H.A. Larson's Blog, page 50
April 14, 2017
Short and Bittersweet
Good morning! It's Friday and I hope you're getting ready to enjoy your weekend. Today is a bittersweet day for me as my week of vacation is nearing its end. I've had a really great time, and I've done & seen many cool things this week that it will be hard to go back to the grind next week.
As it typical for a week spent away from normal life, it's given me time to reflect on many things. Long walks in the woods, climbing mountains, and scenic drives through the forest have really got me thinking. Discovery has come my way as well, revealing things ignored and things hidden. It's been eye-opening to say the least.
So, what does this mean for me? I'm not sure, to be honest. Often, I make hasty decisions -- as humans are wont to do -- but this time I want to take time to really think things through. It's not a race, but rather a journey, and I want to make the best of that journey, no matter how rocky the path may be.
Am I speaking in riddles today? Kinda maybe. You know me though, my blog is an insight to me. More than an view into my writing life, it's a small window into my whole world, and it allows me a place to write out my thoughts and feelings. That's what writers do, you know, put it all out there in the written (or, in this case, typed) word.
I won't be putting up my usual Saturday post tomorrow, and we'll be packing up and heading for a one-night stay in the northern part of the state. You never know though, I might post something this weekend yet. Until then, enjoy this gorgeous weather, and live life with a little adventure. There's only one life for us to live, so make the most of it.
-H.A.
April 12, 2017
Mount Magazine
Good morning! I hope your week is going well. I'm on vacation, of course, but it hasn't been without a challenge. The sickness that I've been plagued with, just won't seem to leave me alone. I've been quite congested and afflicted with overall body exhaustion, but I haven't let it stop me! I didn't come all the way to the majestic forests and mountains of Arkansas to be stopped by leftover sickness.
Yesterday was our first full day here, and so we headed out to my pick: Mount Magazine. It's the tallest mountain in Arkansas and sits firmly within the Ozark Mountains.
Signal Hill is the highest point in Arkansas and sits on the uppermost part of Mount Magazine. We hiked to it, of course.
There's a lodge on top of Mount Magazine, which, as you can see, was completely surrounded by fog. Mount Magazine creates its own weather, and it foggy nine days out of every month. Yesterday was one of those days.
After we climbed Signal Hill, we mosied over to the Visitor's Center where we hiked along the ridges of Mount Magazine. While the fog obscured far off visions, we could see it pretty well and it sure didn't take away from the magnificent beauty that surrounded us. We sure enjoyed every second we were there.
I'll be back Friday with another update post. Have a great day!
Yesterday was our first full day here, and so we headed out to my pick: Mount Magazine. It's the tallest mountain in Arkansas and sits firmly within the Ozark Mountains.
Signal Hill is the highest point in Arkansas and sits on the uppermost part of Mount Magazine. We hiked to it, of course.
There's a lodge on top of Mount Magazine, which, as you can see, was completely surrounded by fog. Mount Magazine creates its own weather, and it foggy nine days out of every month. Yesterday was one of those days.
After we climbed Signal Hill, we mosied over to the Visitor's Center where we hiked along the ridges of Mount Magazine. While the fog obscured far off visions, we could see it pretty well and it sure didn't take away from the magnificent beauty that surrounded us. We sure enjoyed every second we were there.
I'll be back Friday with another update post. Have a great day!
April 10, 2017
Headed to the Great Outdoors
Today is the day I've been waiting for for months: vacation!! We've known for the last several months when we were taking a family vacation, but hadn't nailed down where until a few months ago (which you can read about here if you're so inclined). And let me tell you, I couldn't be more excited. As I sit here, typing this, and drinking my morning cup of coffee, my mind is hundreds of miles away in the mountains and forests of the Ozarks.
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
View of the Ozark Mountains from a rock crop in Petit Jean State Park.
Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park.
View of the Ozark Mountains through a shelter at Mather Lodge.
