covered bridge, in one place. They are gorgeous!

I wish I could’ve gathered up the smell somehow of the bridge. It was antique and woodsy. Imagine stepping into a really old rustic barn- that! That’s what the bridge smelled like.

*initials carved inside the covered bridge*

*reflection of the mill under the covered bridge*

*my view from a knothole in the covered bridge*

*the river side of Bollinger Mill, the covered bridge sits to the right*

What a wonderful day! If you are ever in southeast Missouri, Bollinger Mill is definitely worth a stop.

PS I wrote a post about our 100 mile yard sale adventure on my other blog, if you’re interested, it’s https://jeweledagainbyjessica.com

Thanks for reading,

Jessica

Morning Drive

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 / Jessica / 30 Comments

After dropping one of our pups off at the vet today, we decided to take a morning drive. An old, crooked gravel road led us to some beautiful pines and an vintage country church. The outhouse has seen better days, I think, but I love the way it quietly shows it’s age.

Framed

May 6, 2018 / Jessica / 8 Comments

This time the schoolhouse’s reflection is framed.

Schoolhouse

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 / Jessica / 25 Comments

Isn’t this cool? At the very same moment, I was looking into and out of an old, one room schoolhouse.

Canoe on the Roof

April 30, 2018May 5, 2018 / Jessica / 27 Comments

Yesterday we ventured off of the highway and stopped at a tiny river town. I love the idea that nature is such a huge part the of place.

The 1930’s courthouse sported crystals in its walls, a Dogwood tree out front was all a’ bloom, and oddly enough, the grocery store across the street fit right in, with a canoe on the roof.

Falling Spring

April 7, 2018May 5, 2018 / Jessica / 21 Comments

What does a mermaid-wanna-be like me do while smack dab in the middle of the Midwest? Look for water, of course!

Thursday, Little Bit and I ventured over towards the town we will be moving to. On the way, after a right turn and a couple of left turns down on some forest roads, we came to one of the most unique places I’ve ever seen.

And, we had it to ourselves! It. Was. Amazing.

It was homesteaded in the 1850’s and has a wonderful log cabin and mill. It’s almost like some scene from a story. The water is crystal clear, under the mill is sand, and the whole area just screams “history.”

After poking around in the building for a few minutes, I stepped around back. We could hear water gushing and I expected to see something similar to what we’ve seen in the past few weeks- water either coming up from the ground or pouring out of rocks near the bottoms of caves.

Wrong!

Instead we saw nature truly putting on an incredible show. A gorgeous gift, aptly named:

Falling Spring.