Blue Sky Vineyards
Anchoring the eastern end of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, our winery offers you a taste of Tuscany in the hills of Southern Illinois. We are open year-round, 7 days a week, to provide great Illinois wine.
Please join us for wine tasting, a variety of hearty sandwiches, pizzas, and snacks, as well as wine-alternatives such as beer and mixed drinks. Come enjoy our large indoor seating area and two beautiful outdoor terraces that overlook our vineyard and the rolling countryside.
Blue Sky Vineyards
A taste of Tuscany in the hills of Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois Sucess: The Winery of Walker's Bluff
CARTERVILLE - The wine industry in Illinois has seen an explosive growth over the past decade, with the number of wineries increasing from around 10, to now over 100 across the state.
But there is no argument, that one of the most impressive of wineries in any state, is Walker's Bluff. In this visit to the winery, we see what is so impressive to visitors, and learn how the plans are to make this a destination location, resort and conference center for visitors and businesses.
But after millions of dollars already invested, and its fame growing, Walker's Bluff future success, and ability to add greatly to the Southern Illinos economy, with hotels, water park, conference center, and SPA, may hinge on whether the state grants it a gaming license, which many business meeting planners say is critical to consitently attract conferences.
Starview Vineyards
StarView Vineyards is home to a family owned and operated vineyard and winery. Located in rural Southern Illinois in the Shawnee Hills American Viticulture area, the state's only Federally designated wine-grape producing region, StarView grows and produces fine boutique wines. Each vine is individually nurtured to produce the highest quality grapes that are then used to produce the finest wines in the region.
We invite you to visit us and sample our wines and experience Southern Illinois. As you sit on our large, inviting deck or under the large oak tree, you can enjoy the most scenic and breathtaking views that Southern Illinois has to offer. Take a walk around our large pond and see the Koi, turtles, and other wildlife that migrates through.
Owl Creek Vineyards
Owl Creek is an artisanal family winery focused on the production of wines grown in the Shawnee Hills. We are passionate about our wines and look forward introducing you to the great vintages are grown in our region. Please take time to visit the winery on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail during your next vacation or sample our wines at one of our numerous tasting events with local wine shops.
Cheers! - The Genung Family
American Nobody Summer Tour 2008 Part 2
Part 2 in the American Nobody Summer Tour 2008 video series. This part features Day 2 and Day 3 of the tour including a show at Joe Sippers Cafe in Effingham, Illinois and Blue Sky Winery in Makanda, Illinois.
Alto Vineyards
The Renzaglia Family welcomes you to Alto Vineyards and invites you to taste some of the finest wines produced in the United States. Our family owned winery and vineyard is located in the foothills of the beautiful Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Our second tasting room in Champaign, Illinois, not far from the University of Illinois campus, opened in December of 2001. Since our first vintage in 1988, our wines have won numerous medals in National and International wine competitions. Our family takes great pride in growing high quality grapes and producing award winning wines.
pomona winery
A short doc on the pomona winery
Alto Vineyards talks French American Hybrid Wines with WineChannelTV
Check out Alto Vineyards talking about French American Hybrid Wines with WineChannelTV!
Wine and Cheese and some RVs!
Alan Warren takes us to Shiloh Vineyard in the great State of Kansas for a tour of this little (but great) family-owned Winery that is becoming a real favorite of RVers who travel I-70 between Kansas City and Denver. Besides producing delicious wines, RVers can stay for FREE here. You heard right. Free.
Our Trip to Makanda, IL!
While I was home, Jo and I decided to go for a drive to Makanda. Come with us!!
Ever wonder about the properties of crystals and stones? Here are links to the ones we have discussed in the past!
Jade -
lapis -
tiger eye -
jasper -
agate -
garnet -
snowflake obsidian -
sodalite -
rose quartz -
fluorite -
amethyst -
amazonite -
moonstone -
tourmaline -
tourmalated quartz -
chalcedony -
blue lace agate -
rhodonite -
moldavite -
prehnite -
turquoise -
citrine -
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Crystal meanings, metaphysical and spiritual healing lore is lore for inspiration, folklore, reference, and entertainment only. Crystal and spiritual healing lore is not a prescription, diagnosis or healthcare information. See a doctor or other healthcare practitioner for all health issues. By using this site and associated materials, and accessing this metaphysical and healing lore information, you acknowledge and agree that you personally assume responsibility for your use or misuse of this lore.
Permission to use the song
Happy Days by Scott Holmes
in this video have been granted by the composer
Edited with iMovie
Recorded on iPhone
Venice Performs at Rustle Hill Winery : 618 Productions
618 Productions doing stage lighting for a great band, Venice. Super nice bunch of guys and great musicians.
Cobden / Carbondale Illinois
Roboco Audio Providing Sound
618pro.com
Superiorsounddjsevice.com
Bald Knob Cross & CaveinRock Slideshow (repost)
Spending a day at BaldKnob Cross and CaveinRock
The Weingarten winery in Illinois sold to new owners
The Weingarten, a Belleville winery in Southern Illinois, was recently sold to new owners from Denver, Colorado. The couple wants to update the venue in the future and possibly bottle its popular sangria.
Video by Cara Anthony/News-Democrat
Read more here:
Find My Way
Brief compilation of some footage from the Little Grand Canyon Trail near Pomona, Illinois. Originally went out to get some time-lapse, but ended up shooting more video instead. Autumn trails are quite beautiful. ;) Enjoy!
