cat shepard

Testing. I tried posting last night and this morning from my iPad and though they seemed to go through, I do not see either. Am wondering if I’m having an issue. So I am testing my iPhone. The front of our train to Seward. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 Ok this posted successfully. I will ost shorter messages using my iPhone. I know you are happy. Currently sitting on train to Whittier waiting to go there to go out on a glacier tour. Monday the 29th was tough. We had to get up around 4:45 a.m. to head to the train station & go to Seward. We stayed really close and had a 6 minute walk in the cool morning air. The train was fun. The process very smooth. Gorgeous scenery One bald Eagle watched us travel by. Our room was ready at the hotel. Luggage arrived safely. Spent the afternoon exploring Seward. It felt good to walk around. A wonderful meal of roasted beets and goat cheese, combined with a grilled halibut with mango salsa main course. We shared both courses and the meal was perfect. Back early to get organized for Tuesday and get to sleep. Tuesday’s Kenai Fjords boat tour was spectacular. A mix of sun clouds and short periods of rain. We saw lots of Puffins, Cormorants, Harbor seals, sea lions and at the end of the tour when the sun had come back out, two pods of Orcas. IMG_2485.MOV More to follow.

Morning from Anchorage Alaska everyone. On the train waiting to head to Seward. It is just starting to get light here. But the sun didn’t set until after 9 last night. Traveling went fairly smoothly, but it was a long day. Just two things from yesterday I need to share. We ended our first leg of the journey with the most spectacular view of Mount Rainier. And I can now say I have enjoyed wine in a can! On the second leg I enjoyed a Cab-Petit Syrah blend that was actually decent considering. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Please stay well everyone!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Another simply gorgeous morning here, after a day where it rained from noon to 5. Bindi was not happy. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Super busy day for me. Not sure how often I will be able to post, but I will try to share as much of my trip with you as possible. But I know you are in good hands with Laura, aka @TiogaCruiser. I haven’t talked much about my upcoming trip because part of me did not believe it would happen. But tomorrow I leave for Anchorage. Spend two days in Seward - one of them in the Kenai fjords. Then a day trip to Whittier for the 26 Glaciers tour. Then I connect with HAL for the Denali portion & cruise. After arriving in Vancouver, I head to Butchart gardens & Victoria before heading down to Seattle where my “traveling Sister’s” brother will pick us up. We will spend a couple days with him and his wife. We are letting them plan those days, but he did mention perhaps visiting a winery or two in Woodinville.😎 I have done all of this except Kenai fjords & the wineries before, but with the exception of Seattle, almost 30 years ago, so I bet a great deal has changed. I am now officially excited, in spite of the flight changes and the COVID requirements and the apps. I used to have a cat who did this. Winkie was so flexible & long! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well while I am gone everyone! ********** Peter Zemmer 2020 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige) Excellent reviews and a very reasonable price make this wine a good choice. Would definitely enjoy on a hot, humid evening. We seem to be having a lot of those lately. Widely available online with prices starting at $13.49. Winemaker Notes Radiant straw-yellow with a greenish tone. Elegant flowery aroma with typical tones of ripe fruit (pear, melon) and spices. Fruity mineral flavor, full-bodied with fresh acidity. Recommended pairings are starters, tureens, terrines, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, white meat and poultry. JS91 James Suckling A very fresh, clean pinot grigio with lovely honeydew-melon and summer-herb character and a neat balance of generous fruit with lively acidity. Polished, long finish. Drink now. WE90 Wine Enthusiast Enticing scents of spring blossoms and summer orchard fruit waft out of the glass. On the polished, expressive palate, fresh acidity accompanies ripe yellow pear and apple before a white almond close.

Bon voyage!

