First  we tried the Seabiscuit Ranch Chardonnay.  I’m sure it’s a good quality wine, but FAR too “oaky” for me.  I actually didn’t know what the term “oaky” meant until I tasted this stuff.  It defines oak flavor.  Nothing BUT oak.  In fact, I think I’d have to consider this the IPA of Chardonnays.  Not on my list of favorites.

Next we tried the Wild Hog Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  It was good.  Not stellar, but good.  I have a fairly high bar when it comes to cabs, though, and I will guess most people would like this wine.

Haywood Estate Zinfandel.  My oh my.  It reminds me of why I love red wine, and makes me wonder why I’m not alcoholic.  So smooth, so rich, I just want to keep rolling it around in my mouth until I realize that if I swallow I can do it all over again.  John might have to take me down if he’s thinking about having that last two tablespoons left in the bottle.

Coming up… Sparrow Hawk Pinot Noir 2009.  The SWS does a great job at selecting wines for the club, so my hopes are high for this one.  I’ll keep you updated.

 
Enjoyed some quality time with my sister. Pizza, shopping, Bingo, more pizza. That’s the life!

 
Morning coffee in the sunshine at the picnic table with neighbors.

Frank, Rocket and Diane

Nice time at Sue’s house with all of the old gang. We look so sober and serious, don’t we? What good acting!

Left to right: Mary Lou, Barb, Betsy, Mary Kay, Sue, Germaine, Cindy - In front: Liz and Cathy (oh, and Stella is in Betsy's lap)

Late night with lots to eat and drink, games to play, catching up and lots of talking.  After just a little sleep, we had a lovely breakfast then headed to downtown Pittsburgh to see Ruthless, the musical, at Pittsburgh CLO.

A few additions to the party folks: Germaine, Cathy, Cindy Mary Kay, Mary Lou, Liz, Betsy, Barb, Sue, Carol

Received a phone call from my brother in law, Tom, while at the play.  Surprised to find out my sister was in the hospital having an emergency appendectomy.  She’s pretty good at hiding symptoms!  Fortunately, the appendix did not rupture, and they were able to perform laparoscopic surgery, and her recovery has been pretty quick.

Tom and I visited Althea Saturday night and Sunday morning, then took some time Sunday afternoon to visit my cousin Kenny Tejchman and his family – wife Joan and son little Adam – north of Butler, PA.  Although I haven’t seen Kenny in something like 40 years, I was happy to find the same old Kenny that I just adored when I was a child.  He acts loud and gruff to hide the gentleness inside.  It  was good to meet Joan and Adam.  I liked Joan a lot, and think we could be friends if we lived a little closer.  Adam is taking after his dad – farming is in his blood.  I LOVED the farm – -  -and am really regretting I didn’t take pictures of the baby cows.  Two weeks old.  They try to suck your fingers.  Lots of cats, a turkey, chickens, guineas, dogs and cows – - – and crops to support the livestock.  I had a fantastic tour all around the farm, and got to see all of the vehicles and equipment (although I’m ashamed to admit I can’t really relate anything about it here.  My memory isn’t what it used to be.)  Take a look at the views from the porch.

My cousin Barb – Kenny’s older sister – joined us for the lovely dinner Joan prepared.  Chicken parmesan with salad and Italian bread, followed by home made carrot cake.  Oh, yum!  Kenny’s daughter, Amber, dropped by for a few moments too.  Amber is a lovely girl, studying to be a nurse.

Joan, Betsy, Kenny, Tom, and little Adam in front

Joan, Betsy, Kenny, Tom

Barb, Betsy, Ken

Me & my cuz

Thursday brought a fun trip to the Omaha Zoo.

Logan

Henry and Aunt Leah watching the tigers.

Zach's smile goes grown-up.

Zach, Logan and Seth in front, with Aunt Julie, Aunt Leah, and Henry in back.

Beautiful tiger

The peacock put on quite a show for us. Zach was captivated.

Watching the baby goats - Zach, Seth, Logan and Henry.

It’s a race!!

On Wednesday, we made a big, long drive to Aunt Leah’s house.  The kind of drive that’s so long you get to watch DVDs in the back seat.

We saw windmills in Iowa.  LOTS of windmills in Iowa.  And not much else. 

The next one brings memories of an interesting evening.  Our friends, Bubba and Vicky, (are you beginning to notice that Bubba and Vicky and us and wine usually all go together?) were supposed to come over for dinner, but were delayed by BREAKING NEWS.  Bubba is the owner of the Carrboro Citizen newspaper, and (while buying the Auka Malbec?) just happened to stumble upon the Occupy Carrboro movement had to stop to take video and tweet the event.  Big excitement for a sleepy town like Carrboro, but when the Citizen staff reporters arrived, Bubba left coverage in their capable hands and brought the news (and the Malbec) to our place.

Kelley & Young Sauvignon Blanc

We visited Sonoma Wine Shop in September 2011 while visiting the San Francisco area on vacation. This stop on our trip proved to be especially enjoyable. Our host for a wine tasting was a fellow who lived for a while in Asheville, NC, and we immediately bonded with him. He was very chatty, and made sure each wine passed his taste test before we tasted it too. By the end of the tasting, we’d purchased only one bottle of wine, due to luggage limitations, enrolled in the SWS wine club, and left a host who surely must have been even more tipsy than we were. This fine Kelley & Young sauvignon blanc was part of our first wine club shipment. We saved it for Sarah’s and George’s visit at Christmas time, and we all enjoyed it very much. It’s perhaps one of the best white wines I’ve had.

Chateau de Luc Corbieres

This Corbieres (red) came from the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, via our good friends Bubba and Vicky. It was part of the “Six for Sixty” gift for John’s 60th birthday in November 2010. Not knowing much about French wine, and really liking the look of the bottle in our wine rack, we didn’t pop the cork until about a year later. What a wonderful surprise! Very smooth, with a pleasing flavor. I wish I had a gift for describing the nuances of what a wine tastes like, but unfortunately I cannot. I just know what I like.

Should I be separating reds from whites?