cat shepard

Thank you for filling in the quote!

Thank you Rich for setting things up to make it so easy to post. And Sandi, thank you for the wonderful instructions for the maps. And Since it was raining, and Bindi does NOT linger in the rain, I signed on early. Vanessa thank you for keeping our lists. I know that requires a lot of diligence and effort. Just Zumba, chores, and then dinner at a friend’s. I found the perfect dress for this evening…. Praying for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Betz Syrah La Côte Patriarche, Yakima Valley, Washington State I used the 2019 vintage info, since that may be the easiest to find, but all released vintages share the same excellent reviews. I would love a taste, but often find Syrahs too much for me to handle. A few online distributors with prices starting at $62.99. Critic tasting note: "Red Willow is hallowed ground for Syrah in Washington, the vineyard where the variety was first planted. The aromas are brooding, with notes of herb, smoked meat, hay and cinnamon. The palate is light and elegant. It's a pretty expression of the variety, with impressive length. It will be interesting to see where additional time in the bottle takes it. Sean P. Sullivan" - 91/100, Wine Enthusiast

Today is Don't Cry over Spilled Milk Day, Make a Friend Day, and National Inventors Day You educate a manMeal Suggestion for today - Slow Cooker Korean Short RibsDrink of the Day - Cran Tropic TiniWine of the Day - Betz Syrah La Côte Patriarche, Yakima Valley, Washington StateDestination of the Day - Cape Horn, Chile Antarctica Eurodam Panama Canal 05:00 - 05:00 Koningsdam Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island 08:00 - 18:00 Nieuw Amsterdam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 15:00 Nieuw Statendam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam Basseterre St Kitts, Port Zante 08:00 - 17:00 Volendam Montevideo, Uruguay 08:00 - 18:00 Zaandam Corinto, Nicaragua, Leon City 09:00 - 17:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam At Sea Destination Melbourne, Victoria Australia eta 2-13 Westerdam Malacca, Malaysia 10:00 - 20:00 Zuiderdam Port Arthur, Tasmania Australia 08:00 - 16:00 Ann, for Paul, Sandi, Roy and Rich who created this wonderful place & did the work!

I thought that was you! Seriously, Sandi, thank you for checking in. Glad your ride was uneventful. There have been warnings about heavy smoke from wildfires South of Daytona limiting visibility on I-95, and I could smell the smoke when I left the gym today.

Carolyn, praying that your medical team can find a solution to the kidney issue. That is not an easy message to absorb.

Vanessa - thank you for keeping our lists. I appreciate the effort that goes in to keeping up with all our happenings. Ann

What a gorgeous picture! Thank you for sharing it! Does anyone see Rich? 👀 🔭

Thank you for getting us started Paul! A lovely morning here, after a night of heavy, much needed rain. Hope Sandi & DH did not hit too much of it. One gym class, Bindi walks and chores. Family dinner out tonight, not sure where we’ll go. I love this one…. Prayers for all who need our support, especially, Jacqui, Joy, Kathi, Roy, Sarah and Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating - Bon Voyage Sandi! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Muga Rioja Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja, Spain This Rioja sounds amazing. I used the 2018 vintage info, in hopes that would be the easiest to find, but all released vintages share the same excellent reviews. Available from numerous online distributors with prices starting at $37.95. Winemaker Notes This 2018 Selección Especial 2018 has a black-cherry color and a deep robe. On the nose it is complex, with aromas of dark fruit, hints reminding you of cedar wood, heathland scrub and then followed by spicy aromas such as pepper. The attack is elegant and harmonious, with hints of ripe red fruit and spices. It has fantastic, well-integrated acidity which makes it long and lingering on the palate. This is a powerful reserva wine with great cellaring potential. This wine will go well with red meats, lamb and all types of game dishes. RP95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 2018 was a cooler vintage, with a fairly long maturation, which made the wines somewhat fresher and less alcoholic, as showcased by the 2018 Selección Especial, a classical blend of the four red varieties from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano with contained ripeness (14.05% alcohol) and good freshness. It fermented in oak casks with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months. They were not very happy with the vintage and had to sort and discard, but as they didn't produce Prado Enea, Torre Muga or Haro, those grapes went into this wine. They are reluctant about 2018, but I think it was a vintage capable of the best and the worst, and this 2018 is floral, expressive and elegant. It's medium to full- bodied, with very fine, chalky tannins, combining power and elegance. Amazing! JS94 James Suckling The 2018 Muga Selección Especial is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano y Mazuelo. It shows the fresher style of the vintage yet has good richness in its cassis and black raspberry fruit profile as well as notes of tobacco leaf, violets, and spicy oak. Straight-up gorgeous on the palate, it shines for its purity, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. I'm a fan. WS92 Wine Spectator A medium- to full-bodied red, well-knit and harmonious, showing a fine, tense frame of chalky tannins fleshed out by crushed black raspberry, balsamico, dried fig and deep notes of ground coffee, iron and smoke. Long and lively on the herbal, spiced finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now.

