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Look like an old dead tree trunk to you? You’re close.
These amazing looking trunks are actually old grapevines. Some of the finest “old vine” zinfandel wines get produced from these vines. A common sight throughout Sonoma and Napa Valley in California, in January they almost look useless. Come back in a couple of months and you’ll see them transformed.
For now, they’re silently working away.

When traveling to wine country undoubtedly you will want to bring home some wine. If you are flying, check your airline’s regulations for bringing wine. You won’t be able to carry it on as it is more than 3 ounces. Some airlines will let you ship as “checked luggage”. Others don’t allow that. Sometimes it’s best to ship it directly to your home via FedEx.
Plan ahead so you aren’t surprised at the check in counter at the airport!

Weekends don’t need to be boring when you live in Northern California. Head north of Sonoma, past Healdsburg, through the rolling hills of Dry Creek wine country and pick a place to stop. Any place…there are so many. You will soon find favorites
This weekend found us at one of our favorites…Peterson Winery. Complex dark Zinfandel, smooth garnet hued Sangiovese, and a new wine blend he named Shinbone graced our wine glasses.
When you need a break from wine tasting, head a few feet away to the Dry Creek Olive Company.

Their locally grown olives date back over 120 years. Combined with their “soil to oil” capabilities you get some of the highest quality extra virgin olive oils available.
You may even purchase plants and start your own production. Or just buy theirs and enjoy without all the harvesting and crushing!

I know this is supposed to be a travel blog. But every now and then Myron just can’t seem to help himself and he inserts helpful wisdom. Here are his ABC’s of living…

Arch your back when you stretch…it makes you look thinner
Bask in every sunbeam
Catch at least 10 naps every day
Dig those claws into whatever is available
Envy no one
Fur is meant to share
Greet each day with a yawn
Hairballs are just part of living
Indulge often
Jump into a lap
Kittens are such pains
Love your staff…a.k.a. Family
Make an entrance
Nine lives are barely enough
Only the best…after all I am a cat
Purrrr loudly
Quiet please, I’m trying to nap here
Real cats rule
Scratch behind my ears, please
Thunder through the house at night chasing imaginary friends
Unleash your inner lion
Vary your hiding places
Wander nightly…even if it’s just down the hall
Xercise…you must be kidding
Yes I do need treats
Zebras might be fun to chase

Want to be prepared for your next trip? Here are just a few helpful hints.

1. Make a copy of your passport. Digital cameras work great for this.
2. Make a copy of your health insurance card. Again, taking a picture is a great way to record. this.
3. Speaking of health insurance, call your carrier to find out what is covered. If you are going abroad, find out what they cover and where you can seek both routine and emergency care.
4. Take a picture of your itinerary. That way you have your departure and arrival times and your confirmation number handy.

When your flight is grounded or delayed you need to act fast to get a seat on the next available flight. Get in line with other passengers…but boost your chances of grabbing a seat on the next flight by also calling the airline’s 800 number. You may have better access to that airline’s agents and therefore a set.
You could program your airline’s 800 number into your cell phone so you don’t waste time looking it up. Don’t know the 800 number? Go to http://tollfreeairline.com to find those numbers.

Doesn’t look like an evil tree now does it? But as it sheds its gazillion tiny leaves and they drop into the front yard, on to and across the roof, and blow into the pool…my thoughts about it are not real pleasant. I know…I know…I could be shoveling mountains of snow back in Iowa. So I’ll stop complaining, suck it up, and rake those gazillion leaves. Then I’ll skim the pool so it doesn’t look like it has a rug laying on top of it…a rug of leaves.

Ahhhh, the results of my efforts. A clean pool.

Mr. Scoop, the Pelican, guards the front walk. But he doesn’t guard for leaves.

And Myron has adjusted quite well…again. Seems to make himself at home all over the house.

Winter weather in the Midwest and the fact that our furniture was put on 2 different trucks instead on of one held up delivery to us. Being the resourceful people we are, we didn’t let lack of furniture hold us hostage. After all…we had wine glasses.

Time to mow our front yard. This can be done with a reel mower (no gas) in about 10 minutes. Takes longer to rake leaves from the huge Chinese Elm tree than that.

But it does tire one out.

Myron adjusted well. He even found out how to get on the counters. Obviously he was booted off right after I took his picture.

Mable was fine as long as she had her basket. Life is good…