It's the middle of October and I am usually already giddy and pumped up about the holidays. Planning my lists, thinking of innovative gifts for others... but something's amiss. I am just lacking that holiday spirit. Perhaps it's the weather, or the change in my career at the moment. Perhaps it's just old age or the fact that K doesn't quite understand the holidays so I can't quite get the enjoyment from him yet.
Perhaps it's that it's too early to decorate for Christmas, but we didn't really want to invest in Halloween decor and I really need to paint my rooms before I can decorate them to begin with anyway... yes, perhaps it's that.
I'm looking for some innovative, creative holiday gift ideas. If anyone's got one, please share!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Relaxed and Rejuvenated
We arrived Monday afternoon. The sun was beating down and reflecting off the bay ever so delicately. Immediately, I knew this was going to be a good trip. My best friend and I spent the first week in October welcoming and embracing fall by visiting Sonoma wine country. Sweet tastes melted in my mouth and beautiful sights floated around me.
By luck, the city we stayed in was the split between Sonoma Valley wine country and Northern Sonoma aka Russian River Valley Wine Country. So, we hopped in our rented Prius and navigated one area each day. I have to say one thing about the wine country. It's hours are a little limiting in Sonoma... everything (and I mean everything) is pretty much only open from 10 to 5. This included the spa in our hotel, the only major disappointment of the vacation.
On the first day we went to a grand winery first. We upgraded to the reserved tasting - which was a smart move on our part, because we we're able to get a little special treatment and learned a lot about how to ensure that a bottle of wine we are about to open won't disappoint. Then we went to the lovely plaza, stopped at a fantastic little cheese store, at lunch at a very California - style restaurant and did a little browsing. Then we topped our day off at a boutique winery. (The results were so-so.)
The next day we ventured off early in the morning to have breakfast at a "world-famous" bakery. While my scone was pure delish, I can't say that the bakery blew me away with character. Then it was off to our first winery of the day, a smaller winery tucked away at the base of the mountain. It was the only winery with complimentary tasting... gentle, smooth wine, but I think the bottles had been opened for three days, so no tannins really remained. Then, based on our sommelier's suggestion, we went to another winery nearby... this was a mistake. While we were lured with the appeal of an outside tasting, the women who served us was already a little too under the bubbly. The wine was bitter, and when two people who were done before us refused to purchase any wine, she got a little bitter. However, there was an odd couple at the end of the bar who appeared to imbibe in all the wines and were planning on spending their day there. After this exciting endeavor, we went to an urban-esque winery that had food and wine pairings. While the wine wasn't bad, and the food was okay, it didn't do much to make me want to purchase a bottle. So... we made way to the Healdsburg plaza for lunch.
After lunch we went to the biggest name winery of our tour. This was a most delightful winery, with lush gardens and a private garden tour, we felt like queens (sort of...). Then afterwards, we indulged in a special tasting and my tongue danced with flavors.
In the end, I brought home 7 bottles of liquid pleasure from my trip. (Thank goodness, my luggage did not exceed the weight parameters.) It was peaceful, relaxing and a much-needed vacation.
The flight home was horrendous, but shows how the airlines can't be in that much trouble if customer service is not of a concern. Alas, that is for another day!
By luck, the city we stayed in was the split between Sonoma Valley wine country and Northern Sonoma aka Russian River Valley Wine Country. So, we hopped in our rented Prius and navigated one area each day. I have to say one thing about the wine country. It's hours are a little limiting in Sonoma... everything (and I mean everything) is pretty much only open from 10 to 5. This included the spa in our hotel, the only major disappointment of the vacation.
On the first day we went to a grand winery first. We upgraded to the reserved tasting - which was a smart move on our part, because we we're able to get a little special treatment and learned a lot about how to ensure that a bottle of wine we are about to open won't disappoint. Then we went to the lovely plaza, stopped at a fantastic little cheese store, at lunch at a very California - style restaurant and did a little browsing. Then we topped our day off at a boutique winery. (The results were so-so.)
The next day we ventured off early in the morning to have breakfast at a "world-famous" bakery. While my scone was pure delish, I can't say that the bakery blew me away with character. Then it was off to our first winery of the day, a smaller winery tucked away at the base of the mountain. It was the only winery with complimentary tasting... gentle, smooth wine, but I think the bottles had been opened for three days, so no tannins really remained. Then, based on our sommelier's suggestion, we went to another winery nearby... this was a mistake. While we were lured with the appeal of an outside tasting, the women who served us was already a little too under the bubbly. The wine was bitter, and when two people who were done before us refused to purchase any wine, she got a little bitter. However, there was an odd couple at the end of the bar who appeared to imbibe in all the wines and were planning on spending their day there. After this exciting endeavor, we went to an urban-esque winery that had food and wine pairings. While the wine wasn't bad, and the food was okay, it didn't do much to make me want to purchase a bottle. So... we made way to the Healdsburg plaza for lunch.
After lunch we went to the biggest name winery of our tour. This was a most delightful winery, with lush gardens and a private garden tour, we felt like queens (sort of...). Then afterwards, we indulged in a special tasting and my tongue danced with flavors.
In the end, I brought home 7 bottles of liquid pleasure from my trip. (Thank goodness, my luggage did not exceed the weight parameters.) It was peaceful, relaxing and a much-needed vacation.
The flight home was horrendous, but shows how the airlines can't be in that much trouble if customer service is not of a concern. Alas, that is for another day!
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