Thank you Paul, you beat me to posting this. But I can at least add the maps.

Sandi Safe travels tomorrow. When you get to exit 278, please look to the East & wave!😎 Ann

Glad to read you are taking care of yourself, Roy!

Sandi thank you for getting us started by posting the Report & Daily. Another stellar morning here. Bindi and I were treated to a group of blue herons flying overhead as we walked. I have an early mani-pedi, then Bindi walks, chores and organizing my paperwork for my tax return filing. Yesterday’s visit to the dermatologist found no issues, so I have now graduated to a checkup every six months! What will I do with all that extra time? Prayers for all who need our support, especially: Jacqui, Kathi, Roy, Sarah & Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California I used the 2018 vintage info, although the 2020 has been released there is not a great deal of info available for it. The 2018 has excellent consumer and critic ratings and price just barely in my budget. I found numerous online distributors with prices starting at $42.00. Winemaker Notes A dark ruby wine with inviting aromas of cinnamon, blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, and cedar. A juicy mid-palate shows flavors of cherry and layers of texture. The natural sweetness of the fruit balances the bright acidity and follows through to the lingering coffee and vanilla cream-laced finish. RP93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate A barrel-sample blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is very deep garnet-purple in color with vibrant wild blueberries, blackberries and boysenberries with red and black currants, bay leaves, lavender and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is vibrant and refreshing with a firm, grainy frame and lively finish. Barrel Sample: 91-93

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Sandi! A lovely morning here in NorthEast/Central Florida. An early dermatologist appointment for me this morning. Then Bindi walks and my HIIT class. Prayers for all who need our support, especially: Jacqui, Kathi, Roy, Sarah and Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand This New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is fairly easy to find and reasonably priced. I used the 2021 vintage info, since that may be the easiest to find. Available from numerous online distributors with prices starting at $23.97. Reviews 91 Tasted by: Tina Gellie (at London, 31 Oct 2021) Part of Festive treats: celebratory standout bottles Drinking Window: 2021 - 2025 Despite vintage variation, there's no denying the consistency (in quality and relative price) of this iconic wine after almost 37 years. Compared to the structured and high-acid 2020, this is a vintage to enjoy now, with a weighty, fleshy palate of gooseberry, freshly cut grass and sweet grapefruit. 92 Tasted by: Natalie Earl (at Meunier Penthouse, London, 27 Apr 2022) Part of Festive treats: celebratory standout bottles Drinking Window: 2022 - 2027 Both intense and classy on the nose - there is definitely the overt green apple, grass, bell pepper aroma, but it is a little held back, a little musty, a little deeper. Fresh tropical fruit - mango juice and fresh ripe pineapple. There's a light reductive flinty stony touch. The intensity rushes in, filling the mouth with limes. There's some grip on the teeth, almost tannic, and searing acidity. A wine that knows what it's doing.

