Recent Posts
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IF YOU PLANT IT, IT WILL GROW
It is said that one can grow wine in any location where a weed can grow (think of the Gruet, a wonderful sparkling wine from New Mexico), but in California, it just seems too easy. Holly’s mother in Santa Cruz has pear trees, persimmon trees and lemon trees that just seem to thrive without much attention. Her brother’s house is ... Read More » -
ENCHANTED AND ENCHANTING…
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IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME
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THE END OF THE MAYAN CALENDAR
Do you buy it? Do you believe the Mayans predicted the end of the world as we know it? Do you know that most high school-aged children are using the Mayan calendar as a way to hedge their bets on homework assignments? “If we’re still here on December 22, I’ll get my annotated bibliography done.” I wonder how many mortgage ... Read More » -
MY LAST MEAL ON THIS PLANET
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THE CRISIS
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BOOZE HOUND
The long-term loan of an Irish kitchen table (from a friend who doesn’t have room for it in her house and doesn’t want it sitting in her the barn during the winter months) has encouraged me to do some redecorating in my apartment. Luckily, my roommate’s been on-hand for the heavy lifting. One of the changes we made was to ... Read More » -
AUTUMN PICKS
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FOR CELEBRATIONS, THINK PINK
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ANOTHER WINNING WINE
This weekend I too happened upon an excellent red wine, well worth passing along. Bill found a great Rioja at a bargain price on a restaurant wine list in Sacramento. I found this wine at Empire Wine in Albany. Get out your pen and paper, or order this one online. It is a keeper! No need for breathing, or serving with ... Read More » -
LIVING IN A WHEAT-LESS WORLD
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CHURCHILL’S… MUCH MORE THAN A STODGY PORT WINE
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THANKSGIVING WINNERS
Confession: I usually dislike Thanksgiving. I like gathering for the holiday, but it is not my favorite. Why don’t I like it? Here is the silly reason: its traditional foods are not my favorites. I like to like what I eat. It comes with growing up Italian, then marrying into Greek. Food matters, especially at a holiday table. The one year that ... Read More » -
JUST DESSERTS
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WILD IRELAND
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EVERYONE WALKS THEIR OWN CAMINO…
There are many roads to Santiago, and there are many reasons for walking there. Equally, there are many circumstances for how we all, as individuals, choose to walk the Camino. Today we arrived in Santiago, around 1:45 pm. We ran into people we knew in the plaza in front of the Cathedral, and snapped photos happily away, in a dry ... Read More » -
TREATISE ON YOGA PANTS
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TRADITIONAL PORT WINE MAKING, COMPLETE WITH….