cat shepard

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is still windy, but the sun has shown its face for the first time since Friday! Last night was a bit blustery, but we made it around the Festival of Lights & even got to see Santa! The newest addition - clearly Santa’s GPS is pointing to my place. 😎 Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying that your visit with the neurosurgeon leads you down a path to pain relief. I admire your strength and determination. Gym, Bindi walks, chores & starting to think about what to bring North with me for the Holiday. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. And those dealing with the loss of a loved one. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** Chaos Theory 2020 red I won a bottle of this Napa red blend at my local wine bar’s charity raffle. It is bold, but smooth with a rich, lingering finish. I used the 2020 vintage info because it is ready to drink with a decent number of distributors. Online prices start at $32.99. I apologize for the screenshots of the additional info. Winemaker notes Chaos Theory began as a one-off blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel that David created for our first participation in the annual Premiere Napa Valley trade auction. It made such a splash he went back to the cellar to dial in the details toward making it a permanent addition to our lineup. Over the years this proprietary blend has become a shape-shifter, each vintage its own unique blend. This 2020 vintage is officially our most chaotic — and possibly most miraculous — Chaos Theory ever due to a wild range of circumstances that impacted that production cycle. Such has been our journey through the world of wine, a constant adventure that reminds us year in and year out that no matter how random or chaotic things may seem, amidst the mayhem there is reason if not always rhyme… and from each season, great wine.

Thank you!

Thank you for all the helpful information! Do you get a map of muster stations with your boarding docs? If not, how does one find the correct muster station?

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! My part of Florida got lists of rain and though it was windy, we only had brief periods of intense winds. Hope my fellow Floridians are all well. This morning it is still windy, but no rain - yet. I am sure my drive to the gym will be interesting. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying that your meeting the neurosurgeon finds a path to permanent pain relief and great night sleeps. Gym, Aldi, branch patrol, Bindi walks, and dinner at a friend’s. If weather permits, we will walk around a local town center that does an amazing light display with donations supporting a local charity. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain & conditions and grieving losses of loved ones. @bennybear Brenda thank you for yesterday’s amazing post❤️. @smitty34877Thinking of you & Tana, Terry. @grapau27 Graham, my condolences to you and Pauline. Bless you both for helping your friends. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ 2021 Amity Vineyards Willamette Valley white Pinot Noir Yes, @StLouisCruisers Sandi white Pinot Noirs are real! I took some liberties with the vintage & used the 2021 vintage instead of the 2020. I found much more info on this vintage. I have enjoyed this white Pinot noir. An interesting concept, but it shares a great many attributes as its red cousin. Thousands of consumers give it an excellent- superb rating. The one critic review I found rated it very good. I found a decent number of distributors with prices starting at $18.99. Winemaker Notes The Amity White Pinot Noir was sourced from a mix of vineyards located predominately in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. The fruit was picked in the cool early morning and gently pressed to minimize color and tannin extraction yet provide the subtle layers of tart and juicy fruit. After settling for 24 hours, the juice is cleanly racked and fermented in a stainless-steel tank. We age this wine sur lie to create generous yet soft texture, and provide balance to its mouthwatering finish. 89 Wine Enthusiast

Gee, Roy - I don’t think it is creepy. And drafting your own ensures that all the key points you cherish are mentioned - such as how much you love to cruise!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! Looks as if we are in for some bad weather, but not as bad as @cunnorl Charlene is. My Bindi will not be happy. An increasing number of water birds have been sighted- probably trying to escape the strong onshore winds. Here are some pics of a group of Ibis wandering on my street yesterday afternoon. At one point they were walking down the middle of the street. Our idea of rush hour. Quite comical. Vanessa thank you for keeping up with our happenings. Praying that the neurosurgeon can find a path to permanent pain relief and full nights’ sleep. Zumba, Bindi walks, battening down the hatches and watching what Mither Nature has in store for us. Should keep me busy. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions; anyone traveling today and those dealing with the loss of loved ones. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********* 2019 Full Moon Midnight Cellars Paso Robles This Paso Robles red blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, & merlot has a great many consumer fans. I would definitely love to try it. Available from a decent number of distributors with online prices starting at $16.99. Winemaker’s notes Very pleasing dark garnet color with violet accents. the nose is fresh and fruity with pleasing aromatics of red raspberry and strawberry. the mouthfeel is smooth and rich flavors of red fruit, minerals, and spice mingle in an approachable way. light, fruity, and fun! drink now thru 2025 with pizza, spaghetti, cheeseburgers, or whatever inspires you in the moment.

Thank you for the visual!

Thank you!

Bon Voyage!

