Old Buildings

Bollinger Mill and a Covered Bridge

/ 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!

Bollinger Mill
covered bridge at Bollinger Mill

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

/ 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.

Canoe on the Roof

/ 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

/ 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.

Old Hinges and Irises

/ Jessica / 40 Comments

A few years ago when I volunteered up at the local school, there was a really sweet retired teacher that volunteered, too. 

Miss Lola Bell told me about an old school house that was near their property and that people were helping fix it up. 

Yesterday, Little Bit and I found that school house on our afternoon drive. I must say, they did a great job. It is quite charming. 

Standing on the sidewalk, I almost got a sense of what it would’ve been like carrying books and finding a seat inside. 

Can you just imagine desks jammed packed with eager students, math written up on the blackboard, and the teacher giving the lesson? 

We only stayed long enough to feel completely at home there, which only took about 30 seconds! 

Guess that’s just part of my old fashioned soul. I always seem to feel right where I belong, among old hinges and irises.