Cork Poppers Taste Summer Favorites!

Our Cork Popper gang gathered recently at hosts Roger and Merdith's to taste "Summer Wines." What kind of wine do you enjoy in the summer? Bring that!"

Our selection of wines!

Roger kicked things off with a mango mimosa. 

Host Roger and his Mango Mimosa. 

 Oh my, it was good. It was made by Cooks and he got it at the Meijer store here. (Meijer is a midwest chain, similar to a Wal-Mart in that it carries everything from food to clothing to medicine to bed sheets!) I don't have a price on it, though. 

We usually are very red-heavy with wine in our group. But summer often means "bring out the white!" and that happened here, too. Rick was first with Pelee Island Pinot Grigio.

 

This wine is from Canada, and Rick discovered it on last summer's cycling journey. He picked it up when we went to Canada to see the plays at Stratford. I liked it, cold and crisp, but wanted to hear the verdict of our two members who drink only white wine. Both Cheryl and Meredith gave it a thumbs up. Anne noted some green apple and lemon notes. 

Rick said that in Canada he paid about $13 for it, including the tax. My exchange rate calculator said that came to about $9.25 in US dollars.

Roger was next with Touraine Sauvignon 2023, Domaine du Courtillet. 

 

He picked up this French wine from the Loire Valley at Costco for $14.99. Barb immediately weighed in -- "This is good!" (I agreed. Clayton pronounced it "A good buy." 

Cheryl and Dick then offered another Sauvignon Blanc, Babich Black abel 2024 from Marlborough, NZ.

 

I noted that it felt a bit  stronger than the first Sauvignon Blanc Roger presented. Cheryl said it was "more lemony" than the first. They found it for $14 at Horrocks, a local market with a great wine section. Barb asked, "Is there any more of that?" (There was.)

Bob was up next with A-Z Wineworks Pinot Gris 2023. A-Z is a company that purchases grapes from a variety of places. It's sustainable and organic and made by women. 

 

I didn't get the price but I happily wrote "I could drink that!" 

Cheryl does lots of animal photography and she gave Barb a portrait of her dog!

Dick was next with The Guilty, 2020 Shiraz from Shinaz Estate, with their vineyard in Marananga, Australia. 

 

I took one sip of this and said, "Whoa!" Barb instantly said, "Oh, yes!" and "This is smooth!" Anne asked "What are the flavors (she was picking up cherry). Dick said it had "Busty cherry vanilla," which, of course, sent us off on another tangent. 

With Barb and Kate -- savoring the reds!

 Barb called it a "Whitman's Sampler of flavors" and Anne asked where he discovered this, "It's very complex."  

Bob, Mike, Rick and Anne -- conveniently seated by the cheese and crackers!

Our last non-red was from Kate -- Campuget Tradition Rose, from the Dalle Family Estate. It is a blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes and oh, so good! (This one got served out of order; it should have come before "The Guilty."

  

This was a marvelous Rose and one of my favorites of the day. "I could drink that!" I said, after my first taste. And the second! It would be wonderful while sitting on the porch at the cottage, watching the sunset. 

Rick said "The most interesting wine so far," while Barb called it yummy and Rick encouraged everyone to try it. He said it had a "red wine impact." 

Kate found it at Dusty's, a local wine shop and before her 10 percent discount, it was $16.99. She has seen it listed online for less. 

Barb was next. "The reds are about to descend!" she said, as he presented a Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 from California.

 

Clayton told  us this was Taylor Swift's favorite wine. (How did he know this? Is Clayton a closet Swiftie?) Barb described it as "fruit forward with soft tannins" and it was a good price -- $15 at the Meijer store, which means probably available most places.

When it's warm, the shorts come out! Rick and Clayton rocking them!

Clayton was last with Gaetano D'Aquino Chianti Reserva DOCG fro Tuscany. 

 

I found it really smooth and Meredith noted that Clayton was "sticking his nose in the bottle." (With good reason, I might add -- the aroma was lovely!) I didn't get the price on this one either -- what can I say? It was late in the afternoon and by then the conversation had degraded! 

Fortunately, we'd been enjoying crackers, bread and cheese during the tasting. But it was time for more substantial food!

 

 And what a feast it was! Meredith had shrimp and sauce and I brought caprese skewers with balsamic glaze.

  

 Barb made a wonderful veggie pizza and Cheryl had her ham and pickle roll-ups, which we all love! 

 

Kate contributed orzo salad and Anne had skewered fruit. 

  

I brought individual strawberry shortcakes and Meredith made a gorgeous Flag cake! No one went home hungry.

 

But we all went home very happy, and with lovely boxes of Taffy that Meredith pulled together to extend the sweetness of the day. (I feel compelled to add here that we only have small tastes and there were 12 of us -- and there is still wine left in some of those bottles!)

For more Cork Poppers of the past, check out the link on the MENU TAB above!! 

Sometimes We Clean Up OK!

Sometimes (not often), we get dressed up! And most of the time when we do, it's for something fun. But this time, it was beyond fun -- it was for a spectacular evening. (Followed the next day by fun with our grands!)

