Wine a Little, You'll Feel Better

It is no surprise to anyone who knows us, that Duane and I love wine----especially Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon by Robert Mondavi.  So, at the urging of my son Adam, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, we have been trying to "branch" out a little. 

 

After one of Adam and Melissa's trips to wine country, they gifted us with a bottle of Fess Parker, complete with Davy Crocket's coonskin cap, and etched glasses.  Yes, Fess Parker started his own winery in Santa Barbara, and played the legendary Davy Crocket for many years on TV.

 

 

Since then, Duane and I have done a little tasting on our own, and have discovered the magical and extensive variety of wines at the some of the thousands of wineries in California.

 

 

Pictured here is Leoness Cellars in Temecula, California.  It is a quaint and beautiful spot with gorgeous landscaping, a chateau setting and a fabulous restaurant.  On a whim we decided to visit this winery which is one where Adam and Melissa are members.

 

 

When we let Adam and Melissa know we were in Temecula, they couldn't wait to join us.

 

 

We met them at Callaway Winery, which was one of the first in Temecula.

 

 

There, we had our first glimpse of an automatic wine tasting machine.  You just slide your credit card, and are able to taste as many varieties as you wish.  This comes in handy when there are 3 deep at the wine tasting counters.

 

 

Adam also told us a lot about the different types of grapes, and we got to see the various vines.  Here's Duane in front of his fave----cabernet.

 

 

Although it was a cold and windy day with many clouds, the vistas were amazing, and here you see a smattering of the grape vines that populate thousands of acres in the area.

 

 

Our last stop that day, was at Europa Village, a fairly new winery where Adam and Melissa are members.  They actually participated in the harvest one night, and are shown here with their friends Gregg and Rachel.  I wonder if we will end up doing this someday too???

 

 

Now we are getting all sorts of wine gifts----this one from son Scott and family.  I'm happy to say that we have also become members of the Leoness Cellars Winery and are awaiting our next shipment soon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ducks Ducks Ducks

We definitely have a duck theme going on in our lives.  I've always liked them, and my favorite child's book is Make Way For Ducklings.  For Easter, when I was a child, my parents would present me with live baby ducks.  They would be cute for a while, then grow into the larger white variety.
My Uncle Leo would then come over and tell us he was taking them to a farm............hmmmmm.

 

Duane loved ducks at an early age too.  He took a different approach, however, and started hunting them when he got his first shotgun.  In Wisconsin, they were plentiful, and his mother loved making a duck dinner during hunting season.

 

 

Duck hunting requires lots of equipment, including the latest in camouflage sportswear.

 

 

You also need to indoctrinate the younger generation in the fine points of shooting.

 

 

Duck hunting can be peaceful and beautiful at dawn, especially with a loyal dog at your side.

(Paul's dog Jake in lower right corner.)

 

 

Ducks are everywhere in our house, and even in our pool.

 

 

Just had to get a duck chlorinator last year.  The problem was that it attracted real ducks and they can make a real mess of your pool.

 

 

When all is said and done, it's great to have the hunter become the cook.

 

 

Then, when hunting season is over, it's back to Make Way For Ducklings!