I'm going to sign off now, it's time to round up the family. The car is packed and we're all ready for our outdoor adventure. I'm coming for you Mother Nature, and I'm going full speed.
This week, I'll be posting snippets of our trip. Sometime after we get back, however, I'll unleash a big old post about our vacation. So keep it glued right here!
-H.A.
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
View of the Ozark Mountains from a rock crop in Petit Jean State Park.
Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park.
View of the Ozark Mountains through a shelter at Mather Lodge.I'm going to sign off now, it's time to round up the family. The car is packed and we're all ready for our outdoor adventure. I'm coming for you Mother Nature, and I'm going full speed.
This week, I'll be posting snippets of our trip. Sometime after we get back, however, I'll unleash a big old post about our vacation. So keep it glued right here!
-H.A.
April 8, 2017
Latest Libations: 5th Edition
Good morning, and Happy Saturday. I'm so glad the weekend is here! I've been sick this week and, since I rarely get sick, it's been a doozy. I finally get over the body aches on Thursday, just to really begin coughing and blowing my nose. I'm on the mend though, it just takes forever it seems.
Anyway, it's time for another installment of Latest Libations! I've had some new, interesting, and good beers, so I thought I'd share, naturally. Let's get started.
New Belgium typically puts out a decent beer, and I do like my fruity blends, so when I saw this Juicy Watermelon Lime Ale, I thought I should try it. This beer gave me the fruity tastes that I love, and the watermelon-lime combination was quite good together, without being super sweet. In fact, this one was just barely sweet so it didn't take away from the taste of the ale either.
Deschutes India Red Ale was everything I expected in a India Red Ale. As far as IRAs go, this one is one of the better ones.
I love this beer. Like I've mentioned before, grapefruit beers cannot be overlooked! Schofferhofer makes this delicious Grapefruit Hefeweizen, and the combination is fantastic.
Wow. What can I say? This drink is amazing. I wasn't expecting anything other than "good" when I took my first sip of Crabbie's Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade that my husband bought for me, but, man, I was sure surprised! This was probably the tastiest fruity drink I've ever had the pleasure of indulging in.
Breckenridge Brewery makes this Oatmeal Stout, and it's quite good. I really like a dark, heavy stout to balance out all those fruit beers I like, and this one was more than adequate. Dark, creamy, strong, and perfectly balanced, this drink will make your dessert sing. Give it a try!
Anyway, it's time for another installment of Latest Libations! I've had some new, interesting, and good beers, so I thought I'd share, naturally. Let's get started.
New Belgium typically puts out a decent beer, and I do like my fruity blends, so when I saw this Juicy Watermelon Lime Ale, I thought I should try it. This beer gave me the fruity tastes that I love, and the watermelon-lime combination was quite good together, without being super sweet. In fact, this one was just barely sweet so it didn't take away from the taste of the ale either.
Deschutes India Red Ale was everything I expected in a India Red Ale. As far as IRAs go, this one is one of the better ones.
I love this beer. Like I've mentioned before, grapefruit beers cannot be overlooked! Schofferhofer makes this delicious Grapefruit Hefeweizen, and the combination is fantastic.
Wow. What can I say? This drink is amazing. I wasn't expecting anything other than "good" when I took my first sip of Crabbie's Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade that my husband bought for me, but, man, I was sure surprised! This was probably the tastiest fruity drink I've ever had the pleasure of indulging in.
Breckenridge Brewery makes this Oatmeal Stout, and it's quite good. I really like a dark, heavy stout to balance out all those fruit beers I like, and this one was more than adequate. Dark, creamy, strong, and perfectly balanced, this drink will make your dessert sing. Give it a try!
April 7, 2017
The Short: Review of Fisthammer's Devour All You See
Hello there! Thanks for stopping by. Today, I'm going to introduce another new segment. It's called "The Short" and will consist of short, but sweet, reviews of music. I'll review mainly albums, but don't be surprised if a video or concert gets thrown in here once in awhile.
