I wish I could tell you that all that Time was Time Well Spent, but in truth, most of it was taken up by Slothful Malaise. All of you know that I have the Best Intentions, but they all fall by the wayside because I am not a dedicated writer. Few things receive my Dedication, actually, one of them being Dickinsonian capitalization. Obviously.
Anyway, I digress.
One of the wonderful things that took up my Time was a jaunt northward to Canada for a few days, specifically to Niagara-on-the-Lake again, our favourite place. We had last been in June for a party at my International Husband's winery, and we needed to restock. This time, we were on a hunt for one wine in particular, Cabernet Franc. It's hard to find as a single varietal in the States, and Ontario does it beautifully. Our search was rewarded and our cellar is smiling.
We had another three hour session with Andrzej at Big Head Wines where we tasted pretty much everything in their portfolio plus some wines still in the tanks and barrels, and wines yet to be released but bottled. At one point the table was so full of empty glasses that his wife wheeled a cart over and admonished him to load it with the empties before they started running out. As usual, we were enthralled listening to him explain the processes and decisions that went into each wine. Not only does it delight the Wine Nerd in each of us, but it also enhances each bottle we open to drink later on: it immediately evokes those memories, and we are right back there again each time.
Six cases later we were back home, enjoying not only gorgeous wine, but the same lovely weather we had in NotL. The autumn colours hit their peak in NEO, and the trees were in their glory, especially those with orange leaves. They're all but over now, down on the ground so that I can shuffle and crunch through them on my walks, but they were spectacular.
November is being much kinder so far than October in weather. Some of October was downright shitful--the rain, the cold, the endless cloudiness. I thought it might do me in, either with arthritis or gloominess. My arthritis is still here, but I feel less like smacking everyone (and myself), so that's Progress.
Catch me up on your Wine (do you know/like Cab Franc?), October Jaunts, and Start Of November in Comments.
I've been missing your visits to my blog...figured you were busy. Speaking of blog and 'sh!tful' rain, I shared a funny meme this morning...you may appreciate it with your glass of wine.
ReplyDeleteAnni--Perhaps I'll stop by again soon. I've noticed that TX has been getting some severe weather lately. I hope it hasn't affected your back yard.
DeleteI was just wondering where you'd gotten off to; and now, here you are! October wasn't terrible here but then, it never is usually. Today surprised us as it was exceptionally warm...enough to turn on the AC for a bit. Our leaves have been spectacular this year - especially a couple of days ago. I had to remind myself to quit looking at the leaves since I was driving!
ReplyDeleteGigi--It's nice to have been missed. We've had a toasty weekend for NEO, too. Not AC-worthy, but we actually had windows open, even at night. What a gift for November! I'm glad you're having a beautiful fall down there, too. Drive carefully!
DeleteDee--You've had a few little daytrips here and there, and I love seeing the sights with you on your blog. A Thanksgiving vacation? Terrific.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that the Delaware River area scenery is truly worth the trip. I hope you take us there, too.
I'm not a wine drinker, but I am VERY happy for the restocking of your cellar! I would have enjoyed the trip just for the scenery. As you know, I ended October with COVID and am still struggling along. It's mild, but Very Annoying. I tested myself again this morning - still positive. But otherwise it's been gorgeous down here, so I enjoy getting out & about even though I feel like blech.
ReplyDeleteBug--I'm so sorry to hear that covid is still hanging around for you. At least it's a mild case and isn't threatening your health overmuch. How I wish we had nipped it in the bud years ago, but we all know why that didn't happen. Sigh.
DeleteYou'd have enjoyed our NotL trip for the scenery and other things as well. Lots of nice eateries, tons of roadside markets for fruits, veg, and homemade jams and jellies, and the downtown people watching is always rich.
I'm sure NC is affording you some very beautiful fall weather. Ours is going to settle into more seasonal patterns very soon--sob!--but I'm loving it while it lasts.
