cat shepard

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is already humid out. Hope it brings some rain my way. Lots of storms lately, but none dropping much rain around me. A very hazy morning. No pretty colors today. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying that you feel great - soon. Gym, Bindi walks, prep for tomorrow, chores, pool time. Prayers for all who need our support. Tana, I was sorry to read that you and Terry had a tough night on Wednesday. You are both such amazing women! I pray that you have a great day today & enjoy some meals. Chuck, praying that you have a great day, enjoy your food & listen to Annie. Prayers for all the caregivers. May they have the strength needed and may they take great care of themselves. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************* Tablelands Sauvignon Blanc 2022 I used the 2022 vintage info, since it should be perfect to enjoy now. This New Zealand SB is easy to find and priced to try. It sounds delightful on a hot, humid evening- perfect for Florida! Online prices start at $10.49. Distributor notes Medium-bodied, fruity with a dry finish. Straw color with green highlights a nose of ripe tropical fruit, lime zest and stone fruit. The palate is concentrated with flavors of nectarines, apricot and citrus fruit. The long full finish is balanced with vibrant acidity. Pair with fish, chicken, artichoke, asparagus, herb sauces, salads dressed with light vinaigrette.

Dixie, do a search on YouTube for videos of inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. I tried to copy the url, but failed. Lots of steps to get to the entrance. But the first part inside is not too bad.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! The Sahara dust is here in force. Though it makes me cough a bit after Bindi & I have been out in it for awhile, it is creating spectacular sunrises. Here’s this morning’s for example… Vanessa thank you for keeping up with our happenings. Praying that your medical team fixes you up fast. Haircut, gym, Bindi walks, chores, and pool time. I need to start prepping for Saturday. I am hosting a Limon Drop fest for my neighbor who is departing for Utah next month. Prayers for all who need our support. Tana, praying that you have a good day and that you enjoy your meals! Chuck, praying that Annie doesn’t tire out. She takes such great care of you. More than you even know. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Roy, congrats on those PSA levels! May we each find a reason to smile today. ************** Tablas Creek 2021 Esprit Blanc de Tablas White (Adelaida District) I won a bottle of ChateauNeuf du Pape blanc at a raffle last month, and it is an amazing white blend! I just recently bought a couple bottles for “my cellar”. This California white blend is made from some of the same varietals, and sounds just as lovely. It is a bit pricey, but I would love a taste. Online prices start at $54.95. Winemaker notes The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2021 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is our flagship white blend, chosen from the top lots of five white Rhone varieties propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate. Roussanne provides the core richness, minerality, and flavors of honey and spice, while Grenache Blanc adds green apple and anise flavors, lush mouthfeel and bright acids. Picpoul Blanc adds pineapple brightness and saline minerality, Bourboulenc provides limestoney, citrusy lift and Clairette Blanche brings clean fruitiness and chalky minerality. ACCOLADES 94 points, Wine of the Vintage; "The ultimate food-friendly white with a masterful balance of freshness and depth.": Decanter (Nov. 2023) 94 points; "Tablas Creek manages blends like few other domestic producers": Wine Enthusiast (Nov. 2023) 94 points; "All in all, an impressive performance.": (Oct. 2023) 94 points; "seductive ... Vibrant and focused": JamesSuckling.com (Oct. 2023) 94 points; "Serious and seriously delicious": Decanter (Aug. 2023) 96 points; "will easily go head to head with some of the finest examples of Chateauneuf Blanc": Owen Bargreen (Aug. 2023) 97 points; "perfectly balanced with a vibrant yet lush texture": BevX (Jun. 2023) 94 points; "This is texturally thrilling": Vinous (May 2023) 94-96 points; "concentrated yet detailed flavors, mouthwatering acidity and a touch of textural bitterness... a dynamic wine": Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Dec. 2022) TASTING NOTES An immediately appealing nose of poached pear, crystallized pineapple, honeysuckle and a touch of sweet oak. On the palate, luscious and textured, with honey, green apple, and graham cracker flavors, solid acidity, and a little dancing mango-like tropicality from the Picpoul. Fresh and lifted, but long and textured. A charming Esprit Blanc that will be hard to resist young but which should also do beautifully with time in the cellar. Drink now and over the next two decades.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is another lovely morning, but there is already a hint of humidity in the air. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Hopefully you will feel better. Soon. Gym, Bindi walks, chores and maybe some pool time. Prayers for all who need our support. Tana, praying that today is a good day & you want to eat. Chuck, praying that your medical team finds a better medication for you and that today is a good day! Cheers to all who are celebrating! I am putting you here today, Debbie! Thrilled to read the ablation has helped. Sandi, those boys are precious! May we each find a reason to smile today! ************ Mionetto-Luxury-Superiore-di-Cartizze This Italian Prosecco has received numerous prestigious awards. It sounds lovely. Has a great many consumer fans and has a decent price. Online prices start at $34.98. Winemaker’s notes Founded in 1887 by Francesco Mionetto in the small village of Valdobbiadene, Mionetto has an established reputation for quality, tradition and innovation. In the heart of the Prosecco region, Mionetto produces exceptional wines with consistent national and international acclaim. PRODUCTION AREA: Hills of the famous and very limited area of Cartizze, in the heart of the Prosecco Superiore DOCG Valdobbiadene zone. A portion of territory particularly happy for its position, soil and microclimate, where the Glera grape reaches its maximum qualitative expression. REGION: Veneto APPELLATION: Cartizze, D.O.C.G. The select grapes for this limited production sparkling wine are grown exclusively in a 246-acre area in the steepest hills of Valdobbiadene. GRAPE VARIETY: Glera D.O.C.G. Cartizze HARVEST PERIOD: Grapes are harvested in the second half of September VINIFICATION: Wine made from the soft pressing of the grapes with must separated from the skins. Secondary fermentation (Charmat method) in temperature-controlled stainless steel. APPEARANCE: Golden bright reflection with a fine, intense perlage BOUQUET: Intense aromas of pear and apple with undertones of citrus PALATE: Soft, creamy and fresh with an aftertaste of sugared almonds ALCOHOL: 11% SERVING TEMPERATURE: We recommend serving it gradually chilled to a temperature of 6°- 8° C. FOOD PAIRINGS: Well-suited to important occasions, it makes an excellent accompaniment to desserts, cakes, pastries, fruit salads and tarts. Also matches admirably with shellfish and elegant fish dishes.

