Midwestern Herb and Garden Show

Check out what I found today at the Midwestern Herb Show!
LOCAL cheddar and farmers cheese, honey, maple syrup. We're definitely having waffles for breakfast tomorrow.

They had tons of local, organic dried herbs which I have plenty of but couldn't resist the oregano and thyme since I use them so often.

The two little cactus's are going to work with me for my desk and I added another Lemon Mint and Thyme plant to my herbs here at home.
And the tea ball is a star with the moon...too cute.

This show is held the second Saturday of February every year and it is what always makes me start looking forward to Spring.

Japanese Festival at Missouri Botanical Gardens September 2010

About the Missouri Botanical Garden"To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life." – Missouri Botanical Garden mission
Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.
The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Garden offers 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display, including a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, Henry Shaw's original 1850 estate home, and one of the world's largest collections of rare and endangered orchids.
For over 151 years, the Garden has been an oasis in the city, a place of beauty and family fun—and also a center for education, science, and conservation.
Visit the Garden's illustrated history for glimpses of the rare, archival images.

ONE OF OUR LOCAL TREASURES

We are very lucky to have a winery here in our town. Genkota Winery. It is a gorgeous place to visit. There is a beautiful wrap arouond covered deck where you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine while looking out onto part of the vineyard. Their "Sunset Rose'" is my favorite with the "Drake Port" a very strong second.

Dr. Bradley Drake, his wife and his parents Gerald and Ina Rae opened the winery in December 1997. The name Genkota came from combing the names Gennifer and Dakota, the Drakes two daughters.

From the research I did, I found that when they first opened, there were only 5 other wineries in the entire state of Illinois and now just 12 years later there are 70.

The winery has a very mission style feel to it that is apparent in the double mission style doors to the winery. Ina Rae designed the interior of the winery and Gerald designed the exterior with the help of an architect who had an Amish construction crew from the area build the building. Dr. Drake is the winemaker.

I of course have not had my camera with me when I have visited, so the pictures are from their website www.genkotawine.com.
In my defense, I haven't visited since my resolution of always carrying my camera.

My favorite place to eat out...

We hardly ever eat out anymore because it has become so difficult here to get good quality food. It never failed we would go to dinner, spend 30 to 40 bucks and feel miserable afterwards. The last time we did that we both had upset stomachs and decided no more.

There is one very good place to eat here though that we still do go to from time to time.

The 9th St Grill. http://9thstreetgrill.com/

The restaurant opened about a year after we moved here and the owners live above the restaurant on the top floor.

They start you out with a loaf of their homemade bread that is sinfully delish. They make all of their own breads including the fantastic chibatta bread that the blackened chicken sandwich I ordered comes on. Potato wedges made from actual potatoes that are served with a fantastic sauce (that I would love to figure out how to duplicate) are included. This visit hubby had a Bison Burger that he said was very good. It also was served on chibatta bread with the potato wedges.

We have yet to have room to try any of their home made desserts but they all sound heavenly.

It is so nice to have a place where we can go and enjoy real, fresh, good food. Next time I'm going for the tilapia.