Safe travels tomorrow. The wind is supposed to make it challenging on the East Coast. We expect rain, but the storm’s track will determine how much.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! Glad to read that you will have internet while on your cruises! Super windy yesterday and today. Still not sure about the rain tomorrow. @aliaschief Bruce, be careful out there. Really strong wind gusts! I have to celebrate Cat Herders Day! My CC name comes from my TNR days in Maryland! When I first moved there, I lived in an Annapolis condo that had a large number of feral and abandoned cats in the neighborhood. I hooked up with a local TNR group to get it under control. One Christmas a young neighbor, who helped me feed them, gave me a card thanking me for being a Cat Shepard - I kept the spelling when I joined CC a few years later. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our happenings. Praying that you get relief for your pain and sleep deprivation soon. Gym, Bindi walks, chores and dinner with family & friends at our favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate the season. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. And those dealing with the loss of loved ones. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today! ******* L. Mawby Tradition I have failed you, Dailyites! I could not find any distributor info about Tradition. I did find info about this vintner’s 50th Anniversary sparkling wine and another of their sparkling wines, but they do not even mention Tradition on their own website! The Anniversary sparkling wine costs $35.00, the other one costs $19.99. This is my first wine from Michigan! BTW this vintner also sells a wine named Sex!😎 But we know it exists, or at least existed because Wine Enthusiast rated it 87 back in 2019. Made predominantly from Chardonnay with 10% Riesling, this displays autolytic aromas of sourdough, with gooseberries, lime-pith and grapefruit notes. Bubbles are large and foamy on the slippery palate and offer restrained flavors of lemon oil, lemon curd, almond croissant and biscuit. Grapefruit zest introduces the finish transitioning to puff pastry, pine nut and just a whisper of bitter lime.

Safe travels, Jake!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is currently 64 and cloudy, after a night of off & on hard rain. Not sure what today will bring besides wind. We still might get a great deal of rain this weekend- the weather gurus are not sure. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us! Praying that you begin to benefit from your new meds & that next week’s visit to the neurosurgeon gives you a plan for permanent pain relief. Gym, Bindi walks, volunteering at my local food bank, and chores should keep me busy. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those dealing with debilitating pain or conditions. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry! Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Sharon in AZ Sharon & Craig Happy Anniversary! May we each find a reason to smile today! ****** Liberated 2012 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon If you cannot find the 2012 vintage - grab a bottle of the 2013! Not only is it higher rated, it is a few dollars cheaper. I might taste this one, but prefer my Cab in a blend. A few online distributors with online prices starting at $13.99. Note: the 2013 was given a score of 89 & online prices start at $9.99. 85 Wine Enthusiast This Cabernet comes in three different labels, displaying the archetypes of the explorer, the business man and the adventurer. In taste, the wine is smoky and soft, with plum, cassis and dark cherry all making a play.

Safe travels Maureen!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is 20 degrees warmer than yesterday morning! What a crazy weather pattern! Major wind warnings & last night by the beach was wild! Good thing we didn’t have to walk far! Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying that you find relief from your pain, soon. And that you are able to get a decent night’s sleep. Gym, Bindi walks, chores, and HIIT class should keep me busy. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ******** Delatour Cuvée Premier Chardonnay 2021 I did not find much info about this Chardonnay, but consumers think it is very good. It is easy to find and priced two it is an easy one to try. Widely available with online prices starting at $7.99. Distributor’s notes Aromas of white flowers, almonds and exotic fruit with flavors of crisp apples and pears. Give it a slight chill and enjoy with roasted chicken, turkey, shellfish on the half shell, salmon and shrimp. Clean, pleasant and refreshing.

Did you happen to notice any rowing machines?

