Time to save some Wine.

I realized that Hannah lives in my old neck of the woods. I lived in Overland Park Kansas for about 3 years. I saw the High school I would have gone too just down the street from her house. Things have grown so much since I lived there. I recognized street names.
We all get up Thursday (5/23) Morning. Hannah has cooked us scrambled eggs and french toast. Too sweet and tasty.  Our first stop is somewhere in Kansas City, Missouri. LOL Yes I drove but I just followed the directions to get to Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. After our tasting we decided to go have a drink and shared a dessert because our next stop might need this liquid courage and something in our tummies.  A S’MORE BUDINO
A little toast for friendship and our next adventure.

So it's time to head to our next destination. Are you ready for this? I mean I wasn't sure if I'd actually do or not until we got there and I thought 'What the Hell'  Our next stop was Hannah's tattoo parlor. Yep the girls were going to get their 2nd tattoo together of wine glasses and they convinced me to get one.   Nope I wasn't afraid.

I went first so I wouldn't chicken out but I doubt that would have happened.   When Pamela told David I was going to get one, all he said was 'a Tattoo huh?'  End result came out pretty good. The only time it kinda smarted was when the tattooist started coloring in the wine but not unbearable.
 End result. I think I surprised Pamela and Hannah that I actually went through with it.
I got my courage from a former co-worker who also had recently got a tattoo. Her name is Letty and I call her the Butterfly Whisperer because she raises Monarch butterfly's and releases them once they bust out of the cocoon. So cool.
Now it was Pammy's turn.


The girls were getting them on their ankle. To me that might be more painful.   Cute! Wine glass with her initial 'P'.

From here we headed to another winery called The Stone Pillar to celebrate our tattoo's.

When we got there Hannah's boyfriend Phillip greeted us with a bottle of wine.  Thanks Phillip.  I think he may have had to drink most of it because we drank our glass and then had a tasting. And the we got a wine slushy. mmmm  Very tasty and refreshing.




These girls are so silly and fun.  Pamela got a picture of me showing off my new tattoo while taking a drink.
Phillip left us to finish up our drinks while he went to pick up a pizza and meet us at home. It was very yummy.


We were hungry. There wasn't a slice left.

Then we watched a movie called 'Wine Country'  It's a movie about 6 gals who have been friends for years that decide to go on a vacation to the wine country to celebrate their friends 50th birthday. It's a trip they won't forget.  It was pretty good and it made you laugh.

That's how we ended the day watching a movie and TV. Hannah had a big day planned for us on Friday.

Friday morning came and as I type this I don't remember what we did for breakfast but we headed to a cute little town called Weston for lunch, wine, brewery and distillery fun.
I'll have to finish  this journey blog later. Typing about all the stuff we did has made me tired. LOL  Yes Shirley W. I do get tired. LOL

Until my next post....“It doesn't matter where you're going, it's who you have beside you.”   

And this time it was my daughter/navigator.

Hometown Visit Time and Many more stops

Forgot to mention in my last blog that when we left Bartlesville, OK we had to make a detour. Our route had to be adjusted because the bridge was washed out.
And on Monday there was even more flooding in the Bartlesville area.  Glad we were already at Barb's by then.
On the road again Tuesday after a quick bite to eat with Barb.  Cresia had to go back to work so she wasn't able to join us. Those darn weather days messed with our plans. She was suppose to be off too many snow days required her to go back to work.

