My Nanette

Before I decided to jump into my own blog, I experimented with some posts on google's "BUZZ."  For those not familiar with it, it's like a mini blog that can be seen by all those in your e mail group...if you use google's mail system..... ( I think.)

Anyway, I stumbled upon this post about my grandma, always known to me as "Nanny" and thought I would share it again because this little lady is worth reading about. 

"A little known fact some of you may already know about me: I enjoy many "creative" hobbies, yet do not really "Martha Stewart" any of them. However, one hobby I enjoy, nay, LOVE is..TA-DAH: cooking. My love really started with my Nanny (aka Marjorie / the little lady in pic # 1.)



This must be where I learned to pose in pictures...



Growing up she has always been, at 4'11, a major figure in my life. I can't remember a time when I didn't go over to her house and experience what really good food meant (and the art of being spoiled.) You name it, she's cooked it and perfected it. Flash forward to my married days. Nanny bought me my first cookbook "The Joy of Cooking." Before getting married the only things I knew how to cook was the basics and I didn't even like doing those. And now? LOVE it. Can't find enough cookbooks to satisfy me (see pic #2). The harder to find, the better.



All of my remaining cookbooks.  I had to release a few back to the wild.



Anyway, in reading Julia Child's book ( pic #3 and cue screaming) about her days in Paris and learning the art of French cuisine, I found someone else who loved cooking and all the gastronomical results that ensued. It has actually been a joy to read."

Still haven't finished this book.  Dont' tell my Nanny- I borrowed it from her!

So that was my flash from the past, as far as posting goes. 
Now I must go explore my cookbooks for some good, old fashioned comfort food!

 

An Essay: In pictures: What I did over the weekend

  As mentioned before, we took an impulsive trip to California.  Here are a few pics of what we did when we were there ( don't mind the quality....I'm looking into photo editing "stuff.")  Anyway!! Here we go........

After waking up semi-refreshed in the morning:

                                                     We finally met our "niece" Minnie:

   hung out with her AND her parents a bit

Tried out some beers (this is at Bear Republic in Healdsburg, Ca) at several different places, mostly in Santa Rosa...

We then sipped a few drinks we already knew we liked

Visited a few vineyards and sipped some wine the next day

We decided to take a break from sipping and decided to shop and then went home and did the stuff you do when you hang out. 

The next day we were introduced to one of my new favorite places.  If I was Oprah, it would be one of my favorite things and I would gift it to all.  I literally can't stop talking/thinking about the Francis Ford Coppola winery in Alexander Valley:

I fell in love.  There was a beautiful series of buildings and a simple outdoor venue

 A 1948 Tucker car from the movie "Tucker."

 And, memorabilia from the movie "Marie Antoinette"

Oh, and wine.  There was wine too ( I forgot to take a picture)

In one word it was: delightful!

At another vineyard, Trentadue in Alexander Valley, I both sipped and found some ports I couldn't leave behind.  I am now a proud owner of two(2) bottles and will both deny I have the bottles in my possession and guard them with my life at the same time!  I feel so adult, me with my port! Ha!

We then had to get in the car and head home...another end to another great weekend!  We'd like to thank Milly and Jesse again for their hospitality!  We look forward to seeing you soon!  Portland maybe?