Home Again!

So I went away for the weekend. Just a quick weekend trip to be with my loving spouse. And this is what I come home to.

Once they realized it was not me and not the pet sitter (Thanks again Greta) they started chatting me up through the window. And I had to take a few of these because my little stripey cat moved around A LOT.

You'd have thought I'd been gone for weeks instead of the few days that I was gone. I needed a crow bar to get them away.

-Michelle

What Is This White Stuff?

So this month we actually got snow. And I don't mean just a dusting of it either. This does not happen all that often in my area. So people do tend to freak.

This area just is not prepared. We don't have that many snow plows. And salt for the roads? Forget about it. Sigh!

The cats were a bit bewildered by it. While Kaiser enjoyed exploring it, as long as he could get back inside quickly.

Pumpkin really wanted to go check out that stuff,

but mean old mom wouldn't let him.

He'll just have to be content with staring out and dreaming.

Of course it's all gone now. But it was really pretty while it lasted. And the kids across the street built a really cool snow fort while it lasted.

Have You Ever Wondered...

How your wine gets in the bottle? We were lucky enough to stop by our favorite winery, Ingleside, and get to see the bottling in progress. And yes they were kind enough to let me video it.

Our New Year's Eve

So for our New Year's Eve celebration we decided to make a tri tip roast for dinner this time around. I know my picture isn't the best. My batteries were low and I couldn't use my flash. We got the idea from a friend who makes them and found a recipe on the web.
We served it with Ingleside's Special Reserev Petit Verdot. Which is so good!

So good in fact that our buddy, Greta, drank it. And she's not a big wine drinker.

We barely made it to midnight. And switched from the Three Stooges marathon to watch the ball drop.

A side note: In my opinion I think Dick Clark needs to step away from the limelight. I'd like to remember you in a better light than the one I saw. He screwed up the count down for goodness sake.

So as most of the East Coast was hit with snow over this past weekend, all we got was rain. And lots of it. These pictures are in a Norfolk neighborhood. I didn't realize that I was going to need a boat for the winter.

Ingleside Vineyards Book Signing

So on December 5th Mr. Carl Flemer signed copies of his books, Four Centuries of Little Known Washington Parish History and Birthplace of the Nation: A Story Worth Telling, at Ingleside Vineyards. The only place that you can get these books, it would seem is at Ingleside.

So Jim and I jumped at the chance to have the author, of two books we have enjoyed, sign our book.

Yet again I forgot my camera. Luckily Amy Otis had a camera on hand and was taking pictures. I only wished she'd have warned me because I'm a wreck. Ah well you can't have it all.

Amy was quite handy with that camera of hers. She managed to get Doug Flemer, Carl Flemer and Bill Swain for a photo op. If you are interested in who these fine gentlemen are then please click here.

We did enjoy our visit to Ingleside, even if it is a 2.5 hour drive one way. We got a chance to sit down with Bill Swain, the winemaker, and chat. He is, after all, my favorite winemaker. No bias here I swear. We got to see some old friends. And, of course, purchase some wonderful wines.

And I end this blog with one more photo of Mr. Flemer enjoying a glass of Ingleside's Reserve Petit Verdot. A new favorite in our household.

The Season Has Begun

I know we are inundated with Christmas before December gets here. I think I've actually been trying to ignore it this year for some reason. But now I can't, because my brother-in-law has done this.

Good job Phillip!

-Michelle