Rich, thank you for today’s FR & D! I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you do. I admire your openness to posts that find fault or correct you, and I wish the poster would find a better way to let you know. Most of us know there are nice ways or even fun ways to let someone know a correction is needed. Ok vent over. It is 45, dry, and no wind - yet. It is supposed to be windier than yesterday! I needed a couple of layers even in the full sun. It was almost comical when Bindi & I were out. I would unzip the windbreaker, when we were out of the wind’s reach & then zip it back up when the wind hit us. Even Bindi started looking at me as if I were nuts. Vanessa, I don’t know what meds your PCP will be prescribing, but I hope they help you sleep longer. And I am praying that the neurosurgeon can find a solution to your pain. Gym, Bindi walks, my Plummer is coming to fix my leaky faucet, and then celebrating the season with a group of friends at our local wine bar. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain or conditions, and grieving the loss of someone dear. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** Rocco Del Dragone Aglianico Campania 2020 I used the 2020 vintage info, since this appears to be the most recently released. This lovely Italian red wine is rich, smooth and leaves a wonderful lingering finish. No harshness whatsoever. Many fans amongst consumer ranks. I enjoyed this by itself and with food. Available from a decent number of distributors. Online prices start at $15.99. Vintners notes Deep ruby-red colour, with aromas and flavours of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee, pepper and mineral. Full bodied yet amazingly smooth and elegant. Best when served with meats, game and strong cheeses. 100% Aglianico ALCOHOL: 13% Selected low-yielding vineyards in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of Southern Italy. AGE OF VINES: In average 20 years old. PLANT TRAINING AND DENSITY: Cordon Spur. Approximately 4000 plants per hectare with a yield of 1.8 to 2.0 kg of grapes per plant. Manual harvest occurs in late October, early November. VINIFICATION: After de-stemming, the grapes are not crushed, allowing them to remain intact, reducing damage to the skins and optimizing colour extraction. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 25°C for 10 days. Both remontage and delestage are carried out in the very early stages of fermentation in order to achieve soft extraction of aromas and gentle tannins. At each delestage a part of the pips is removed so by the 4th day of fermentation no pips remain, thus avoiding the harsh tannins that can be extracted from the pips. After the 6th day of fermentation, when the wine has reached an approximate alcohol level of 10%, the skins are completely removed. This is done to avoid the harsh and bitter tannins usually associated with this grape variety. After racking, malolactic bacteria are added to induce a second fermentation. AGEING: 30% of the wine is placed in American barriques for 10 months.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! Well we are 20 degrees cooler this morning. It was 47 when Bindi & I went out. And it is WINDY! Usually the wind doesn’t start until the sun comes up. So this will be interesting. At least the sun will warm it up a bit. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with our happenings. Praying that you get some relief from your pain soon. I do not know how long I could function on as little sleep as you get. Gym, Bindi walks, chores, making cookies for tomorrow’s gathering of friends at our local wine bar. Should keep me busy. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. @57redbird hope your surgery goes smoothly & your recovery is quick! . ❤️ @smitty34877 Thinking of you, Tana & your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** 12 e mezzo Varvaglione primitive puglia This organic red wine from Italy sounds very interesting. Consumers think it is an excellent choice. Not sure about the “coconut” aspect, since I am not a fan of sweet wines, but I would definitely taste it. Widely available with online prices starting at $18.53. Winemakers notes ALCOHOL 12,5% vol. PRODUCTION vinification by maceration with controlled temperature at 24°-26°C. After malolactic fermentation, brief refinement in French barrels. COLOUR Intense red, with violet hints reminiscent of fresh red fruit. BOUQUET On the nose, fruity notes of currants and blackberries elegantly join an aromatic bouquet of nutmeg, liquorice, chocolate and vanilla. TASTE Its low alcoholic degree is supported by a slightly acid structure that makes it balanced and long, leaving the palate full of coconut and fruity notes.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It is already 66 here this morning. High humidity & rain is expected. Temperatures should drop again tomorrow. Lately our temps have been crazy. Vanessa, thank you for taking care of our lists so diligently. I pray that some day soon you are free of pain and get a great night’s sleep! Gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, and chores should keep me busy! It appears that I can not reduce the size of this one and have the wording legible, so I apologize for the size of this next one…. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** 2016 Bear Flag Eureka Red Batch No 2 This red blend packs a mouthful of flavor, though I do not remember any notes of “pencil lead”.😎. Smooth, almost full bodied, and a lovely finish. Widely available with online prices starting at $19.95. 90 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate The NV Eureka! Red Blend is made up of 57% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Sangiovese and a small portion of other varieties, aged in both French and American oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, black raspberries, kirsch and wild blueberries notes come bounding out of the glass with nuances of pencil lead, spice box and dried Provence herbs plus a waft of camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of spicy black and red fruit preserves flavors, finishing long and savory. 6,300 cases produced.

Lenda, Steve really took amazing pics! Wow!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, not sure Steve would be interested, but supposedly this hole in the sun is the size of six Earths! I would imagine it would be spectacular when viewing through your own telescope!

Bon Voyage! I will be following your travels. Very interested in your opinions of the ships, events, crew & anything you want to share!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! Won’t be long now before you head off on your newest adventure! It is a lovely morning here. Already 58. We had an evening of light rain here last night. But it was still nice enough to enjoy dinner & wine on the deck. Vanessa, thank you for taking such great care of our lists, in spite of the pain you are dealing with. I pray a solution is found - soon. Gym, Bindi walks, chores, and making the salad to bring to a friend’s for dinner - we are celebrating another friend’s birthday. And of course there will be wine. 😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those with debilitating pain and conditions. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** Blue Canyon Estate Grown Pinot Noir Monterey 2021 I used the 2021 vintage info since it should be the easiest to find. This PN was received a 92 from Wine Enthusiast & consumers think it is very good. Widely available with prices starting at $14.99. Vintners notes Medium-bodied and approachable with a silky texture and long, layered finish. Lush and elegant cherry and raspberry flavors show on the palate with hints of vanilla, oak spice and rose petal on the nose.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Rich! It looks to be another beautiful day in the neighborhood. Back up to 51 this morning when Bindi & I headed out. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with our happenings! Praying that a solution is found for your pain - soon! Gym, Bindi walks, chores and having friends over for dinner with wine, of course. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. @smitty34877 Terry hugs to you & Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Debbie, congrats to you & Sue on the upsell! @maryandmarge Maryell welcome to the Daily! May we each find a reason to smile today! ******** Natale Verga Sauvignon Trevenezie This Sauvignon Blanc from the Veneto region of Italy has lots of consumer fans. It sounds refreshing and perfect for pairing with certain foods. I would love to try it. And it is certainly priced for trying! Widely available with prices starting at $7.99. Distributor notes Jasmine and passion fruit on the nose. Exotic and tropical! This hails from the Veneto region of Italy. It’s tart, dry, crisp and outstanding! Pomelo, ruby red grapefruit, Italian pears, anise and lemon zest. This might be our new favorite! Serve this with a lemon orzo baked chicken, a salume & olive platter, or Romano cheese. This has a gorgeous tangerine finish.