cat shepard

@Quartzsite Cruiser & @JazzyV Lenda & Vanessa, my Sister is in such a better place. Thank you for thinking of her. Encompass had lunch waiting for her when she arrived yesterday. And she loved her supper. She actually got to shower & wash her hair today for the first time since February 27th. She had three hours of PT/OT evaluation and tomorrow they will do a balance assessment. If all goes well, she will be able to get up on her own. And she got her first great night’s sleep last night. No constant interruptions or snoring roommate, or “neighbors” shouting. Now she has to do the work. She has let herself go physically, so she has a long way to go before being totally independent.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps. It is a lovely 58 this morning. Bindi walked & fed. Cats fed, stuff for my Sister collected and off to wait for the school bus. Then I will head home and start my day. Lots of stuff around the house has been neglected and I plan to do my taxes today. Prayers for all who need our support. Bless all the caregivers. @smitty34877 Terry - always thinking of you & Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. ******** Kunde 2021 Estate Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley) I need to taste this Zinfandel- the description makes me believe I will love it. $17.99 93 Wine Enthusiast Absolutely delicious, fruity and mouthcoating, this full-bodied and gentle-textured wine is easy to drink and enjoy on its own or with cheesy, meaty proteins. Pure raspberries, blackberries and plum jam flavors flow on a broad texture backed by light tannins.

Happy Birthday, Brenda! May your new year be filled with love, laughter, great health and a cruise, or two! @bennybear

Thank you, Terry! The transfer takes place at 11:30 this morning! Woo hoo! Keeping you, Tana, your entire family and all your caregivers in my prayers. ❤️

Running super late will check back later. ******** Mark West Pinot Noir Having had enjoyed a bottle or two of this California PN, I was stunned to see how easy to find and priced to try it is. The first two bottles I enjoyed were outside of Denali National Park. Online prices start at $10.98! Distributor notes The 2021 Mark West Pinot Noir is a classic, medium-bodied red wine grown in California’s northern and central regions. This wine brims with layers of red and dark cherry that are complemented by notes of toasted oak, brown spice and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is full and plush with a long, rewarding finish. WINERY: MARK WEST Mark West was founded in 1978 with one desire - to craft remarkable Pinot Noir that delivers exceptional quality at an affordable price. Our name, Mark West, is an ode to a region in the heart of Sonoma county, one of the world's best places to grow Pinot Noir. It was here that we started our winery and our passion for Pinot. Nothing worth obsessing over ever came easy. And that's certainly the case for Pinot Noir. The grape is an interesting one: It's thin-skinned and fickle, which means it's not easy to grow. Even the slightest change in temperature can throw it off, which is why we look for the best cool, dry climates when choosing our vineyards. But, when it's done right, the result is a wonderfully complex wine. The perfect Pinot, in an infinite number of expressions. It's unlike any other grape. Pinot Noir the grape is hard to grow, and once it enters the winery it's important to have a gentle hand during the winemaking process. Each and every aspect matters, which is why we have devoted ourselves to Pinot Noir—so we can get it right. To make the best Pinot Noir, we first gently destem and crush the grapes when they come into the winery. Daily punch-downs and pump-overs extract flavor and color. And after a light pressing we use French oak to marry the flavors you find naturally in Pinot Noir. At Mark West we focus on quality, and let the grapes speak for themselves. Each harvest is a new adventure, each crop is different, and each year we bring you the wines that you love.

Happy Birthday, Pauline! May your new year be filled with love, laughter, great health & cruises! @grapau27

Brenda, it is a Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid

Lenda,we do not have a definite time, yet, but tomorrow is THE DAY! Thank you and Steve both! The current place is horrible. The only saving grace are the weekday/night nurses. In addition to not getting supper one night, the nurses did not answer her call button for 27 minutes Saturday afternoon - not even to check to see what she needed. It was a fluke that we happened to see what time she pressed the button. Had it been an emergency and unable to call for help - who knows what would have happened. The cleanliness of the place left so much to be desired. Fruit juice/punch that was spilled Saturday evening was still there today, when I was helping to pack my Sister’s bag. Cups, straw wrappers littering the floor. I hope someone sends her a survey. I told her I would help her write some detailed comments. Her fingers are still sore from all the poking during the past two weeks. Encompass is like Heaven in comparison. Ann

Thank you Jacqui for today’s FR&D! Roy thank you for our maps. A cool 48 here this morning. My great nephew had to scramble to change his shorts for long pants when he heard the temp. 😎 Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. I can barely keep up with me these days. Hoping that you continue to see improvements. 5 hours of sleep is not enough for me. Had a chance to peek in earlier while waiting for the bus to pick up my GN. Good use of my time. I have a class today, then a visit to my Sister. I need to gas up at our new Costco. I have now used two tanks of gas since last September. Not too shabby. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 This Australian Cab has won some awards and is considered a “Best Buy” by several sites. I used the 2021 vintage because it has a decent number of distributors with online prices starting at $18.00. Winemaker Notes The wine has an aroma of rich blackcurrant, subtle spice, tomato leaf and a touch of eucalyptus. French oak maturation is also evident with subtle aromas of cedar and dark chocolate. Great intensity. It has distinctive blackcurrant and cassis fruit flavors. Subtle oak characters of cedar cigar box and spice are also evident.The tannins are fine and elegant – a hallmark of the varietal. The palate is well balanced, complex and fulfilling and lingers on the finish.

