Catering and clothes shopping are normally worlds apart. But today those two activities came together in one conversation. Many of you already know I HATE to shop for clothes, but today I found myself waiting in line for a dressing room. I am quick to strike up a conversation in almost any circumstance and […]
Carmel Christkindlmarkt – A New Holiday Family Tradition
Have you ever heard of a Christkindlmarkt? I guess my German ancestors knew a thing or two about winter celebrations, and the city of Carmel, Indiana held their first ever event last December. I had no idea what it was, or what to expect, so I did a little research before we hopped in the car […]
A Day Spent With My Foodie Friend…And Our Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner
A Five Course Autumn Harvest Dinner? No sweat! I simply joined forces with a great “Foodie Friend” to make it happen. And boy…did it happen! Earlier this Autumn I had the privilege of spending a day cooking with Jim in his well equipped kitchen in Kalona, Iowa. (I was like a kid in a candy […]
Friends and Food…A Perfect Combination
When we’re entertaining friends…I’m in my Happy Place. And there is no better combination than friends and food. This week has been a whirlwind of good food and good friends, so rather than tell you all about it, let me share some photos from the past week! I love to keep things simple when it […]
R. Stuart & Co. Winery and Wine Bar
As I began planning our Oregon trip this summer I began to read and follow all sorts of wine related articles and posts about Oregon. And that’s when I stumbled upon a wonderful blog called The Life And Times Of A Pinot Mom. I loved the wit, humor, and thoughtful, insightful stories from author Maria […]
Cherry Hill Winery – Rickreall, Oregon
Our winery tour with Mayor Olson and First Lady Candy continued with a scenic drive to Cherry Hill Winery. This winery sits smack dab on the 45th parallel…exactly half way between the equator and the North Pole. And what makes that parallel so special is that the wonderful wine region of Burgundy, France is also […]
Domaine Roy et Fils – Dundee, Oregon
Our beautiful drive to Domaine Roy et Fils was not without a little excitement. Don’t say I didn’t warn our friend Candy. When riding in the back seat of a convertible it is very wise to hold onto your hat! So Peepaw made a U-turn on that beautiful country road…and our friend Rick retrieved her […]
Domaine Drouhin Oregon – Dayton, Oregon
The drive to Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a beautiful and breathtaking journey on the winding back roads of Yamhill County. There are vineyards around every bend and on every road! In many ways those rolling hills with those straight rows of vines reminds me of Iowa cornfields. This family owned, 225 acre Domaine Drouhin estate […]
Bells Up Winery – Newberg, Oregon
I still find it hard to believe that Porcupine Balls and Instagram can be used in the same sentence to begin my review of Bells Up Winery in Newberg, Oregon. Months before Peepaw and I left on our latest road trip to the Willamette Valley wine country, I posted a photo on Instagram. It’s a […]
Remy Wines – McMinnville, Oregon
Remy Wines is a small urban winery in McMinnville, Oregon. The owner, Remy Drabkin, started the winery in 2006, and she has earned a reputation as a top producer of non-traditional grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Barbera, Lagrein and Dolcetto. (In fact, it’s been rumored that Remy knew she wanted to be a winemaker…when she […]