SATURDAY October 1st
Needles and I set out on a short getaway in Southern Illinois just South of Anna in Dongola, IL. On our way to the cabin we stopped in Carterville, IL. to attend the Southern Illinois Irish Festival. When we arrived it was threatening rain and before long it started to drizzle. We walked up to the main stage and settled in for a bit to listen to the entertainment.
Needles and I wondered amongst the spars booths and Needles struck up a conversation with a fellow soap maker. We continued over to the second stage and then made our way to the Irish Games of strength.
The rain was off and on most of the day and Needles and I decided to grab a bite to eat. Needles had the Irish Stew and a water and I had a Rueben and a Guinness.
We continued to swap between the two stages and the music started and waned and had the pleasure of listening to the Dallahan.
We enjoyed their music so much we picked up both of their CDs. We stayed until they finished their music and then made our way on to our cabin. We arrived in Anna and decide to grab supper at the Wok and Roll and then grabbed some snacks for breakfast.
We arrived at the cabin and did a little exploring of the area. The cabin was well set off the road with little to distract you from the main reason for renting a cabin in the woods, to relax.
Road to the cabin.
Pond behind cabin.
SUNDAY October 2nd
The next morning we awoke to wild turkeys in the yard, after breakfast we had adventure on our mind. We traveled over to Sikeston, Mo. to Lamberts Home of the throwed rolls.
We arrived just after they opened and got right in and seated. Needles had a salad as big as a punch bowl and I had the meatloaf. The food was very good and filling and I of course I got to catch a couple of rolls. After Lamberts we headed south and wanted to visit a Pumpkin Hollow in Piggot, AR.
On our way we drove by some cotton fields and decided to pull over for a closer look. We are used to seeing corn and soybeans in the fields and seeing the cotton was a neat thing to see.
Pumpkin Hollow was interesting but more catered to kids during the day and unfortunately we would have to head back to the cabin before the scary festivities started up at night.
We drove to Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum but unfortunately it was closed on Sundays. We made our way back to Anna we stopped off at Kroger and picked up a few things for a light supper. We settled in to our usual evening routine of playing pool and then a soak in the hot tub before T.V. and then bed.
MONDAY October 3rd.
Today was a day of relaxing. Sleep late followed by a late breakfast and then relaxing in front of the T.V. until the Blue Boar opened where we wanted to grab supper. Needles had a steak salad and I had the shrimp po'boy. The food was good and the restaurant was a mix of bar and taxidermy shop. We made our way back to the cabin but before that a quick stop at the local coffee shop. Kiki's Coffee House was a nice place to pick up a couple of iced coffees and let our food digest. We got back to the cabin and settled into our evening routine.
This was our last full day at the cabin and we continued with the same relaxing trend as the day before. A late breakfast followed by T.V. watching until a light lunch and then supper at The Brick House Restaurant. Needles had a burger and I had a Reuben. Again after our meal we decided to wander down the street to Kiki's Coffee House again and then back to the cabin for pool and our last dip in the hot tub.
WEDNESDAY October 5th.
Check out and time to go home. It was sad to leave our little home away from home but unfortunately there were things waiting on us such as our fur baby Tugger and things we needed to get done before the work week started yet again. We had a great time and hope to get down that way again soon.
