Hawn State Park: My FAVE!

Missouri State Parks are amazing. It's not just my opinion, I am starting to view it as a fact. Beyond numerous national awards, I am seeing first-hand as I travel around our nation just how spoiled I am by the quality of our parks. We have excellent facilities, a top-notch staff, and amazing sights to see. 

With that said, I do have a favorite state park here in Missouri. 

Hawn State Park is a place I fell in love with the first time I camped there. I don't get there nearly enough considering it's not close to where I live, but when I do - exploring Pickle Springs is near the top of my list. 

My daughter asked me to take her camping for her 10th birthday, so in early May 2015 - off to Hawn we went. We spent most of Saturday exploring Pickle Springs. 

If you want to know more about Hawn State Park visit this site: http://mostateparks.com/park/hawn-state-park 

If you hope to visit the park, be ready for beauty. If you intend to camp during good weather on the weekend, you may need reservations. The little (but great!) campground fills fast on weekends. However, a few years ago on the weekdays (in peak season) I was able to camp without reservations Tues-Thurs just fine. 

Nearby is a trail I did a few years ago (and need to revisit soon) that you may enjoy if you want to explore outside the park. It's on Missouri Conservation land and called the "Trail Through Time" http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places-go/natural-areas/pickle-springs 

However, inside the park - there's plenty sights and trails to enjoy if you don't feel like leaving. I know many of the times I have camped in Hawn, I've had no desire to leave once I am there. 

Enjoy these images from Hawn State Park in May 2015. Hopefully, they'll inspire you to go on a little adventure, too!  Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to designate a personal "favorite" state park, too?

Michelle of MK Designs

Posted June 2015

PS If you want any images from this post or any other, contact me for pricing / printing information. Thanks! http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/contact.html

I've Been... Everywhere!?

Where have I been? I have been everywhere except blogging it would seem. April, May, and now June of 2015 have been jam-packed. 

Highlights include:

~ Karlene's 10th Birthday!

~ Camping with Karlene at Hawn State Park and in southern Illinois (two different trips).

~ Taking Karlene to Felix Valle home in Ste Gen, MO.

~ Wrapping up the year at my "day job" & really enjoying some of the Photo II projects my students created with their digital images... they all came up with "tangible" items like quilts, candles, lamps, and more! I have been inspired to make a lamp for Karlene & I this summer (or fall). 

~ Finally going to Clearwater Lake (in Missouri) to fish with my parents and Karlene. 
~ Visiting my Grandma not once, but twice!
~ Events at our church, my school, Karlene's school, and a suprise B-day party for one of Karlene's classmates who is having serious health issues. He was diagnosed with cancer this spring (prayers for Alec are highly appreciated). 

~ Catching up with friends over lunches and dinners and walks.
~ Being accepted into the Soulard Art Market show "Seeing Red" that starts on June 12th. I have two photographs in the show. Trips with my mom seem to pay off photographically, eh? 

~ Speaking of my mom... Laughing with my mom over a new show we love on Netflix. "Grace and Frankie" is our "Netflix Date Night" thing these days! Have an open mind and be prepared to laugh. 
~ Having a year with my Broadcast students that I feel like our "body of work" is strong enough to enter some NSPA Story of the Year and Pacemaker contests. This is the first time in a few years I felt we had work we should enter...like it really has a chance at placing. Win or lose, I am very happy with the work my students did this year. If you want to see some of it, go to www.bluejayjournal.com 

~ Got the sides and floor of my deck replaced finally. Not looking forward to staining it later this summer or early fall, but for now it is so much safer and the wood is NEW. Next stop: two new ceiling fans downstairs on the main level! 
~ And, a real highlight is this: all those rocks Karlene and I hauled in to create flower beds look so good this spring/summer. The plants are coming in nicely and things are looking more "established" - now I just need to make a few more! The lawn & flower beds are a never-ending process.

~ I have also had some fun photo shoots and have TONS of images to sort through from all the above-mentioned trips... and I have sold a few canvas pieces to a client for her new addition at her home. When I know there's some people out there who like what I create, it keeps me clicking!

