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.
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.
An arch with a view.
We went to a civil war fort in Alabama today. It’s history was interesting, but I really found myself drawn to its details.
An old cellar or a piece of art?
Sunday we went to a trout park, a country cemetery, and peeked in the windows of an old mill.
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.
Little Bit and I took a ride yesterday and stopped in a tiny town by the rodeo grounds and park.
When I saw the building, I laughed out loud. Zoom in on the door. This is hilarious!
My favorite color is pink, but lately I’ve been drawn to antique white.
Close to where we live is a little town that we’ve passed by many times in the last 16 years.
Back in its day I bet it was a hopping place. These days, except for the train horns and the Friday night guitar pickin’, it’s pretty quiet around there.
Today Little Bit suggested driving down one of the streets called Railroad Road, aptly named because it runs right along the tracks.
What a treat. As soon as I turned onto it, I pulled over and got out. Stepping up to the sidewalk was almost like walking back in time.
There were tin-sided buildings with windows that are past the point of looking in or out. Half a block down, all the storefront doors are locked up tight.
My favorite things were a beautiful old water pump, the number 35, and a pickup that seems to have found it’s long term home.
I’m so happy we finally decided to stop and look around. It was fun to imagine what the town was like all those years ago.
Yesterday Little Bit and I took a 2 hour voluntary detour to go to the bank. On some new-to-us highway, we saw this house.
It immediately caught my attention, though I doubt the reasons are obvious. You see, all of the windows were boarded up, but the front door?
It was wide open.
Fancy a seat?
Unmeasured Journeys 