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Ladies_inlineSituated on an old farm in Oswego, Illinois, Emerson Creek Pottery was the site of the ladies’ get-together at the GARBC Conference on Thursday, June 30. Emerson Creek is a dream fulfilled for the owners. After visiting Emerson Creek Pottery in Virginia, they decided they wanted something similar in Illinois. The old barn is now a unique wedding venue—and was also the location where about 50 ladies attending the conference gathered.

The horse stable has been remodeled into a quaint tea room where guests can enjoy a delicious lunch—all served on Emerson Creek pottery. The original farmhouse is now the gift store, where the pottery, “imported” from Virginia, is sold, along with jewelry, accessories, and various housewares.

As the ladies arrived, they were encouraged to enjoy the beautiful grounds, browse the gift store, or just relax with a friend and drink in the beauty of the rural setting. Then they gathered in the barn or on the adjoining patio for fruit kabobs, tea sandwiches, sweets, and assorted beverages.

A frequent question around the tables was, “And where are you from?” The answers varied all the way from Illinois to India. (Three of the conference’s international guests attended this event.) As the ladies visited, they found out they knew people in common or had gone to the same college (albeit years apart) or were from similar parts of the country. The ladies left this lovely location having made new friends as well as being refreshed physically.