You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘nature’ category.
Ever since we moved back to Missouri (May 2010) Lucas has been begging to have a boat. At our last house we didn’t really have anywhere to put one and, to be honest, a boat just sounded completely ridiculous and expensive. In our new house we’re only five minutes from a nice lake, so for Christmas this year I gifted him and Owen with matching fishing poles and thought this would tide him over for awhile. I was wrong. After wearing me down over the past year and half Lucas finally convinced me to get a boat. Now let me be upfront and say this boat was around $250 so we’re not exactly talking about the big bucks here. But my love finally has a boat…
And just so you know, he plans to name it “Business”. So if you ever try to get a hold of Lucas and he tells you, “I’m out on Business”, just know he’s probably fishing somewhere enjoying his new boat. :)
-Shannon
I know I’ve complained about our lack of winter, but on the plus side we’ve enjoyed some 65+ degree days starting all the way back in January! Every once in awhile we’ll have a day that just knocks your socks off and you can smell spring in the air. These keep happening closer and closer together so we’ve taken the opportunity to enjoy the warm winter winds. About a mile out of town is the Old City Reservoir which has a lovely trail around it and a small play area. Often on these warm days we find ourselves here…
I am so thankful to the people who lived in our house before us. They took the time and effort to plant a million different kinds of plants/flowers and I get to reap the benefits. Recently I took a quick walk around our house and took picture of everything that was blooming so get ready for some flowers!
The roses just blow me away! They are so beautiful and smell so wonderful! Unfortunately these blooms have gone away but new ones are already replacing them.
-Shannon
Even though this lovely evening happened over a month ago I still had to share. We are lucky to live by the Katy Trail and on this particular evening we explored a new-to-me section.
We all had a great time and I look back on these pictures with fond memories because then it was maybe 75 degrees and now it’s over 90! Hello summer!
-Shannon
We live right along a wonderful thing called the Katy Trail. This “trail” is actually an old railroad track that has now been converted to a bike path across Missouri. Boonville is one of the many towns it passes through and we’ve been able to take advantage of it with evening walks and the such. But we haven’t been able to use it to it’s full capacity because I haven’t had a bike. When we found out what our tax return would be this year, Lucas decided to use part of it to buy me a bike! We looked at a few places and only found new bikes. But lets be honest…the only thing I really care about with a bike is that it is comfortable and fun to ride. I really don’t need a $500 bike to get me around. At the same time we weren’t willing to go with the Wal-Mart special either. So bike hunting we went…
Friday Lucas came home from work and took me to a little bike shop over in Rocheport. This place is more known for bike rentals but they sell their rental bikes as well. We checked some out and found we could purchase a year old bike for $175 less than it was new! We were all for it! I could get a nice-enough-for-me bike and we wouldn’t be out $450-$500. While we were there Lucas also noticed that they had some Burley bike trailers to haul Owen around in. These were also used and also for sale. We had lots of thinking to do so we slept on it and yesterday morning went and purchased these beauties…
My bike was originally $460 and we got it for $290 and the Burley trailer was originally $495 and we got it for $85! Granted the trailer was new in 2006 but it still works and for our use it will be perfect. After getting it all ready to go we headed out on the trail. (The following pictures were taken while riding my new bike so no action shots of me.)
The trail stayed in the trees for a bit and then came right alongside the Missouri River.
It even crosses under I-70!
After a short ride we headed back to Rocheport and then home.
We checked with Owen to see how he liked his first ride. While we were out on the trail he was all smiles and very content. When we finally stopped we found him happy but a bit dirty! It turns out the screen covering him only stops so much dirt from getting on him. :)
And in true Missouri fashion we loaded our bikes onto our trailer…not bike trailer, just trailer.
We’re now in the market for a bike rack.
-Shannon
I know the saying is “April showers bring May flowers” but around our home it seems to be that April showers bring April flowers! And I couldn’t be happier! The owners before us planted so many wonderful plants that our yard will now have something blooming until October. I remember last summer I could simply go outside and pick my own flowers to make beautiful arrangements. What I didn’t realize is that the flowers start blooming so early. We weren’t in the house until late May of last year so I wasn’t sure when/what would pop up.
A week or so ago I took these pictures and have been enjoying the irises ever since. We’ve had them on our dining room table constantly and I couldn’t help but show them off (not that I had anything to do with them). :)
Our little garden gnome…
We’ve also enjoyed looking out our front windows to see the dogwood tree blooming.
And I had to include one shot of these guys…
Spring has reminded me of one of the reasons I love this house so much…the flowers!
-Shannon
Last Sunday we decided to head to the mountains for a hike. Ok there aren’t really any mountains around us but we had seen a conservation area that we wanted to check out so we decided to give it a go. First we had to get ready and Owen was dressed in his hiking outfit…
Next Lucas had a talk with him about how he had to be tough if he was going to make it in the wilderness. Here they are trying to be tough…
Finally we were out in the wilderness.
Owen seemed to love it!
This conservation area is right along the Katy Trail and it goes up into the surrounding “mountains”. Actually there were quite a few hills and a nice view at the top…
It was a little windy and the camera strap almost took us out…
We all enjoyed the leisurely afternoon hike…
At the end of the hike we crossed a little creek and decided we needed some pictures with Owen. So one with mom and one with dad…
Yay for time with our little family! And for having lovely areas nearby to explore!
-Shannon
Last night as we were winding down the day we decided to go for a quick walk on the Katy Trail. This trail is an old railroad line that is now used as a bike trail across most of Missouri. It passes through Boonville so we are able to take advantage of it rather easily. But in our few months of living here, I had never stepped foot on it. Last night that changed.
It is surrounded by trees and growth.
But every once in awhile you get glimpses out into the fields and far away.
Throughout our walk I kept stopping to take pictures of the sunset happening around us.
We will definitely have to make this a regular occurrence…especially now that we can enjoy the cool of the evening.
-Shannon
Last week we headed down to Bennett Spring State Park to stay in a cabin with my family. We left on Father’s Day and met my family at the lodge for lunch. My Uncle Paul, Aunt Shirley and cousins Chris and Carrie even came up for the day! We tried to enjoy some time outside but only lasted a little while before we got too hot…
To cool off we had to enjoy the big pool! Owen even tried to enjoy it, although he was a little sleepy and just kind of laid there…
Some afternoons we went fishing…
And Lucas even caught a few! I am normally the one to catch more fly-fishing, but this time Lucas caught two and I caught none. But yay for Lucas and his fish…
After spending Sunday through Tuesday together we headed up and came back home on Wednesday morning. We had a great time with family and I’m so glad we were able to enjoy some of the outdoors.
-Shannon
As much as I love the inside of our house, I am almost as in love with the outside. Of course there is the house itself…
…but I also love barn…
…and all the wonderful landscaping. We are definitely reaping the benefits of the pervious owners. The wife loved to work outside and the flowers we now see show her hard work. I’m just so thankful to have great landscaping all around our house.
One of my favorites…hydrangas!
We also have wonderful landscaping down by the sidewalk but I forgot to take pictures. You’ll just have to take my word for it. :) I can’t wait for the years to come seeing Owen playing in the yard and all the fun we’ll have. Here’s to the previous owners and all their hard work…hopefully I won’t mess it up!
-Shannon