I love reading that you and Rick had another NotL trip and have restocked your wine cellar! You must have been both energized and relaxed when you returned home. And yay for a pretty October (if not one with nice weather) and beautiful, not too cold start to this month. We're also having unseasonably warm weather here and I'm not complaining. We still have a lot of leaves on the trees but the prettiest ones have fallen. My driveway and roofs (house and garage) are full until my gutter and leaf guy shows up this week. He will make everything better!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had Cab Franc but I know friends love it. On a recent trip to a winery, one of my friends ordered some and she usually has it hand at her cabin. We had a gathering of four at her cabin at the beginning of the month for her birthday and it was simply fabulous. Perfect weather, time on the porch sipping pumpkin martinis, and much more.
The "kids" are on their first international trip since the pandemic, with a week with her parents, so I've got the grandpup, Mochi, with me for a month. She makes Dozer barkier when he's here with her but I'm still running Mom to doctor's appointments so he's been going to doggie daycare while Mochi stays home alone. Mochi herself would never pass the test to go to doggie daycare! Haha. So thank goodness, she doesn't mind staying home alone. Honestly, I can relate to the dear girl overall but I'm looking forward to some more fun outings.
My last few days and Tuesday will be tied up with the last election push. Holding my breath.
Thanks for checking in with us! Can't tell you how much it always boosts my spirits to hear from you.
xo,
Shirley
Shirley--I'm glad that VA is doing some Cab Franc. I've had some Cab Sauv from VA wineries, and they do those well. We had laid them down for a year or two in the cellar, so the aging had probably helped them, too. I'm happy to hear that you spent time with friends at your friend's cabin, especially if it's the one I'm thinking about--the palatial cabin? And a pumpkin martini sounds like something I would love love love.
DeleteI'm the Medical Secretary for my mother as well, zipping her to and from her various doctor and lab appointments and making sure her pill cases are filled correctly. She has a team of us to keep her going.
I'm with you regarding Tuesday. So much at stake. Thank you again for all the work that you have been doing.
It's been a strange past couple of months for me. I've felt like I've lost my energy in so many ways. I'm working on it. As always, thanks for being here. XO
Belated reply but I hate the thought of you being without your energy as I know well what that means. It's hard to get it back, especially this time of year. The holidays can be helpful in that regard but can also be so very draining.
DeleteAnd oh, yes, that is my dear friend's palatial cabin! Looking forward to getting back there with her in December.
I'm grateful that we still have our wonderful Abigail Spanberger and there was no red wave (BS mostly intended to suppress votes and keep assholes on air IMO) but can't believe the results in some states, including yours. I'm truly so very sorry.
I need to catch up more with you so hopefully, I'll get an email out to you this weekend.
xo,
Shirley
Your visit to Canada sounds lovely. I do not drink often or enough to share anything exciting, but I'm interested in learning about how other people plan visits and outings around it. Sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteCoach is teaching PT classes several weekends in a row (this was his 3rd consecutive weekend and he's gone again next weekend and then again Dec. 3rd weekend). I've deiced that I must've been asleep or high when he ran that past me. He is in Florida now, and I had hoped to go with him. Flights were pricey and it isn't that easy leaving two teens who can't drive, so I stayed home.
Staying home while he travels isn't that exciting, but I did spend hours cleaning our my bathroom cabinets and drawers. I love progress. It's too bad that no one else will enjoy it but me, and maybe Coach.
Ernie--I've heard that airline ticket prices have become outrageous. Sigh. Sometimes, I feel as if they should pay me to fly, considering all that I have to endure to be on a flight. Of course, it's just as bad for the crew now, what with the ridiculously horrid behaviour of some passengers.
DeleteI don't know...relatively free weekends where you can just toss out some pizzas or pasta for dinner and then do what you want (sorta) sound pretty good. Cleaning out stuff and purging without someone over your shoulder second-guessing is liberating. I used to do that during the day when Rick was at work. I started in the basement where he has his hoard of useless crap. I'd toss out five items a day. He NEVER noticed. Still hasn't. Like you, I love the feeling of Progress and Tidiness.
Our wine trips to Canada are always a joy for us. We developed our interest in wine together, and that's part of its charm. The best thing we did was to visit a winery and take a tour first. It gave us a base of knowledge to start from, and from there we visited small wineries and asked a lot of questions and tasted a lot. It's nice in Ontario because there are so many small ones, and the owner and winemaker are often there. They love to chat about their philosophy and process. We've made many, many friends there among winemakers and owners. It always feels like a second home.