Thank you Sandi for getting us started and covering for Roy & Rich! A lovely cool morning here, so Bindi opted for a longer morning walk. Chores, Bindi walks, a gym class and a trip to my local wine bar to try one of their featured wines - a Vino Verde. I had never heard of Green Wine before the Holidays, but I enjoyed one at a local Portuguese restaurant, so I am interested in trying this one. Prayers for all who need our support, especially: Jacqui, Kathi, Roy, Sarah & Tana. Joy hope your X-rays showed nothing serious. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Pyramid Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Canterbury Earth Smoke 2020 Another elusive New Zealand wine. There appears to be several online distributors that ship to North America, but a bulk purchase might be required. Too bad because I love a “brooding” wine. Prices start at $60.21+ shipping . Winemaker notes Waikari, North Canterbury Viticulture Planted between 2000-2002 at high density of 11,111 vines/ha and farmed bio-dynamically from inception, Earth Smoke is an expansive 0.8ha block on east-facing, limestone-clay slopes with strong, beautifully structured soils. 25% clay, 15% active lime. Winemaking Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with yeasts from the vineyard, gently fermented using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden cuves and barrel. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. Tasting notes Moderate black cherry colour, present and brooding in the glass. A deep, dark feel to the aromas, brooding black cherry and dark plum, pure and comforting, orange, Christmas cake spices, hints of warm, damp forest earth, precise and compelling. Lovely warm, ripe black cherry pastry feel on the palate, open and delicious kept in its place by wonderful savoury, sappy nuances, a hint of charcoal and vanilla; dense and long with no hint of sweetness just immaculate ripeness and the feel of clay and chalk. An iron fist in a velvet glove. Incredible. Our 2020 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir is proudly one of the world’s first origin-verified wines. We partner with Oritain to scientifically trace the geochemical fingerprint* of our wine back to the unique clay and limestone-rich soils of the vineyard block it is named after.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Sandi! It is a gorgeous morning here after a very foggy night. Heading to the gym this morning, then Bindi walks and a quick visit to the vet. Maybe get out in the yard. Prayers for all who need our support: especially Jacqui, Joy, Kathi, Roy, Sarah and Tana & @dfish Debbie’s DB on his knee replacement surgery. @bennybear Brenda, I am so sorry to read that you Aunt passed. Praying that those wonderful memories will help ease your pain. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Estate 2020 Another New Zealand Pinot Noir that sounds amazing. And it is available in North America! Several online distributors with prices starting at $36.95. 19/20 pts" - 19/20, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews "Deep, ruby-red with dark purple hues, lighter on edge. This has an enticing bouquet with black raspberries and cherries melded with thyme and sweet spice. Medium-full bodied, nuances of dark cherries, raspberries have a mineral edge, interweave thyme, sweet vanilla, star anise, black pepper and cloves. The fruit has excellent ripeness with concentration, showing multi layers and dimensions. Fine-grained, silky, tight-knitted tannins provide structure and grip. Lacy acid thread carries the core of fruit and sweet spice to a lingering, broody finish. This black-fruited Pinot Noir has structure and silky mouthfeel filled with delicate spice and mineral elements. Match with hare and lamb rack over the next 8+ years. Handpicked from Estate vineyard in Bendigo, fermented in small batches with a small percentage of whole clusters, cold-soaked for up to 7 days, indigenous yeast fermented to 14% alc, post maceration, total time on skins 19-24 days. Aged 12 months in French oak barriques, 28% new oak. Underwent wild MLF. Organic and Biodynamic certified.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Sandi. You have done a stellar job filling in for Roy & Rich! Thank you all for your prayers and condolences. We are all still a bit numb. My Sister said she braced herself for this news so many times over the years, but she was totally unprepared yesterday, since Matt had finally turned the corner. I head off to the gym, then Aldi, Bindi walks and will head up to my Sister’s later. Prayers for all who need our support: Tana, Sarah, Roy, Kathy, Jacqui and my Sister & Brayden - extra prayers heading your way. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone. ********** Misha's Vineyard The Starlet Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Central Otago This wine is so elusive, you might have to travel to New Zealand to find it. But it sounds lovely, and I would love to taste it. This vintage has probably just been released, so it might be easier to find in the next six months. Right now New Zealanders can find it for a reasonable $17.70. Raymond Chan wine review Review Date : 06-Sep-2022 ☆☆☆☆☆ Bright, even, pale yellow. The nose is gentle with richness, savoury aromas of stonefruit, papaya interweave gooseberry, cut herbs, white pepper, cardamom and a saline edge. Medium-full bodied, aromas of papaya, nectarine and hints of gooseberry, unfolding white spice, herbs and minerals. The mouthfeel is smooth and delicate, dressed in silky, dusty phenolics. The fruit is concentrated, lingers with the depth of flavours and integrated acidity, and lends a savoury, long finish. This rich textured Sauvignon Blanc possesses concentrated fruit and spice with integrated acidity. Match with pork rillette and fish pate over the next 5 years. Fruit from Bendigo, handpicked, few hours of gentle skin contact. Whole bunch pressed to tank for settling, 54% was racked, inoculated and fermented in stainless steel, the remaining underwent spontaneous fermentation in older French oak barrels. 14% alc, 5 g/l RS. 18.5/20 pts (93 pts)

