California, Food, Road Trip, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

Wine Tasting – Personalized

We stepped onto the patio to a table set for two adorned with a fresh glass for each of the wines we would taste and shaded by an umbrella.

California, Road Trip, Travel

It’s In The Air

On our recent California road trip, with the top down, Greg and I realized you can smell all kinds of things you’d miss with the windows rolled up.  It reminded me of family trips when I was a kid. We had a great big station wagon with wood panels on the side. On vacations, we’d… Continue reading It’s In The Air

Arizona, California, Food, Road Trip, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

Sip, Savor and Sightsee

International travel is nearly impossible in this worldwide pandemic, so we came up with a two week road trip plan to fill our summer travel craving.  The route for S is for Sip, Savor and Sightsee. The route: From home we headed to Palm Springs, then up to Harris Ranch in California’s Central Valley on… Continue reading Sip, Savor and Sightsee

Travel

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know.

I recently found myself walking past a former place of work. It was a Monday at 6pm. I looked around and noticed there was no traffic. None! This is a place that would normally be jammed with cars honking and jostling for a car length edge at the stop light. It was surreal, even a… Continue reading It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know.

Food, Musings

The Art of Effective Complaining

My mother-in-law turned 90 recently. She didn’t want a party or celebration, but family members kept asking for one until Greg and I told her she should consider changing her mind … peer pressure? She gave in and we decided a small gathering in her senior living facility would be the perfect solution. Her friends… Continue reading The Art of Effective Complaining

Arizona, Travel

Tombstone. It’s Not What You Think.

Tombstone, Arizona. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen several movies about this shoot-em-up, good-guys-versus-bad-guys Arizona desert town. I added the Gunfight at the OK Corral to my Arizona bucket list when we moved here. This is a classic old-west-meets-tourists-town … right?? WRONG! Above the mine a display invites you to try your hand… Continue reading Tombstone. It’s Not What You Think.

Arizona, Road Trip

Tubac … Call First

I am a shopper. I love to find the hard-to-find and unique items native to anyplace I visit. I support shopping from local businesses and family-run or artist-owned shops. It should come as no surprise that a recent trip south of Tucson included a stop at La Entrada de Tubac … a collection of shops… Continue reading Tubac … Call First

Distractions, Diversion, Wine/Cocktails

Try It Again, You Might Like It This Time

Let me kick this blog off by stating for the record I am WELL over 21 and a wine and (mostly) vodka drinker. Greg, however, prefers gin in his cocktails with an occasional Scotch or whisky if the evening calls for it. With that in mind, when Total Wine and More sent out an email… Continue reading Try It Again, You Might Like It This Time

Arizona, Road Trip, Travel

With Kids or Kid Free

Summer vacation! Family travel season! Here’s a piece of advice from a well-seasoned traveler … know what to expect! Parents are looking for places to spend time with their kids. Singles, empty-nesters and child-free couples are looking for ways to avoid all those kids. No matter which way you prefer to travel, with or without… Continue reading With Kids or Kid Free

Food, Travel, Wine/Cocktails

An Idyllic Find in Southern Oregon

A friend recently sold her home in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon. She and her husband are downsizing and moving north to be closer to her daughter. When she expressed concern about figuring out what to get rid of and how to pack it all up, I offered to help. She gladly accepted and we coordinated dates… Continue reading An Idyllic Find in Southern Oregon