#nature Archives - Embrace Southern States

10 Fave Photos from 2023

December 17, 2023 by angelchatt

Another year has flown by faster than expected! That means it is time to review some favorite photos. Let’s do a countdown! See if you would rank them any differently.

These 10 photos represent time spent in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Missouri. They also let you know that I am partial to nature, murals, food, and abandoned buildings.

# 10

Railroad tracks have always fascinated me. They make my imagination run wild with thoughts of travel and new adventures. What do tracks bring to your mind? How long has it been since you last photographed a railroad track? This photo was taken in January around 4pm about a block away from my current home in Tallahassee, Florida.

# 9

This is a very small yet stunning swamp less than a mile from my home. I had to carefully scan the area for gators! Do you have any swamps or gators near where you live? Here’s a tip; don’t wear nice shoes because there’s a strong chance you will get bogged down in mud. This shot was taken at 5pm on a lovely January day.

# 8

Since I travel around the Gulf Coast a lot, it only makes sense to include a sweet and simple beach photo. This particular beach is along Highway 90 in Gulfport, Mississippi. That happens to be the town where I grew up. The scene was captured on an early morning in April. Are you a beach person? Have you ever been to Gulfport?

# 7

Well, speaking of Gulfport, that’s where this mural is. It was created in 2021 by Tricia McAlvain in memory of the Chandeleur Lighthouse. I love how up at the top it indicates all of the towns along the Mississippi coast. It was shot on the same April morning as the previous photo. How many of those towns have you visited?

# 6

Hamilton, Missouri is THE place for avid fans of quilts. The population is under 2,000 but it is full of colorful murals like this one and is called “Quilt Town, USA.” This photo was taken at 9:33am in April. I actually love all the shadows from nearby trees. Does this bring out your desire to go make a quilt? Do you own any treasured quilts?

# 5

Abandoned structures in all sizes and conditions are interesting. I especially love tiny shacks like this one found not far from Bainbridge, Georgia. The patina of the roof and the missing windows and boards make me wonder what critters may be living inside, or underneath. What does it make you wonder? Photo taken at 11am in March.

# 4

Inside the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, is this huge and extraordinarily impressive mural entitled “Independence and the Opening of the West”. Artist Thomas Hart Benton painted it in the 1960’s and was an acquaintance of Truman. I took this photo in April at 1:45pm.

# 3

All of my senses tingle every time I see this photo. Again I seem to see those yellow and pink flowers as I smell the pizza and taste the wine. Life was exceptionally good that day at The Brick Oven in Hannibal, Missouri. What do you think of this photo which was taken on an April evening at about 6pm? Don’t you just love pizza?

# 2

Big Spring is located just south of Van Buren, Missouri, and is that state’s largest spring. This geological wonder is marvelous in any season. My attempt to capture this serenity was at 11am on a gorgeous April morning. Wouldn’t you love to be there and experience blissful peace? Big Spring is a true happy place and a total joy to behold.

# 1

God is a master designer, creator, and artist. His simple yet elegant lily pads have inspired countless artists, philosophers, and dreamers. On an early afternoon in March I took this perfect photo on a tiny country road near Tifton, Georgia. Do lily pads seem symbolic or at all significant to you? They make me smile!

You have seen how I ranked my top ten favorite 2023 travel photos. Would you have ranked them any differently? Let folks know which one is you very favorite and why!

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Nature In Missouri

May 20, 2023 by angelchatt

Recently I enjoyed a wonderful 10-day road trip in Missouri. I’ve decided to do a few articles about that, starting with NATURE! So this one, a wistful photo documentary, is for all the nature lovers. Check out these photos, then PLEASE leave a Comment letting me know which ones you like best. Nature in Missouri …rivers, springs, mountains, caves, and so much more!

Big Spring…Place & Thing & Spring & Beauty

The largest freshwater spring in Missouri, “Big Spring”, can be found near the southeastern town of Van Buren. Find highway 60 and then head south on highway 103 and you will enter the park. It is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways that protects over 130 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers. Once you have found it, you may never want to leave. This place of quiet beauty is a fine example of soothing natural splendor at its best.

Alley Spring Could Make Your Heart Sing

Alley Spring and the Alley Mill were featured on a quarter in 2017 as part of celebrating America the Beautiful. After you leave Big Spring, take highway 60 to Winona then 19 to Eminence and finally 106 to Alley Spring. The extremely friendly park rangers there will gladly and patiently answer all your questions about the blue water and all fascinating local natural resources. See the one room schoolhouse and the general store before you depart.

Be Brave & Rave About This Cave

In the charming and nostalgic town of Hannibal, Missouri, you can prove that you are brave by touring Mark Twain Cave. Of course, later you will rave about all you learned inside. The narrow passages are dimly lit and chilly. You can experience total darkness and see a hideout used by Jesse James. Enjoy tales about the fictional characters Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher as you search for signatures written on the walls.

