tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130494872011-07-28T08:34:01.901-04:00mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-7626419429465350932009-10-04T14:58:00.005-04:002009-10-04T15:08:04.055-04:00

On Madeline Island, I drove to the Big Bay State Park, filled out the self-registration forms and located a good spot to set up camp. After a well needed shower and band aids on my toes, I headed back into LaPointe to find some food. Tom's Burned Down Cafe was closed, I actually chatted with the owner for a few minutes and he gave me a few other suggestions. Evidently after Labor Day, many of the

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-3448011046632024612009-10-04T13:52:00.004-04:002009-10-04T14:58:52.659-04:00

There's nothing quite like waking up to the sound of water splashing on the shore, knowing that this moment is mine to savor. Amazingly, I didn't feel sore or stiff. I sat on the rocks and washed my face with the cold water from the lake. I made myself eat a few more bites of my Clif bar, even though I had no appetite. I had not brought my pan with me, so I sipped a little bit of water, knowing

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-8052636212678051672009-10-03T17:11:00.006-04:002009-10-04T12:56:26.892-04:00

A few days before leaving on my trip, a dear friend gave me some books about Porcupine Mountains so that I could get a better overview of what to expect. Even with all the information, you never know how it's going to be until you get out there and experience it firsthand. I guess life in general is like that...you can talk about it, plan it, study it...but you'll never really know, unless you

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-65745607862514433472009-10-03T16:24:00.008-04:002009-10-03T18:13:07.254-04:00

I woke up to a chilly morning in the mountains... dawn had not quite broken through...grabbing a change of clothes, I headed to the showers and enjoyed a nice hot one. Once back to my campsite, I started a fire with wood saved from the day before and fixed some coffee - two scoops of ground java right in the pan - no filter out here. I took down the tent and packed things up, then sat down with

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-47377838400556894572009-09-29T17:39:00.008-04:002009-10-03T18:13:57.111-04:00

I woke up to a beautiful day, excited about beginning my journey. After packing up my Mazda 5 with everything I thought I might need I set off. Heading north on I-65 towards Chicago, the fields across Indiana looked almost ready for harvest. The wind farms could be seen for miles away, like a flock of birds across the sky. In Chicago I followed Lake Shore Drive through several neighborhoods,

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-91296204801955038352009-09-18T14:35:00.002-04:002009-09-18T14:41:31.246-04:00

Hiking is food for the soul. Tomorrow morning early I will be hitting the road - I-65 to be specific - due north. This is quite different as I usually head south, especially this time of year. Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be taking a few days to explore the Upper Peninsula and the Superior Lake Trail.My first stop will be in Milwaukee. I am really looking forward to visiting Growing Power

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-6816714264815994582008-05-13T07:01:00.003-04:002008-05-13T07:22:18.206-04:00

As the Monday morning rush kicked into high gear and routines resumed, I thought again about my Mommy. Never one for melodramatic holidays, she reminded me on the phone that every day is Mother's Day. I must say that perspective has made a huge difference on the way I raised my own two children. Avoiding those unrealistic ideals of the perfect mom of the 50's or the super mom of the 80's, my

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-68361785222244970842008-04-12T11:49:00.005-04:002008-12-10T19:25:27.156-05:00

Friday afternoon we arrived in Atlanta. It was fun to drive into the city, admiring the architecture and flowering trees everywhere.Downtown was crowded and many streets were blocked off due to the recent tornado damage. We went to our hotel and decided to relax, since there were tornado watches and severe storms on the way.The next morning we decided to head home to Kentucky - to the little

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-35954249475826982782008-04-12T11:39:00.003-04:002008-12-10T19:25:27.678-05:00

As we headed back to our car, it was getting dark and the mist was still incredibly heavy. At the base of the 425 stairs (see next blog) - we were surprised to see a small group of deer grazing nearby - maybe 7 or more...It was too dark to get a good shot as they blend into the browns and greys of the hillside. It was magical!Driving back into Dahlonega, we made it to the Crimson Moon Cafe just