A bit of a backstory: I'm a metalhead. I love different genres and styles of music, like Classical, Blues, Renaissance Folk, Rock 'n Roll, Punk, and even some 60's Pop, but my one true love has always been Metal. A schoolmate lent me a copy of Judas Priest's Screaming for Vengeance, and Iron Maiden's Powerslave back in 5th Grade, and, as the saying goes, I never looked back. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, as a writer & fan of horror, that I'm a metalhead.
I mentioned recently that I had gotten into the whole bandcamp thing. It's there that new life has been breathed into my love of the metal genre. There's so much great music out there to find and explore, that it's been a real breath of fresh air.
Fisthammer -- now defunct, R.I.P -- was a band from Philiadelphia, PA, USA. 2012's Devour All You See was their debut album (they put out one more in 2014 before splitting up). Mainly a Death Metal band, they did incorporate some technical and melodic aspects to their album. I say this because while it's an obviously death metal album, the complexity of the song structures and riffs weaves effortlessly between the technical and melodic side of the genre.
Indeed, the opening riff begins like a standard death metal song that immediately shifts into the technical/melodic structure that I mentioned. This continues song after song until it becomes clear that this is their hallmark. They consistently, song after song, deliver a hard-driving, fast-paced, skillful treat for the ears. Unrelenting, it takes you effortlessly through the entire album.
I highly recommend this album, which can be purchased for $6.66 (or more if you'd like) on bandcamp. Find it here: Fisthammer's DAYS.
Favorite track: Bullet RapeFor fans of: Kataklysm
A bit of a backstory: I'm a metalhead. I love different genres and styles of music, like Classical, Blues, Renaissance Folk, Rock 'n Roll, Punk, and even some 60's Pop, but my one true love has always been Metal. A schoolmate lent me a copy of Judas Priest's Screaming for Vengeance, and Iron Maiden's Powerslave back in 5th Grade, and, as the saying goes, I never looked back. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, as a writer & fan of horror, that I'm a metalhead.
I mentioned recently that I had gotten into the whole bandcamp thing. It's there that new life has been breathed into my love of the metal genre. There's so much great music out there to find and explore, that it's been a real breath of fresh air.
Fisthammer -- now defunct, R.I.P -- was a band from Philiadelphia, PA, USA. 2012's Devour All You See was their debut album (they put out one more in 2014 before splitting up). Mainly a Death Metal band, they did incorporate some technical and melodic aspects to their album. I say this because while it's an obviously death metal album, the complexity of the song structures and riffs weaves effortlessly between the technical and melodic side of the genre.
Indeed, the opening riff begins like a standard death metal song that immediately shifts into the technical/melodic structure that I mentioned. This continues song after song until it becomes clear that this is their hallmark. They consistently, song after song, deliver a hard-driving, fast-paced, skillful treat for the ears. Unrelenting, it takes you effortlessly through the entire album.
I highly recommend this album, which can be purchased for $6.66 (or more if you'd like) on bandcamp. Find it here: Fisthammer's DAYS.
Favorite track: Bullet RapeFor fans of: Kataklysm
April 5, 2017
The Steamboat Bertrand
Good morning! So today will be the third, and last, installment of the Loess Hills Adventure I went on with my best friend and Nature Girl. Our last stop of the day was at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. One of the highlights there (besides the awesome wildlife and nature to explore) is the Steamboat Bertrand exhibit.
Omaha is a Missouri River town -- which is exactly how it got it's start -- and DeSoto lies along the river as well, just farther North. Steamboats were the semi trucks of yesteryear, carrying goods and people to various parts of the country via rivers. Many towns and cities (Omaha among them) sprouted up along America's rivers as a drop off point for all these people and goods.
It was one such steamboat, The Bertrand, that hit a snag north of Omaha and sank in 1865. While no one lost their life, all the goods aboard sunk, and it wasn't until a couple of salvagers discovered the wreck at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1968 that they were recovered. For more information, click here, and for really detailed information, click here.