Wonderful news, Sandi!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! Another lovely morning. Yesterday was the first day with no lightening in awhile. The Sahara dust cloud has got most of us coughing & our full moon was quite hazy. But our weather experts believe it helps keep tropical storms from forming. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I am glad your doctor is concerned and I hope a solution is found! Gym, Bindi walks, chores, a trip to the local beach’s glass recycling bins with all the glass from last week’s neighborhood party and then a visit to my local wine bar. Prayers for all who need our support. @dfish Debbie praying that all goes well today! Tana, praying you have a good day and are hungry. Hope the rice pudding tempts you! Chuck, praying your doctor finds the right meds that help, but do not cause the edema. Hope you keep up your appetite. Prayers for all the caregivers. I don’t know how you do it with or without support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Happy Anniversary, Canada! May we each find a reason to smile today! ************** Robert Mondavi Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection (Its new name is Vint) It is amazing the difference a bourbon or rum barrel can make for aging red wines. I appreciate the suggestion to refrigerate it for 30 minutes. I wonder if it needs to breathe that long, too. It is perfectly priced to experiment with. Online prices hover around $10. I saw one sale for $5.99. Distributor notes Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine is a complex and decadent cabernet wine. This limited-release California red wine blends the craftsmanship of California winemaking with the Southern tradition of bourbon whiskey aging. Crafted using coastal fruit picked at the peak of ripeness from California's Monterey County, this Robert Mondavi red wine features decadent aromas of ripe blackberry. With select lots aged in a combination of new oak barrels as well as used bourbon barrels from a renowned Kentucky distillery, each bottle of wine reflects the expressive character of this original alternative to barrel aging. Deep flavors of black cherry and blackberry are accompanied by notes of vanilla, dried herbs, brown sugar, and toasty oak in this finely aged wine. Bold and flavorful, this cabernet wine tastes of ripe blackberry cobbler, blueberry pie, praline, and sweet vanilla custard with hints of brown sugar, caramel, mocha, coffee, and smoke. Serve this decadent California red wine at a wine and cheese party, or pair it with a charcuterie board and hearty pasta dishes. For optimal enjoyment of this red wine, refrigerate this 750 mL wine bottle for 30 minutes before serving. Wine history…

Happy Birthday, Dixie! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health, cruises & cocktails!

Graham, thank you for sharing these! I appreciate your ideas!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! A lovely morning graced with the presence of the full moon. Lots of deer out enjoying breakfast. We had a great deal of sheet lightning last night. No thunder; no rain - just a light show. Vanessa, thank you for taking such great care of our lists. Hopefully you feel a bit better. Gym, Bindi walks, chores, maybe some pool time. Normal day! Prayers for all who need our support. Praying that Tana and Chuck each have a good day and eat well. Prayers for our caregivers. Who give so much, even when exhausted. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Markus Altenburger 2019 Gritschenberg Blaufränkisch (Leithaberg) This Austrian red might be too much for me, but I would love a taste. It is elusive, but I found one online distributor who ships to me. It is also a bit pricey - the distributor I found offers it for $49.00. 96 Wine Enthusiast Smoldering charcoal note opens up this velvety red, followed by notes of ganache and cassis. Its core is pretty muscular, as this firms up with the ripe tannins, begging for a bit more time and patience, but nevertheless, it is still quite impressive at this stage. The wine shows a slight perky mineral on the distinctive finish. It will benefit from cellaring, yet with the right meal, it would be a great companion. Best after 2025.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! A lovely morning. Bindi & I encountered a lot of critters on this morning’s walk. Vanessa, thank you for helping us all stay on top of what is happening! Gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, lots of chores to catch up on. Might find time to hop in the pool, if the T-storms come later in the day. Prayers for all who need our support. Tana, praying that you have a great day, and get hungry! Chuck, praying that you have a pain free day, and find something to whet your appetite. Jacqui, hope you can already see an improvement. Prayers for all our caregivers. And their supporters. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile. ***************** Duckhorn 2019 Monitor Ledge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) This California vintner is world renowned, and this wine adds to their reputation. Although it appears easy to find, at least a few online sites are sold out. It is outside of my budget anyway. Online prices start at $105.00. 96 Wine Enthusiast - #1 Wine of the year! With a crème de cassis flavor and a velvety texture that soothes the palate, this rich and indulgent wine is easy to love. The charming black fruits, baking spices and cassis notes are well matched by rounded tannins. Best through 2033.