Fun Of Driving In The Mountains

Dang, y’all, this writer lives in a fairly flat section of Florida. So I was thrilled to take a drive early one morning in the misty mountains of Missouri. Every twist and hairpin turn was a total joy. Pockets of thick mist are so enchanting and tiny hints of blue sky simply seem to promise that more adventure will be around every curve. Traffic was very light that day and, of course, so was my spirit.

Abundant Colors Along The Riverbanks And Bluffs

Tiny white clouds in the blue sky fade into the background as the give and take of yellow sunshine and brown shadow play among the green and purple trees. The multiple tones of brown and gray rocks give way to yellow foliage in the foreground. Why do such colors thrill me so? I don’t rightly know. They are a playful and peaceful party in my mind.

This Color Is Called Stellar Pink

What do you think of the stellar pink shade of flower found on this dogwood? I spied this gorgeous young specimen on the grounds of White Haven (part of U.S.Grant historic site) just ten or so miles south of downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The bush was only four feet high and should grow into a lovely tree.

Oh Cow, How Art Thou?

Usually cows run away when a stranger approaches. But these adorable bovines stood stoically still and studied me just as I studied them in their meadow. Then the little darlings once again quietly chewed their cud and contemplated the cosmos. After my own brief cow admiration and self-deliberation, I decided upon salad in lieu of hamburger.

Happy Diamond Dew On Rising Ground

Has the sight of grass ever inspired you to recite a poem? When I found this mound of rising ground wet with dew that shined like diamonds, I recalled a haiku I had written years before. “Grass in the morning is wet with tears of angels, maybe tears for me.” These dewdrops do seem like happy tears.

Whether Or Not Nature Is Weather

Have you ever experienced weird weather in Missouri? In that span of 10 days I saw torrential rain, flooding, a rock slide, and two tornadoes. A dear friend and I were forced to cut short our photo shoot and sit in her car for about an hour due to a sudden hail storm. On the positive side, I did see a rainbow and a double rainbow. I just had to wonder how much powerful and weird weather this old barn has survived…and how much longer it may stand.

Does nature take back or reclaim her own…quickly or slowly? We may say slowly if we watch growth creep up weekly or monthly. This once beautiful house could take decades to deteriorate and become uninhabitable. Just the thought makes me eerily pensive, perhaps wistful…and oh the stories it inspires.

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Plan your Missouri road trip with great info https://www.visitmo.com/ Riverways info can be found here https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/index.htm Mark Twain Cave info website is https://www.marktwaincave.com/ Grant site is https://www.nps.gov/ulsg/index.htm

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Honeymoon Joy & Wonder in Georgia

December 19, 2022 by angelchatt

Did you know that there are beautiful and unexpected things which evoke joy and wonder in Central and South Georgia? This travel writer is a true Southerner and has lived in six southern states. So, when I recently married Tony, a man from New Jersey, I wanted to take him on a lovely honeymoon road trip to places he had never been and would never forget. Honeymoon joy and wonder in Georgia is possible, keep reading for details.

Windsor Hotel

This historic hotel opened in 1892, has won numerous awards for hospitality and preservation, and is on the National Historic Register. It has welcomed two American presidents, one Romanian president, numerous celebrities, musicians, and sports figures. Located in Americus, Georgia, it is a great hub for area exploration.

Georgia heart pine, Italian marble, and hand-carved golden oak combine to create a spectacular lobby. The breath-taking influences of Moorish, Islamic, and High Victorian in architecture and design are grand and luxurious.

Lovely evening view of lobby at Windsor Hotel in Americus.

Two of the suites are in a magnificent circular tower. We stayed in one of those wonderful circular rooms, the Carter Presidential Suite. And, yes, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn have stayed there. I mailed a sweet letter to the Carters a couple of weeks before the honeymoon…find out what happened at the end of this article!

Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant

After checking in, our first stop was the hotel’s own gorgeous restaurant. In fact, we were running late for our reservation! But the staff was terrific, and our table was excellent. My husband Tony (I will get accustomed to calling him that) enjoyed the grouper while I savored the salmon.

I am so drawn to fancy ambiance, and this one includes cream and plum-colored wall panels, red ceiling, perfect white tablecloths, and view of a stunning grand piano complete with a silver candelabra. The simplest things just excite me, like the way the flickering of the little golden candle made my water glass sparkle. There are not enough positive words to say about how much I loved the entire experience of Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant.

Plains & Other Small Towns

What can you expect to see as you leisurely drive all over this section of Central and South Georgia? We thoroughly enjoyed meandering through these six counties: Crisp, Dooly, Dougherty, Lee, Marion, and Sumter. This was at the end of October. The most beautiful sight was large fields of cotton. Some was ready for harvest, while some had just been baled. There were also lots of pecan trees.