So Our next stop is Chillocothe, Missouri just down the road from my hometown.. It was a 3 hour drive and I definitely wanted to get there before any bad weather hit and they were predicting what else, more rain....  We ran into light rain showers about 10 miles out from Chillocothe. Glad we headed that way when we did because on Wednesday the highway we traveled on went under water sometime Wednesday evening.
Okay so I messed up... I didn't make reservations thinking it wouldn't be a problem but with all the rain people were getting off the road and all 3 of the Hotels were full and we ended up our last option...the Super 8 Motel which wasn't so Super. I've learned my lesson.  But at least we finally got a room.
After we got checked in I called my Cousin Gayle to see if she was at the Nursing home with her Mom and Dad. She and Ken were already headed back home but turned around and went back. So Pamela and I not only got to See Uncle Dick (my mom's brother) and Aunt Mary.... I got to see my cousin for the first time in almost 30 years and her significant other Ken, who I finally got to meet for the first time. So I was so excited in seeing everyone and with the pouring down rain I didn't take any pictures. Gayle did show a slide show of us as kids. Pamela got a kick out those with my curly hair. My gave me perms when I was little. It was time for Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary to go to dinner so I gave Gayle and Ken a ride back to their place and we talked and talked. It was still raining and I never pulled out my phone to take not one picture. I texted Gayle later cursing that neither of us took pictures. 
Talking about dinner. Pamela and I were meeting one of my nephew's and his family for dinner at El Toro a nice Mexican Restaurant in Chillocothe. My David compares all Enchiladas Verdes to this place. Who knew that this small town restaurant would make such an impression on David when he was there 3 years earlier. The buildings in the picture to the left are actually a mural. There are murals on almost every building with a blank brick wall. They're really pretty too.
I was batting 100 because again I didn't snap a picture.

We hadn't seen Zach, Bailey Jo or Carson in 3 years. And I got meet another new Great Nephew Preston. Again no pictures. Loser

But I got lucky because we all ended up at the Wal-Mart.  LOL and I snapped some pictures then. Top left is Zach with Pamela, Then Bailey Jo, I might have caught off guard,  Carson and his new little Brother Preston.  
Not much left to do so we headed back to the hotel and called it a night.

Photo by Cuts n bolts

While we slept Tuesday night the tornado sirens were going off at my sister Barb's house and Cresia spent a few hours in the basement. Barbara was working in St. Louis and wasn't home. 

On our way to the Hotel Pamela spotted a quilt shop. What? No way. I texted my Sister Nancy who is a new quilter if she knew it was there and she said no but would be checking it out next time she came to Chillocothe. She was bitten by the quilting bug and has been going to town on making some really cute quilts. Missed getting to see her. But then she was busy in Jefferson City, MO cleaning up after a tornado hit her office building Monday night. Geez all these tornadoes and rain.
   Wednesday (6/22) was another day of travel but first we headed into my hometown of Trenton to visit my Dad and Carolyn's grave. On the way out of town  I tried to snap a picture of the quilt shop called Cuts N Bolts that we saw last night Only a car drove by just as I snapped the picture but I found a good one on-line.  It was closed of course last night and that morning then I might have peeked in the window. Had all kinds of pretty fabric.

The barndominium and other buildings behind their Dad 7 Carolyn's grave site is what gave me the inspiration to paint our house 'The Rock'n K' red.                                                                                   From here we headed to area called Hickory where I spent many a day with my Grandfather sitting on the steps of the old grocery store drinking an orange soda. The town is now abandoned but it brought back good memories.

 

While driving to our next stop I took a picture of an old truck. I might have to blow it up and frame it. And then I looked up at the barn and saw a barn quilt. For those that might not know it's either a painted or a wood pieced sign of a quilt block. In some areas there is actually something called the Barn Quilt trail that will lead you to some historical site, shop or town. 

I would like to put one on our shed. The shed is what I used to call the mini mansion. We were working on fixing it up to sleep in before and while the house was being built but too many other things going on and we ended up always driving down to stay with Pamela. The mini mansion will now most likely become David's wood shop in time.

Now this is the picture Pamela wanted to go stand under and take a picture but the when she saw the Amish girl across the road holding a snake on a hoe she decided not to stand in the tall grass so she took the picture from the car.  We were just outside the town of Jamesport, MO. 

It is the home of one of the strictest Amish colonies around this area. 

You have to wonder if when naming these country roads they realized what they did. If so, someone definitely had a sense of humor..

 

Pamela took a great picture of the caboose that sits close to the town cafe. It has the best tenderloin sandwiches.

Joe (my stepfather) will be proud of this picture when he sees it. He's a railroad man and takes lots of  pictures of trains himself. Good ones too.

And guess where our next stop is before we head a 100 miles south to Overland Park, Kansas....!!!