 

The occasion was the Michigan Emmy Awards, held  Detroit. (For those not familiar with this award, the Emmy is presented for excellence in television production. Awards are first presented regionally and may include everything from video promotion to local news and weather. You might be more familiar with the national Emmy Awards, in which programs you are more likely to see in any market in the country, or even internationally, are honored.

Down at the Ditch

I wanted to get in another "Ditch" post before taking off to the lake at the end of the month. My most recent walk brought about a lot of blooms -- and a lot of ducks.

 

This mama duck has two babies, quietly nestled in the area by the water at the edge of the woods. 

Let There Be Art! And Let It Be On Stage!

“Whatever the worries of the hour or the threats of the future, once the picture has begun to flow along, there is no room for them in the mental screen.” 

                                              ~  Winston Churchill 

Winston Churchill, an avid painter himself, wrote this quote to express his feelings about painting. But I see it as broader than that. These words could easily apply to any creative venture that we could describe as "art." And, for me at least, that includes theatre.

 

We had a wonderful experience last weekend. Rick and I headed to Stratford, Ontario, to see our friends, Suzanne and Jim in London and together go to the Stratford Festival. We went to see see two musicals, playing back to back with only a short dinner break in-between and featuring the same casts.  

The Books of May

May was a most eclectic reading month. There were several mysteries (of course!), a sweet novel, a fantasy, and a book of essays on finding joy. 

Meanwhile, in the Yard

One of the best things about this time of year is seeing things "wake up" and being able to be outside. I don't have a great garden and the backyard is more weeds than lawn, but I've been enjoying the birds, blooms and critters.

 

I think I've given up grass for Creeping Charlie (which is actually kind of pretty.)

A Little Bit of Everything -- Friends, Flowers, Ditch and Gratitude!

Today, a smorgasbord of life in general! A bit of fun in the yard, productive time, a wonderful restaurant "make-good" and fun with friends.

 

First of all, the restaurant. I mentioned our surprisingly awful dinner back in this post. (And thanks for the support on that! I think most of you must have had a similar experience and could empathize!) Several of you mentioned "I hope you let the restaurant know about this" and yes, I did.

On the Trail

Rick and I had a poignant, interesting and fun day recently. We headed to Kalamazoo, Michigan (where he used to live) for the memorial service of a friend of Rick's. As longtime readers of this blog know, Rick is an avid cyclist, with a racing past and a present that includes a passion for lengthy bike hikes. But he considers his greatest life accomplishment as being the "Father of the Kal-Haven Trail," a cycling trail that goes from Kalamazoo to South Haven, Michigan and the first rail trail in the state.

 

His friend who passed, Mike, was one of his colleagues when working on the trail. As Rick often says, "the trail was built on the shoulders of many" and Mike was one of them.

Close Encounters of the Nicest Kind!

I've shared a lot of nature in recent posts, but those visits (and life in general) have included some delightful "close encounters" with some lovely people, a road trip, dining out, and even a critter or two! So, a look at life in general! 

 

Life in general includes blog friends and one real treat for this month of May was a meet-up with blogger Anno, who came to Lansing for lunch. (Do check out her "Artifacts and Annotations" HERE.) We had such a good long talk at lunch and on our walk to the ditch -- and yet, we both realized there was so much we didn't even get to during that time. Another meet-up is definitely in the offing.

Nature -- It's for the Birds! (And Us, too!)

Every now and then, one has an experience that is unexpectedly wonderful. That's what happened for Rick and me recently when we joined the Nature Conservancy for a nature walk at Erie Marsh Preserve, a nature preserve located in Erie, Michigan, not far from the Ohio Border.

 

Early Days at the Flower Market

The redbuds are still blooming here, but soon to be replaced by green leaves. Despite cool days (though getting a bit warmer!) and (very) cold nights, spring is here!

 

My friend Jan and I went to our favorite flower/plant nursery and market to check out the plants and prices.

The Moms in My Life

Happy Mother's Day to the moms, grandmas, stepmoms, step-grans and pet moms! Here are a few of my favorites.

One of my earliest photo shoots with Mom.

April Reads

For a person who doesn't read a lot of fiction (in the form of novels, not mysteries) two of the best books I read this month fall into that category. Of the three mysteries were solid too, including one by one of my favorite authors, two were excellent or very good; one just OK.

 

Birds, Squirrels and Local Color at the Ditch

Alas, Harry the Heron hasn't shown up yet this spring, but I've had some other lovely sightings as the Ditch begins to awaken.

 

Slightly (emphasis on the "slightly") warmer weather and plenty of rain has helped the Ditch color to burst, and while it's still filling in, it's looking awfully good! (And yes, we dipped below freezing last night.)

A Birthday Lunch!

My pal Barb had a birthday this week, so friend Kate and I decided to throw her a birthday lunch! After all, we need a good reason to celebrate something and what could be better that honoring the day that a special friend was born?

