Tag: state parks

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Giants Grow Here

ellenparkerwrites

Big Oak Tree State Park. Even the name implies size. And yes, this park nestled in the far Southeast corner of Missouri does indeed contain some of the largest trees for their species in the state.

Check the height of the Mississippi River before visiting this quiet jewel. If the river is in flood: roads, park, and farmland in the area may be better suited to canoe than automobile.

At 1,000 acres, this park is one of the smaller Missouri. However, bird watchers will find a treat in the residents and seasonal visitors to this lowland area.

Follow the metal boardwalk to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the lowland forest.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine Serena Carter, the photographer in Morning Tryst, setting up to capture a few of the many birds who favor this habitat. Depending on the season, does she think of the quiet Zack during her workday?

Kindle link for the sweet romance: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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A Tale of Three Brothers

ellenparkerwrites

Roll back your imagination to the early years of the 20th century in St. Louis, Missouri.

Edmund A. Babler is a young surgeon becoming known for service to the poor and advocate for outdoor recreation. His brothers, Henry and Jacob, entered the insurance and real estate businesses. All the brothers soon began to purchase land near Wild Horse Creek (in St. Louis County) with the aim of creating a park.

Dr. Babler’s sudden death propelled the remaining brothers to honor him when they donated land to the state of Missouri in 1934. More land donation followed until the current size is 2,500 acres.

Intended as a day park, the campground was added on adjoining land at a later date. Currently, the park, features ball fields, picnic areas, playground, and hiking trails. The swimming pool has fallen into disrepair and the trail ride concession has closed. However, the variety of vegetation remains and you may spot a variety of wildlife during your visit.

Not mentioned by name, this park made an excellent base of operations for the heroine in Morning Tryst while she photographed the several parks and historic sites in the St. Louis area. Join Serena and Zack in this sweet, contemporary romance set in California and Missouri.

Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Recommended by Wm. Clark

ellenparkerwrites

“A handsome Spot for a Town” thus did Wm. Clark, of the famed Lewis & Clark expedition, describe the point on the Missouri River where Arrow Rock was established a few years later.

Known by the Native Americans as a river crossing, Mr. Clark was correct. The town prospered during the first half of the 19th Century. Two events led to the decline from bustling river town to sleepy village. The first — the American Civil War. The town changed hands several times during this was and while no great battle was fought here, the area suffered. The second — the railroad bypassed the town when rails replaced river as the major shipper of goods.

Today, the town is known for the arts – an excellent seasonal theater – and a scenic camping, picnicking, and fishing site. So grab the cooler, camera, and imagination and set out for one of Missouri’s notable historical sites.

Looks as if the Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC ) passed this way and built this picnic shelter with a view.

Does your state have a State Park and/or Historic Site department?

For a taste of Missouri’s, check out the sweet romance Morning Tryst. At sunrise, the world displays a moment of hope and promise.

Kindle edition here: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Staying Cool in St Lou

ellenparkerwrites

I’ve not done a scientific study, it’s more a personal observation.

St Louis appears to be allowed only three beautiful-for-outdoors days per spring. This year, I recall one. Instead we went from late winter with frosty mornings directly to summer with an afternoon temp at 90.

However, on thar second sort of day — and all the hot days to follow well into September –this brother-sister duo at the zoo has a solution.

Don’t have a friendly waterfall in your backyard?

Hose & sprinkler?

Ice water?

Okay, go modern. I enjoy a nice air-conditioned space as much as the next person.

Or…take a shady hike in a state park. Hat & water bottle are basic– right up there with sturdy shoes for equipment.

Another option– visit state parks via the sweet romance Morning Tryst. Available at major on-line retailers as ebook or print.

Nook readers click here: https://bit.ly/3IQfFeG

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Pick a Park

ellenparkerwrites

Do you like to hike? Fish? Birdwatch? Or learn a little history?

Missouri has the state park for you.

Or perhaps you’re eager to watch a sunrise, or sunset, in a new place.

Elephant Rocks State Park offers one of many grand vistas. This particular walk is easy and the rocks are just a few short steps from the path. A good place to sit and dream of giants, and past, and future.

Serena Carter, photographer, takes the reader on a tour of several parks while she discovers more than Missouri’s beauty. Check it out in the sweet romance, MORNING TRYST.

Kindle edition on sale for limited time. Less than a dollar!

https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Final Call

ellenparkerwrites

The Twelfth Day of Christmas is here! This is your final chance to wish family and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS — or Blessed Epiphany — until the calendar spins all the way to December again.

