Lesa Griffith
Hello…and welcome to my first blog. My name is Lesa…that is Lisa with an “e” …not Lessa or Leeza. It is a common conversation I have when I first introduce myself. HA! I have been living outside of Cleveland, Ohio for the last three years and have fallen in love with the people, the outdoors, the restaurant scene, and the history. Fortunately, I get to explore the area with my best friend and husband, Herb. We relocated to Ohio from South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State, after my husband started a new position with his employer. Herb and I have moved more times than I can count on two hands. We have lived in a variety of states: Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawaii, and now Ohio. Growing up as a small child in Iowa, we didn’t venture far from home. Our family trips were limited to visiting extended family but on occasion we would visit my aunt in Colorado. It didn’t register with me then, but I knew I loved the change in scenery. Around the same time, my older brother shared his love of Montana, and I even got the opportunity to go visit one summer. I fell in love with the “Big Sky Country,” the smell of nature, and the tall, vast trees around me. Memories that inspire me today.
After meeting Herb 37 years ago and a short courtship (we eloped after 2 ½ months), we soon moved away from my family in Iowa and started spreading our wings. We both embraced the change. After two years, we started our family. We had two children, Savannah and Jed, and they were the Princess and Prince of our Kingdom. The four of us did everything together. After several work-related moves, we settled in Mitchell, South Dakota close to Herb’s family and started our own restaurant business. After a difficult decision and unfortunate circumstances, we closed our business. I decided to go back to school to be a Radiation Therapist, and I am so glad I did. With our kids grown, another move, and a new career, my life had shifted into another chapter in my mid-40’s.
I have always had the desire for new or unique information. I refer to myself as a human sponge. I love weekly hiking adventures, party/travel planning, buying the perfect gift, baking and cooking new dishes, spending time with (and spoiling) my grandson, Augie, and having a bourbon by a warm fire. I love sitting on a comfy couch while talking to our kids and laughing until our stomachs hurt. They have taught me so much. I have also been blessed with a daughter- and son-in-law and love calling them family. Lastly, our family wouldn’t be complete without our 110 lb Golden Doodle, Sherman. He is our gentle giant and goes where we go.
My plan is for “Searching for Moss” to encompass my passion for photography, for new and hidden treasures, to be an outlet for sharing positive and uplifting information, and to be a way to make an impact on our readers. I hope to share the beauty of the great outdoors, maybe scope out a few National Parks along the way, take roads less traveled, explore beyond the borders, and embrace unique adventures. I want this website to not only feed the soul but touch a part of each reader that makes them want to do their own search for moss. LIVE~LAUGH~LOVE is my motto so let’s go find that MOSS!
I am Julie Moore
Hi! I’m Julie, one of the co-founders of Searching for Moss. I live in Philadelphia with my sweet cat, Simon. My longtime partner, Dave, lives (conveniently) just down the street; you’ll definitely hear about him in my Moss Travel Stories. My ‘slice of the world’ is small: a typical Philadelphia row house on a quiet street with a sun-soaked private garden in back and a shady stoop in front where I often sit and catch up with my neighbors. Cooking and baking are my creative outlets, reading is my escape, and cycling makes me smile from ear to ear. My work fills my soul and gives me perspective; as an Acupuncturist, I help people achieve balance and wellness in their lives.
I love all the conveniences of living and working in a city; nearly everything I need is within walking distance or a short bus ride away. But, having grown up in Iowa, I also enjoy the sounds and solitude of nature and open spaces. Fortunately Philly offers several opportunities for this too, whether it’s hiking in a nearby park or riding my bike to the edges of the suburbs and beyond. Still, sometimes I need to hit the road and experience something new!
The travel bug really bit me in 2012. I traveled to Europe to meet friends for a 7-day bike ride along the Danube. It wasn’t my first ‘big’ trip; it wasn’t even on my dream list. My sister invited me and I shrugged ‘ok, why not’. That little decision was a game changer for me. That trip was special…like special special. I felt a connection to the culture as we traveled by bike, touring slowly off the beaten path, down narrow roads and through small towns. I felt the realness of the people as we ate local food in family-owned restaurants and sipped espresso in village squares, as we cycled past farmers working in the fields and searched narrow cobblestone streets for our hotel.
My experience on that trip shifted my travel goals. While I love visiting cities with loads of history, now I also love the cultural treasures that can be found by taking the less-traveled path. My ‘search for moss’ often takes me to faraway places, but not always. My destinations are often cities and villages, but sometimes they’re mountains and woods. On this site I will share my travel experiences. You’ll find information about how I planned, how I traveled, and what happened while I was there…and maybe a little bit about how the experience affected me. And, of course, I’ll share my favorite photos!