Since the wreck was found on National Wildlife lands, the wreck -- and all its goods -- became the property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Everything recovered was carefully cleaned & cataloged, and DeSoto Wildlife Refuge, then, built a huge exhibit at the visitor's center, which you can see to this day. The cost of entry is a $3.00/car entry fee, so why not go? Besides, as I mentioned in this post and this one, there is plenty of things to do there.
The entrance to the exhibit.
This is the huge room that houses all the artifacts that were recovered from the wreck of the Bertrand.
Cannonball shot, utensils/tools of some kind, and artillery shells.
Some clothing and fabric that would have been a nice addition to any general store in the wilds of 1800s America.
That big bellow would have been used to facilitate the fires that kept the steamboat going. If you're interested in how steamboats worked, here's the Wikipedia article on it.
Enclosed in glass is a model of what the Steamboat Bertrand looked like in its heyday.
I'm not sure what this is, but it would have been the center of the large wheels that helped the steamboat move down the river.
The Refuge is a huge place, and you can actually go to the pond where the Bertrand was found. This is it! Somewhere beneath these murky waters still lies the hull of the Steamboat Bertrand.
My best friend checking out the pond, hoping for a glimpse of the hull.
Cool, huh? If you ever find yourself in Missouri Valley, Iowa, or if you live in the area, take an hour and check out the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge. Even if the weather is cold, you'll be able to check out the visitor's center which includes the fascinating exhibit on the Bertrand.
Omaha is a Missouri River town -- which is exactly how it got it's start -- and DeSoto lies along the river as well, just farther North. Steamboats were the semi trucks of yesteryear, carrying goods and people to various parts of the country via rivers. Many towns and cities (Omaha among them) sprouted up along America's rivers as a drop off point for all these people and goods.
It was one such steamboat, The Bertrand, that hit a snag north of Omaha and sank in 1865. While no one lost their life, all the goods aboard sunk, and it wasn't until a couple of salvagers discovered the wreck at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1968 that they were recovered. For more information, click here, and for really detailed information, click here.
Since the wreck was found on National Wildlife lands, the wreck -- and all its goods -- became the property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Everything recovered was carefully cleaned & cataloged, and DeSoto Wildlife Refuge, then, built a huge exhibit at the visitor's center, which you can see to this day. The cost of entry is a $3.00/car entry fee, so why not go? Besides, as I mentioned in this post and this one, there is plenty of things to do there.
The entrance to the exhibit.
This is the huge room that houses all the artifacts that were recovered from the wreck of the Bertrand.
Cannonball shot, utensils/tools of some kind, and artillery shells.
Some clothing and fabric that would have been a nice addition to any general store in the wilds of 1800s America.
That big bellow would have been used to facilitate the fires that kept the steamboat going. If you're interested in how steamboats worked, here's the Wikipedia article on it.
Enclosed in glass is a model of what the Steamboat Bertrand looked like in its heyday.
I'm not sure what this is, but it would have been the center of the large wheels that helped the steamboat move down the river.
The Refuge is a huge place, and you can actually go to the pond where the Bertrand was found. This is it! Somewhere beneath these murky waters still lies the hull of the Steamboat Bertrand.
My best friend checking out the pond, hoping for a glimpse of the hull.
Cool, huh? If you ever find yourself in Missouri Valley, Iowa, or if you live in the area, take an hour and check out the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge. Even if the weather is cold, you'll be able to check out the visitor's center which includes the fascinating exhibit on the Bertrand.
April 3, 2017
Dollar Tree Vegan Snack Haul
I've always been a fan of the Dollar Tree. Where else can you spend $50 on things you didn't know you needed? Actually, they have a nice selection of things and there are plenty of great buys to be had. They are great for finding gift bags and wrapping supplies, great holiday cards, seeds for planting, seasonal decor, household supplies (like qtips, kleenex, and storage containers).