Okay, so some of you are not calendar people. However, I cling to the old ways. Two rooms of my home host a paper calendar on a hook (or pin in corkboard). A datebook resides in my purse. A planner is within reach at my desk. And yes — for those of you of a younger generation — many important meetings and appointments are tapped into an electronic version.

Unmarred, these calendars five years ago were ready to be placed into prominent locations.

Calendars do not go to waste in this writer’s household. Each new story — even the ones suspended due to lack of real substance — gets events plotted out. How long between the meet-cute and the next encounter? When does the villain set foot on stage? Can I center an event around a holiday? (The year has more holidays than those in December.) Oh — we’ve had a season change — how does that figure into the weather or time of sunset.

In the clean and wholesome romance, MORNING TRYST, our heroine photographer tours Missouri State Parks capturing images used in tourist brochures and other publicity materials. I like to imagine one of these items is a calendar — with several spectacular sunrises and sunsets featuring forested hills or rolling grassland.

For more information on the book, click here: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Retreat to the Lake

ellenparkerwrites

Has the pre-Holiday rush got you in a tangle?

Take a hint from this puzzle and retreat to the lake. (Literally or via other means.)

Close your eyes and draw a deep breath. Is that a hint of pine? Campfire? Do I hear water lapping against the dock?

I like to imagine a cozy evening by this lake cabin’s fireplace. Popcorn, hot beverage, and quiet conversation. Think of the adventures we could plot. Or reminisce about the escapades of previous years.?

Looking for a cabin retreat? Selected Missouri State Parks have cabins to rent short term. For a sweet romance set in the parks — pick up MORNING TRYST. A great gift to yourself or others. Kindle: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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From Here to There

ellenparkerwrites

I want to go from here to there. (A person points off into the distance.)

Or, perhaps more often, the statement is more like: I want to go to the store. I want to visit a friend (or relative).

Sometimes it becomes a question. How can I get from the apartment to work? Or from my home to school?

The answer to these questions depends a lot on the distance involved. And the terrain. (I once looked at the map of a retreat property and thought — oh, it will only be a short, easy walk from A to B. The diagram did not show the steep ravine or forest which required a considerable detour. Ooops!)

Very often the best way between two places is via today’s blessing, in honor of the letter “R”, ROADS.

This well-maintained roadway enables visitors to this Missouri State Park to easily travel to trailheads and viewpoints. Do you like the view? Have you visited a state or national park this year? Roads go there.

For an armchair visit to several Missouri State Parks, pick up the clean & wholesome romance MORNING TRYST. Kindle: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Check the Sky

ellenparkerwrites

Have you looked outside today? Did you check the sky? Does it change within hours? Minutes?

At the moment I write this, the sky outside my window is a beautiful, summer-blue with a rare high, white cloud.

This morning, as I drove to a meeting, the clouds were gray and even had the audacity to sprinkle a few raindrops on my windshield.

According to the forecast, clouds will return in a few hours — it was nice that the clear sky coincided with daylight — and spill rain in a scattered pattern across the St. Louis region.

On this day in May, when I was visiting Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, the sky displayed reversed proportions of cloud and clear than this afternoon. It did not rain that day — only stayed cool and pleasant. Sunglasses optional.

When was the last time you looked at clouds and imaged animals, cartoon characters, or other shapes? Do you tend to find dogs? Or perhaps faces?

The open spaces of parks are a great vantage point for sky-gazing. Find a bench. Dream a little. Read the book you brought along.

Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/35gH37S
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Duck! Duck!

ellenparkerwrites

No, I’m not playing a children’s game with poultry.

This would be a wise command in the Missouri village of Athens on August 5, 1861.

For a battle was raging between two militias of different opinions in the recently begun war. While the conflict proved to be small, and far from a turning-point in the war, items like that would matter little to the town residents during the two hours of conflict.

For example:

Cannonball entered near kitchen door.

Can you imagine? Here you are, possibly going from window to window trying to get a rifle shot off at one of the cannon crew. And…

Cannonball exits on back porch.

Yikes! Too close for my comfort.

This is only one of the interesting, historic, and/or scenic items in Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites.

While this particular location is not featured in Morning Tryst, you can be sure our heroine photographer visited and captured multiple images in the various seasons to tempt Missourians and others to visit.

What is Morning Tryst? I’m so glad you asked.

Join Serena and Zack in this sweet, contemporary romance set in California and Missouri.

Kindle readers order here: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

Nook readers order here: https://bit.ly/3IQfFeG