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-48055082558316548352008-04-12T11:32:00.001-04:002008-12-10T19:25:28.448-05:00

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-27665456988597691862008-04-12T11:24:00.002-04:002008-12-10T19:25:28.928-05:00

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-86294757286906189782008-04-12T11:18:00.003-04:002008-12-10T19:25:29.581-05:00

It's 6 pm, we have less than 2 hours of daylight and 8 miles of hiking to go. I thought we would never get here...We booked up the first stretch of the trail in heavy mist...trying to pretend my lungs weren't killing me.

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-68686830518500360032008-04-12T11:08:00.005-04:002008-12-10T19:25:29.960-05:00

What an incredible sight! Mountains in every direction. I kept thinking about how in the world the pioneers got through this! Truly amazing! This is somewhere around Great Smoky Mountains meets Nantahala National Forest meets Chattahoochee National Forest meets Appalachian Mountains. It's close to South Carolina meets North Carolina meets Tennessee meets Georgia. In other words, I have no idea.

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-55087991793441291972008-04-12T10:41:00.002-04:002008-04-12T11:06:40.125-04:00

After a lovely one-hour ride on horseback, we got back on the road and head through the Smokies. On the southern end we discovered the town of Cherokee. It was after 6 pm, so many of the shops and sites were closing down for the evening. I'm sure that once the season is in full swing, it is quite busy. Here is a link worth checking out: http://www.cherokeeoflawrencecountytn.org/We drove on

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-29341782020175033152008-04-12T10:27:00.002-04:002008-04-12T10:38:32.536-04:00

Entering Tennessee, we broke out of the mountains(for awhile) and headed towards Pigeon Forge. I know, I know...why didn't someone warn me!!!There's a great line from the movie "Brother, Where Art Thou" - where they are sitting in the movie theatre and Pete tries to warn his friend:"DO NOT SEEK THE TREASURE!"Well, that's my two cents about Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg...DO NOT GO!It was almost

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-18597447251121277772008-04-12T10:09:00.003-04:002008-12-10T19:25:30.532-05:00

An abandoned, burned out motel that may have once been a haven for weary travelers on their long road trips. A skeleton remains..as I walked towards the windows and looked down, there was a swimming pool - filled with years of decaying leaves and rainwater.Signs of young life are seen on the spray painted walls. It makes you ponder...As we continued through the foothills, we began to see mining

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-69472780188790118442008-04-12T10:01:00.004-04:002008-12-10T19:25:30.765-05:00

Wednesday morning I woke to a beautiful clear blue sky. As I drove from Indiana to Kentucky last night, I could almost feel winter peeling away and signs of spring breaking free. Brown grass began to be replaced by fresh green, daffodils waved their yellow petals and trees were budding.We left Berea heading east and took Hwy 421 south. The road winds through the foothills of the Appalachia,

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-66976410653952570102008-03-29T12:19:00.003-04:002008-03-29T13:03:27.862-04:00

After a fairly snowy winter in Indiana, I'm ready to hit the road in search of signs of Spring. After considering several different possibilities, Emily and I decided to head to the mountains.We will start our road trip at Berea, KY and head south on SR 421 through some beautiful foothills of the Appalachian mountains. In the spring, the morning dew tends to hang in the hills waiting for the sun

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-24614647625891039702008-01-05T12:56:00.000-05:002008-01-05T13:36:17.451-05:00

LBYM - Living Below Your MeansI recently ran across a blog on Fools.com about this topic. It looks like people have been sharing their ideas and suggestions since 2000 - which is pretty cool. Definitely check it out http://boards.fool.com/Messages.asp?bid=100158&mid=26240484So, I thought it would be worth sharing some of my own tips fwiw:Last year I learned about the "Locks of Love" - available

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-32964817523134158112007-12-06T09:21:00.000-05:002008-12-10T19:25:32.466-05:00