As a vegan, though, some of my favorite snacks and treats come from the Dollar Tree. Yep, it's true, the DT has me covered. Here's a link to learn about some other Dollar Tree Vegan goodies, but keep in mind that you'll have some variation from store to store, and region to region. Anyway, they recently built a DT close to my home (oh yeah baby!), so I go there more frequently than I have in the past. A few weeks ago, we hit up DT in order to get some snacks for family movie night (they have an enormous section of movie theatre candy as well as other snacks), so I thought I'd share my vegan snack haul.
Oh my! Who doesn't love some warm, soft pretzels! They come with the salt packets separate, so you can decide if and how much salt you want to add. I'll whip up a quick vegan cheese sauce, and yum!
I have a thing for the Lay's Stax, plain of course, and so I always grab some for snacks. This dark chocolate bar is also vegan, and so I buy it for choco-attacks.
Fruity candy is my favorite, as well as a touch of sour sometimes, so these two lovelies came home with me.
Okay, so these aren't really snacks but I grabbed them anyway and thought I'd share. Coconut milk can be spendy, but I love having it on hand for when I have a hankering for Indian food. On the right is one of my favorite items from DT, El Pato's Salsa de Chile Fresco. Basically, it's a tomato sauce spiced up with chiles, garlic, and onions. OMG you guys, it's spicy and fabulous and is the PEFECT enchilada sauce. It's only a buck you guys....one dollar!
So there you have it, just a glimpse into the vegan goodies you can get at the Dollar Tree. They have tons of other good stuff, and, believe it or not, their freezer section is a vegan dream. Go check them out for yourself sometime!
As a vegan, though, some of my favorite snacks and treats come from the Dollar Tree. Yep, it's true, the DT has me covered. Here's a link to learn about some other Dollar Tree Vegan goodies, but keep in mind that you'll have some variation from store to store, and region to region. Anyway, they recently built a DT close to my home (oh yeah baby!), so I go there more frequently than I have in the past. A few weeks ago, we hit up DT in order to get some snacks for family movie night (they have an enormous section of movie theatre candy as well as other snacks), so I thought I'd share my vegan snack haul.
Oh my! Who doesn't love some warm, soft pretzels! They come with the salt packets separate, so you can decide if and how much salt you want to add. I'll whip up a quick vegan cheese sauce, and yum!
I have a thing for the Lay's Stax, plain of course, and so I always grab some for snacks. This dark chocolate bar is also vegan, and so I buy it for choco-attacks.
Fruity candy is my favorite, as well as a touch of sour sometimes, so these two lovelies came home with me.
Okay, so these aren't really snacks but I grabbed them anyway and thought I'd share. Coconut milk can be spendy, but I love having it on hand for when I have a hankering for Indian food. On the right is one of my favorite items from DT, El Pato's Salsa de Chile Fresco. Basically, it's a tomato sauce spiced up with chiles, garlic, and onions. OMG you guys, it's spicy and fabulous and is the PEFECT enchilada sauce. It's only a buck you guys....one dollar!
So there you have it, just a glimpse into the vegan goodies you can get at the Dollar Tree. They have tons of other good stuff, and, believe it or not, their freezer section is a vegan dream. Go check them out for yourself sometime!
April 1, 2017
Drugstore Makeup Haul
Recently, I ran out of foundation (imagine that), so I had to go to the store. I also needed a few other things while I was getting makeup, so I thought I'd share the things I got and give you some impressions.
Here is the whole gang together: moisturizer, eyeshadow primer, face primer, foundation, and concealer.
I was out of moisturizer and the kind I normally get (Equate's version of Olay's Regenerist) was sold out, so I picked up this one: L'Oreal's Revitalift Bright Reveal. It's cheaper than Olay but still has SPF in it. It's greasier feeling than the Olay, but doesn't stay that way. Just don't rub it on your eyes! Some got in my left eye and it burned! With Olay I can put it on my eyes, but not this one, so keep that in mind.