My happy place..... Just about 35 miles from my hometown is The Missouri Star Quilt Company!!  We didn't have a whole lot of time but we made into a few of the stores. Of course I didn't walk away empty handed but my wallet was lighter. LOL Jenny Doan the Owner and her family saved this town from becoming a ghost town. Buying one building at a time and turning it into a quilter's dream place to visit and even stay.

She has retreat house for quilters to stay and sew, take classes, see a show n tell by Jenny herself. That's on my bucket list.

 
I have to say Thank You to my daughter for letting me interrupt our trip to stop in My happy place. I haven't gotten her interested in sewing/quilting but she does like it when she reaps the benefits of Mom quilting something for her.  LOL. So much eye candy and soft fluffy fabric, Do I have to leave..............
Out of time and we have another family member. My nephew Jeremiah flew out Wednesday morning for work but my niece Melissa and the kids are home and said to come on by.
But first we made a stop at Mercy Hospital to see my little sister Jerri Lynn. Due to various circumstances I had not seen or talked to her for almost two years. She was working that day so we went to her. Now we knew we wouldn't get to see her long because she had a breast feeding support group she had to manage but at least we got to see her and talk. A couple of the Mom's showed up while there but Jerri Lynn had us stay and introduced us and even put Pamela to work. It was a good visit. Wish it could have been longer.

Next we headed to my nieces house but Pamela called Hannah (we'll call her my sweet inheited niece and our next place lay our heads) to let her know our where abouts. She told us she'd go with us to Jeremiah and Melissa's so come on by her house to drop off our things and she'll ride over with us.   When we arrived I got to meet Stella.. Isn't she pretty and those eyes? She covers the whole couch.

So now I get to meet my almost 1 year old great niece. Now she's a little cutie and always smiling. Well that's what I saw. Her Mom Melissa and Dad Jeremiah might say something different.
While there I got to get re-acquainted with her big brother Beckett. He's adorable. He had a nerf gun that Pamela promptly told him to shoot Aunt Carla. Of course he gladly complied. LOL













After our visit we ended the evening at I think it was called Peanuts not far from Hannah's house. We got an order of chicken wings. They were huge and so darn tasty. The 3 of us shared a dozen and had left overs. 

Tomorrow Hannah has our itinerary all planned out. She planned it around none other than wineries, breweries and distilleries.

Time for bed.

I will continue our adventures on my next post.
The fun with Hannah is about to begin.


So until next blog....“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

On the Road again

May 18, 2019 - Just me and the kid running the highways to the North. Not sure about the weather but we left anyway. It took up 7 hours and 50 minutes to get to Pawhuska, OK.

We didn't see or meet Ree Drummond but we saw where their ranch is as we drove into town and we got to shop and eat at the Mercantile. The prices were very reasonable and so much fun stuff to look at. They were busy but not overly crowded. Plenty of room.

 The food was really tasty. I got the Chicken Wing sandwich. Yum! It doesn't look like a lot but I couldn't finish my sandwich.

 We shopped around the area. Lots of cute shops but they were rather pricey. The sweet shop is named after their dog Charlie but we didn't partake of any sweet stuff, we were too full!.

When walked out of the Mercantile we did a photo opt like everyone else in front of the red truck. That's Hannah my inherited niece. LOL.  Long story but she drove down from Kansas to join us at the Mercantile. We'll see her again on Wednesday evening.

As I was getting in the car to head to Bartlesville to the hotel I saw this cute spreader filled with flowers. Maybe David and I can find something like that to put in our front yard for decor.



Woke up Sunday morning and went to a quick bite to eat before Hannah had to leave and we had to head off to Warrenton, MO to visit my sister Barbara and our friend Cresia. It was another 5 and half hours down the road. 
Tummies full and we're all off .

5 and half hours later we finally arrive at Barb's house well I might have added 30 minutes to that drive.  Some how I put in the wrong street address. What are the odds that the directions would take us to the left and we needed to go right but we were only 7 miles off course and not 50+.  It was a calm evening of pizza and watching Naked and Afraid.  LOL. I mean we had to keep a low profile for the next day of adventures that Barbara and Cresia had planned for us. 
Monday 5/20 It was a scenic drive of  the country side to Hermann, MO.  Hermann sets on the south side of the Missouri River which with all the rain they've been having it's running really high.  If you're ever in the area you should definitely visit the town. 