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Been plowing through wedding videos lately and needed a break. My friends and I drive by most of the Shawnee National Forest every time we go home, and unbeknownst to me, there are quite a few unique natural formations scattered throughout Southern Illinois. Located a bit north of Pomona, IL, the canyon trail is just a few yards away from the Big Muddy River. Pretty neat stuff, but be sure to bring a friend and start hiking early in the day. You may have to climb through some waterfalls and slippery rock. Great stuff!
Music: Find My Way by Nine Inch Nails
Problem with August 21, 2017 solar eclipse and the globe research Flat Earth ✅
It will be tough eclipsing this eclipse.
The sun, moon and Earth will line up perfectly in the cosmos on Aug. 21, turning day into night for a few wondrous minutes, its path crossing the U.S. from sea to shining sea for the first time in nearly a century.
Never will a total solar eclipse be so heavily viewed and studied - or celebrated.
We're going to be looking at this event with unprecedented eyes, promises Alex Young, a solar physicist who is coordinating NASA's education and public outreach.
And the party planning is at full tilt from Oregon to South Carolina.
Eclipse Fests, StarFests, SolarFests, SolFests, Darkening of the SunFests, MoonshadowFests, EclipseCons, Eclipse Encounters and Star Parties are planned along the long but narrow path of totality, where the moon completely blots out the sun.
Vineyards, breweries, museums, parks, universities, stadiums - just about everybody is getting into the act.
The Astronomical League for amateur astronomers is holing up at Casper, Wyoming. Minor league baseball teams will halt play for eclipse delays in Salem, Oregon, and elsewhere. By a cosmic quirk of the calendar, the Little Green Men Days Festival will be in full swing in Kelly, Kentucky, as will the American Atheists' annual convention in North Charleston, South Carolina.
And where better to fill up on eclipse T-shirts and safety glasses - and eclipse burgers - than the Eclipse Kitchen in Makanda, Illinois.
Scientists are also going gaga.
This is a really amazing chance to just open the public's eyes to wonder, says Montana State University's Angela Des Jardins, a physicist in charge of a NASA eclipse ballooning project . The student-launched, high-altitude balloons will beam back live video of the eclipse along the route.
Satellites and ground telescopes will also aim at the sun and at the moon's shadow cutting a swath some 60 to 70 miles wide (97 to 113 kilometers) across the land. Astronauts will do the same with cameras aboard the International Space Station. Ships and planes will also catch the action.
It's going to be hard to beat, frankly, says Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's science mission office.
At the same time, researchers and the just plain curious will watch how animals and plants react as darkness falls. It will resemble twilight and the temperature will drop 10 to 15 degrees.
Expect four hours of pageantry, from the time the sun begins to be eclipsed by the moon near Lincoln City, Oregon, until the time the moon's shadow vanishes near Charleston, South Carolina. NASA will emcee the whole show, via TV and internet from that coastal city.
The total eclipse will last just 1 1/2 hours as the lunar shadow sweeps coast to coast at more than 1,500 mph (2,400 kph) beginning about 1:15 p.m. EDT and ending at 2:49 p.m. EDT. The sun's crown - the normally invisible outer atmosphere known as the corona - will shine forth like a halo.
Sure, full solar eclipses happen every one, two or three years, when the moon positions itself smack dab between the sun and Earth. But these take-your-breath-away eclipses usually occur in the middle of the ocean somewhere, though, or near the sparsely populated top or bottom of the world. In two years, Chile, Argentina and the empty South Pacific will share top billing.
The United States is in the bull's-eye this time.
Experience The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
Visit ShawneeWineTrail.com
Southern Illinois Cabins Association - Shawnee National Forest & Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
The members of the Southern Illinois Cabins Association invite you to visit Southern Illinois and enjoy the Shawnee National Forest, Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, and so much more. Our cabins are perfect for a romantic getaway, family vacation, wine trail journey, outdoor adventure vacation, or just to relax and get away from it all. Members include Oak Grove Cabins, Cabin on the Hill, Devil's Kitchen Cabins, The Cabin at Mountain Glen, Rustic Hideaway Cabins, Woodland Retreat Cabins, Cypress Grove Lodge, Skyline View Cabins & Woodland Cabins.
A Perfect Day In Southern Illinois
My Southern Illinois layover. I had 30 hours to kill during a layover in the Marion and Carbondale Illinois area. We rented a car and toured the Ferne Cliffe State Park as well as part of the Shawnee Wine Trail and ended our day trip in Macanda. Watch as we build the perfect day trip, layover, or road trip through this beautiful area.
Shadow Bands - Eclipse 8/21/2017, 100% Path of Totality, Max Point of Longest Duration
We were able to catch a glimpse of the Shadow Bands at the 2017 Solar Eclipse.
We went to the max point of duration, on 100% Path of Totality in Makanda Illinois at the Blue Sky Vineyard.
We setup a white tablecloth on the ground right at the lake where the line split the lake in half!
It was an awe inspiring, profound two minutes & 40 seconds : )
Thanks to Dustin at the Smarter Everyday YouTube Channel for letting us know about shadow bands!
Hope you enjoy the Shadow Bands / Shadow Snakes, we'll see you at the next Eclipse!