I've really like (most of) the Hard Candy line of makeup. I use face primer every day, but it doesn't have the staying power for my makeup I hope for, so when I saw this one touting 12-hour power, I had to try it. It has a light tint to it, and it does what it says it will: it helps your makeup stay! I put some under my makeup, the day I bought it, for a night out and man, it worked great. In fact, I had to really work at getting my makeup off that night. I've used it for daily wear to work as well, and it comes off much better after being worn all day as opposed to a few hours. This stuff is fantastic!
While I was staring at the Hard Candy section, I saw a good-sized tube of eye shadow primer so grabbed it. I've about blown through my eye shadow primer, so I figured I'd better get some more. I use this more for weekend makeup wear, so I used this, like the primer, for a night out after I bought it. It works just as great as the primer! I highly recommend these two under your makeup.
Each time I need to buy foundation, I always try a new one on my never-ending quest for the perfect foundation. This one is by Revlon, part of the Colorstay line, in the shade of Nude. I swatched a bit on my hand and it looked perfect, but when I started putting it on my face it's super light! It blended in pretty well, and has decent coverage, and since it matches my neck I'm working with it. I like the foundation itself, but will opt for a darker shade if I ever purchase again.
Last, but not least, I bought the matched concealer. It works comparably to the foundation, and matches fairly well with my skin tone. I think I'd stick to this color for concealer.
And there you have it, my recent drugstore makeup haul. I hope you enjoyed it, and that you'll check out some Hard Candy soon! That primer though...
March 30, 2017
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
Good morning! I've decided that I will go back to my normal posting schedule next week. It will just be easier for me to stick to the old schedule for now. Anyway, on Tuesday, I posted about the little Iowa Mountains adventure we took this past Sunday. We sure did have a lot of fun stopping here and there, checking out things that were new, and things we had seen before. Anyway, I mentioned that I had a couple more posts about our adventure, so here's the second one.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is, of course, a place for wildlife. They are particularly a haven for birds, wetland or otherwise.When we were there, we were treated to many different kinds of birds, and I managed to get some great photographs of them.
Just like we saw last time we went to Heron Haven, we again saw the mighty Mallard Ducks. It's migration season, according to DeSoto staff, so this is not unusual. You can see the females and the males floating on the water.
The visitor's center at the refuge has many areas for viewing said wildlife. One such area is a direct viewing spot to a bunch of birdfeeders that the Refuge maintains. Because of this, one gets treated to various birds. This one is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
Squirrel! He/she looked so cute eating the dropped bird feed that I had to take his/her picture.
This cute little bird is another woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker.
These two are Red-Winged Blackbirds.
A Blue Jay scavenges the ground for some seed.
We also saw a few Robins and a Cardinal as well, although the latter flew off so quickly that I was unable to snap it's picture. I didn't bother to take pictures of the Robins since I see them pretty much daily. Getting pictures of the birds was fun and a great way to use my camera. It was also fun doing a bit of research to find out what kinds of birds these were. Of course, Nature Girl was super excited to see all the birds as well, and I had a hard time dragging her away.
If you're ever in Missouri Valley, Iowa, along I-29, and need something to do, check out DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is, of course, a place for wildlife. They are particularly a haven for birds, wetland or otherwise.When we were there, we were treated to many different kinds of birds, and I managed to get some great photographs of them.
Just like we saw last time we went to Heron Haven, we again saw the mighty Mallard Ducks. It's migration season, according to DeSoto staff, so this is not unusual. You can see the females and the males floating on the water.
The visitor's center at the refuge has many areas for viewing said wildlife. One such area is a direct viewing spot to a bunch of birdfeeders that the Refuge maintains. Because of this, one gets treated to various birds. This one is a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
Squirrel! He/she looked so cute eating the dropped bird feed that I had to take his/her picture.
This cute little bird is another woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker.
These two are Red-Winged Blackbirds.
A Blue Jay scavenges the ground for some seed.
