Weekend Wanderings 5.4.12
Did you know today was Star Wars day? May the 4th be with you. Check it out on Twitter or Facebook. In honor, a few famous quotes (yes, I like Star Wars, ok!)
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"These are not the droids you are looking for."
"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
"The Force is strong with this one."
"If you only knew the power of the Dark Side."
"I am your father."
"A Jedi knight? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone get delusions of grandeur."
"Do or do not. There is no try."
"May the Force be with you." (Get it yet?)
Enough with my nerdiness: now on to the weekend.
--
Amanda and I have been looking forward to this weekend for a couple months, actually! We're heading up to the Verde Valley to pick up our wine shipments from Arizona Stronghold and Page Springs Cellars. For those who didn't know, Arizona has an up and coming wine industry in the Verde Valley and also down in Southeastern Arizona near Wilcox and Sonoita. While they grow many varietals of grapes, many Rhone varietals have tended to do well! We joined the wine clubs of these two vineyards because they make great wine as well as supporting the uniqueness of Arizona wine. We try to make it up here at least every three months, even though we end up frequenting a little bit more than that! I could go on and on about the wine, but I want to focus more on the trip ahead!
Saturday morning we will be making the just under two-hour drive up to Cornville and Cottonwood on the banks of Oak Creek and the Verde River respectively. We signed up for a fun event at Page Springs Cellars called Build-a-Blend. Many wines are a blend of multiple varietals, and is where a lot of the art of winemaking comes into play. At this event, we'll learn about blending and get to make our own blend! Food and wine is also included, and the event is located in the vineyard overlooking the creek. It should be awesome! We're doing the 11:00 am event, which will give us plenty of time to enjoy the vineyard grounds. Wine country truly is one of my favorite scenic destinations, whether nestled along the little Oak Creek in Arizona or across the rolling valleys of Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, or Santa Ynez. Page Springs Cellars has the best of the Verde Valley Wine Trail. We'll be able to walk through the vineyards or sit on their patio tasting room area overlooking their fields and listening to the cascading creek. They do a lot of craft wine here, from both red and white blends to single varietals ranging sangiovese, chardonnay, syrah, and grenache.
After finishing our visit at Page Springs, we will head a couple minutes over to Cottonwood, where Arizona Stronghold has their tasting room. I love old-town Cottonwood, and the tasting room is a great atmosphere to kick back and relax. This is our favorite tasting room, and we know and love to hang out with the staff of the tasting room (Kevin, Jason, Holly, and another gal [I am forgetting her name right now] always make you feel at home!) We'll taste the new releases that they have, pick up our shipment, and hang out for the afternoon. While there, we'll probably stroll the stores along the street and I know that Amanda wants to pick up a special olive oil at a specialty shop up there, and maybe some bread at the Orion Bread Company. Basically, we'll just relax and enjoy ourselves and talk to complete strangers and our friends on staff!
--
Sunday after church is a community meal, which is always a good time. It is nice to belong to a community of people who authentically enjoy being with each other. This meal has a theme - Seis de Mayo - so it'll be some good hot and spicy food! Looking forward to hanging with everyone at church for a couple more hours than normal, perhaps! We still need to figure out what we'll bring, but I'm thinking enchiladas perhaps!
Sunday evening has no plans, so we can relax at home with a movie or simply spend some time hanging by the pool enjoying a cool beverage of choice. Amanda and I will also at some point discuss the chapter of a book we're reading together: Genesis for Normal People. From what I've read so far I HIGHLY recommend it for people who are trying to better understand the content and context of Genesis rather than getting sidetracked by controversy.
So that's what we are up to! Who wants to join Amanda & I for our next trip up to wine country? (We didn't invite on this one because of the event we paid to go to but are always eager to head up with friends, family, or co-workers!)
"These are not the droids you are looking for."
"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
"The Force is strong with this one."
"If you only knew the power of the Dark Side."
"I am your father."
"A Jedi knight? Jeez, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone get delusions of grandeur."
"Do or do not. There is no try."
"May the Force be with you." (Get it yet?)
Enough with my nerdiness: now on to the weekend.
--
Amanda and I have been looking forward to this weekend for a couple months, actually! We're heading up to the Verde Valley to pick up our wine shipments from Arizona Stronghold and Page Springs Cellars. For those who didn't know, Arizona has an up and coming wine industry in the Verde Valley and also down in Southeastern Arizona near Wilcox and Sonoita. While they grow many varietals of grapes, many Rhone varietals have tended to do well! We joined the wine clubs of these two vineyards because they make great wine as well as supporting the uniqueness of Arizona wine. We try to make it up here at least every three months, even though we end up frequenting a little bit more than that! I could go on and on about the wine, but I want to focus more on the trip ahead!
Saturday morning we will be making the just under two-hour drive up to Cornville and Cottonwood on the banks of Oak Creek and the Verde River respectively. We signed up for a fun event at Page Springs Cellars called Build-a-Blend. Many wines are a blend of multiple varietals, and is where a lot of the art of winemaking comes into play. At this event, we'll learn about blending and get to make our own blend! Food and wine is also included, and the event is located in the vineyard overlooking the creek. It should be awesome! We're doing the 11:00 am event, which will give us plenty of time to enjoy the vineyard grounds. Wine country truly is one of my favorite scenic destinations, whether nestled along the little Oak Creek in Arizona or across the rolling valleys of Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, or Santa Ynez. Page Springs Cellars has the best of the Verde Valley Wine Trail. We'll be able to walk through the vineyards or sit on their patio tasting room area overlooking their fields and listening to the cascading creek. They do a lot of craft wine here, from both red and white blends to single varietals ranging sangiovese, chardonnay, syrah, and grenache.
After finishing our visit at Page Springs, we will head a couple minutes over to Cottonwood, where Arizona Stronghold has their tasting room. I love old-town Cottonwood, and the tasting room is a great atmosphere to kick back and relax. This is our favorite tasting room, and we know and love to hang out with the staff of the tasting room (Kevin, Jason, Holly, and another gal [I am forgetting her name right now] always make you feel at home!) We'll taste the new releases that they have, pick up our shipment, and hang out for the afternoon. While there, we'll probably stroll the stores along the street and I know that Amanda wants to pick up a special olive oil at a specialty shop up there, and maybe some bread at the Orion Bread Company. Basically, we'll just relax and enjoy ourselves and talk to complete strangers and our friends on staff!--
Sunday after church is a community meal, which is always a good time. It is nice to belong to a community of people who authentically enjoy being with each other. This meal has a theme - Seis de Mayo - so it'll be some good hot and spicy food! Looking forward to hanging with everyone at church for a couple more hours than normal, perhaps! We still need to figure out what we'll bring, but I'm thinking enchiladas perhaps!
Sunday evening has no plans, so we can relax at home with a movie or simply spend some time hanging by the pool enjoying a cool beverage of choice. Amanda and I will also at some point discuss the chapter of a book we're reading together: Genesis for Normal People. From what I've read so far I HIGHLY recommend it for people who are trying to better understand the content and context of Genesis rather than getting sidetracked by controversy.
So that's what we are up to! Who wants to join Amanda & I for our next trip up to wine country? (We didn't invite on this one because of the event we paid to go to but are always eager to head up with friends, family, or co-workers!)
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