Unwinding in Wine Country

Greetings, friends!

This post will be a short one, as we’ve just returned from a wonderful weekend in Hermann, Missouri—and now we’re gearing up for a house full of guests to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday! The to-do list is long, and I’m not quite sure what to tackle first, but I wanted to take a moment to share a few highlights from our trip.

If you’ve been visiting me for a while, you know that our annual getaway to Missouri wine country is a cherished tradition. But this year was extra special—it was our first time experiencing Oktoberfest in Hermann!

We stayed in our favorite downtown cottage, which is within walking distance of just about everything. As always, we hopped on the Hermann Trolley to visit our favorite wineries and cocktail spots, but this time we also dove into the Oktoberfest festivities.

On Friday evening, we attended the Tapping of the Keg at Tin Mill Brewery, the official kickoff to Oktoberfest. We grabbed a seat at a large table near the stage to enjoy the live music—and somehow ended up at the celebrity table! We were joined by the Loehnig German Band, the Rhineland Wurstjaegers, and even the Mayor of Hermann. We made fast friends with the entertainers and had front-row seats for the keg tapping, enjoying a couple of the first glasses poured.

The next day, Pat and Mel—two of the dancers—invited us to the Historic Festhalle at the Inn at Hermannhof to dance. I even danced a polka and a waltz (with a little help from Mel, who was a great sport and guided me through it). We also got to see Mel play the alphorn with the band, which was such a treat!

It was a joy to meet this incredibly talented group of musicians and dancers who are keeping German traditions alive in Missouri. In between the festivities, we visited all our favorite wineries, enjoyed delicious food, and took a long walk along the riverfront and across the Hermann Bridge over the Missouri River.

As always, we met some wonderful new friends and I got a much-needed break from work and looming deadlines. It was a weekend full of laughter, music, dancing, and great wine—just what the soul needed.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our long weekend…

As we settle back into the rhythm of everyday life and prepare to celebrate a milestone birthday at home, I’m holding onto the joy and connection we found in Hermann. There’s something magical about stepping into tradition, sharing laughter with strangers who quickly become friends, and dancing to the music of a culture that continues to thrive in the heart of Missouri. I’m grateful for the memories we made and the moments that reminded me to slow down and savor life. Stay tuned—next time, I’ll be back to sharing my creative content!

Happy Heart

Hello friends! I just got back from a much-needed trip to northern Illinois to visit my parents, and it was the perfect reset. I always treasure time with my mom and second dad, and this visit was full of meaningful moments. My momma and I shared plenty of laughs while spending hours in her incredible gardens—we weeded, transplanted, planted seeds, tackled the veggie beds, and even spread out pea gravel. My second dad treated us to peaceful boat rides (grand dog included!) and we even started dreaming up our next big adventure—hopefully happening this November. As always, I painted a picture for my momma during the trip… this time, it was a squirrel. Scroll through the photos to catch a peek!

To everyone who’s reached out about the classes I’ll be teaching at the Threadworxs Fair in June 2026—thank you so much! I truly appreciate your interest and enthusiasm. I’ll be sharing an update tomorrow (Friday) that will answer some of the common questions I’ve received, so stay tuned. Thanks again for your patience and support—I’m really looking forward to both classes and can’t wait to share more with you soon!

For now, I will leave you with my favorite photos from my trip to Lake Summerset...enjoy!