@Overhead Fred Happy Birthday to Mitzi!

Pennie I am so sorry. Even worse that you weren’t there. At wonderful memories help ease your pain. Hugs. Ann

Happy Birthday Lenda! May your new year be filled with love, laughter, great health & a cruise or two! @Quartzsite Cruiser

Welcome to the Daily!

Sandi, this is so great. Praying that this move sets Morgan on the path to peace of mind & reducing her PTSD.

Thank you Jacqui & Roy for today’s report and maps! Hope you are feeling better Jacqui! Vanessa, I know things are not back to 100% for you, but I love reading about what you are able to do now & how much sleep you are getting. Thank you for keeping up with us. My Sister is gaining strength and able to do some activities by herself. Good thing too, because her temporary home leaves a lot to be desired. Neither she nor her roomie got a supper last night. Luckily the medication nurse rustled up some cheese and crackers & Ensure. @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, Encompass is tracking her and she will transfer as soon as a bed opens up. It can not be too soon. @smitty34877 Terry, my Sister’s 16 year old grandson is staying with me, and I can only think how my situation is a bit similar to yours. 😎 Luckily he is a great young man. He just passed his learner’s permit exam and once his certificate arrives, he will start driving school. Prayers for all who need our support. Hats off to the caretakers! Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. ********* Matahiwi Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Picked the 2022 vintage of this NZ wine, since it should be easy to find and has lots of consumer fans and at least one critic score of 92. Online prices start at $15.99. Distributor notes Matahiwi is sheltered by the Tararuas mountain range and enjoys a long and dry growing season with balmy warm days and pleasantly cool nights. The climate and the exposed stony sub-soils make the area ideal for growing grapes. Alistair Scott’s vision was to establish a wine company capable of producing world-class wines and to this day that vision has not changed. As a Pinot Noir enthusiast, Alastair has focused his efforts on this notoriously complicated but delicious variety. He planted Matahiwi’s 80-hectare single vineyard with 60% Pinot Noir and the balance with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Alastair and Jane share a vision and a passion to make wines to reflect a purity of fruit and a sense of place by staying true to the characteristics of the local area.

Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc This New Zealand SB sounds lovely. A decent number of distributors with online prices starting at $19.99. Distributor’s notes Founded in 1997, Craggy Range exclusively crafts single-vineyard, terroir-driven wines and is a benchmark ambassador for the high quality of New Zealand’s wines. The grapes are partially hand harvested from the estate-owned Te Muna Road Vineyard. 85% of the grapes are destemmed before fermentation in stainless steel tanks and oak barriques using partial wild yeasts. The wine ages on its lees for 5 months in old and new French oak barrels before being fined, filtered and bottled. TASTING NOTE In appearance, it’s a pale yellow, straw color. On the nose there are ripe Sauvignon Blanc aromatics with notes of white stone fruit, passionfruit pulp and kaffir lime. The palate is lively with deep concentration and a salinic acidity. FOOD PAIRING This wine will pair well with aperitifs, seafood and poultry. UNIQUE SELLING POINTS The higher-elevation Te Muna Road Vineyard is harvested about a week later than sites in nearby Martinborough. The grapes have greater freshness and acidity. The vineyard's lower terrace has stony soils with limestone, excellent for Sauvignon Blanc. White wines from this vineyard show a distinctive fine, subtle and elegant texture.

Well we thought we were home free. But the hospital wants my Sister out today and there are no beds currently available at her chosen facility. So we are all scrambling trying to find a decent facility in the general area. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 @grapau27 Graham, I was so sorry to read about Sarah’s father. My condolences to her, you and Pauline.

Off to start the morning run of places to visit. Will check back tonight. ********** Belle Fiore Winery 2018 Terramisso I would love to taste this red blend. Elusive. I found a few places that had it in stock. Online prices start at $35.00. Distributor notes This Southern Oregon red blend includes 50% Teroldego, 25% Syrah and 25% Montepulciano. On the nose, smoky bacon fat mixes nicely with dark fruit and dashes of baking spice and black pepper. On the palate, flavors of black cherry are balanced with prominent earthy notes, finishing with hints of graphite. - Reviewed by Gary Hayes AVA: Rogue Valley, Oregon SavorNW Award: Best of Class 2023 Judges Score: 95 Points

Encompass?