Sandi I just sent you an email. Ann

I am also willing to help out, if John @Copper10-8goes to bed early. 😎 If Vanessa will cover the Care/Celebration lists, I do the easy stuff. I do need to ask for you to keep my Sister in your prayers. We learned that her 44 year old son passed away today. He fought a long difficult battle with addiction, and though he seemed to have finally licked it for the past 5 years, it took its toll on his body. The medical examiner is doing an autopsy, but it appears that he passed peacefully. He is survived by his 15 year old son, his Mother, a Sister, a Brother and several Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

How amazing! I was hoping you would be lucky! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you Sandi for taking caring of the Report & Daily by filling in for Roy & Rich - and still posting all your amazing pictures. You & Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiserhave been so generous sharing all your pictures. Colder this morning. Temperatures took a nose dive yesterday in the middle of the morning. It was 71 when I walked out of my Doctor’s office, and 57 an hour later. And the wind! Still so much better than what so many of you are dealing with. My wellness visit went well. I need to watch my bad cholesterol which creeped up a couple of points to 100. But the only area of real concern was the bone density of my left hip area. It has decreased significantly in two years. We think that the culprit might be the six months I spent recuperating and rehabbing from my fractured patella on my left knee. It would not have born as much weight or got as much use as usual. So we are watching that and holding off on PT until we see the results of the next scan in two years. Have any if you ever tried vibration therapy? My Doctor mentioned it as something that might help prevent further bone density loss. She said the jury is still out whether or not it helps increase bone density, but…. I know my gym has a machine, but one needs to use it for a short time every day in order to see results. Just Zumba for me today, Bindi walks and cleaning the outdoor furniture. Pollen season has started & friends are coming for supper. If the wind doesn’t die down, we will have to eat inside. Prayers for all who need our support: especially: Jacqui, Kathi, Roy, Sarah & Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* HdV Chardonnay Napa Valley Hyde Vineyard 2019 This Chardonnay sounds lovely, though the beeswax mention always stumps me. 🤔 Excellent - superb reviews, but a price just outside of my budget. Quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $67.99. Winemaker Notes #3 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Refinement and purity are the hallmarks of this vintage. Aromas of yellow apple and mango skin are balanced by crisp minerality and notes of smoked almond. The palate showcases fresh, lime-like acidity and linear mouthfeel while being offset by tones of toasted Ezekiel bread and subtle hints of vanilla bean. While being expressive in its youth, we feel that the qualities of this wine are better realized with age. JS96 James Suckling Honeysuckle, oyster-shell and apple-pie aromas. Pears and lime sherbet, too. Flinty. Full-bodied, layered and integrated with fine phenolics. Some matchbox character comes through. Stemmy and spicy at the end from whole-cluster pressing. Wente and Calera clones. Drink or hold. WS96 Wine Spectator This stunning version offers a pure beam of white nectarine, mango and ripe Bartlett pear flavors that mingle with notes of pound cake, toasted, salted hazelnut and nutmeg on a supple, rich frame, which draws focus from a bright thread of acidity. Drink now. RP96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2019 Chardonnay comes from vines in the Hyde Vineyard that are 25-40 years old and planted to Wente (60%) and Calera (40%) selections. Aged in about 15% new French oak, the nose is perfumed and pure, with scents of quince, apricot, beeswax, river stone and citrus blossoms. The palate offers a compelling dynamic of satiny, expansive fruits and fresh, focused acidity, and it has a long, nuanced finish. It will continue to unwind in bottle over the next 2-3 years and gain savory complexity over the next decade.