Studying requires alot of energy & focus - so they say...Alex - staying warmDiana & Emily - Paint Lick, KYThree generations: Loraine Stoughton Todd; Diana Todd Morris and Emily Morris - 2007Michael's chopping wood for a cozy fire...Enjoying the farm in Paint Lick...chilly outside, cozy inside.My father's family settled in this area over 120 years ago...Although most of the farm has been sold over

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-91351975579148322392007-05-28T12:28:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:33.055-05:00

Congratulations! May God be your guide every step of the way! May you always be a Christ follower, always loving others and growing in faith.I hope you always have an inquiring mind, to learn new things and new ways of doing things. I hope you never settle for less and live each day to it's fullest. Live big, love big and give away as much as you can.Remember, you are never alone and you are a

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-32150830723333494522007-05-05T11:15:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:33.308-05:00

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-35653727810917373802007-05-04T18:50:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:34.107-05:00

PROM 2007PROM TICKETS, AFTER-PROM & DINNER $$$SHOES & DRESS $$$$HAIR, MAKEUP & JEWELRY $$$$$A WONDERFUL NIGHT THAT YOU'LL ALWAYS TREASURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE...PRICELESS!!!Enjoy your special NIGHT! You deserve it!

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-40445865541640304002007-04-28T18:12:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:34.825-05:00

So, Emily talked me into getting my hair chopped off. It's been about five years, so I did it!I went to Great Clips and donated my long locks. They use the hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Pretty cool idea.What do you think?This will be a busy month. Emily has her Senior Prom, finals and graduation! Wow! This is it. Alex has been hanging out with his buddies that have their own apt and he

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-40733627536249869912007-04-02T09:01:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:35.312-05:00

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-18218610805162930822007-04-02T08:37:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:36.413-05:00

The drive to San Antonio wasn't too bad. I was surprised that the road signs weren't helpful at all in knowing which exit to take, but we found our way. Downtown reminded me so much of some old cities in Brasil. There were lots of trees and squares with benches and fountains. Once you get to the Riverwalk, it's like entering a private garden. The street noise is gone and the trees, flowers and

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-89303704618901169292007-04-02T08:14:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:36.856-05:00

What a beautiful morning! We checked out of the hotel and drove about 7 miles west to the Caverns of Sonora. This is privately owned and has camping facilities, as well. There are deer all over. The caves were not developed for tours until many years after they had been discovered. The original opening led to a huge opening that dropped down so far, the explorers were afraid to attempt going

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-81518877212331580122007-03-19T21:14:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:38.069-05:00

Arriving late Monday in Sonora, we were soon faced with small town facts. Everything shuts down by 9:00pm. In other words, no supper. We checked in and fell asleep pretty quickly. The next morning we headed out to The Enchanted Rock. This is about 17 miles north of Fredricksburg, TX. I'd like to come back to spend a few days just visiting this quaint town and climbing the rock some more. Photos

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-20834164196751334682007-03-19T20:54:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:38.659-05:00

After visiting the college, we drove down to the old Shawnee Depot. We took several pictures of the depot, the old train and an oil pump nearby. Next, we headed over to the original Van's BBQ. Delicious! Brought some sauce home with us. Their website is www.pigstands.comWe also stocked up on baking mixes from Shawnee Mills, they have great muffin mixes, corn bread and brownie mixes. With much

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-66505915940497070042007-03-19T18:23:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:39.050-05:00

Sunday was such a lovely day. We spent time catching up on the news and playing with the girls. Late lunch was delicious, at a local Mexican Restaurant - huge portions! Perfect!In the morning, we headed over to see Saint Gregory's College, where my oldest brother, Phil, works. As you can see, the campus is beautiful.Here's another shot, Phil walking across campus after his morning class. We

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-41301825770177502752007-03-13T10:02:00.000-04:002008-12-10T19:25:39.241-05:00