Definitely a reason to celebrate, Jim!🥂

I did the Circle Hawaii cruise in October 2019. The Hawaiian ambassadors were on board until Honolulu. They hosted numerous activities on the days leading up to our arrival in Hawaii. But the activities on the return trip were pretty scarce. Not sure if HAL listened to our feedback, but if they did - perhaps you will have more activities from which to choose. But the trip is amazing. The Islands are just gorgeous.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another gorgeous morning. Hoping that yesterday’s humidity does not return. Just taking Bindi out in the back yard was brutal. If only she didn’t have to sniff every blade of grass before taking care of business. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites. Off to the gym. Then I need to tackle my Bougainvillea. Definitely pool time. Something to get your brains working…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Marques de Murrieta 2017 Reserva Finca Ygay (Rioja) This Rioja sounds lovely. All released vintages share the same excellent reviews from consumers and critics, so you can’t go wrong. The blending processes sounds fascinating. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $23.95. Winemaker Notes A palpable example of the elegance, consistency and regularity that characterize Marqués de Murrieta winery. This wine shows the incredible personality of the Ygay Estate and summarizes perfectly what happens during a whole vegetative cycle. Pair with grilled and baked scallop with red wine sauce and truffled liquid potato., twice-cooked sea bass, sweet onion, apple and foie mousse and fine velouté. Or with roast breast of Mallard duck, crispy potato and borage flower, soft cow's milk cheese and truffled Brie. JS95 James Suckling Beautifully perfumed with dried flowers, walnuts and violets to the dark berries on the nose. Full-bodied, yet very tight and refined with creamy, chewy tannins that are polished and poised. A lively, finely crafted red. Nice to drink now, but shows excellent potential for the future. RP93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The red 2017 Rioja Reserva is their flagship wine, of which they produce 900,000 bottles exclusively from grapes from their 300 hectares of estate vineyards. It's a blend of 83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo (Cariñena) and 2% Garnacha and has the character of the vintage, ripe and warm but without excess. The varieties fermented separately, even different plots fermented separately, and they also aged in barrel on their own. The blend is done at the end, after 20 months in American oak barrels. 2017 was a challenging year that they still consider a better vintage than 2018, as they see more concentration and power. The wine is quite lactic and creamy, still showing very young. It does feel undeveloped and in need of some time in bottle. The wine has concentration and clout, and I always consider it an ultimate example of an updated classical Reserva from Rioja. 2017 was the earliest harvest (started and finished in September), a warm and dry year when the Ygay estate miraculously escaped the terrible frost that decimated most of Europe. The challenge for this wine was to contain the ripeness and power, and they have done it. This will be released in spring 2021, so it should be a lot more integrated by then. This is always a sure value. Volumes are lower this year. WE92 Wine Enthusiast Lightly baked and leathery berry aromas are subtle. This wine is racy and clipping on the palate, with popping acidity. Spiced plum and cherry flavors are backed by oaky vanilla prior to a persistent finish with classic Rioja notes of oak, tomato and bright acidity.

Thank you Laura. I was hoping to have someone step up and save Jacqui’s wrist & you saved the day!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Another glorious morning here. Off to Tai Chi on the beach. It will be interesting to see if it is more difficult in the sand. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites. Is anyone interested in covering the “Wine du Jour” from August 28 - September 18th? I would be happy to send you the list in advance. Just email me at annge3@gmail.com I am certain my friend’s cat might surpass this record… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Domaine Laporte 2019 Le Grand Rochoy (Sancerre) This Sancerre is going on my list. A bit pricey online, but I might find it for less locally. More and more vintners are producing organic wines using sustainable methods. And this wine has superb reviews for all released vintages. Several online distributors with prices starting at $39.99. Winemaker Notes After racking at low temperature, the wine ferments for 10 days in stainless steel tanks at temperatures ranging from 15° to 20°C (59° to 68°F). Neither yeasting nor malolactic fermentation is employed. The wine is matured on its fine lees for 5 months and is then vacuum-bottled (exclusively in darkly tinted bottles). Only high quality natural corks are used. The wine undergoes additional maturation for at least one month in the bottle before being offered for sale. This helps the grapes to ripen more quickly and results in the production of a rich, well-balanced white Sancerre with a fine flinty tang. 95 Wine Enthusiast This wine is full of powerful white fruits that are densely textured and concentrated. The fruits bring a mineral texture that adds to the richness and complex structure. The wine will age further, so drink from 2022. Organic.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. I love that we are celebrating strange music today, since I just watched a YouTube video of the recording that the Webb telescope made of the sounds from a black hole! Just amazing. Another lovely morning here. Deer are everywhere, since another late afternoon - evening T-storm upset their grazing schedule a bit. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Off to the gym. Then gardening, perhaps. Visiting a local wine bar this evening. There are days that I feel this way…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Prats & Symington LDA 2018 Chryseia Red (Douro) This red blend from Portugal sounds amazing. Excellent - superb ratings from critics & consumers. I would love a taste, but it is priced outside of my budget range. Easy to find online with prices starting at $72.97. Winemaker Notes Chryseia 2018 was made with the finest grapes from Prats & Symington’s own Douro Valley vineyards, Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz. Aswith all previous Chryseia wines, Quinta da Vila Velha, owned by James andRupert Symington and which neighbors Quinta de Roriz, also contributedfor the blend. WE96 Wine Enthusiast This wine is the result of a joint venture between Bordelais Bruno Prats and the Symington family in the Douro. It has an impressive mix of elegance, density and concentration. It's a wood-aged wine that's packed with dark plum, berry and rich tannins, which will lend well to cellaring. Drink from 2025. Cellar Selection WW93 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2018 CHRYSEIA is a standout wine on the world stage! TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of bold, ripe fruits, hints of licorice, savory spices, earth, and oaky notes. Serve it with a well-spiced, slow-cooked lamb stew and homemade rustic bread. (Tasted: March 16, 2022, San Francisco, CA) WS93 Wine Spectator Ripe and alluring, with a lovely velvety feel to the mix of gently mulled plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit. A licorice snap weaves around the fruit, while a graphite note provides support on the finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2027. JS93 James Suckling Polished nose with aromas of plums, blueberries, cedar, chocolate and praline. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Delicious depth of fruit. Give this a couple more years. Drink from 2022.

