Such a nice weekend getaway (today is Sunday). Almost died on a steep hiking trail, met a nice poet and paper-flower maker, drank some non-cooler wine and bought some rosé wine

• On the way to Illinois Mom talked to me about talking to Mrs. Trapp, my third-grade teacher. Apparently she asked "how are the girls" aw. She asked Mom if she wanted to help out with the gardening up at All Souls. Mom said she doesn't feel like she's in good enough shape to help, so maybe I could come help? It isn't supposed to be too strenuous they already keep it so nice already. Just some weeding and watering probably. And I'd get to say hi to Mrs. Trapp! >u< Also we saw 'Wild Birds Unlimited', a little bird store I guess. Mom said that might be a good way to get work experience - somewhere quiet and not too strenuous. She says maybe I have more stamina then I give myself credit for, like maybe being at home is sapping my energy even more. Maybe? Worth a shot!
• The river road is so nice and relaxing. I told Mom that I felt 'healing' just by looking at the scenery. It was like having my eyes wander over the bluffs, greenery and water was so soothing. We saw lots of cool boats on the water. Mom said her favorite is pontoon boats (got to remember that for when I'm rich and can get her a present ! :)
• When we got to Elsah (with an h!) it wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be right on the riverfront and be bright and sunny with a little bit of a vintage feel but mostly modern buildings. Nope, not like that at all. But in a good way, like it was so cute in a historical, little bit run-down way. It was all surrounded by trees so that made it feel even smaller. There was two streams that ran through the town. There were only little puddles in them, but they were nice puddles lol.
• We saw a cute playground with a mysterious bridge going over a stream. It was hard to tell if there was really a path or not. When we got closer it wAS SO STEEP. I was so curious though, so I had to try and see if it went anywhere. But as I climbed up, I started to have to grab onto roots or trees to keep my balance. I kept almost slipping because of how many loose leaves and gravel there was! Once I got to the top it looked like the trail kept on going but guess what, it. got. steeper. I was already huffing and puffing from barely keeping my balance and going up a 45 degree hill. It was even harder going down now. It was like going down a slide, but of death lol. I basically squatted down and sorta slid down trying to grab any tree or root I could to steady myself. I could not have walked down it without falling down, it was literally that steep. It's probably really lucky I didn't trip phew. I told mom that's the first time I've experienced "curiousity killed the cat" usually I'm more cautious than that haha
• When we were driving in we saw some people sitting around a small fire with snacks and wine in front of some kind of gallery. I'm trying to remember what is was called...but I can't find it on Google Maps. But we're planning to go back when Emily comes home on September 31st, I'll write it down then. We went and said hello and the people were super nice. I mostly talked to the daughter of the lady who owned the shop. When we went in the shop I was like, hmm not much in here. Then she told us they were PAPER flowers. She had made all of them. They were crazy realistic I was so surprised. The shop was adorable, the flowers and little arrangments were very expensive but no wonder she did them so carefully. They were even perfumed with some kind of flower essence. SHOOK.
• I really liked talking to the daughter. She was able to tell me about everything in the shop and was obviously was super proud of all that her mom had done. (And she was a good salesperson :) and she gave me wine! Didn't even get carded, only jokingly haha. She said I looked too confident to be underage lol. Anyway, she was super nice and I learned so much about her in the short time we were there. She talked about how she was a communications major (I assumed she was in her 30s but maybe she was in her 20s?) But she loves writing poetry. Said it was her way of being crafty in such a talented family (The aunt used to be the most crafty one, but she passed away last year and then the Mom became the crafty one. Really sad, but sweet). I asked her if she wrote down her poetry anywhere. She said she likes to be outside like 95% of the time, like out on her backporch. It's her favorite place to write, so she says all of them are basically about the same thing - nature. She said she feels self-conscious about them, and feels like their just for her. And her family. Special things that she doesn't really want to share with anyone else. We got on the topic when she was talking about how her Mom is really her harshest critic (of herself) but the daughter loves the one that her mom is the most critical of. Said it's interesting how subjective art is. So I told her about Anna's drawings that I've pulled out of the recycling and saved them. It was really interesting talking to her. I hope I get to again.
• Jeff, the photographer, told us to go to the Museum in the 'downtown'. It's open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4. Maybe we can go in two weeks! :D