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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Chilton County Senior Connection took a field trip to the city of Jemison on March 24 to experience some of the fun activities the city has to offer.

In the morning, the group began at Hidden Meadow Vineyard and Winery where owner Bill Bailey escorted the group through a tour of the grounds.

Throughout the tour, Bailey explained where the fruit for the wines comes from and how the fermentation process of the fruits happens.

Bailey said the peach wine is made with whole local peaches. The peaches are pitted and the seeds are taken out, but the whole peach including the peel goes into the fermentation process. The peel of the peach gives the wine its color.

“Mr. Bailey at the winery was great, the way he told us about everything they did and answered everyone’s questions,” Patricia Cleckler, a member of the Senior Connection, said. “It was really awesome.”

Members also got to taste some of the wine made at the vineyard.

“Peach was delicious,” member of the Senior Connection, Martha Smith, said.

From there, the group ate lunch together at Farm House Cafe in Thorsby. Fried pork chops were on special and the cafe served homemade squash casserole, mac and cheese, cabbage, butter peas and coleslaw. Chocolate cake was the dessert item of the day.

“It took care of my breakfast, lunch and dinner, it was so good,” Cleckler said. “Very good country cooking.”

After finishing up lunch, the group finished their trip with a visit to Petals from the Past in Jemison. Members were able to look through the wide range of different plants and shrubs the local business has to offer.

Smith was interested in the mint plants and was told there was a key way in identifying what flavor it is.

“I loved tasting the mint leaves they had there, they were so delicious,” Smith said. “Chocolate was the best.”

For Cleckler, who joined the Senior Connection three weeks ago, the trip to Petals from the Past was especially special for her. Her grandparents used to own the building the gift shop of the garden center is in. The building used to be on the opposite side of County Road 29 before it was moved to be used as a part of Petals.

Cleckler said it was special to see the building again, as well as looking at the wide variety of plants Petals offers.

“I loved the variety they have up there, it’s amazing” Cleckler said.

The Senior Connection was very appreciative of the businesses for showing them around.

“All the staffs and employees at the places were so friendly,” Smith said. “They accommodated us like putting tables together at the farmhouse, made sure everyone could hear the guide at the winery, it was really nice.”

Smith, who has been a member of the Senior Connection for a few years, looks forward to the trips every month and appreciates the opportunities the organization has given seniors in Chilton County.

“We are blessed to have this here,” Smith said. “The trips are awesome, and everyone gets along here.”