If you need to do a proctored self test, be sure it is one HAL accepts. Check the COVID FAQ “Are self tests allowed?” answer. The last time I checked only certain ones were accepted. But that may have changed in the most recent update.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Another lovely morning with the sun just creating the trees. A little rain last evening but nothing like what some folk are dealing with. Be safe everyone. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Praying that your low sodium level is easy to treat. Sometimes this condition is caused by diet, such as drinking too much water that would be an easy fix. Morning Dailyites! Off to the gym, chores & Bindi walks. Maybe some pool time. I laughed out loud at this one! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! *********** Firehouse Can Company NV Graham+Fisk's Wine in a Can with Bubbles - white Definitely a novel idea. And the good news is that they also offer, red, rosé, and rosé with bubbles. A bit elusive but several online distributors with prices starting at $4/can. Probably cheaper in a multi-pack. Has anyone ever tied wine in a can? Would love to hear your opinion. 87 Wine Enthusiast This soft, off-dry wine offers a foamy texture filled with light vanilla, coconut and almond flavors that segue to meringue on the finish.

@Vict0riann Happy Birthday Ann! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & cruises!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Big marine layer this morning. But the temperature is gorgeous. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Early gym classes. @ger_77 Gerry praying for Melodie, her family and you & DH. I hope you wonderful memories help ease your pain. @grapau27 Graham & Pauline - Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to seeing how you two celebrated it. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********** Contucci 2016 Mulinvecchio (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) Consistent priced across the online distributors, this superbly rated wine does not carry an hefty price tag. I do wonder what “underbrush” tastes like. 🤔 Several online distributors offering it for $39.99. Wine Enthusiast ReviewRated 96 #34 TOP 100 CELLAR SELECTIONS 2021Aromas of truffle, tilled earth, rose, camphor and star anise slowly take shape on the nose of this elegantly structured red. Radiant and savory, the bright, focused palate showcases juicy Morello cherry, strawberry compote and ground cinnamon before a licorice close. Tightly wound, refined tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and give it an ageworthy structure. Drink 2024-2036.Wine Tasting NotesAromas of underbrush, pressed violet, blackberry, baked earth and new leather lead the nose of this classic wine. The structured, elegant palate offers succulent black cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon, clove and a hint of anise alongside tightly knit but polished tannins that need to unwind. It's already tempting but give this time to develop even more.Grape varieties: 80% Prugnolo gentile, 10% Canaiolo nero, 10% Colorino

