Cork Poppers: Where to YOU Want to Be?

It's time for another Cork Poppers post! This time we met at my house and our theme was "Where in the World Would You Like to Be Right Now." That opened up a lot of options for wines from about every country you could imagine and we had a few -- New Zealand, Spain and Italy!

 

As always, we start with the whites and while my preference always leans toward the reds, I would buy Kim Crawford's Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand, any day of the week. This was very cold, very crisp and very delicious.

 

Dick and Cheryl brought this one. They would like to be in New Zealand because it is as far away from the US as anyplace could be. The wine is good too! Our group had comments like, "Loved it!" and my own, "Wonderful!" This one could turn me into a white wine drinker!

 

Dick told us that there was a four dollar price difference between getting this at our area Meijer store (for those not in the area, Meijer  is one of those huge stores that has everything from clothing to toys to electronics and food (17.99) and Walgreens (13.99). Who knew Walgreens had wine that good? 

 

Bob was next with another white -- also from Marlborough, New Zealand, a 2022 Oyster Bay Chardonnay. This is (for lack of a better word) a creamier wine. I'm sure it is no "thicker" than any other but it has that feeling to me. (But then, I am in general not a Chardonnay fan.)

 

Barb called it "warmer." I thought it "less sparkly, more mellow." It was $14 or $15 at our Meijer store. Bob said that based on what he'd seen about New Zealand, "the government and the people would make it a place I'd be happy with." 

 It was time to switch to the reds, and first up was Kate and Mike's offering from Spain -- Emilo Moro 2022, a Tempornillo.

 

I said it had a wonderful aroma, and Barb pronounced "This is why you love red!" Rick agreed -- "This merits a second pour," he said. Dick said "This will stain your teeth more than anything," and Mike added, "I don't care if I have red teeth!" (Later, Rick said this was the best wine of the day.)

 

It wasn't the least expensive of the evening but at $21 from Dusty's (a local wine shop), it was worth it. Kate picked a wine from Spain because "It isn't here!" 

Barb came next with Josh Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 from Northern Coastal California (California was far enough for Barb to get away!) She recalled driving down the Coastal Highway on a previous visit and said "You don't get that in Michigan!"

 

Josh is a very easy wine to get in the US, often available at grocery stores. Because it is domestic, tariffs haven't raised the price significantly (Barb paid $18). 

 

It was very fruit-forward. Kate called it "Very mellow! The calmest wine I've had all day. But Barb said, "I like Kate's wine better!"

Rick wine was the last of them, a Corte Fiore by Lupi Riali, Italy. It features the Aspasstimento grape and was a full-bodied Italian red from the Abruzzo region. 

 

I said it had a terrific finish, while Bob said, "This is very good" and Barb said "I like this!" This was about $15 (Rick couldn't remember) from Cantoro, an Italian market in Livonia. Rick would love to be in Italy now, enjoying music with our friend, Giorgio. 

We had a smaller group, due to Snowbirds, but our food table was overflowing! (A better food blogger than I would have removed the wrap on the food before taking photos! Live and learn.)

 

Bob started us off with crackers and cheese, to which Rick added a fresh baguette. Kate brought smoked salmon, Barb had a huge plate full of wonderful small sandwiches (definitely ready for tea, too!). I had spanakopita and baked Brie. Cheryl brought her signature ham/dill pickle roll-ups. For desserts we had baklava, peanut butter-coconut balls and little ginger cookies.  

Nope. nobody left hungry!

 

But when they did go, they took little party favors. This time I had two chocolate bars and a pair of hand warmers. Given our winter, sustenance and warm hands are a necessity!

 

Another Corkies for the book!  

This week's Cork Popping tasters!

 

 Rick and Bob, Cheryl, Dick

Barb and Jeanie, Kate an Mike. (Thanks to Cheryl for some of today's photos!)

January Books

I had high hopes for January reading and ended up with four books, three mysteries and one novel. I did clock in a lot of pages -- most were pretty big. But more important, they were good, too. 

Still Cold, But Who Isn't These Days?

It's been a full week, mostly good, and capped off on Saturday with a Cork Poppers gathering. More on that one later, but we had a wonderful afternoon sampling wines and devouring terrific food from places we'd rather be!

 

The Portrait Challenge

Today is Nicole's Friday Face-Off portrait challenge, in which we share portraits we have done of another. Now, if I was really doing this right, it would be something more recent than these. But, as they say, "it's been a month" (or two). So a couple of oldies. I'll kick it off with Rick. (All of these were done in watercolor on paper.)

Polar Vortex!

Greetings from the Polar Vortex. Chances are if you live most places in the US, you are in it, too. 

 

We are in the midst of a deep freeze here -- definitely not my favorite kind of weather but when you live in Michigan, you have to experience this now and then. But this is pretty extreme! When I was a kid, I don't remember them ever closing school because it was too cold. Even snow days were rare and it seemed we had more then than now. 

Life in January -- It's Good!

The past week has been mostly a "friend" week with several lunches and dinners out. I've been short of companionship during the past couple of months -- self-imposed, to be sure. But now feeling good enough to enjoy the company of others. And, on top of that, my weight-lifting and arm-raising instructions have been lifted so  can get back to doing things around the house I'd neglected.

 

I was so surprised and delighted when, on my "liberation day," Rick showed up with a dozen beautiful peachy roses. They've held up so well and I love them! 

Finding Old Photos: France Edition

Well, I've been here before. A slow month. I could write about a lot of health things or political topics but I don't want to and you probably don't want to read them. So, it's back to revisiting the travel photo archive!

The 2025 Book Wrap Up!

Finally -- an overview of the books I read in 2025. This was a far better reading year than I expected, with a grand total of 73 books read in 2025. Those books represented 20,573 pages. (The total books was a record since I started recording books in 2002, pages a bit short of 2022's 21,994.)

 

Last year's totals were 47 books and 4947 pages, so it was a great improvement!

I've listed my Top Ten (or so) below, all books by category/genre following. Please note that because something didn't get in the top ten, didn't mean it wasn't good. It might have just meant that it was part of a series and the series should be considered as a whole. 

Links under the titles of each book are to my book review posts from last year with more detail about each one. I didn't include many of the mystery series I love so much here because it felt a bit redundant, but many of those would be in my favorites!

Starting the New Year Right!

The calendar has turned over and I'm doing my best to turn over with it!  Some recent doc appointments have brought about some medication changes and I'm feeling much improved! What a relief! And nothing like a pretty fruit arrangement to really make your day!

 

I've been spending a lot of time at the computer lately, looking at old photos. No, not for blogging. Not even to delete the bad ones (of which there are plenty.) It is to add my own photos to the Aura photo frame that Kevin and Molly gave me for Christmas which is high on my "best gift ever" list. (Left: Covid days/egg hunt; Right: Good times in England)

Seven Reflection Questions that Made Me Think!

Recently, the New York Times had an article about seven reflection questions to ask yourself that might help you have a happier new year in 2026. I enjoyed these -- they were good food for thought. 

When did you feel the most joyful and carefree?

Being at the lake always makes me feel more joyful and carefree. There is usually no schedule and you can't beat the environment!

 

The December Books

I guess I read a bit more than anticipated in December, wrapping up the year with mostly mysteries, which are my "comfort food,"  along with one dearly loved re-read. (OK, I read that book one chapter a month but I finished this month!) Five books -- I'll take it. And they were all worth the time.