Lane Spring is Worth the Visit!

Lane Spring Recreation Area is in the Mark Twain National Forest right off Hwy 63 between Rolla and Licking. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mtnf/recarea/?recid=21780

I pass it often on the way to and from Licking to see my family there. It's a place I enjoy driving around and sometimes stopping for a stroll. 

On Saturday, my mom and I took advantage of the sunny spring afternoon. We spent two hours at Lane Spring walking, talking, and clicking photos. We even got industrious and climbed (it's UPHILL) to Blossom Rock. It was totally worth it. 

I doubt these images do justice to the beauty that is Missouri in Spring, but I hope you enjoy them.

Until next time, M of MK Designs 

PS Visit Lane Spring. You'll love it! 

Blossom Rock

“I see you in the light of the water, in the swaying of the young trees in the spring wind. I see you in the shadows of the great oaks, I hear your voice in the cry of the owl at night."
― Juliet Marillier, Daughter of the Forest

"To see a hillside white with dogwood bloom is to know a particular ecstasy of beauty." - Hal Borland

Little Piney Creek 

Lane Spring

Our Missouri R O A D T R I P October 2014!

A little fun at Johnson's Shut-Ins. Oct 2014. 

Oct 17th. 
- Work the last home football game right after a full day of teaching.
- Come home. 
- Crash. (Ears buzzing from the night at the stadium.)

Wait, it will get better.

Oct 18th. 
- Crawl out of my hibernation and hit the road with my daughter for an adventure! 
- Lunch at Subway in St. Clair.
- A few geocaches along the way.
- Johnson's Shut Ins State Park http://mostateparks.com/park/johnsons-shut-ins-state-park
- No "hikes" since daughter has a runny nose, but lots of beauty all around us. 
- Dinner of cheeseburgers, sides, soda, and ice cream in Lesterville, Mo for crazy cheap! (Reminding me how far my retirement check could go in such an area one day.)
- Check in at Wilderness Lodge Resort. http://www.wildernesslodgeresortltd.com
- Fun at our cabin, in the game room (my daughter is a POOL SHARK!), and s'mores by the fire. 
- CRASH HARD! 

The trees were just blazing with color at Johnson Shut-Ins!  

Flowers still in bloom. 

A sign long forgotten...

Lost track of how many images I took to get this one I am pretty happy with. This is the closest I have gotten down to the water... there weren't a MILLION people there jumping off rocks and being crazy, so it was easier to get around.

Oct 19th. 
- OVERSLEEP. Almost miss breakfast at the Lodge, but they are so awesome they weren't bothered. Said they were glad we could rest and even let us check out an hour later since it is off-season. I can't stress how awesome Wilderness Lodge Resort is. This was our second time there. 
- Try to go see the new Taum Sauk power plant, upper lake... only to see what was once a gravel road is now paved and guarded. No tours. Nothing. Just a nice lady explaining one day they hope to reopen again for the public. 
- Hmmm?
- My daughter requests a "new way home" since she'd done Hwys 47/21 so many times. 
- Head up through the Mark Twain National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf
- Blink and miss Black, Missouri.
- Happy to find Bixby, Missouri (and a wonderful lunch at their store, along with a geocache!) http://www.yelp.com/biz/bixby-country-store-boss after a nice little backroad adventure off the black top though the Mark Twain NF. 
- Stumble upon a brown sign for Dillard Mill and fall instantly in love! http://mostateparks.com/park/dillard-mill-state-historic-site
- Make our way through Steelville, Cuba, up I-44 back home for a late dinner and a solid night of sleep before heading back to the real world on Monday Morning. 

Donna Cregger says this is my "money shot" - I say this was a fun moment off the pavement in the Mark Twain National Forest south of Bixby, Mo. Lovely spring-fed creeks, colorful trees, etc. just made the day wonderful!

So, I have this thing about old things. I pulled over and took so many photos of this... and not one person drove past. Solitude. Love solitude!

Dillard Mill. Must go back. Need to go and take the full tour and do some trails when my daughter is feeling up to it and we have a full day! Another Missouri gem I am finally happy to say I have visited. Only took me about 40 years. 

FALL! Dillard Mill. 

This very well could be my fave photo from the whole weekend. She's a my true Missouri gem! We loved our time at Dillard Mill and hope to return. Karlene was so happy she requested a different route home, and so am I.

OK, so little to no hiking involved.  
No real camping... we were more of a "Glamping" pair on this road trip weekend. 

BUT... I just can't say it enough... GO OUTSIDE! 
- Missouri (our home) is such a lovely state. Fill up with gas and see where you end up. 
- Brown signs are often good things to turn off at. 
- Get the itch and go off the pavement. 
- See our State Parks. 
- Check out our National Forest(s). 
- Snuggle up in a homemade quilt in a cabin. 
- Make some S'mores. 
- Count the stars. 
- Try a local mom & pop store for lunch, don't eat Subway or chain restaurant food for EVERY MEAL. 
- Get your kids out in fresh air. 
- To be perfectly honest, I've yet to see any negative side effects to exploring our state. 
- I think it helps us appreciate our Missouri home more, and each other. I love time like this with my daughter. I pray she never "outgrows" it. 

