Other odd and entertaining things in Napa

There were a couple of crazy things we saw in Napa this time:
The Heitz Cellars Tasting Room had a miniature pincer that loved to sit in the fire place.


One morning we went to a breakfast place that had great muffins and eggs benedict. We sat near the restrooms, and I couldn't help myself - I had to take a picture!

Food in California

There was nothing that compared to "The French Laundry" of the 2009 trip, but we did finally make it to Taylor's Refresher.


We had to go twice, because the first time we got fish tacos and the Ahi tuna burger - which were both AWESOME!


We went back and got beef burgers, and I thought that the Ahi tuna burger was more interesting and better than the beef burger, but it was a very delicious beef burger.

All of the food on the trip was great! Liam's birthday dinner was pretty amazing also!

The Fog in Napa

Everywhere we went, people were complaining about the cold and the rain. Coming from Connecticut, we had little sympathy.

Nonetheless, it made Stag's Leap look very cool.


It also made the trip to Terra Valentine, which is at the top of Spring Mountain, sort of scary. Stephen and I felt like we were headed into the woods of Elron in Middle Earth. The trip was well worth it, the estate is something to behold and the wine was so tasty, Stephen joined the wine club - that makes five...

2010 January Napa Vineyard List

• Flora Springs - The Estate (visit #2) (wc)
  
• Heitz Cellars
  
• Ma(i)sonry
• Robert Craig Tasting Room
• Paraduxx (wc)
  
• Chappellet - (visit #2) (wc)
  
• Darioush
• Flora Springs - The Room
  
• Terra Valentine (wc)
  
• Domaine Chandon
• Robert Sinskey
• Shafer
  

It's been a while: January 2010 Napa & San Diego

It has been quite some time since we updated our blog, but we have not been idle. In January, we went to Napa Valley and San Diego for Liam's Birthday!



Napa was very rainy, but it was nice to visit in the off-season. There were several tastings where we were the only people at the tasting, where in May 2009, we would have been hardly able to get in on the tastings.




In the end, we visited 11 vineyards, some old some new.



Stephen kept the car out of the ditch, and the vineyards were actually beautiful. Next time we go in the winter, we will go after Liam's birthday for the Mustard Festival.

Vermont - Cheese trail trip

Stephen and I had this phenomenal cheese at a wine and cheese festival in Connecticut from Lake Champlain, Vermont - and of course Cabot in Vermont - then in Houston this past weekend, I looked through the Wine Spectator Cheese list and of course there were more VT cheeses in there... So, we decided to explore some Vermont cheeses this weekend. We started with the Grafton Cheddar in Brattleboro - well, actually it is based in Grafton, but it has opened a wine and cheese store in Brattleboro. I got some Christmas gifts - but I think I am going to have to go back for more =) Eventually, we got to Cabot - following the TomTom directions up some 1.5 lane roads to get there...

It was CRAZY crowded!!! but the video was cool, and more christmas gifts were found. The dogs got a large jumbone and when we got back to the car were curled up in their beds...

Then we programmed in the hotel in Burlington and Stephen looked at me when it said "Do you want to avoid unpaved roads?" and we thought back to San Francisco - and the toll road avoidance that cost 3 extra hours and hit "No" to indicate we would brave unpaved roads on the rainy, foggy, Vermont Saturday... Then we ended up in a cemetary, on a grass path - exactly where the TomTom wanted us to be...

Stephen decided that before we repeated the Napa off-road experience, we should turn around and head back to civilization - the paved road path was going to take 6 extra minutes... So, off on the paved alternate route we headed! Tomorrow, we may try to hit the Magic Hat #9 Brewery, and a couple more creameries.

Rest in Peace - Grannie - Juanita M. Vinson (9/9/2009)

My grandmother passed away on Sept. 9th, 2009. She had three years more than the doctors thought she was going to have. She always had sugar for her grandchildren - and fried okra, and creamed corn, and pies. I am thankful that she is no longer in pain. I will miss the love that she always had for her family and the sugar (emotional and real) that she was always ready to give.

______________________________

Juanita Melton Vinson, Houston, Tx.

1924 - 2009

Juanita Vinson

Juanita Melton Vinson, age 84, of Houston, TX, formerly of Selma, died Wednesday September 9, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her husband whom she married on February 26, 1944 in Dallas, TX, James Woodrow Vinson, who died on November 10, 1999. Also preceding her in death is her grandmother and grandfather, Media Ophelia Southern Smith and Zacariah Smith, her mother and father, Docia Lee Smith Melton Leachman and Boyce LaRue Melton.
Survivors include her son, James Woodrow Vinson, Jr. and wife Alice of Houston, TX; granddaughter, Elizabeth Florence Vinson of Westfield, CT; grandson, James Lester Vinson and his wife Stephanie Green Vinson of San Diego, CA; great-grandson, William “Liam” Vinson, and her nieces Barbara Bevans Griffin of Vidor, TX and Beverly Bevans Parks of West Monroe, LA.
Juanita was born September 29, 1924 in Chatham, Louisiana. She served eighteen years as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Dallas County Health Department where she retired in 1988. She was the past state president of Alabama Business and Professional Women’s Association, a Member of West End Baptist Church Sunshine Class and a volunteer Coordinator for the American Cancer Society.
Graveside services will be held Saturday September 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m. Saturday September 11, 2009 at the funeral home.
Please visit http://www.lawrencebrownservice.com to make online condolences to the family.