Buy Wines from Local Wine Clubs

This is part two of our Central Coast wine tasting tour in our own county.  Part 1 was at the Four Brix Winery. I had met winery owner, Chris Brown, from Cantara Cellars at a networking fundraiser.  As soon as we walked in,  I saw Chris at the tasting bar.  The introductions took place and the wine tasting began. Cantara Cellars buy grapes from Lodi region of California.  So you won’t find a Pinot Noir wine here which happens to be one of our favorite wines.  However, we do like many  other varietals. read...

Buy Wines from a Ventura Winery?

While reading the paper this morning, I noticed an article about a new wine tasting event here in Ventura. I thought it might be fun to check it out but I knew Ron was working on a big project so I said nothing. He stopped for lunch and saw the article. He tells me what’s going on and asks if I want to go? Of course, I say, with a big grin. Soon we headed out. Always better when it’s his idea! The winery is located in a warehouse unit. The reception area was nice. We were greeted immediately by one of the owners who gave us an introduction to Four Brix Winery. The name came from their travels and their love for four major wine areas of the world: France, Italy, Spain and California. These were considered their 4 sweet spots.  They chose brix since measuring brix is part of the wine making process. read...

Memory of a Dog and A Black Butterfly

I wrote about a memory of a dog that I loved like my own child. In telling that story and reading the comments, I remembered another incredible incident concerning Ginger. Ginger was getting weaker and weaker. I walked her down to the backyard by taking her out the front and down to the back without stairs. As we neared the wooden gate, a black butterfly with gold fringe along the edges circled each of us. I instantly thought of my mother. I didn’t know until after my mom passed that she loved butterflies. This butterfly was dramatic looking and  that fit my mom.  It had big solid wings, all black with gold trim around the edges.  And mom loved gold necklaces, wearing two or more every day. She also wore sweaters trimmed in gold or silver trim. read...

Iron Gate in Residential Neighborhood: Truly Necessary?

We live up the hill behind the baseball diamonds of a high school. We’ve been here a long time and experienced things we’ve liked and things we haven’t. The noise from the games, stadium floodlights flooding our house, damaged mailboxes, empty beer cans in yards (don’t they know to recycle cans? Oh, yes, best not to take home beer cans!), cars blocking our driveway.  We’ve watched things get cleaned up, we’ve seen stadium floodlights redirected, mailboxes now intact, and no more beer cans. We also lost the dog turf when they put in artificial turf (we always cleaned up after our girls!) read...

Memory of a Dog: My Lady Ginger Lee

I went to Nia, a dance exercise class Saturday morning. Afterwards, as I neared the house, I saw a dove sitting in the street. I slowed giving it time to fly away. The dove triggered a memory regarding the passing of my sweet girl, Lady Ginger Lee. We took her to the veterinarian’s the day before our 26th wedding anniversary in July of 2007. We couldn’t let her suffer anymore. It was a painful time for us. I missed her terribly. She was my baby. I couldn’t talk to anyone because I would start crying. It was August and I was still crying. The latest Harry Potter came out and I was reading it so I wouldn’t cry anymore. It helped. read...

What is Energy Healing Therapy: What is it? Part 5

As I said, I was very frustrated in not moving forward as a energy healer with my first teacher. I had reviewed the  training several times but nothing new was being offered.  An opportunity to learn Reiki healing  appeared (turn 1).  I took it in exchange for working with cancer patients at the hospital. I got the Reiki attunement, the Initiation process for the Reiki energies. I enjoyed volunteering with cancer patients and I could do reiki on myself and long distance healing.  Reiki energies are not directed. Some of the techniques for the first energy modality were directed to specific issues, working on one item at a time. Another technique balanced your energy centers while another was similar to Reiki in that you did hands on but you let the energy direct where you should put your hands which you learn how to do in the training.  A few of the techniques allowed distance healing. read...