The universe has righted itself! Thank you Rich! Drylands was one of the trailblazers of NZ Sauvignon Blancs! Excellent reviews from critics and consumers and a very reasonable price. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $15.89. PRODUCER DESCRIPTION Drylands was one of the pioneers of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and amongst the first wineries to produce Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. The Drylands 'Home Block' vineyard, beside the Drylands winery, is one of the oldest vineyards in Marlborough, and the vines, planted in 1980 are amongst the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines in the country. Founding winemaker Darryl Wooley made the first vintage off the Home Block in 1982, and for over 30 years continued to keep Drylands at the leading edge as Marlborough developed. The Drylands winery facility was a pioneering in innovation to develop the Marlborough style with, progressive customised structural features, such as 'tipping tanks' to fine tune skin contact for Sauvignon Blanc. Based in the heart of the 'Golden Triangle' in the center of the Wairau Valley, Drylands with its signature style is a custodian of classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc style. Show less DESCRIPTION Drylands Sauvignon Blanc White Wine opens with layers of passion fruit, fruit zest, and tropical fruit on the nose with a hint of elderflower. The palate offers juicy, weighty, sweet fruit balanced with clean acidity. Concentrated citrus flavors with layers of passion fruit, pink grapefruit, and pomelo linger through the finish. Made with grapes from the esteemed Marlborough, New Zealand appellation, this Marlborough region white wine is born from Drylands Home Block Vineyards, one of the oldest sauvignon blanc vineyards. Pair this delicious white wine with seafood and poultry or enjoy a glass of wine on its own. Varietal: 100% sauvignon blanc.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich!A lovely early morning with Venus very visible in our early morning sky. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy. Cheers to my F&B department members! Morning Dailyites! Gym, groceries & pool time will fill my day. Today’s wine just might win the prize for the most convoluted name. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Raimund Prüm 2019 Solitär Trocken Riesling - Mosel The name was a bit distorted by some computer algorithm not recognizing a certain accent, but it is still a wild name. But it has some fans and is reasonably priced, though a bit elusive. A few online distributors with prices starting at $13.99. Winemaker Notes Medium lemon in color. On the nose, highly aromatic with peach, orange, lemon, papaya, pineapple and mineral notes. A dry style (trocken), the palate nuances a vibrant and racy tone with layer of tropical, stone and citrus fruit perfectly balanced and precise. Can be enjoyed on its own or with a range of appetizers, salads, white meats, seafood dishes, spicy cuisine or cheeses. WE92 Wine Enthusiast Perfumed, sunny notes of mango, guava and honeydew lend tropical flair to this dry but intensely fruity Riesling. It's svelte and steely on the palate yet hedonistic and thirst quenching too, with a finish that's long and intently mineral. Best Buy

Melisa, praying that DSIL’s surgery is successful.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! More rain yesterday for most of the evening and early night. This morning there is a huge marine layer, so not sure what today will be like. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Zumba for me this morning. Then I head to my “traveling Sister’s” for some final prep for our trip. Bindi and I both have this syndrome…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Count Karolyi 2019 Grüner Veltliner (Pannon) Hungary The world has righted itself! This white wine is easy to find. Very good ratings from consumers and critics alike. And prices that make it an easy one to try. I do not believe I have ever tried this wine. But with prices starting at $10.48, I am putting it on my list. @erewhon please thank your DH for trying to find yesterday’s wine. It shall remain a mystery. 88 Wine Enthusiast This Hungarian Grüner Veltliner offers aromas of lemon rind, apricot and fresh peach. It has balanced acidity on the palate, with flavors of peach and lemon pith. The finish is pleasantly bright.

Praise be! Bless Liz, you & Shadow. I am toasting you all with my smoothie du jour. Liz is my hero, too!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely morning. And boy did we have rain yesterday afternoon and evening. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy. Morning Dailyites. A really quick post for me this morning. I spent a bit too much time looking for our wine. Off to classes. Prayers for who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Devlanee Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand SOT I have failed you all. My attempts have not brought up any info for this wine. But yet it exists and is on our list. And I have enjoyed every SB from New Zealand that I have tried. And their prices are usually very reasonable. I am calling for reinforcements. @erewhon can you help us?

