Summer don't go

The last Saturday in August began with visiting a Farmers Market in downtown Edwardsville followed by a wine and art festival (more wine than art) at picturesque Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston. Looking back at pictures taken that day makes me yearn to hold onto time and close my eyes to the chill of fall that's just around the corner. However, as the saying goes time stands still for no one and no matter the season or reason time keeps moving along. Summer's not gone yet but like it or not it's leading us into the near beginning of fall with its shorter days and cooler nights, followed by that most dreaded season of all (for me anyway) . . . winter.

The name of the song in the slideshow below is "Crowded in the Wings". I included it simply because I love it. That, plus I love listening to Mark Olson and Gary Louris of The Jayhawks sing just about anything. Can any two harmonize better? How rare and special it is when two voices blend so well and warm together. Reminds me a little of summer.



Links:
http://goshenmarket.org/
Edwardsville’s Farmers Market has fresh fruit, veggies, jams, pretty jewelry, bags, pottery, herbs, etc – closes for the season in mid October

http://www.hiddenlakewinery.com/
beautiful scenery with so-so wine and mixed reviews on service

Weekend wandering

Another weekend gone by. This past one began after work Friday with a visit to a couple Missouri wineries. The first winery was Persimmon Ridge Vineyards in Barnhart, MO. Although it took about 100 miles to travel the 35-mile distance that was okay because I do like a long drive (one of these days, Mark and I should write a book on how to get lost without trying). Anyhow, we did eventually find it and being the only patrons there was icing on our cake. Out in the peaceful country with privacy and a good bottle of wine = pretty darn sweet. The next winery we stopped at (about 8 miles from Persimmon Ridge) was Villa Antonio Winery. It probably only took us 30 miles to get to this one. I had been to Villa Antonio once about seven or eight years ago and it had changed a lot. I still like it and the grounds are still beautiful but I miss the smaller simpler appearance of the place. All in all Friday was a great day. I’m not sure which I enjoyed more, visiting the wineries or driving around lost. Meandering around aimlessly in the country is just a whole other kind of fun to me. :-)

Saturday evening Mark suggested having dinner at a new place called Hill Brewing Company. At first, I was skeptical, thinking hmmm...dinner at a brewery? But I was wrong and it was much more than that. This North County brewery/restaurant is in a revitalized area of Ferguson, right across the street from a cool wine bar called Cork. The beers here are all from local breweries (except AB/Inbev products). I liked Hill. The beer and food were good; plus they had a cool semi-dangerous rooftop with a view…and a monkey. What more could you ask?

The song below is Let’s Get Lost by Bat for Lashes (featuring Beck)
(from the Twilight Eclipse soundtrack)

Persimmon Ridge Vineyards, Barnhart, MO
http://persimmonridgefarm.com/
You have to pass thru Georgia's Rabun County (where they shot Deliverance) to get here but once you do it’s worth it. ;)

Villa Antonio Winery, Hillsboro, MO
villaantoniowinery.com
It’s "out there" and if you can find it, it’s lovely.

Hill Brewing Company, Ferguson, MO
http://hillbrewingco.com/
Hill has great Chicken Florentine flatbread pizza.

Nothing sweeter :)

There's something wonderful about holding a baby. They have a way of making you want to cradle and protect them. For a newborn to go from feeling sheltered in the womb to being unexpectedly thrust into a strange new world must be an incredible thing. To be able to hold them, feel their arms around you, and know they have trust in you is also an incredible thing. I can think of nothing sweeter.

Action Jackson

What a whirlwind 7 days it’s been. First a grandbaby born and then dog sitting Jackson for a week. Things have calmed down a bit since Jake took his dog home yesterday. Having him at my house reminded me of what it was like to live with three dogs again. Actually with Jackson it felt more like living with five dogs (it’s a good thing I love dogs). About one-year-old now, Jackson’s a sweetheart of a dog but boy is he active (hence the title). And, here I thought labs were supposed to be laidback and mellow. Ha!

Jackson lookin for action

Jackson recruited Lola to help dig holes
in the backyard (she didn't mind)

Jackson sitting pretty (he never stayed this way long)

Big Congrats to Emily!

hip hip hooray! Emily had her second job interview at East Alton Middle School yesterday and got the job!! Congrats Emily! You're now a bonafide Special Education Teacher and I'm so proud of you!

How does it feel to be a grandma

I’ve had a lot of people ask lately how it feels to be a grandma; specifically, if it makes me feel older, and so far I’m glad to say the answer is no. I feel different and can’t put my finger on how exactly but I really don’t think it’s related to age. I guess I feel different in several ways. I feel different seeing my son with a son of his own. I feel different having an emotional bond with a grandson I didn’t know five days ago. I feel different knowing his life is now a piece of mine. And I feel especially different that one tiny being named Jude has created a desire in me for so much more in life. Now that he’s here I wish for his world and everything in it to be perfect. And even though I know there’s no such thing, and I can’t give him that, I still wish it so.

who knows, maybe I'll take up cigar smoking ;)

There's a new blog in town

This new blog http://gottalovejude.blogspot.com/ is for my grandson Jude and is an attempt to document his life through his eyes, or what I imagine his eyes to see. My hope is that his blog will become a special place for him to see, through images and video, how very much he is loved and treasured. Jude's first post is called..."my grand entrance" and includes a video beginning with the day he was born.

For future access to "Gotta Love Jude" click his pic on the right sidebar.

Welcome to the world little one

Yay! Yesterday at 6:25 in the evening little Jude finally arrived. Mom and dad are doing fine, baby is beautiful, and grandmas and grandpas are happy! Life is good. :)

Hey Jude, where are you?

Mark was sure you'd be born today. Me, I'm still bettin on the 14th. :)

Here's a sweet video of the classic "Hey Jude". I love the way this little guy sings the line "remember to ret her into your heart". Just love it!

Sweet baby

I heard this song tonight and it made me dream of the sweet little one that's about to enter this world. And I have to wonder how is it that someone I haven't met yet can make my heart feel such love? I don't know but I have a feeling I'm about to find out. :)

The uncasking of the cask

Friday night Mark and I stopped in Bigelo Bistros in Edwardsville to have a drink before dinner. From there we intended to go to Peel for some great wood fired pizza (also in E-ville). We never made it. Instead we stuck around for the unveiling of Schlafly’s new India Brown Ale. I had no idea what authentic cask-conditioned brewed beer was (click poster for description) and I’m certainly no beer connoisseur but the brown ale wasn’t too bad. Mark commented on the creaminess of it and seemed to like it a lot.

As far as dinner, we still had our pizza, just not Peel’s pizza. We ordered (at a patron’s suggestion) Bigelo’s STL Hops Special, a fitting name to go along with the brown ale. It was a good BBQ pizza but if anyone ever says something isn’t hot…it usually is. Whew! It was hot.

There she blows!

http://www.bigelosbistro.com/

Bigelo’s, a bright little spot in downtown E-ville.

http://www.peelpizza.com/

E-ville's Peel is located in a sort of upscale shopping area.

www.schlafly.com/brewpubs.shtml

Schlafly’s takes their beer seriously. They have good food too.

July Recap

Well, I could say a lot about the month of July but this time I think I'll just shut up and let the slideshow speak for itself. :)