weekend excursion

 
  Small weekend road-trips are the best -- even if your destination is somewhere in the middle of flat, rural Illinois. My last weekend excursion began right after work on Saturday afternoon; it should only have taken me 2 1/2 hours to drive, but I inevitably got lost somewhere in East St. Louis. Only someone like me can get so easily turned around and end up in the parking lot of a pretty sketchy Jack in the Box frantically searching Google Maps!
    Once I had finally reached G--- Illinois, I met up with a certain someone whom you have yet to meet.... Enter Charlie: boyfriend, partner in crime, grower-of-cucumbers and motorcyclist. He's pretty okay I guess (as in splendiferouslywondertastically amazing!!) -- we always have the best adventures and together we are seizing life and making the most of it :) That evening was spent eating out at Joe's Pizza and walking around the historical part of town, admiring the big white houses with spacious front porches. There was an overpopulation of mosquitoes so we spent quite some time smearing skeeter guts all over the place and acquiring large itchy welts on our ankles. Despite this, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we eventually triumphed over an army of angry nasty insects.
  
        On Sunday morning, Charlie took me to his church in Woburn IL. Picture this: a quaint, white church nestled in the quietness of a small town and acres of cornfield. Walking inside, we are greeted warmly by the elder's wife and twenty odd congregational members who are older couples and farmers -- the very salt of the earth. Dick Moses (the elder) gives the announcements and a welcoming prayer followed by a string of hymns. "Standing on the Promises", "Golden Bells", "Let Us Break Bread Together", and many others. Though it was a simple service led by a small congregation, it was a lovely and worshipful morning filled with God's presence.
        Sunday afternoon plans included a stop at the St. Louis art museum in Forest Park. En route, I noticed a large cemetery filled with old stones and big wonderful Sycamore trees. It was an impulsive stop, but I love cemeteries and so Charlie obligingly pulled over to walk around a bit. We found headstones with old German names such as Baehrenwald and Obermeier.
       To conclude our outing, we spent hours strolling around the Art Museum, admiring the masterpieces and feeling like quite the cultured young couple. Of course we inevitably set off the alarm by pointing a finger too far over the line, but no security guards came rushing over so we quickly left the scene of the crime as inconspicuously as possible :)

      The whole weekend was an adventure, but now it's back to the routine of work and school. I'd do it all over again, given the chance -- in fact, I think next weekend will be a good time to explore southern Missouri :)    

yet another list of happiness

          This morning, my Facebook page for Landsflicka dutifully notified me that "people who liked your page haven't heard from you in 13 days." Thank you Facebook for that reminder that I am a shamefully negligent person.
          While I am in the process of writing a brilliant blog post (and also waiting for a guest post from Mr. Somebody:), here is my happy list for this summer:

 

-- when the radio plays three of your favorite songs in a row --

 

-- an unexpected party invitation --

 

-- fireworks and sparklers lighting up the night sky --

 

-- typewritten letters from your pen pal --

 

-- putting in a thorough day of work at your job--

 

-- submitting my first college paper --

(WOOHOO)

 

-- Sunday worship rehearsal with some wonderful people --

 

-- late night laughter with the little siblings --

 

-- "Loving You is Easy" by Zac Brown --

(that song has been on repeat for days now)

 

-- black and white photography --

 

-- swimsuit tan lines --

 

-- the slapping sound that flip flops make --

 

-- summah living --

 

 

        -- now go and make your own adventures :) 

the small happy life.

 

     If I could describe my life in two words, I would use the newspaper headline in the picture: “Small” and “Happy”. 

 

My home in the country is cozy, my possessions are few, and my days are simple. Every day is a new opportunity to find joy in the little things. Things like cooking my own food, strolling down the road, finding a thick patch of wildflowers, country music on the radio, summer thunderstorms, the comfort of routine, and exploring.

 Of course I have goals for myself that I try to follow as closely as possible. For example: I want to live in the moment and not worry so much about the future. During my senior year of high school I was so anxious about what came next that I never fully appreciated the present. On the other hand, I am determined to work hard and meet the coming school year head on -- equipped and ready to take on adventure.

 

This summer has been an adventure already! Not only am I living semi-independently, but I started a new job (as a bank teller), I began online college classes (at Taylor University), and also had my first ride on a motorcycle (no big deal :) ) This is not to mention that my mom and I are starting a small business! As of now, we are working to write the business plan for a quaint tearoom complete with antique book stall. (This is an advertisement in case you want to stop by when it's open!)  

 

 Yup. My life is kinda brim full with blessings and excitement right now :) The challenge is to remain humble and thankful to Him who has given me so much! 

I pray that your life is also small and happy and overflowing with God's goodness!



capitol city downtown

 

      Our town is a city of pride: it is written in the lines of the brick buildings, it is etched into the limestone bluffs, it is the energy that comes from the surging river. We have earned the right to be proud, after all, wasn't it Daniel Morgan Boone who laid out the town? Aren't we named after the president? Didn't we endure the tragedy of the Civil War and the loss of two capitol buildings?  



    

     Downtown, there is a myriad of small businesses, cafés, art shops, and consignment stores. They occupy historic buildings built with German architectural designs and steeped in generations of use. A catering business now resides in the 1885 opera house, law offices are located the prison warden's mansion, a coffee house is now where the dentist used to drill teeth.

Each proud structure is like a book that must be read carefully -- a manifest icon of bygone years.



 

 

     Steamboats used to parallel the Pacific railroad line and the distinctly different modes of transport would race East and West. The Missouri River was the life blood for our city and kept it alive through decades of victory and triumph, tragedy and hardship. There was the war to divide the citizens -- there was the cholera to weaken the people -- there were the politicians trying to move the capitol to a different city. But there was also the coming together of many ethnicities -- the pioneer spirit of immigrants and explorers -- and the building of a God-honoring community.

 

 
    
     In 2013, Rand McNally named Jefferson City the most "beautiful small town of the United States." And with good reason! This sturdy little community has earned it with its tenacity and ancient beauty that will only grow better with age. That is why we are proud.

planties

        Our favorite garden center (Strawberry Hills) was a hoppin' place today! Young families were stocking up on tomatoes and peppers, old couples were buying their favorite hanging baskets, and children were running about admiring the flowers. -- I myself was looking for whatever struck my fancy. 

 

 

          As usual, I found myself perusing the herbs and succulents section. Cacti have always been one of my favorites -- ever since I was first introduced to them at the Big House in Norton Massachusetts. Gram had a long table full of cacti (and 'lovely little green things' as she would call them,) in the front hall under a bright lamp. As a youngster, I would admire them from a distance, afraid to touch them and ruin their delicate beauty. Now I am determined to start my own collection of 'planties'.



 

          My first choice of herbs was a Silver Edge Lemon Thyme. It smelled good so I just had to get it :) Besides, Mom had the perfect yellow tea pot to stick it in. Goodness knows if there is anything practical I can do with it -- perhaps I will try making these cookies. Or these.





(Echeveria pulidonis)



 

 

          I'd say it's a good start to my eclectic hoard of houseplants. :)