Wow! We are in Sonora!We left home around 8 pm on Saturday, as soon as Michael. Loaded everybody up and headed west on I-70. it was after midnight when we drove through St Louis. The Arch was beautiful, lit up against the skyline of the city. No time to stop, so we headed southwest on I-44 to Springfield, and then onto Joplin, Mo.I took a detour in Joplin, following the old Route 66. Parts of the

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-48265405132847164672007-02-25T14:27:00.000-05:002007-03-03T09:37:00.655-05:00

It's been almost a year since my last road trip, so it's definitely time. The last time we were all on the road together was in 2001. Two weeks. From Connecticut to Oklahoma, through Washington DC, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and back again.This will be a special road trip for many reasons, so we're packing in alot of sights in just 8 1/2 days.We'll be heading out on a Saturday, by 6pm. From

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1170024488961330602007-01-28T17:05:00.000-05:002007-01-28T17:53:37.343-05:00

Love.. what is love? Is it merely an emotion that comes and goes like the rain? Is it proud or conceited? Or is it subtle and enduring?When I think of love, I think of long hot hazy summer days in Kansas - when the heat rolls off the pavement and sand hills, like ocean waves breaking on the beach. I think love is like the wide open blue sky that spans across the golden Kansas wheat fields and it

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1159628818577375422006-09-30T10:11:00.000-04:002006-09-30T11:51:29.490-04:00

Later today, I'm going to a Coffee party at a friend's house. She asked us to bring a treat that would go well with coffee and tea. My first thought was to make a run to Starbucks for some yummy Biscotti. How ridiculous! This is a great opportunity to try out some recipes from Grandma Daisy's notebook! So, I retrieved the notebooks from my cabinet and started looking. These sound delicious:

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1159624085850654932006-09-30T09:20:00.000-04:002006-09-30T11:26:22.796-04:00

One of my most precious possessions is a collection of three small 9 1/2 inch x 6 inch spiral notebooks. One is red, one is blue and one is green. Each one is worn from decades of use. Each one is bulging with hand picked recipes from across the span of my Grandma Daisy's life as a new wife in late 1930's, mother in the 1940's, hostess, Grandmother and active member of many committees, including

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1152382938309515072006-07-08T14:10:00.000-04:002006-07-08T14:22:18.323-04:00

So here the path takes another twisted turn. The way is rough and dark. I've had to sell my home and close my business, letting go of dreams. In times like this I hold tight to the essentials of life, my children, my story, my faith. It's hard not to loose a sense of who I am and where I'm going. Stumbling along, grasping for something solid.A faint voice across the years reaches out to say I

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1138379677057403052006-01-27T10:40:00.000-05:002006-01-27T11:34:37.136-05:00

I am a pilgrim on a journey. The road is mapped out ahead, but I can only see a few yards in the distance. One step at a time I boldly move with anticipation and curiosity. Sometimes I face pain around a corner, other times I am overwhelmed with kindness. In my pack, I carry a precious trove of memories. As I close my eyes to rest, I am reminded of friendly faces and peaceful places from years

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1120148000015554762005-06-30T12:19:00.000-05:002005-06-30T11:13:20.026-05:00

Good Morning, Grandfather!Did you catch the sunrise this morning as it spread out, rays stretching endlessly across water, land and sky?Amazing how I never tire of watching the sun being born over and over again, anew each day. Every morning seems like the first dawn, full of beauty, peace and wonder. For just a moment I can put aside the world and all its demands. I can travel across time and

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049487.post-1116599644432017372005-05-20T11:21:00.000-05:002005-05-20T09:34:04.436-05:00

As I was setting this up, it occurred to me how little time I spend on reading and writing. One of the most beautiful things in living day to day is to discover new ideas, new ways of doing things, new ways to communicate. Somehow, those things are never written down or captured and soon they are gone, whisked away with the business of the day. All day long I have wonderful little discoveries,

mrsdmorrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078833225025791297noreply@blogger.com2