In these days of airlines constantly changing flight times, Flight Ease will help resolve any issues that you encounter - and if the airline causes the problem, no charge to you. Example: our last change resulted in us arriving back home at midnight with at least a 90 minute ride home after that. Flight ease is working with us to find a better option. Someone else on CC mentioned that her last flight change bumped her out of First Class and the folk at flight ease helped her correct the issue. If the HAL TA uses Flight Ease to book your travel, there may not be any difference.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely morning. Our afternoon T-storms returned yesterday, although the worst was North of me. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy! Morning everyone! Heading off to an early Tai Chi class. Then a long awaited mani-pedi! Today is the day I will actually create a timeline of when we have to do each test, complete each form and finalize each app for our trip. I am hoping things do not change too much before then. 🤞🏻 I love this one… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Julien Schaal 2020 Granite Brand Grand Cru Riesling This Riesling sounds lovely, though it is very elusive and a bit pricey. I found a couple online distributors with prices starting at $45.00. 94 Wine Enthusiast Distributor notes Julien Schaal Riesling Grand Cru ‘Les Arènes Granitiques’ Sommerberg has a lovely, intense minerally nose with complex lime fruit, a touch of honey and some spice. Rich but bone dry palate with lovely mineral extract and intensity. Quite tight with good acid structure; good potential for development. Aging potential of 8-10 years. Riesling Grand Cru ‘Les Arènes Granitiques’ Sommerberg will go well wit sea fish in lemon sauce, scallops brochettes or grilled king prawns. Sommerberg is reputed one the greatest grand Cru vineyards of Alsace, documented as having produced some of the region’s finest wines since the year 1214. From old vines on the steepest part of the Grand Cru. The granite soils give the wine an intense lime flavour and a touch of honey. Bone dry, the balanced acids give complexity and length. Dominantly granitic with black and white micas,. This soil, is rich in mineral elements, and ideal for vine growing. From a 45 years old vineyard, the Sommerberg is situated on a very steep slope (45°), face due south, and exceed 400 metres of elevation. Viticulture was first recorded at Niedermorschwihr in 1214, and the name of Sommerberg was jealously reserved for this particular vineyard from 17th century onwards. Alsace wine region has a unique combination of great soils types that forms a real ‘kaleidoscope” of geologies. Pink sandstone, blue schist, limestone, granite, gypsum and volcanic rocks are amongst the most interesting soil. You can find all of them on grand cru vineyards. They believe that Riesling is maybe the best variety to translate those characters into wines. In 2011, Olivier Biecher and Julien Schaal have launched the winery exclusively dedicated to Alsace Grands Crus wines. From Andlau to Thann, they found numbers of interesting vineyards that all have strong individual character. Today Julien and Sophie are trying their best to get the full potential of the vineyards into the wine style they love!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another glorious start to the day! Looking forward to getting my haircut today. It needs it badly. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy. Morning Dailyites. @Seasick Sailor Joy, praying that you won’t have to deal with any fires. Even we seem to be having a drier than normal Summer, but nothing like what you are dealing with. @smitty34877, Terry loved reading that the Executive chef & you are doing better. @ger_77, Gerry hope you & DH are doing ok. @kazu keeping you & Shadow in my prayers. May Liz find her quickly. Heading to the gym after my haircut. Then pool time & gardening in some order. Perhaps not the sign we want to see in the buffet line… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Famiglia Anselma 2016 del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba Barolo lovers take note of this one. Superb reviews and though at the top end of my budget - still under $50. One for a special occasion perhaps. Very elusive, but I found one online distributor offering it for $45. You might find a better price locally. 97 Wine Enthusiast This classic Barolo opens with aromas of truffle, new leather, camphor and blue flowers. The youthfully assertive palate has knife-like precision, delivering raspberry compote, blood orange, star anise and crushed mint alongside noble tannins and bright acidity. Austere at this stage, it has incredible energy and boasts serious aging potential. Drink 2028–2046.

Bilbo’s big bash.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely start to the day. The sun just crested my neighbor’s trees. The birds have been very vocal lately. I think they are enjoy these mornings, too. Thank you for our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Gym, Bindi walks, chores, and possibly a visit to the local wine bar are in my future. This may be a repeat, but it made me smile. I am certain that Bindi would not like this at all. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Series This Chilean Cab has very good reviews from consumers and critics alike. Its reasonable price tag makes it an easy one to try. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $11.92. Distributor Notes Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errázuriz in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley. This family owned winery continues to create exciting wines searching for the perfect combination of soil, climate and variety. Hand-harvested and aged in French and American oak barrels to add complexity while retaining the vibrant, youthful fruit. Aromas of cherries, cranberries, spice, tobacco, and vanilla precede the lively palate full of red fruit flavour with a touch of caramel. Serve with red meats and hard cheeses.