 

I got the table set the night before, using a vintage tablecloth as a base and a smaller cloth over that as a topper. (Rita -- do you recognize the smaller cloth topper? You should!) As the salad was the main course, we dispensed with salad plates or bowls. Mom's silver came out, along with the some Depression glass tumblers. My Mikasa "Just Flowers" pattern seemed to be the right one for spring.

Let the Sun Shine!

Let the sun shine! It's been a lovely week here, warmish (not hot, which is perfect) and sunny. It's awfully nice to see the rain take a little break! Rick's flowering bush is out, so I know spring is really here!

 

By now, the Ditch is more "filled in" but when I took these photos a few days ago, it looked just as I love it -- that symphony of chartreuse and yellow-green, hanging like a soft scrim over branches and bushes. 

 

This beautiful state of affairs only lasts a few days and I was grateful that those days were lovely ones, good for a walk!

Missing Mom

April 21 is always a tough day for me. My mom died on that date, in 1977. You'd think I'd be over it by now. I am. And I'm not. I don't think we ever are.

I was one of the weird, lucky kids who had a great childhood. Two parents who loved each other and who loved me all the more. Financial security -- not wealthy, but comfortable. I was never spoiled but I was aware that we had all we needed and much of what we wanted. 

Thank You

I just wanted to thank you all for such heartfelt comments on my recent post. You can't imagine what that support means to me right now. I wish I could reply to each of you individually (those for whom I have email info, at least), but that lack of response has no connection to how grateful I am for wise words and understanding. 

 

So many of you have had similar experiences or periods in life when things aren't going well, whether it is physical or emotional stress or just an overload. You shared much encouragement, many positive thoughts and ideas, and perhaps most of all, helped validate the mix of feelings and frustration I'm experiencing. For those of you who periodically or still are in the "dark zone," I encourage you to read the comments on that post. And, I extend my own hopes that should you be in that spot now, your shadows soon lift.

 

I will be back soon with a new post. Meanwhile, visiting when I can and enjoying seeing spring come to life in your worlds.  

 

Thank you.

Thinking About Spring, Thinking About Things

Spring certainly seems to be dragging its feet here in mid-Michigan. Or, maybe it just feels like it was so long ago that we had our last spring that I've just forgotten the frustration and the fact that maybe this is the way it always feels. Still-bare branches with barely a touch of budding, fierce winds (and I don't remember winds nearly so strong as they are this year, and actually have been ever since last summer), and lots of rain. 

 

But there are buds. And even a bit of green is beginning to show. And a surprising high-60s, sunny day.

The Books of March

March ended up being a surprisingly good -- and diverse -- reading month. How i managed eight books last month is a mystery to me! There were, of course, mysteries, but I also read two fiction novels, a biography and a delightful humor book. Or, was it political satire? Or an animal behavior book? I'll let you decide! 

(And thank you all for lovely comments and support! Surgery went well, and not as miserable as the previous two times! YAY!) Now, onward to books!

Happy Easter

I was going to my last post stand for Easter, and it does for the sacred side -- but I couldn't resist adding a vintage element or two! 

Sacred Art for the Season

 Last Christmas Eve, Rick and I enjoyed a remarkable art experience when we visited St. John the Evangelist Church in Jackson, Michigan, a small city about 30 miles away from Lansing. It was a temptation to write about it immediately, but the art itself was better fitted to explain during Holy Week, so I held off on this post till now.

 

Christmas Eve was the official "opening" of a magnificent mural at the church's altar. It's enormous -- 32 feet tall and 21 feet wide and was created by local artist Joseph Macklin. Father Chas Canoy told us that it took a year to complete. Jackson is part of Lansing's Archdiocese and its St. John the Evangelist is its oldest church, built in the 1850s and Gothic in style. The mural is a perfect addition, with the style of art and the painting's subject matter fitting the setting.

We Are Exhausted! And It Was Great!

We had a lovely and fun pre-Easter, birthday weekend with the grandboys -- and boy, did they tire us out! To be fair, both of us were running on limited sleep. But it was a fun weekend so no complaints!

 

Our weekend started off watching Michigan State lose to UConn in the Sweet Sixteen. The first half was grim and the boys were in bed by the second. The game ended up much closer than expected from "Act One" and if MSU had played as they did in the second half, they would have made it to at least the Elite Eight. Alas. 

Spring, Maybe? The Bunnies are Back!

The calendar tells us it is officially spring. I've got to go with that because otherwise, it's just too depressing! 

 

So, on a remarkably warm (60 degree) day, I headed down to the Ditch for a look around, For the most part, nothing had changed much since my last visit, but I did notice this unique pine. I'm guessing it survived the tornado but with definite scoliosis to its trunk. Still, it looks healthy, just odd. (NOTE: I stand corrected! Tom, who knows such things, says this is a spruce, not a pine!)

Finding Old Travel Photos: Japan Edition

Once again, life is a bit slow. Rick just returned from Florida this week, where he spent time with his dad and saw old friends. He got to travel -- now I am armchair traveling! It's time to share long-ago travel photos from the archive!

Lots more than 1,000 cranes -- taken in Hiroshima's peace park.