Until next time, 
Michelle of MK Designs

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #15: Inspiration

All these photos (by me) above, were taken in moments I felt great inspiration! 

Today's post is supposed to be about "inspiration."

These bloggers and artists inspire me... daily... weekly! :-)

How do I even start to approach that?!

Quotes that inspire me... 

It's in rocks and trees, it's in scruffy guys who make great music - art - entertainment, it's in my child, it's in the land, it's in people, places... Inspiration is everywhere! It's in God's Creation.

Scruffy guys who make amazing movies, songs, photographs, and more.. 

How do I discuss inspiration? Well, I am going to do what Ansel says. (Yes, he's on this entry twice! * look above *)

The natural spaces that are in my own country inspire me...

These faces and places...

His great love inspires me... excited at each and every turn to see how His plan has helped me grow and become a better person, someone who tries to give to others, love others, and help kids find their passion in life - their calling.

I want to share some links with you to help you find a little inspiration today... Enjoy!

My weekly reading is here and has been for years. Some secrets are haunting, some are funny, some I can relate to, others I am thankful I cannot relate at all... http://postsecret.com

This place isn't just great wine, it's great views. I have taken MANY a beautiful photo here. One of the highest most unobstructed view to the west in Franklin County Missouri http://www.robllerwines.com

While I do not attend EVERY Sunday, I am happy to be a member of this church and if you are ever in the area, let me know - I think it's worth the time. Bridge Lutheran Church. http://www.bridgelutheran.org

The Digital Bible Society. His word is never far! http://www.digitalbiblesociety.org/dbs/

Refashionista: http://refashionista.net

The Blonde Coyote: http://theblondecoyote.com

My former student with Happy Lark Designs: http://www.happylarkdesigns.com

My friend at Olive and Ash Studio: http://oliveandashstudio.blogspot.com

My friend at Slava Bowman Photography: http://www.slavabowman.com 

My friend at Marcink Designs: http://www.marcinkdesigns.com

Thank you for following my "blog challenge" for caring about my work and random thoughts, and for simply showing you're invested in what I do. Photography is so important to me and without it, I am not sure how I'd be able to express my feelings of wonderment for God's Creation!

Have a great day! 

~ michelle of MK Designs http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #3: Favorite Thing to Do

Naturally I could say that my favorite thing to do is take photos or travel... or this... or that...but I won't. 

The reality is this: right now my favorite thing to do in my world is be with her (My Daughter). 

“Sometimes when you pick up your child you can feel the map of your own bones beneath your hands, or smell the scent of your skin in the nape of his neck. This is the most extraordinary thing about motherhood - finding a piece of yourself separate and apart that all the same you could not live without.” ― Jodi Picoult

“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” ― Donna Ball

“Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors.” ― Khaled Hosseini

“The only love that I really believe in is a mother’s love for her children.” ― Karl Lagerfeld

“Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy.” 
― Robert A. Heinlein

“Accept the children the way we accept trees—with gratitude, because they are a blessing—but do not have expectations or desires. You don’t expect trees to change, you love them as they are.” 
― Isabel Allende

Camping at Council Bluffs Lake in the Mark Twain National Forest. 

A fancy dress for a fancy wedding we attended for a former student of mine.  The cheese was heavenly! 

Her first "big kid" job of helping mom install a rock flower bed at our new house last summer. 

Picking out a dish to create/cook and making it together! Pizza Monkey Bread! Yum. 

MK Designs. July 2014. Please don't copy... but feel free to link up our blogs for the Blog Challenge this summer! Comments and feedback welcome!

I love...

I love hearing my step-father laugh as he watches a Mel Brooks movie (who doesn't love Mel Brooks!??!)

I love being surrounded by water... not submerged... but surrounded...

I love to dip my toes in a spring-fed creek.

I love my family and friends.

I love the many hats I wear in my life.

I love having a nice little "jolt" that makes me remember: there's more to love than to not love in life... so enjoy it. 

So I've decided time for a little - Less bitchin' and more fishin' 

- as the song goes! :)

All words and photos by MK Designs, except Mel Brooks Spaceballs :)

See my website http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/ for more details on what we can do for you!

June 2013

Go. Outside. (Inspired by my favorite quote)

I can admit that Duck Dynasty kinda makes sense. You got troubles, GO OUTSIDE. Recently I was reminded yet again how wonderful a walk in the Missouri woods is, and how exciting it can be to finalize and book that beachside condo in Florida. 

Mexico Beach, FL 2012

It also reminded me of my favorite quote that is on my personal facebook page, by a young woman wise beyond her years. I want to share it with you today.

Mount Evans, Colorado 2010 

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God.

Council Bluffs Lake - Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri 2011

Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.

The Alabama Hills, California 2010

As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.

Tybee Island, Georgia 2009

And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
    - Anne Frank

One foot in California, one in Nevada. 2009.
I love being in two places at once. 

All images by MK Designs. See my website: MK Designs Photography - Fine Art and Portrait Feel free to share with others, but please do not take images without permission. Thank you. 

April 2013