Melisa Thank you for letting us know. Praying that wonderful memories and knowing that she is now at peace help ease your pain. Ann

Sandi, thank you for getting us started with today’s Report & Daily. Up super early for my annual wellness visit. Then a gym class, Bindi walks and chores. Prayers for all who need our support, especially Roy, Jacqui, Sarah, Tana and Kathi. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California I used the 2019 vintage information, since it is most likely the easiest to find, but all released vintages share the same excellent ratings. It sounds lovely and is reasonably priced. Numerous distributors with prices starting at $19.98. Winemaker Notes This crowd-pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful Bordeaux blend, with soft, round tannins and a plush, rich mouthfeel. Built to age and develop further complexity, the wine in its youth is ripe and juicy up front with aromas of fresh boysenberry, blackberry, and cassis, alongside dark berry fruit notes of fig, black cherry cola, and currants. The warm baking spice notes from the oak integration work well with the more traditional Knights Valley tones of lavender, wild sage, and mocha. Lively and well-balanced with vibrant acidity, chewy tannins, and a long, smooth, satisfying finish. Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot JS94 James Suckling This is really focused, with brightness to the sweet tobacco and berries. Medium-bodied with bright acidity, finesse and drink ability. Very fine. Ripe-currant center-palate. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 2% malbec and 1% petit verdot. Drink or hold. W&S92 Wine & Spirits This grows at Beringer’s 600-acre Knight’s Valley ranch, in the hills west of Calistoga, where the harvest in 2019 extended from mid- to late October. The wine sustains the cool elegance this vineyard can give to Cabernet, a supple, high-elevation wine with gentle ripeness, lasting on notes of tarragon and fresh garden herbs. Best buy. RP90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate There were more than 160,000 cases of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley produced, so it's good to see that it is performing well. There's an attractive floral top note that adds a touch of complexity to the cassis fruit, while the medium to full-bodied palate is silky and even elegant. It's a better wine—and far better value—than many entry-level wines sourced from Napa Valley.

Debbie, the quilt is stunning, and the room color is the perfect showcase for it. Have fun filling your closets.

@rafinmd Roy, thanks for sharing your day. You know yourself best - but be sure to be honest with yourself. I know how important independence is to me, but I learned to recognize when to ask for help when I fractured my kneecap in 2021. I suspect you also know when to do that. Rest well.

Thank you for taking care of us, Sandi! I really appreciate what you have done. It is a lovely morning though last night’s fog and and this morning’s marine layer have squashed my hopes of catching a glimpse of the Green Comet. Did anyone catch a glimpse of it? This morning I have a Zumba class. Bindi walks, yard work and chores will round out my day. We are currently in the middle of Fake Spring here. It is a real season here in Florida. I seem to remember the “January thaw” as being somewhat similar up North. I have always suspected that Bindi has some cat genes, she is quite adept at ignoring me until I get in her face. Prayers for all who need our support: Jacqui, Tana, Kathi & Roy especially. Cheers to all who are celebrating - especially Roy for being home, and Sarah for being ready to get out and enjoy life again. Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Elk Cove Vineyards Mt Richmond Pinot Noir, Oregon Elk Cove is my current “go to” vintner for a white blend. They make a wonderful Viognier/Chenin Blanc blend, so I would love to see what they do with a Pinot Noir. I used the 2019 vintage info, in hopes that it would be easier to find and fairly reasonably priced. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $39.99. Winemaker Notes Elk Cove Mount Richmond Pinot Noir is deep and brooding with aromas of dark chocolate and ripe Italian plum, its dusty tannins lend structure to lush black currant and blackberry compote flavors. Finishes earthy with dried fig, black tea and pinesap. JS93 James Suckling Aromas of cherries, plums, raspberries and vanilla bean with sweet spices. Medium-bodied with powdery tannins and lively acidity. Racy and textured. Long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. WE92 Wine Enthusiast 2019 is an excellent vintage for Elk Cove, despite whatever fire-related weather and smoke issues the Willamette Valley was suffering. Perhaps the northwest corner location was spared the smoke; in any event the estate grown Pinots are fruit-driven, beautifully ripened, clean and textured and immediately delicious. The Mount Richmond adds a touch of leather to its blackberry fruit, along with refreshing minerality and a neat streak of espresso. Trailing out the finish is a note of clean straw. Drink now and through the middle of the decade. V92 Vinous Shimmering ruby-red. Powerful cherry cola, black raspberry, candied licorice and exotic spices on the fragrant nose. Appealingly sweet and pliant in texture, offering juicy red and dark berry flavors, a touch of succulent herbs and a spicy flourish that builds on the back half. Finishes long and smoky, with a repeating cherry note and subtle tannic grip. Best after 2024.