We also saw a few Robins and a Cardinal as well, although the latter flew off so quickly that I was unable to snap it's picture. I didn't bother to take pictures of the Robins since I see them pretty much daily. Getting pictures of the birds was fun and a great way to use my camera. It was also fun doing a bit of research to find out what kinds of birds these were. Of course, Nature Girl was super excited to see all the birds as well, and I had a hard time dragging her away.
If you're ever in Missouri Valley, Iowa, along I-29, and need something to do, check out DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.
March 28, 2017
Loess Hills Adventure
Good morning! You might have noticed that I wasn't here yesterday with my usual Monday post. Well, there's a reason for that. I've picked up a second, part-time job, and with my already busy schedule, I decided it would be best for me to change my posting schedule to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. While I'll be posting one less blog a week, it won't be lacking in greatness! ;) Anyway, let's move on to today's post.
My best friend and I have been best friends since we were four years old. Four years old! Crazy, right? Well, he just got back from Peru on Saturday. Ever since he and I went on a trip to Ireland back in 2014, he's been on a mission to visit every continent. He's since gone to Germany, Australia, South Africa, and now Peru. He'll be going to China in November, and then to Antarctica next spring. It's so exciting!
We agreed that when he got back that we should spend some time together. With my crazy schedule, I don't get to see people as much as I'd like to, so when he made his usual Sunday stop after church, we made a quick plan. NG and I got ready, packed up a picnic lunch, and off we headed for an afternoon roadtrip of the Iowa Mountains (the Loess Hills for those of you unfamiliar with my nickname for them).
A view of the Omaha skyline from the Monument.
Our first stop was the Lewis & Clark Monument in Council Bluffs, IA. My bestie had never been there before, and it's a good starting point for road tripping the Iowa Mountains.
NG stands on a stone bench near a frieze of Lewis & Clark.
This monument marks the historic meeting between Lewis & Clark and the Otoe & Missouria Indians.
The rotunda scenic overlook at Lewis & Clark monument.
Now, I've been to the monument a few times, but this is the first time I noticed these locks. I've heard of the famous Parisian bridge where lovers will write their names on a lock then attach it to the bridge as a sign of unbreakable love. I guess it's becoming a little tradition here too. What better place to profess your undying love than atop such a beautiful scenic overlook?
Some more love locks.We also saw one dedicated in memory of someone's mom.
These stairs, coming off the scenic overlook, that lead down to the hiking trail. I've posted about this trail before, complete with pictures.
After leaving the monument, we moved on towards Crescent, Iowa, following the Old Lincoln Highway.
We eventually made our way to I-680 as it meanders towards Des Moines, IA. There is a Scenic Overlook Tower that I didn't know was there, so we stopped to check it out. Look at this beautiful view from the top!
Way on the other side of I-680 from where we were, rose a set of radio towers. We actually drove along the gravel road next to these before we drove over to the tower.
A view from the other direction on top of the Scenic Overlook Tower.
View of the river pillars from the visitor's center at DeSoto NWR.
After we left the tower, we meandered over to I-29, and since we were so close, drove on over to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Located west of Missouri Valley, Iowa, this refuge aims to preserve and protect wetland wildlife.
A closer view of the pillars.
The visitor's center at DeSoto is beautiful and educational. There are a couple of viewing areas in which to see wildlife. This is a view of the Missouri River from the large viewing area.
This is a view facing the other direction from the same area of the visitor's center.
A male and female bald eagle are forever immortalized in this display.
The visitor's center, besides having viewing areas, also has wildlife educational exhibits, wildlife movies, walking trails, and are famed for housing the treasures from the wreck of the Steamboat Bertrand. We've been here many times, and always enjoy it. The entrance fee is only $3 per car, so why not go?
After spending some time at the visitor's center, we drove over to the excavation site of the Bertrand. This pond is where the hull of the wrecked ship lies, but the waters were too murky to see it.
NG makes ripples in the excavation pond.
