cat shepard

Roy, I also emailed Rich that I would post it, if no one had posted it before I check. So I have your back.

How wonderful, Terry! Praying that you are cleared for surgery. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and it is NOT a train!

Perhaps HAL will pay attention when you dispute the charge with your cc company. It is disappointing to hear that you could not talk to anyone in customer relations.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Very cloudy here this morning. @kazu Jacqui 🤞🏻That you make it to San Diego today . And @summer slope Dixie, 🤞🏻that George escapes COVID jail today! Roy, thank you for keeping our lists Today I start organizing for my trip home next week. I am trying to travel very lightly, so I do not have to check a bag. We’ll see how I do. Off to the gym. Bindi walks and chores. I also need to tackle my files and weed out old stuff. If only losing weight was this easy…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Coffee Pot Cellars 2014 Merlot (North Fork of Long Island) A Long Island vintner- wine not? I usually do not gravitate towards merlots, but I have never encountered a wine from Long Island before, so I would love to taste it. A bit elusive, I found a few online distributors with prices starting at $24.29. 92 Wine Enthusiast Aromas of graphite and crushed herbs lend a linear, driven feel to the nose, yet there's plenty of generosity by way of black currant and plum at the core. The medium-bodied palate shows a delightful mix of taut dark-berry fruit balanced by accents of graphite and sage. While enjoyable now, this has the structure and stuffing to last through 2028.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! We finally got to see the sun yesterday & the stars last night. I admit I am spoiled. Roy thank you for taking care of our ever-changing lists. Today I am off to volunteer at a local food bank, then do my only afternoon class at the gym. This will be the first time with the permanent instructor, so I hope I enjoy it as much as last week’s class. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Barefoot Bubbly NV Extra Dry Sparkling (California) This slightly sweet bubbly is easy to find and very easy on the wallet. It has very good reviews from critics and consumers. And it can be yours for as little as $8.95, though most places offer it for $9.99. Distributor notes Combining all the flavor of crisp, refreshing apples with a smooth and creamy finish, Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne is the perfect pairing for any celebration. Perfect with everything from fresh fruit to smoked salmon, this lively, versatile champagne was made to stand out. 87 Wine Enthusiast

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Another cloudy morning. Yesterday got a bit misty off and on, but no real rain. Roy, thank you for keeping our lists. I visited Istanbul in 2016 after cruise ships starting visiting again. There were about 1,700 passengers on the Eurodam and many of them came from Australia. I loved the entire city, but found the Cisterns magical and fascinating. Just one gym class, chores and Bindi walks are on my schedule today. Prayers for all who need our support. @grapau27 Graham, happy to read that all went well today. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Rivetto 2019 Vigna Lirano (Nebbiolo d'Alba) This is one elusive wine! It sounds lovely and it is a biodynamic wine from a well respected vintner. Vicinity consumers report an average $51.00 per bottle, but my searches came up empty. 96 Wine Enthusiast Made with certified organic and biodynamic farming methods and vinified in terra-cotta amphorae, this luminous Nebbiolo has compelling aromas of ripe red fruit, tilled earth, violet and camphor. The focused, delicious palate has a pristine quality, doling out fresh red berries, white pepper, star anise and a dollop of vanilla alongside taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced, while a saline mineral note lingers on the savory finish. Enjoy now or hold for more complexity. Drink through 2031.

I am so sorry to read this. Praying that that the condition improves.

Terry I sorry about you missing Christmas with your DS & family this year. I really love that they are carrying on your family traditions. Praying that next year is different for you. I will be traveling back to New England for the first time since COVID, and my Thanksgiving visitors picked out the cookies they want to make from the ones that my Mom & I used to make. Traditions are a lovely way to share memories about loved ones who have passed.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Still a bit too dark to be sure, but though it is cloudy, yesterday’s fog is gone. Roy hope you are doing better. Off to the gym, then Aldi and Bindi walks are in my future. Last night’s birthday celebration was so much fun. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Bon Voyage Joy & Allen! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Domaine de l'Espigouette 2018 Vieilles Vignes This Côte du Rhône sounds lovely, and if I can find it locally, I would try it. A bit elusive, but I found a couple of online distributors with prices starting at $17.99. Distributor Notes Domaine de l’ Espigouette is an organically grown vineyard that has been family run for four generations, and is located in the Rhone Valley of France. The estate is currently run by Bernard Latour, his wife, and his two sons Julian and Emilien; who carefully work the vineyard according to the climatic characteristics of vintage and different terroirs. The multiplicity of the soil brings complexity to the different wines of the area, and the rollers provide rich, bold wines, while sandy and clay soils provide elegance, finesse and depth. Dark, dense colored. Smells of dark cherries, clove and spice. Medium to full bodied. Balanced, long and classy 70% GRENACHE, 10% SYRAH, 10% MOURVÈDRE, 5% CARIGNAN, 5% CINSAULT 93 Wine Enthusiast

