(Belated) 12 on the 12th

The Midwest Edition...In the middle of nowhere....You can find this lovely retreat house called the Keepsake Kottage
Nestled in amongst some trees, the river runs right behind the Kottage..

Inside, you'll discover there is some scrapbooking going on...(that's Jill and Jodi whose husbands farm in the surrounding communities. Jill also highly recommends you check out http://www.recipetips.com/ for fabulous meal planning ideas)

Even those known more for yapping, might find themselves scrappin...(just kidding Amy!)
You can find a "dealer" in Iowa (assuming what you're buying is Mary Kay and not drugs)
You'll take a trip into town (driving along some dirt roads) where you'll lunch at the lovely Blue Bell Inn...
Where you will feast on this lovely lunch...complete with dessert

After lunch...you'll walk past the liquor store where you bought your booze the night before. Yes, I know, it looks like a bar, but trust me...if you talk to the bartender, he'll escort you down to his basement where he sells you stuff right from his stash. Yes, it is as creepy as it sounds...

You'll make a quick stop in the adorable little crafty shop, where low and behold, you find a rusty cock to add to your rooster collection (actually I passed on purchasing it because my luggage was already pretty full)
At some point you'll return back to the cottage, scrap a little, laugh a lot and just enjoy the time spent with others who share your passion for scrapbooking, and online chatter...
Thank you to my new found friends in the Midwest...I had a blast and appreciate how you treated me so well!

*yes, I know...I have more than 12 pictures...but there are so many stories to tell...12 just didn't seem like it would be enough!