Thanksgiving

So we have talked to both of our families this morning. I talked to mom and dad and began To cry and then Scott and I talked and I cried for an entire bus ride. I am now taking deep breaths and am fine for now. :) Having fun, just had a moment. There is a first time for everything but I don't think I will stay away from family again. I am blogging from my phone now from the F-train. I can't post photos.
We have a fun Thanksgiving dinner planned at The Franciscan Crab House right on the water. 4-course Thanksgiving meal or seafood. Photos soon. Maybe I will be able to post from the airport. I can't believe it's almost over. We have had a blast.
Again, sorry for typos and missed words, trains, cable cars and trolleys aren't the smoothest rides... ;)

Day 3

Day 3...a little late.  Scott had to take the car back to the airport so I am sitting in a coffee shop waiting.  He should be here any minute.  Enough about today...Short but sweet description of we did yesterday... the below two photos are from Ravenswood.  We did a tour there.  To much of our surprise it was one on one and AWESOME.  Our tour guide, if you will, was Peter.  About a quarter of the way through our tour, we discovered he was a photographer as well, landscapes.  He is also a geologist.  Very insteresting man and very nice.  He let us ask whatever we wanted and was full of information.  We got to taste straight out of the barrell (see below) and we learned the whole process.

 Scott just got here so I am going to hurry.  Below is the Jacuzzi Winery and Olive Tasting Room.  Absolutely wonderful.  More to come.

This is the Dry Creek Winery.  Once again, a favorite.

This was a last stop of the day and my favorite.  Not only do I LOVE Coppola Wine but this place was amazing.  It had a winery, gallery, tasting bar, full bar, a pool with a full bar and restaurant.  Coppola visits at least once a week.

I promise to write more later.  We are off the Union Square....

Day 2

Once again...sooo tired.  Not that it's a bad thing, the time change is such an adjustment.  Scott has already headed to bed and I am in the comfy lobby by the fire with a glass of pinot noir and posting.  He said he is "wined out".  No such thing for me.  :)  Below, for the first two photos is the Shaffer Vineyards.  We tried to get in for a tasting here but it was by appointment only and the only opneing they might have had was Wed. morning and that is when we are leaving to head to San Fran.  I can't even begin to describe this place.  It was  that nice, clean, white feeling of home.  Huge, clean white and khaki colors, friendly people pouring wine in a window covered room facing heaven.  They had their their dogs roaming the property and they were beautiful and in absolute paradise.  It was that life that seems impossible to have...

Next is Baldacci.  We had heard from some ladies at an earlier venue that this was a very fun place to taste, too many to edit and share at this moment.  Stay posted....

 Okay...So from my previous post you know that we tried to visit PlumpJack and they were closed.  Mannnnn O'Man, am I SO glad we went back!  This was my FAVORITE tasting yet.  VERY expensive but proven why.  Almost everything we tasted here was amazing.  The photo below is of a wine that they let us try because it was accidentally opened.  It was 1 of 2 they had left....ever.  NFS, so to speak.  So good, so fun, so beautiful.  Such a quirky and fun place.  MY FAVORITE.

 This is Joseph Phelps.  It was recommended to me and then we were told it was "snobby".  We stopped anyway.  Good thing, the wine was pretty good, but the view was A-MAZ-ING.

 Dean and Deluca-St. Helena...more to come...

 Ummmm...How COOL!!!!

 Sterling Vineyards...more to come...but not much...it was rainy 

 This was a castle.  We were told it is the only "true" castle in the whole United States due to the way it was built.  SO many great shots from this spot...got to keep you on the edge of your seat so this is only one I am posting.  ;)

 We spent the rest of the evening in Calistoga and then headed back south for dinner and back to our hotel...
This is Rutherford Grill...the "Houstons" of Napa.  Absolutely delicious, of course...

Please excuse any missed words or typos (& any unedited photos) as I am halfway through a glass of pinot that should have been gone a long time ago and am VERY tired.  I feel like a loser but it is 1:07 a.m. Orlando time.  Good night, and know there are many more to come...I know I haven't posted much, but know that I have taken 456 photos since we have arrived.  :)  LOVE TO ALL

PASSIONATE

I am very passionate about photography and wine. I am also VERY tired. It is 12:15 a.m. Orlando time and only 9:15 p.m. Napa time. I am going to post a few photos and hit the hay. Our first day was wonderful. At any given moment, I could have snapped a shot and it would have been of something gorgeous. I mean the vineyards, the river, the wineries, the food, the town...EVERYTHING. For those of you who have been out here before know what I'm talkin' about!

Here is how our day went in a few short words.  The below 2 photos are a couple from our commute from San Fran to Napa.  Just a bunch of touristy shots from the car...

 



We checked into our hotel to drop our bags off and then hit the road for some food and wine.  The is our view from the room.

This is just one shot of many (and we will be going back) of the Public Market.  It had ALL sorts of mini restaurants and shops and markets.  This is a shot of some of the cheeses at the bar in the back.  We went back up front and had authentic Mexican, sangria and a flight of beer.

This is a shot from Clos Du Val.  My favorite wineery of the day.  We bought 2 bottles from this winery and the gentleman who served us, Gonzalo, has a daughter who attends UCF.  Scott said he had graduated from UCF as well and then all of the chatting and FREE tasting began.  We sipped a Chard that was $24 a bottle all the way to a Cab RESERVE that was $125 a bottle.  Delish.

 We made a pit stop up a mountain.  Scott tends to go places he is not supposed to.  We ended up on the top where a private B&B sat.  It was right before sunset and was absolutely gorgeous.  This photo does even come close to capturing the moment.  My apologies....

Below is Stag's Leap Wine Cellar.  Look closely..who is that smooching couple in the window???

A friend from work told me I HAD TO visit PlumpJack winery.  I could not find info on it to save my life and as we were taking some back roads during sunset, we just happened to drive right into the driveway.  They were tiny and not open.  We are going to try again tomorrow. 

PlumpJack Vineyard

 

We ended up back in Downtown Napa for dinner.  I came across this place while researching online and we happened to run into it as well.  BBQ/wine bar on 1st street.

 Scott's dinner:  pulled pork sandwich and cole slaw.  We had an assortment of marinated olives for an app.

 My dinner:  spring mix salad with added blue cheese.  It was extra but so worth it.  They had feature cheese selections to choose from that you could add to your salad.  Oh, and jalepeno cornbread of course!

 Goodnight to all...

Leaving on a jet plane

Ugh...4 o'clock came very early. Kindly excuse any typos as I am posting from my phone. It is now 6:21 a.m. and we are seated on the plane. Bill & Linda kindly picked us up well before dawn. Thank you. A little emotional this morning leaving family. Called and texted mom & dad. I'll be okay. ;) Im not a great flyer. This is distracting me for the moment as my throat is closing up. Hopefully I will be able to sleep. The man sitting next to us just moved to a free seat. Yayyyyyyy!!

California-Feel free to follow and comment!! :)

So the fun has already begun.  All I can say is THANK THE LORD FOR MY MOM!!  She has spent all day here at the house helping us pack.  She has my suitcase fully packed...ironed and seperated by outfit and tissue paper.  Definately something I would never have the patience for without her help.  Now just the stuff that one could easily forget, stuff you have to keep out for the morning...face soap, make up, phone charger....YIKES...back to business...

Beautiful Family on a Beautiful Day

What can I say?  The day, the tides, the beach, the lighting...it was all perfect. Only if Frankie wanted to look at the camera for a few more shots.  :)  Cutie.  Regardless, could they be any cuter?  I introduce to you...The Daltons.

FAMILY