Showered, eaten & sipping a lovely GSM. What a day. I am wiped, but it has been a great day. We were so impressed with the rehab facility in Saint Augustine - both the tour and the meeting with the two reps, that my Sister decided not to bother with the place close to Jacksonville. I suspect knowing that her Grandson might get to visit a couple of times sealed the deal. This place has a huge inside PT/OT room. And a lovely outside area. They have a mock kitchen, bathroom and laundry room so patients can practice real life skills. All rooms are private. Meals are served in the room. The place is spotless. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. They answered all my family’s questions: my Sister’s son works for Moderna and my Sister’s daughter works for Sloan Kettering so they asked some great questions. This was also the first place that my Sister’s PT guru in the hospital mentioned when we asked him “Where would you want your Mom to go for rehab?” So now we are just waiting for a bed to open up. Possible tomorrow. Her travel bag is packed and ready to go. None of us can believe her progress in just three days. 😎 Thank you all again for your prayers & well wishes. ❤️ Ann

Stay well everyone. I will check in later. @smitty34877 Terry the closest is 45 minutes from me. The other is an hour. At least according to Google maps. 😎 ******* 2021 Gaspard Cabernet Franc Pick a Cab Franc, any Cab Franc that appeals. I chose one from the Loire Valley, this red wine is easy to find, loved by consumers and reasonably priced. Online prices start at $16.99. Distributors Notes Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cot Vineyard: Clay and limestone. 25 – 60 years old vines, farmed organically (in conversion) Making of: the grapes are destemmed and hand-sorted before being crushed and put into vats. The maceration then takes 5-6 weeks, with regular punchdowns, with indigenous yeast only. Once pressed, the juice spends around a year in concrete tanks. Filtered, not fined. Personality: One of the typical grapes of the area, the Cabernet Franc instantly entices you with its smooth tannins and dark fruit flavors mingled with spicy / earthy undertones. Enjoy lightly chilled, on its own or next to some roast beef, BBQ, country hams or rustic patés.

Just coming up for air. But good things have been happening and they are happening fast. And I am sure it is thanks to all of your prayers and well wishes. Now that my Sister has been on her regular meds for a few days, she has energy and is feeling a well enough to have a great PT session. In fact her daughter and I believe that it has been four - five years since she moved this well! Granted she is using a walker, but is moving at a fast pace! Her PT guru thinks she maybe ready to move to a rehab facility soon. And maybe ready to go home within two weeks of moving to rehab! Her hospital Doc wrote discharge orders & her case worker referred her case to several rehab facilities. One sent a rep to visit her today. And a second will be sending reps tomorrow. We did some preliminary research and two rose to the top of the list. I will be touring them on her behalf tomorrow. One is in Saint Augustine. The other is between Saint Augustine & Jacksonville. Both have excellent reviews. One even has a mock up kitchen and laundry area so she could really practice life skills. I will be touring the facilities tomorrow. One already sent a rep to visit with her and the second one is sending reps to visit with her tomorrow. We don’t expect her to go tomorrow. But possibly Monday. Her PT guru wants to make sure that today was not a fluke. I certainly hope it wasn’t. For the first time since her emergency surgery, we all have hope - even my Sister. Ann

Everyone stay well. Will try to check in later. ******** Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon A challenging day to get decent info on this widely available & priced to try Cab. Online prices start at $9.99. Winemaker’s notes Following a brief cold soak to encourage extraction of color and tannin from the fruit, the must was fermented at warm temperatures for four to six days. The wine was then aged on oak until Cabernet’s naturally firm tannins were softened and the wine structure was balanced. We blended Petite Sirah grapes with the deepest color to enhance the wine’s color and structure. The finished wine has a round, plush mouthfeel and signature bold flavor.

Thank you for Jacqui for today’s FR & D. Roy, thank you for our maps! Vanessa, thank you for not giving up & and taking such great care of our lists. My Sister had a decent day yesterday. She had a PT session that tired her a bit, but she was getting out of bed and moving to the recliner chair and back. Her A-fib and O2 numbers are still not where they need to be, so some meds may be changed. Though she isn’t ready to go home yet, she may move to a skilled nursing facility in a few days. The family is hoping we get some say where she goes. Thank you all again for your well wishes and prayers. ******** Cava Flama d’Or Brut Priced to try and widely available. Sounds like a fun sip on a hot, humid day. Online prices start at $11.99. Distributors notes "Straw-colored yellow with green tones. Fine, persistent bubbles. Bright appearance. Accentuated aroma of fresh grapes, with signs of ripe fruit and of citric fruits, very pleasant and characteristic of aging in the bottle. In the mouth it is extremely vivacious, compensated for by a pleasant equilibrium and elegance. Aftertaste is fruity, evoking the apple, pear and a hint of citric. Balanced, fruity and persistent."

Jack Hugs to you, Sam and your family! Hoping that those wonderful memories help ease your pain. Ann