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! A very foggy morning here, but it should burn off and be another lovely day. Roy, thank you for keeping our lists so faithfully. Just yard work and chores today, but this evening we are gathering at a friend’s to celebrate a birthday. There will be hors d’oeuvres and wines. Ooh, I had to interrupt this post for the great armadillo hunt of 2022. I spied an armadillo digging between my neighbor’s and my houses, and when I went outside to chase it away, it immediately headed for the foundation of my neighbor’s home. I followed to see if it had been digging along the foundation, but it kept going and I could not see any signs of digging along the foundation. I did warn my neighbor just in case I missed something. Ok back to our regularly scheduled post…. We will also have cupcakes with candles for the birthday girl to blow out. Prayers for all who need our support. @HAL Sailer praying that DSIL is comfortable. Cheers to all who are celebrating - safe travels @Seasick Sailor Joy & Allen! Bon Voyage @Cruising Terri hope you have a wonderful cruise. Happy Birthday Henry! @Cruising-along, Carolyn, hope you are well enough to enjoy the day with him. Get well & stay well everyone. ********** Smith and Sheth 2018 Cru Heretaunga Syrah (Hawke's Bay) New Zealand This Syrah sounds amazing. A bit elusive - unless you are @erewhon or on a cruise to New Zealand. I did find one online distributor offering it for $39.95. 95 Wine Enthusiast This is a precise, tightly knit wine for the cellar that beautifully captures both the power and the elegance of Hawke's Bay Syrah. Like a hug in a glass, it offers comforting aromas of melted chocolate, baking spice, ground pepper, fresh bramble berries and a hint of something more mineral. The palate is broad but focused. The tannins are beautifully textured, talc-like and spicy, cradling the pristine fruit. Drink through 2040.

Annie, you need to wrap DH in bubble wrap before letting him out! I am so sorry to read about what is happening with DH’s family.

Wow!

Wonderful news, Dixie!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another stunning morning here. Bindi and I had a gorgeous moonlit bedtime walk last night. No need for a flashlight. Some friends on the coast sent me these amazing moonrise pics. Roy, thank you for keeping up with us! Off to the gym. Bindi walks. More chores. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Chateau Gaudrelle 2018 Clos le Vigneau (Vouvray) One reviewer describes this Vouvray as “a whisker from dry”. I would love a taste, and if it is truly off dry, I would probably love it. All released vintages share the same excellent ratings. A bit elusive, but I did find a couple online distributors with prices starting at $23.49. Winemaker Notes Off dry in style with honey, earth and apricot notes. Crisp and medium bodied. Wines from the town of Vouvray have been known to age well for 40 years. WE93 Wine Enthusiast Produced by Alexandre Monmousseau, scion of a distinguished local family, this wine is ripe, full-bodied and splendidly rich. Just getting ready to drink, the wine is generous and full of dried apple and peach flavors. Good now, it will age well, certainly until 2025. Kysela Père et Fils.

Dixie, I am so sorry to hear DH has COVID. Hope it turns out to be a mild case. Pray that you stay negative.

Geesh, Bruce! No wonder that cold knocked you for a loop. Get better, fast!

Great to “see” you!

Melisa, praying that your DSIL’s medical team help your DSIL.