I laughed so hard at the useless crap line that I had to come back and tell you.
DeleteOh, I love the background of your wine adventures and how you discovered it together. I fall asleep way too easily if I drink wine, but it's always good to have goals. Maybe some day I can visit a winery and learn to not be a drowsy drinker. ;)
I'm SO happy that you were able to visit your International Husband and stock up on some of your favorites. An empty cellar (or wine cabinet) is a sad sight indeed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, YAY for November not feeling so shitty for you. I hope the arthritis is gloominess both keep a nice distance.
I'm a white girl. You knew that. I love white wine. Specifically Sauvignon Blancs and my most favorite region is Marlborough, New Zealand. Oh, how I wish I could go back today and taste some more in their home country.
Cheers to lovely November!!
Suz--Thank you. We drank a LOT of wine over the summer. And I don't feel bad about that at all!
DeleteI am a huge fan of Sauv Blancs as well, especially with raw oysters or just for sipping. You'd probably like a nice French Sancerre, too. One of the winemakers in NotL is from New Zealand, and he makes a wonderful Sauv Blanc. (He's also quite handsome, so a tasting with him is always a pleasure.) It sounds like you need another trip back to NZ.
I like white wines in the summer most often for their refreshing quality, and we eat lighter in the summer, so whites seem to pair better with our food. We drank a lot of Vouvrays this past summer before we ran up to NotL and bought some dry Reisling, Savagnin, and Chenin Blanc. Rick drinks Chardonnay, but I'm no longer a big fan.
Do you cellar, or do you buy as you want/need?
I used to love Chardonnay, but I rarely enjoy it anymore. No cellar here, if you mean by a 'real cellar', but we have a party/theater/billiards room that is overflowing with bottles that we've purchased on trips to Napa/Sonoma. I have to say, most of them will last us a lifetime as the Coach rarely drinks wine, with it even being rarer at home, but he does like to purchase it. Not sure why!! But if you ever come to Florida, we have many lovely Pinot Noirs and Cabs that need to be enjoyed.
DeleteI don't know about Cab Franc. Like Suz I'm more of a white wine girl, not Chardonnay though. I don't like drinking trees or butter. As for my November, it looks like it's going to be uneven-- with much to do some days, nothing to do other days. I like balance but not all months allow for that.
ReplyDeleteAlly--So you're an ABCD--Anything But Chardonnay Drinker. Lots of my friends are that kind of white wine girl. Rick is all about the butter and oak. I like the vanilla and butterscotch notes, but the oakiness wears me out after a glass.
DeleteI heartily agree with you about wanting balance. I hate the weeks when I am All Go. Excepting Thanksgiving, November looks smooth for me. Of course, now that I have put it out there, all Hell will break loose.
I hope you've been enjoying the temperate weather. Fingers crossed that we have more of it.
Glad you got the rest you needed and the wine you desired.
ReplyDeleteJean--Thank you. Both were a great reward.
DeleteI love most wine, but a lot of Pinot Noir is too earthy for me, aka, it tastes like dirt. A lot of the reds my cousin drank in France were Pinot Noir grapes, though, and they were delicious, so whatever. I love a good Chardonnay. I like both kinds, the big oakey buttery California type chards, and the softer, more French style ones. I used to not like the French ones, but I guess I am maturing.
ReplyDeleteI am sure I have tried Cabernet Franc before, but I can't think of how it would taste compared to a Cabernet Sauvignon. Perhaps I will see what I can find next time I go to the wine store, give it a try and toast to you and Rick and your wonderful trip to NotL.
J--California Pinots are not for me; I prefer Pinot Noirs from a cooler terroir. I specifically like Ontario's because they have notes of wet stone and wild cherry that I enjoy. Even the heralded Willamette Valley Pinots from Oregon don't give me the same joy.
DeleteWe tried a few good Chardonnays, and I'm sure you'd have liked many of them. I still appreciate them and love the complexity of the really good ones. Steel Chardonnays have fallen out of favour, and to me that's a sadness. I liked their bright acidity and crispness.
I'd love to hear your experience with a Cabernet Franc. How kind of you to toast us and NotL as you try one. I hope it's a good one when you do!