Fields full of fluffy cotton ready for harvest.

Plains, GA mural celebrates Pres. Jimmy Carter.

In Plains, home of former President Jimmy Carter, we took photos of murals and of the train depot. In towns like Buena Vista and Vienna we delighted in the beauty of the architecture and the nostalgia of those simple small-town vibes. Such sweet variety of honeymoon joy and wonder in Georgia.

Celebrating Art at Pasaquan

How do I even begin to explain or describe the Pasaquan experience? You need to know that Eddie Owens Martin (1908-1986) has been called a visionary, a dreamer, and an eccentric folk artist. He described himself as a creative man, a poet, and a fortune-teller. In a “vision” he saw futuristic beings who told him to build a sort of utopian Shangri-la to be called Pasaquan where he would be “Saint EOM”.

PASAQUAN is a must-see bucket list ART destination!!!

For many years he created concrete statues, mandalas, and various art forms which represented personhood, power, and world peace. Thanks to the Kohler Foundation, Columbus State University, and countless volunteers, Pasaquan has been preserved and is an internationally renowned art site. The current caretaker/tour guide is Charles Fowler. He does an outstanding job of enthusiastically sharing his appreciation for the artist and for this fantastic place. If you have not been, please add it to your bucket list. Any art lover would find a sense of joy and wonder at Pasaquan.

Guide Charles Fowler entertains with fascinating & funny stories.

Celebrating Nature at Radium Springs

In Albany, Georgia, one of the most enchanting places you could ever imagine is hiding in plain sight. Radium Springs is one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. This location has been a sacred ceremonial site for Indigenous people, and later a tourist attraction that included a grand casino.

Is this serenity & healing, or wonder & joy… or all that and more?

Today visitors can still enjoy a peaceful and pleasant walk while viewing the fabulous stonework, columns, and trees. While you can’t see the underwater caves, you can see fish swimming in the blue water of the cool springs. Radium Springs has long been known as a place with healing properties, and you just might encounter that same sense of healing and serenity during your visit.

Conclusion

My hope for this honeymoon road trip was that it would be relaxing, fun, and filled with unforgettable beauty, wonder, and joy. The entire trip was awesome beyond expected and we will always cherish those memories. The honeymoon road trip in Georgia was, indeed, filled with beauty, wonder, and joy… plus art, food, nature, and lots of love. Every new experience was just like another dollop of icing atop a yummy cupcake.

We were thrilled the following week to get a note from Jimmy Carter in the mail. That was so sweet and special, like sprinkles of joy on top of that same silly cupcake.

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TO EVERY READER, please show some love and kindness by leaving a COMMENT. I deeply care about you and want to know how you enjoyed this article. Thanks. Here are some links to help you plan a trip to these destinations: Windsor Hotel https://www.windsor-americus.com/ Visit Sumter County (Americus & Plains) https://visitamericusga.com/welcome-to-americus/ Visit Pasaquan (CSU helpful info) https://pasaquan.columbusstate.edu/ Visit Radium Springs in Albany https://visitalbanyga.com/attraction/radium-springs-gardens

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NATURE IS THE NICEST NEIGHBOR

November 18, 2021 by angelchatt

Wouldn’t it be nice to see some natural beauty right now? I am so thankful to live in the Florida Panhandle where nature and beauty put on a living art exhibit every day of the year. Nature is the nicest neighbor.

My human neighbors are just fine, but I don’t find myself eager to photograph them. Yes, they look okay, but nature outshines them.

All of the photos in this article were taken in Florida, most locations identified in captions.

It was lots of fun to browse through my photos and find just the thing that you can enjoy with me right now. Think of this as a refreshing pictorial break from whatever you are doing… a “walk in the woods” or “walk on the wildflower side”. Hope you find at least a couple of these that make you want to come visit or at least to share some thoughts!

Meander through the woods with me on this pleasant path.

A path at Lichgate on High Road in Tallahassee.

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Find Live Oaks showing off their friendship with Spanish Moss.

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Perhaps you prefer a vantage with a view of the local wildflowers.

Open field on Christy Cary Lane in Tallahassee.

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Happy flowers here attract the Zebra Longwing butterfly.

On my street (no I won’t post the name)!

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These Camellias bloom from November through January.

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Then the Azaleas bloom from February through April.

Also in my own yard adding so much beauty.

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The gorgeous clusters on the Beautyberry can last for months.

Yep, still in my neighborhood. LOVE the color!

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Large creeks in Florida have alligators, turtles, and great fishing.

Black Creek is located in Middleburg, Florida.

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Lily pads seem so relaxed as they enjoy the sunshine.

Lovely lily pads located on Black Creek.

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Adventure awaits around the next bend!

This track is in Gadsden County near Havana, Florida.

-_-_-_-_-_-_ < Dang, sure hope y’all like the photos! > -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

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