'Enuf' Laboring Already...

How does a garden capture its caretakers in their own kitchen? August is just like that since there is so much 'ready' food to process. Another batch of ripened tomatoes yearned to be more salsa on Saturday, this batch yielded a little bit more 'picante.' 26 1/2 more pints for the pantry.

We were feeling a bit cabin fever as one can't leave while sauce is cooking down nor canning.  Natureman suggested a Miata field trip to celebrate being finished with salsa. He didn't have to ask me twice Sunday morning. Once breakfast was over, email answered, chores completed, off we went with our hats ready for a bit of serendipity.

First stop along the journey, Elmaro Vineyard, a family run business whose land was homesteaded in the 1850's, a good hour from the End of the Rainbow Valley in Trempeleau, WI. A pine planted on the property in the 1800's is Elmaro's logo signifying their "strength & determination." (BTW our End of the Rainbow Valley's 40 year old vines didn't do well this year so it was a delight to see Elmaro's thriving healthy vineyard.)

 

Most of the vineyard's grapes had ben picked
 since some grape varieties tend to fall off with a hard rain

The sampling room was packed so out we went to the patio where there's an extra wine tasting area. We sampled 3, ok maybe 6 wines since we tried each other's. My fave was West Prairie and lo behold it was just judged to be an award winner in the California competition in a field of 1000 competitors. If you have a chance try it. It is a "refreshing semi sweet white wine with floral aroma and citrus tones." Of course, we went home with some.  

Elmaro's outdoor seating was preferable to being inside. 

There was also entertainment on this Sunday afternoon, appropriately named "Too Darn Hot" albeit the quick rain fall which had brought a bit of relief from the humidity and intense August heat.   

Elmaro Winery was a perfect first stop along our excursion followed by Fountain City, a drive by their Farm Fest and then another Mississippi River town, Alma where we went up to the ridge to Danzinger Vineyard to find another full tasting bar but all was not lost as we were able to inhale the Mississippi panoramic view from their outside seating. A bit hazy but gorgeous none the less. 

Onward and as we were scouting out lunch down in Alma there posted on a storefront was a sign saying there was a town Music and Art fest down at Beach Park. Wait, what was today's date?  Did we miss it by a day? Retirement's like that who knows the date unless one checks with the calendar. Hey, we knew it was Sunday and it was the 6th.

We lucked out and joined the townsfolk for some great music and lunch down by the Mississippi.

 If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing Sue Orfield on the sax she is something else. She was kidded about being in some 15 bands and she didn't deny it although she said she'd like to join a group like the Old Fashioneds who played before the AcoustiHoos.

The Acoustihoos

We enjoyed our gyro sandwich while listening to great music and then a quick stroll through the artist area as dark clouds were blowing in.  We wouldn't be able to stay for Kenny Salwey, the River Rat and his river stories. Rats. BUT decided on a pear tart for dessert from Jean Luc's Crepe booth. Yum and off we headed home in Ole Red escaping that impending rainfall and anxious to be home in AC (thank you Mr. Carrier) and shower off the day's heat.

Ah, the end of summer comes all too soon but those fruits of our labor will be here all winter long...