Well extra prayers that you kick it out the door fast!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Bindi and I had a long walk this morning. The full moon was just setting as we headed out. A bit cooler this morning. And the deer were on the move. @rafinmdRoy, you haven’t mentioned how you are doing the past couple of days, so I hope this means you are definitely improving. My evening out with friends was so much fun. We hadn’t been to the wine bar for awhile because trying to synchronize our schedules with holidays & life in general has been crazy. So we were given the royal welcome by the owners. Enjoyed an amazing Grenache from Australia and a wonderful selection of cheeses. Today looks to be another beautiful day, so I will get out in the yard. Then this evening I have my H.I.I.T. Class. I will say workouts on garage floors & decorating for Christmas are tough on manicures. Prayers for all who need our support. @1ANGELCATextra prayers for the two firefighters, their families and the community. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Stay well everyone. ******* Sterling 2019 Vintner's Collection Chardonnay (California) California Might be a tad too oaky for some, but this Chardonnay has great consumer and critic reviews. Widely available with online prices starting at a reasonable $9.99. Distributor’s Notes Sterling Vineyards has earned a reputation throughout the world for producing wines with true character. This 2013 chardonnay is no stranger to that distinction. This classic white wine has aromas, flavors and textures that are unique, thanks to each grape being developed in a different region of vineyards. If you’re looking for a wine with personality and great taste to enhance any occasion, place your order for Sterling Vinter’s Collection Chardonnay online at Vine Republic. Sterling Vineyards has earned worldwide prominence for wines of true varietal character-that unique set of aromas, flavors, and textures that each grape variety develops in distinctive vineyard terroirs. Their wines enhance any occasion with exquisite varietal expression, inviting personality, and impeccable taste. Wine Enthusiast WE90

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Happy Joy Day, @Seasick Sailor! @grapau27 Graham, thank you for enlightening me! Another glorious morning here. We could use a bit of rain, but the weather has been so amazing, I hate to complain. Roy, hope you are still seeing improvement. Just one class for me today. Then some chores. This evening, friends and I are gathering at a local wine bar to celebrate the upcoming holidays. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Parducci 2019 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah (Mendocino) This one might be a bit too bold for me, but I would love to taste it. Every released vintage shares the same excellent ratings. It is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $15.00. Winemaker Notes The True Grit Petite Sirah has heady aromas of oak, nutmeg and black pepper, followed by a lively rush of fresh blackberry, anise, plum and vanilla flavors. This bold wine boasts soft tannins and a broad, rich texture. Enjoy with blue cheese, glazed pork chops or Moroccan beef stew. Vegan. Produced in a "California Certified Sustainable Winery" (CCSW) WE92 Wine Enthusiast The deep, dark, inky color of this full-bodied and tannic wine is a good indicator of how intense and concentrated its blackberry, blueberry and charcoal flavors are. Quite firm and gripping in texture, this impressive beast will age almost indefinitely.

Happy Birthday! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & a cruise!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another beauty of a day. Just a few clouds along the coast. Roy, glad to read you are still seeing improvement. @smitty34877 Terry, glad to read that Tana is doing a bit better, @ottahand7 Nancy, how wonderful that your DB is able to move to oral meds! I know that would be a huge morale booster for me! @ger_77 Gerry, finished your amazing video. What an amazing gift to the people of your region, Province, and Country! The video segments of the Fall foliage brought back great memories of my years in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Thank you for sharing it. I try a new class at the gym. Designed for strong, older, adults. It is a major schedule change for Bindi and me, so I hope she deals with it well. She is getting ornery in her old age. Aren’t we all? Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Brittan Vineyards 2018 Estate Chardonnay (McMinnville) Willamette Valley Ahhh, the aroma of “pea tendrils”…. Have any of you ever sniffed a pea tendril? Be honest. This Chardonnay actually sounds nice. Not too oaky. All released vintages share similar excellent ratings. It is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $35.95. Winemaker Notes The nose of this 2018 Chardonnay, the first vintage sourced exclusively from the estate, draws you in with a stylish flintiness and aromas of sweet Meyer lemon, pea tendrils, and a hint of honeysuckle. Scents of Asian pear carry through to the palate, mingling with lemon curd, yellow peach, and brioche. This sleek, taut, acid driven wine evolves in the glass and will continue to develop with cellaring. WE94 Wine Enthusiast This is the first estate-grown Chardonnay from Robert Brittan, and as you’d expect from this master winemaker, it’s a doozy. The influence of 15% new French oak is felt but not overwhelming, and the clean apple, peach and citrus fruit bursts open with exhilarating freshness. There’s a whiff of flint also, and a seam of honeysuckle. This clearly has long-term aging potential. Drink through 2032. W&S91 Wine & Spirits Robert Brittan’s Estate Chardonnay is a paradox, with a nutty, lemon-frosting scent that makes the wine read sweet, as do the candy apple flavors. But the texture is remarkably taut and lean, while its sliced apple notes are held by a firm phenolic frame. Give it six months to resolve a bit.

Close, but not quite.

Annie it is a deer. A very, very well hidden one.