After DeSoto, we grabbed a few nice brews and headed back to my place where we spent the rest of the evening enjoying good conversation and a meal with my husband and the kids. We had a really fun time exploring our area and checking out new and old places. There's always adventure to be had at home if you just look in the right places. Exploring is a good way to learn about where you live and to get out and do fun things, either alone or with people you care about. So, pack up a picnic and hit the road!
I will be making a few separate posts about the wildlife at DeSoto as well as one dedicated to the Steamboat Bertrand, so stay tuned for those!
My best friend and I have been best friends since we were four years old. Four years old! Crazy, right? Well, he just got back from Peru on Saturday. Ever since he and I went on a trip to Ireland back in 2014, he's been on a mission to visit every continent. He's since gone to Germany, Australia, South Africa, and now Peru. He'll be going to China in November, and then to Antarctica next spring. It's so exciting!
We agreed that when he got back that we should spend some time together. With my crazy schedule, I don't get to see people as much as I'd like to, so when he made his usual Sunday stop after church, we made a quick plan. NG and I got ready, packed up a picnic lunch, and off we headed for an afternoon roadtrip of the Iowa Mountains (the Loess Hills for those of you unfamiliar with my nickname for them).
A view of the Omaha skyline from the Monument.Our first stop was the Lewis & Clark Monument in Council Bluffs, IA. My bestie had never been there before, and it's a good starting point for road tripping the Iowa Mountains.
NG stands on a stone bench near a frieze of Lewis & Clark.This monument marks the historic meeting between Lewis & Clark and the Otoe & Missouria Indians.
The rotunda scenic overlook at Lewis & Clark monument.
Now, I've been to the monument a few times, but this is the first time I noticed these locks. I've heard of the famous Parisian bridge where lovers will write their names on a lock then attach it to the bridge as a sign of unbreakable love. I guess it's becoming a little tradition here too. What better place to profess your undying love than atop such a beautiful scenic overlook?
Some more love locks.We also saw one dedicated in memory of someone's mom. 
These stairs, coming off the scenic overlook, that lead down to the hiking trail. I've posted about this trail before, complete with pictures.
After leaving the monument, we moved on towards Crescent, Iowa, following the Old Lincoln Highway.
We eventually made our way to I-680 as it meanders towards Des Moines, IA. There is a Scenic Overlook Tower that I didn't know was there, so we stopped to check it out. Look at this beautiful view from the top!
Way on the other side of I-680 from where we were, rose a set of radio towers. We actually drove along the gravel road next to these before we drove over to the tower.
A view from the other direction on top of the Scenic Overlook Tower.
View of the river pillars from the visitor's center at DeSoto NWR.After we left the tower, we meandered over to I-29, and since we were so close, drove on over to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Located west of Missouri Valley, Iowa, this refuge aims to preserve and protect wetland wildlife.
A closer view of the pillars.
The visitor's center at DeSoto is beautiful and educational. There are a couple of viewing areas in which to see wildlife. This is a view of the Missouri River from the large viewing area.
This is a view facing the other direction from the same area of the visitor's center.
A male and female bald eagle are forever immortalized in this display.
The visitor's center, besides having viewing areas, also has wildlife educational exhibits, wildlife movies, walking trails, and are famed for housing the treasures from the wreck of the Steamboat Bertrand. We've been here many times, and always enjoy it. The entrance fee is only $3 per car, so why not go?
After spending some time at the visitor's center, we drove over to the excavation site of the Bertrand. This pond is where the hull of the wrecked ship lies, but the waters were too murky to see it.
NG makes ripples in the excavation pond.After DeSoto, we grabbed a few nice brews and headed back to my place where we spent the rest of the evening enjoying good conversation and a meal with my husband and the kids. We had a really fun time exploring our area and checking out new and old places. There's always adventure to be had at home if you just look in the right places. Exploring is a good way to learn about where you live and to get out and do fun things, either alone or with people you care about. So, pack up a picnic and hit the road!
I will be making a few separate posts about the wildlife at DeSoto as well as one dedicated to the Steamboat Bertrand, so stay tuned for those!