As I typed the above list, I was reminded of another list I posted right here months ago. It was my goals for 2015. 

Now that I am taking time to review that list, and compare it to what I just mentioned above, it would seem I am doing pretty well at accomplishing those initital goals. I think for fun and as a reminder to myself, I am going to re-post it here... 

7 more months of 2015 left... and I want to stay focused (maybe it'll help me get back to painting my dresser since the headboard is done and in use now).

Originally posted in January:

I made a serious "agenda" for 2015 and plan on sticking to it. 
Here it is:
#1. Something I want to go for to help my career... that if happens will help me with the #2 thing I want to go for to help my career...  
#3. Camp more. 
#4. Hike more. 
#5. Help my daughter (the K of MK Designs) take more ownership of her school work and education, yet continue to help her grow her love of the Lord and others, hopefully continue to grow more empathy, and more compassion... 
#6. Get my financial house and my actual house in better working order. DECK and whatnot! (which also includes getting my lower level rented again) 
#7. Continue to grow my relationship with Jesus Christ and try to practice more of His teachings in how I love others.  
#8. Continue to spend more time with my Grandma in 2015. 
#9. Try to continue to grow clients for my MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait work. 
#10. Be the best mom, teacher, daughter, friend, etc. I can possibly be.
#11. GET ME A BEDROOM SET! BAM! Had a kicking bedroom set in 2009, that along with the bed "left the premises" that year. While I did replace the bed in 2010, I never got a bedroom set. I have one in my garage now courtesy of my aunt Shirley.

P.S. I saw these rocks just last week at Giant City State Park (Illinois) and it hit me someone had a lot of patience to stack them so carefully. Just like my 2015 goals I set that I am patiently working through... it's all a balancing act, but the end result is pretty sweet! 

Until next time,
~ M of MK Designs
June 2015

She Got a Hair CUT! (chop?)

The K of MK Designs is my ((gulp)) recently-turned-nine-year-old daughter. She's been fighting my desire for her to keep long hair ever since her donation to Locks of Love a few years ago. Now, she's won. It is super short. I hate it. She loves it. EVERY person seems to love it. I realized why I dislike it so much. It makes her look so much older. ((sigh))

There she is to the left, barefoot and her lovely long locks...

A bit of a mess, but I loved all those little fly away hair moments...

Playing around at an apple orchard in the fall a few years ago...

Here she is - 8 years old - this past fall on a hike with me and her hair is getting long again...

...but this is her after the moment in May she declared "It is MY hair" and went super short...
how can a hair cut make her look so much older? This momma is
amazed at her beautiful girl, and a bit sad to see her approaching
the double digits... but proud of the young woman she is becoming.

These are my photos and words, do not copy without permission. For details about my work, keep reading my blog or check out my website at http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com

June 2014

I am back...

After a bit of a hiatus from blogging, here I am... at it again.

I've been keeping myself busy, but sometimes I catch myself doing nothing at all... simply being at rest in the new abode that I have enjoyed decorating with help from my friends and parents.

Speaking of abodes, I had the honor of having my artwork featured in a family's newly decorated craft room in Ellisville, MO. That was so exciting to see!

 

My 'day job' is back in full swing, but it honestly never takes me far from Photography since the bulk of my day is spent sharing that art with students.  

Yet, beyond the 'day job' and the new abode, I am still always out walking, looking, and making images. I have finally started healing from my foot surgery to the point I can get out and be in the places I love. One such place is Port Hudson State Fishing Lake out past my house.

I also finally made it back to my favorite State Park in Missouri: Hawn. It is near where my Aunt Donna lives so we were able to do a little day hike and enjoy Pickle Springs one afternoon in September with my daughter along for the ride (and cameras in tow as always).

 

My favorite season is coming up, FALL! Be ready for tons of images and more blog posts for sure! 

Remember to like my facebook page and visit my website, too. 

All images and words are by MK Designs. September 2013. Please do not "steal" or "borrow" images without permission. Thank you!