Glad to hear you got up and got your fix. JG drinks Cabernet Sauvignon. A lot. I drink water, coffee and not much else but I do cook with wine and confess to stealing JG's good tipple now and then to add to a beef dish. (I figure you are going to scold me, eh?)
ReplyDeleteI have been doing the English as a Second Language thing and found out today that there are two written forms of Farsi and I have been using the other one for word patching. Life is complicated. We had a one day strike that shut all our schools, too, causing a scramble to cope with the children of our families. Never a dull moment. A little Sloth would not come amiss just now.
What we have had is the most marvellous warm sunny November week that I ever remember. And a huge blood moon at 6:00 am this morning. No. Of course not. But the photos are amazing.
Mary--I'd never scold you for using a good wine in your cooking. The conventional wisdom is to use a wine you'd drink in whatever you cook since the flavour is concentrated as the alcohol gets cooked out. A poor wine becomes poorer in a recipe. I've used mediocre wines in sauces and not been disappointed, however; I've often frozen a less than stellar wine to save for cooking only.
DeleteYou've really been through it lately with all your tutelage and accommodation of the new people in your community. I know they so appreciate your efforts. It's a lot for you, though, and it has to be so tiring.
We've been unusually sunny and warm, too, but the bottom will drop out this weekend. Sigh. And even a blood moon didn't get me out of bed if the two hungry cats let me sleep!
Your trip to Canada sounds brilliant, especially the wine tasting!
ReplyDeleteJill--Hello, and nice to see you here again. Our visit northward was lovely as usual. We always feel lucky to spend such a lengthy time with our friend at Big Head.
DeleteOctober didn't go as I hoped in a lot of ways, but November is showing promise. Today it is appropriately chilly, PA voters did not disappoint me as I'd expected, and in the next two weeks, it's BD time and Thanksgiving. All of it sounds good to me.
ReplyDeleteBridget--I feel like October was challenging for many of us. I'm glad we all managed to get through it without too much damage.
DeleteI know you love cooler weather and cozy times. I'm getting a nice, warm, 70-degree and sunshiny day today, and I'm happy for it. I need the lift after the disappointment of Election Day in my bloody state. Ohio is now reliably republican, and I could not be more disappointed. We are being bludgeoned by stupid, low-information voters in the central and southern areas. And I'll spare you my rant about gerrymandering.
I'm so proud of PA and MI.
Your November sounds like it will be just what you need. I'm so glad.
Your trip sounds divine! Looking forward to hearing your take on the election. Simply cannot believe Vance won here. And all the other seats? Oh my god. So glad Beth Bigham lost; she is a terrible person, I can tell you from experience here in Hudson. I mean just a hateful human being. I think the young people really came in droves nationwide to support good causes; Ohio just couldn't make it. I can't imagine young people wanting to move here; I know my son has already moved away, and my daughter and SIL are soon to follow. It's a shame but I fully understand it. I would also, to be honest, move back home to the East Coast but simply cannot afford it. I think it's such a privileged view, isn't it, when people say to those of us in places like Ohio, Texas, etc., to "just move"...sometimes it's not that easy.
ReplyDeleteElle--I don't know if I have it in me to do an entire post on the midterms and still have my Zen when I finish. Ohio is so bloody red now, thanks to so much corruption and gerrymandering, that we have almost no hope of a fair election anymore. Sometimes, I look at the individuals who have moved into the neighborhoods lately, and I feel like I'm living at the DMV.
DeleteLet's just say that I'm always the best dressed person at the grocery store without even trying.
Ohio will continue to lose all of its young, college-educated people. It's not where they want to be. Aside from a cheap cost of living overall, the policies and laws (and ongoing corruption) of its radical right make it abhorrent.
So many really terrible people won: Vance, Johnson in WI, Paul in KY (how !?), Grassley in IA, Rubio and DeSantis in FL, Jordan here...the list is endless. But we all know how reps win in OH--illegally gerrymandered maps. Sigh.
And even Uvalde voted overwhelmingly for Abbott in TX. Heartbreaking.
I will never, ever understand. I've stopped trying. I don't want to even try to think like that.