Safe travels Sandi & Dennis!

Holy cow! I am so sorry. The one good thing is that the drive should be nice. And the airline owes you!

Sandi, I am so sorry! What a mess. I wish you LOTS of luck!🤞🏻

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is a lovely morning with a bit of humidity, but the breeze is just waking up. Last night’s farewell for my neighbor was just wonderful. Lots of great stories. Many people there have lived on this street 20+ years. And this sub-division is only 24 years old. I am not the newest kid on the block, but I have only been here 8 years. We all made it home before the rain started. We had quite a T-storm last night. Vanessa thank you for all you do. You really help me keep up with everything. Just my usual Saturday. I confess I am looking forward to today. I am so happy that Brayden was on the first Delta flight to Boston yesterday, because there were so many flights that had to be canceled. They still made it up to Maine in time to go boating and swim! He also had lots of fun with his Uncle & Aunt’s puppy - Hobbes. I have just realized that the majority of my memes have the same theme. It won’t be difficult to guess what it is. Prayers for all who need our support. Tana, praying that you have a good day and are hungry enough to eat. Chuck, praying that you find more good things to whet your appetite and have a day without pain. Praying for all our caregivers. May they find the strength to continue. And may they not forget themselves. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ************ Torbreck Runrig Shiraz 2020 I used the 2020 vintage of this wine, since it should be easy to find and has an excellent rating. Outside of my budget, but I know I prefer my Shiraz/Syrah tempered with a bit of Viognier. I would love a taste. Fairly easy to find. Online prices start at $159.95. Winemaker Notes Aubergine core with a deep purple rim. Aromatics leap from the glass with great finesse and power yet with precision and focus. The lifted plum, black currant and dark cherry along with Turkish delight, star anise, earl grey tea and black olive combine with gorgeous plumes of subtle vanilla pod and cardamom aromas. The palate is dense, firm and powerful yet holdsincredibly balanced fruit intermingled with voluminous structure. One of the better RunRig’s from lower than normal yields. A wine for the cellar best after 2025-2050. Serve at 16C with delicious rich flavored cuisines. Blend: 98% Shiraz, 2% Viognier 97Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Tasting the RunRig beside the Descendant is always a wise move, in order to gain some contextual understanding of how they are similar and, perhaps more importantly, how they differ. This 2020 RunRig was sourced from six different vineyards across Barossa (in Lyndoch, Rowland Flat, Moppa, Ebenezer, Light Pass and Greenock) and includes a 2% "dosage" (as winemaker Ian Hongell described it) of Viognier. Matured for 30 months in a combination of new French oak (50%) and second and third fill barrels, the wine rests on its lees for that time. The lower percentage of Viognier here is a seductive and effective thing, adding just enough slick and polish to make this the sybaritic wine that it is, but little enough to allow the grunt, grit and muscle of the Shiraz from all those glorious locations to shine through. Despite the very long time in oak, the wine is balanced and excellent, big in almost every possible way but with an undeniable sense of class and length of flavor. Executed with detail and precision, this wine is clearly defined in its expression of house style. Rating:97+ 97James Suckling This is so aromatic with flowers, orange blossom, and black berries with sliced mushrooms and earth. Surreal. Medium to full body, with bark and blackberry character. Some bramble berry, too. Chewy and delicious. Old vine uniqueness. Some grapes come from vines as old as 1858. 96Wine Enthusiast Rich, evocative aromas of mulberry, blueberry, coffee bean and hot-cocoa mix lend approachability to what is otherwise a rich, dense wine, packed with flavor, but also with powerful, chalk dust tannins that need serious protein if opening now. Patience will be rewarded, however. Give this a few more years in bottle 93Wine Spectator Aromatic and distinctive, with oolong tea, sage and a touch of lavender, plus accents of salted toffee to complement the core of blueberry and blackberry notes. Delivers dense but fine-grained tannins, firming up on the finish, where cigar box notes linger.

Amazing picture, Brenda! I am not sure about my Sister. I asked Brayden on the way to Orlando this morning if she was relying on him more lately, or if it was just because it was late in the day? He wasn’t sure. Not only was she out of breath, but she didn’t seem to be thinking clearly. BUT, she had just spent two days helping a teenage 16 year old man, figure out what to pack for a 12 day vacation and his first solo trip with no airline person guiding him every step. She was nervous. But he has great instincts. This will be excellent for all of us. Thank you for asking. My Sister is very good at hiding things.