Farm Girl Gatherings Retreat - Amana, IA

Just returned from an extended weekend in Amana. It was relaxing and fun, but re-entry is hard! I just woke up from a two-hour nap after the long drive home.

I love Amana. It’s peaceful and quiet, the air is clean, and it’s a beautiful place. The fields were ready for planting, trees were budding, spring flowers were blooming, and the cows were everywhere. Saw lots of baby cows in the fields on my way out of town today! Here are some of the photos I took on Friday morning of Amana and the countryside surrounding East Amana.

I arrived on Wednesday afternoon. My friend Sue and I met at Fern Hill in South Amana. Nice mix of gifts and antiques, and the entire second floor was filled with quilt fabric.

We also went to the Amana Furniture Store and to Amazing Grace in Main Amana and then finished out the day at the Ronneburg Restaurant where I had some delicious chicken schnitzel for dinner! I had to take a piece of pie back to my hotel room, well, because it’s a tradition. This piece of coconut cream pie did not disappoint! 

The retreat officially began on Thursday morning. It’s held at the Price Creek Event Center in Amana. The trees and flowers surrounding the event center smelled so good!

Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers was the featured designer and her exclusive project was amazing. She said her combined her love of nautical and America inspired this design.

Will thoroughly enjoy stitching this wonderful project!

The fun continued in Amana! They were celebrating Maifest on Friday night and Saturday. The town was decorated with May poles, ribbons, and flowers. On Saturday morning there was a parade and there was live music and food trucks in the lot just next to the event center. Very festive!

Here are some pictures of Paulette’s models from the trunk show she brought with her!

It was a great weekend! Now trying to get my head in gear as the reality of a new work day returns tomorrow. Grateful to have had such a wonderful weekend!