There wasn't too many flat spots in this town. Some hills were really steep. 

It was a German settlement from 1837 with 7 wineries. The wineries suffered during prohibition and started recovery in 1960. 
Our first winery stop was Stone Hill Winery, the largest wine making business in the state. It took the owner 20 years to carve out the lime stone wine cellar. Wow! They survived prohibition by raising Button mushrooms. 

L-R: Cresia, Barbara, Pamela and Me

This winery had the best view of the town. Just beautiful! You can even see the Missouri River.

Our next stop was The Adam Puchta Winery. It was just down the road  about 2 miles from Stone Hill. It is the oldest continuously family-owned winery in the nation, under direct family ownership since 1855. 

All the ladies were really friendly and informative. More pretty views.  This little stream was at the entrance.  No loss of scenery here.

Cresia, My sister Barbara and Pamela my co-heart in crime.

As we were driving around to our next winery passing back by Stone Hill we passed a funeral home and next to it in the parking lot was this little house. No big deal until Creisa and Barbara tells us it's a Bed & Breakfast. WHAT! No way but Yes way.  Had to share that funny little tidbit. The way they found out was they had given a couple a ride up the hill to that house saying that's where they were staying. Even better.... The girl was from Transylvania. 

So Barbara and Cresia knew us too well and made sure they took us to as many wineries we could fit into the day. After leaving the Adam Puchta Winery we drove through the Blackshire Vineyards. One sign said they were open and the second said close. They were closed but it was a beautiful property. Pictures don't do it justice.

  Okay no wine tasting here !
LOL. We have places to see and wine to drink.


Glad we drove through it though.







Our next stop was the Oak Glenn Winery. Wow what a view. That's the Missouri River you see and it's spilled over already in that area.

 

Too much fun.  At all these stops Barbara is buying the tastings for all 4 of us. Only she would only take a sip of her tasting and pour the rest into Pamela's glass. LOL

Pamela was getting quite a buzz.  I think Barbara was getting even from when my Mom got her drunk accidentally at the age of 13 at my rehearsal dinner.  mmmm. 

From here we headed back into town to go to Blackshire Distillery to try some whiskey

The 3rd glass is a blueberry whiskey. Rather tasty on it's on but then she added lemonade.  Oh Wow! Very good.  I did buy some but haven't opened it yet since getting home. But soon.

Pamela had to go to the restroom which was out the building and across the courtyard.  I see her and Cresia looking up at the pergola. Weird I though the She comes back going there's a snake up there. Holy cow and the little goof ball threw a pebble at it. It didn't budge THANK GOODNESS!. I could just see that thing falling and all 4 of us running screaming bloody murder.  

 

We had time for one more stop and it was just down the street and around the corner. We went to Hermannhof Winery.


More tasty wine but we all needed food so we walked across the street to The Tin Mill.  The food was awesome and so was the service.
We didn't eat inside. We sat out on the patio. If you click on the name it'll take you to website and you can see pictures of it.

photo provided by Tin Mill Website

The inside was really rustic lookin. Really cool place and when I think about it as the evening approached sitting on the patio it got rather cool but we were having fun.
I got a Whiskey Chicken stuffed with Borsin Cheese and came with a sweet potato hash. Oh my so Delicious. Pamela got the Lobster Mac and Cheese. That was really good too.

The day was done so we drove back to their home via more scenic country side. We went through the Daniel Boone Conservation Park. I'm glad Barb knew where she was going. Unfortunately Cresia had to go back to work the next day so she couldn't hang out to late then I can't say any of us were ready to stay up too late. Can't think them enough for the bed and hospitality. And definitely lots of fun. This was the first time I had ever visited Barb at her home. We had always met at Dad and Carolyn's(her mom) but unfortunately they are no longer on this earth. We sure miss them.
Tuesday morning comes and we go to breakfast before Pamela and I head off to my hometown area..... Yummy little place just down the street......

To Be Continued.... So...
Until Next Blog... Wine Makes the World go Round