July 2025

Well, well, here we are in November, and I'm posting about July. This year has gone by so quickly that I haven't had time to think about it much. I still have posts to get up from my vacation this summer, but I haven't had the time. And now, I've done so much between summer vacation and now that the thought of compiling a post for each thing is laughable. If I can't get the vacation posts done, how am I going to create a slew of others? 

I decided, then, that it would be best for me to just do a monthly recap. So, welcome back to July! I'm skipping the 4th as that weekend really deserves a post of its own. 

__________________________

The second week of July, I accompanied my dad to Mayo in Rochester, MN, for some tests. The tests came out quite favorably, which gave us an extra day, so we did a bit of road trippin' - an activity my dad and I share in common. 

After an interesting stop at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, we ventured up to Pepin, WI, to check out Villa Bellezza Winery. 

It was the best winery I've ever been to! Not only are their wines fantastic, but their winery is a sight to behold. Set up like an Italian town courtyard, we enjoyed a delicious glass of wine while Italian music played over the speakers.

There's the winery tasting room, a church, another building I'm not sure what it is, and a restaurant, all surrounding a courtyard with hanging lights and a fountain. I would have loved to be here in the evening to see it lit up.

We moved around a bit because it was really cool to see it from different perspectives. That, and there weren't a lot of people there at the time.

After this, we stopped at a little dive bar just back across the border in Minnesota for one last drink and some pub grub.

The next Friday, my bestie and I were at my favorite local vineyard, Soaring Wings. We enjoyed the setting sun while listening to live music, eating some charcuterie, and drinking wine...of course.

The next evening, Saturday, I took my daughter to see Alabama Shakes, a band we both really love. They got back together this year, so it was a birthday gift for my daughter.

It was an amazing show. 

My daughter looked at me before the encore and said, "I hope they play Sound & Color." I agreed, and luck was on our side, because they absolutely did.

The following Sunday, the last of the month, I took a little road trip. First up, a short hike at Hitchcock Nature Center.

While July is unbearably hot, the scenery is breathtaking.

I ventured further north and had to wait for this train to pass before I could enter Missouri Valley, Iowa.

From there, I meandered over to the Harrison County Historical Village/Iowa Welcome Center, a place I've been to numerous times. I wandered the familiar buildings and walked the familiar trail. I went to the overlook before I left to take one last look at my beloved Iowa Mountains.

_____________________

Like I mentioned, the July 4th weekend will get its own post as the kids and I went on a few-day road trip. Until then, enjoy the beautiful Autumn days while they're still here.