For strange reasons we decided to travel to Central Illinois for Independence Day. Most things were closed of course, but we did manage to make go of it.
Tag Archives: state parks
Five photos from July 4 in Peoria IL
Filed under American History, Family, Travel
Mesmerizing Autumn
Gently falling yellow gingko leaves signify a change of season. The moon roars. The rivers hum. The trees stand strong.
Filed under Photography, Travel
Wrapping up a Quest
I have been on a mission to visit every state park site in Missouri. This weekend I wrapped up the quest with my final two locations: Dillard Mill and Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead state historic sites. These are both lovely locations worth a visit.
Filed under American History, Photography, Travel
The Ice of Starved Rock
The CCC lodge and trails along with the eroded ruggedness of the landscape make Starved Rock State Park one of the best public lands in the USA.
When temperature drops below freezing for winter, time stops.
The lodge and cabins provide a rustic atmosphere oozing with history, nature, and peace.
Filed under Photography, Travel
Coddiwompling in Illinois
Since the Covid shut down all my vacations in 2020 I have been heading out on short trips to see parks, small towns, geological formations, and wildlife. On Halloween, I visited some of the most rural areas in the Midwest – central western Illinois. You can’t find any coffee shops, there aren’t any museums, there are barely any people. The land is glaciated and generally flat. There is lots of corn. And of course, colorful trees.
After the Mexican war and Blackhawk war soldiers were given land in Illinois. One gentleman, George Meyer, was given a beautiful piece of property in western Illinois near the Illinois River. This land had a spring and a small town grew up around it. The man lived to be 104 years old, so everyone believed the water was healing. After George passed on, a real estate man got his hands on it and sold the water for decades. Later this area became Siloam Springs State Park. This history is hidden among the picnic pavilions and hiking trails.
We left Siloam Springs for the biggest town in the region – Jacksonville: the county seat of Morgan county. When we arrived, it too was a ghost town.
Or…
I don’t know if the coffee shop was really closed today or everyday. I don’t know how it could survive with no people. I walked into the bakery to see if I could find a doughnut. The door was open but nobody was inside. I could see cakes and cupcakes – but no doughnuts. And no people.
We wandered to another remote state park – Beaver Dam State Park. We heard there was people there.
So we headed home.
Filed under American History, Art, Photography, Travel
A Glimpse of Autumn
We drove across Illinois on one of the United State’s oldest highways – US 50. Enjoy a snapshot of fall in the Midwest.
Filed under Art, National Parks, Photography, Travel, wildlife
The Ghost of GnomePa on the Lincoln Trail
In 2016, Grandma died.
In 2017, Grandpa took off with me to visit all the state parks in Illinois. We left on our first trip two days after Christmas in the winter of that year. The temperature was -2 F. When we reached Starved Rock State Park, he pulled out his CAT orange stocking hat and immediately transformed into Gnomepa. We only made it on two trips. In the fall of 2018, Gnomepa succumbed to illness. His last words to me: “I wish we were at the Ice.”
The mission continues…
August 2020, during this journey my cousin and I visit parks #21-24 out of 72. Fox Ridge, Eagle Creek, Wolf Creek, and Ramsey Lake State Park. Plus we added on State Historic Sites: Lincoln Cabin, Monroe House, and Vandalia First State Capitol.
GnomePa in the Ice
Careful Communion in the Time of Covid
On the Lincoln Trail in Charleston Illinois
Illinois treats Lincoln Well
Like Living in the 1850’s
GnomePa would have said “This is Cool!”
Eastern Illinois Pioneers
A working farm
White Oaks of Some Sort
Grandpa loved the woods
And trails to the river
And Sandbars
August was kind to us
living creatures of all kinds
The Monarch still rules
Ramsey Lake
Filed under American History, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
Indiana Dunes & Sky
Being socially conscious and finding safe places to explore, I discovered a little oasis in Indiana.
Blue Skies Over Lake Michigan
Easier going down to the lake than coming up.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down
192 feet may not seem very high, but hike it.
Such interesting discoveries
Filed under Art, National Parks, Photography, Travel
Photos from all Seasons
Every year I sort through thousands of photos and choose my favorite twenty or so to turn in to a little art show in my classroom at school. Then I turn them into cards and mail them home to students. These are my selections from June 2017 – May 2018.
First Ice
West Side Market – Cleveland
Battlefield Warriors
Mysterious Path
Boone Plantation
Sullivan’s Island
Charleston
Botany Bay
Edisto Island Sunset
Remnants of Hunters in MO
Fall Sunset
Ice Daggers
On the Missouri River
The Master at Work
Solitude before the camera
Birthday Cranes
Smoky Mountain Peace
Last Gasp
Fall in Illinois
Soul Survivor Fort Sumter
Power and Beauty
Ice Stalagmites
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
My 50th State Park
I have been slowly visiting all the State Parks and Historic Sites in Missouri. There are a total of 52 State Parks and 35 Historic Sites. In one weekend I managed to visit 11. During this trip, my favorite locations were the Battle of Island Mound and Watkins Glen Historic Site.
Squaw Creek Wetlands
Bottle Brush
Around the lake at Wallace State Park
Watkins Mill House
The homestead
At the factory
Weston Bend looking into Kansas
Along the trail at Crowder S.P.
Small town america
The town is named after the librarian
Western Missouri Prairies
at the Battle of Island Mound
Robert Ford killed Jesse James here
The Confederate soldiers prayed here
from the church
Battle of Lexington
Lexington
Filed under Photography, Travel, Uncategorized
Freshly "Pic'ed" 