nature's palette

PS: This is not a normal post, a little longer read and more of a life post. Enjoy!

I've lived in St. Louis my whole life and some of my fondest memories were enjoyed during the season my family had a cabin in Aspenhoff, a small cabin community outside of Marthasville, MO. Aspenhoff is a collection of A-frame cabins connected by white gravel roads neighboring manmade lakes. But that was many years ago. By the luck of my parent's friends being busy, I got to experience the nostalgia of cedar walls and cricket melodies once again. They had booked a place in Innsbrook, MO, just over the hill from where my childhood memories reside in Aspenhoff. In the 1960's, Aspenhoff was a prototype of the developer's vision for Innsbrook. And what a vision it has become.

My whole family was there. My parents, my sister and me, our boyfriends, and even Kipper the family Cairn Terrier. When we arrived Friday, the day seemed to be in a consistent afternoon glow radiating the softly changing leaves. The Cabin had modern amenities, and the huge windows led to a view of the soft-hued lake. It all made you want to be immersed in the still peace of this place. Bold, geometric sun beams cast through every window made reading feel so inviting, and I discovered my new favorite Trader Joe's snack - Maple Spiced Nuts! Why is every Trader Joe's snack so addictive? Anyways. The rest of the night was enjoyed around the ottoman playing card games and asking each other engaging questions. Then I got to fall fast asleep in the biggest bunk bed I've ever seen!

Saturday: My mom and I cooked a big breakfast for everyone, pulling out an array of ingredients out of her magic yeti that housed the means to our fabulous meals. It was good that everyone else was outside or otherwise occupied, because we were accidentally recreating a Lucille Ball comedy act. The owners of the cabin provided us with very non-stick tools (you know those HexClad pans that Gordon Ramsey promotes) for our cooking, which is great for cleaning, but created the perfect opportunity for me and my mother to drop many things! Butter on the cooktop, sausage flying off the pan, and even a blueberry pancake soaring to its splatting demise on the floor and somehow also in my hair... In the end we produced a fabulous breakfast enjoyed amongst trees and family, and nothing can beat pancakes made in a pitcher - in a cabin kitchen, we have learned to make do! After a moment to digest, everyone went on their way to find fun activities whether that was pickleball, a walk near the Horse Barn, or on the cabin tours that just happened to be that day! We all enjoyed a fulfilling morning thanks to the many things to do. Innsbrook is beautiful everywhere you look!

In the afternoon we went to Thierbach Orchard and Berry Farm, something I will recommend over and over to those in the area. It is a scenic drive and a mom-and-pop orchard experience with a homey feeling that can't be beat. The entrance displays their posse of goats, many kinds of pumpkins, corn kernel pools to play in, and mini tractor races. The star of the show is getting to pick your own apples, and boy do they have variety! My favorite all-time Fall Treat combo is their homemade Apple Cider SLUSHIES and DONUTS - the perfect refreshment after getting to walk their stunning orchard. Full disclosure: I had 3 donuts throughout the day, my sweet tooth could not resist. Be forewarned!!!

Sunday: We checked out of our cabin and headed to a nearby winery call Cedar Lake Cellars. It was a giant venue with many sections to explore, but we decided to find a sunny picnic table by the lake that housed two snow white swans. They had a few different options for lunch which was thoughtful. Though there was a more upscale restaurant connected to the tasting room, we went with the Smoke House serving things like pork nachos, brats, pizza, and turkey burgers. This created the perfect picnic to pair with our wine flight that we shared, and my new favorite WINE SLUSHY that had a delightful strawberry taste. (I guess I was really feeling slushies this weekend!) On our way back to the city, we passed by a sign that said Big Joels Safari. This experience felt like a dream, and it was completely unexpected. It was this man's property in the middle of the country that he turned into a safari and educational park that held a jaw-dropping amount and variety of animals. Here are just a few: Sloth, Arctic Fox, Kangaroo, Lynx Cat, Capybara, SO MANY GOATS, an Emu, fluffy cows, and that's not even a third of what they take care of there. I was stunned that they kept such a cornicopia of animals in the middle of the Midwest at this funny little farm!

In closing this was a self-care weekend that I think everyone needed to indulge in. You deserve one! Now that we are back home, the chilly breezes and floating leaves have arrived, and Fall is in full swing. Get out there and enjoy the food and activities you love with those you love; I promise it will boost your spirits!