Screw Top Drinking

This blog is for Gitsy. We grew up in a home where drinking was not a sin even if you were underage. Don't get me wrong we weren't allowed to do shots or anything but a little beer or wine was no biggie for us. Most of our family celebrations were and still are centered around food and drink. I was at the grand opening of Bevmo in our neighborhood tonight and HAD to buy this for nostalgia. I barely remember what it tastes like except that it was sweet and I thought I was drinking champagne. This nectar of the gods was a favorite of Gitsy's. ( I liked it too). It came in tiny bottles and sometimes our Mother would buy them for us if we asked nicely. I'll give a review once it is chilled and I actually drink it.

ahhh, good times.

Night Harvest

Many times I will drink a nice bottle of wine worth remembering and then forget the name. I'm not a label saver but I'm thinking that maybe just taking a photo of the label for posterity is a pretty good idea since I always have my trusty camera handy.

Recently I enjoyed a nice Cabernet Sauvignon. I don't even remember where I bought it but will probably search it out again. More than likely I purchased this at Trader Joes. I'm one of those amateurs that many times choose a bottle of wine because I like the label. This has a sweet label and turned out to be a good bottle of wine also.

Try it, Night Harvest by R.H. Phillips 2005 California, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cat Nap

Here is Gary again, pretending he is sleeping while I am on my computer.

Performance Anxiety

A cowboy.

My employer had a team building event this week at Old Tucson Studios. I was dreading this event as I envisioned myself running a marathon race while all of my co-workers looked on watching me as my non-athletic body jiggled and I ended up falling over breathing heavy and coughing and vomiting. Too embarrassing. The next envisioned scenario was me causing my team to lose some easy event and be forever branded a loser and the last pick for any future events. I might win a Cosmo drinking contest but probably not a foot race. (hmmm, I may have to suggest that for our next all staff event).

A building on main street.

As it turned out we did split up into teams. We did have to perform some timed events (dressing a goat in human clothes) and a few semi-athletic games (three legged barrel race). All in all it was good clean fun and I wasn't carried out on a stretcher.

A shoot out. I think everyone was shot. Good times.

The slowest car on earth.

Old Tucson Studios was nice enough. It was used to make some old movies like High Chaparral. They hold some dramatic old timey cowboy bank robberies and have cowboy characters all around the little town. I think it would be a great place to take children. They have plenty of safe amusements for kids including a scary walk through a haunted mine.

At least I didn't have to ride a horse - another recently realized anxiety.




All in all the day was good. We had good weather. I got to interact with a few co-workers and had a few good laughs. I sure wish I had photos of the goat dressing though.

Gary Week

Since I don't have anything to profess this week I am going to show my true cat lady side and torture everyone with photos of my cat Gary. I guess it is Gary week on my blog.

Gary loves to be close to his humans. Many times he will sit or lay right in front of my computer monitor for attention. He will lay there with his eyes closed as if it is a perfectly natural place for him to lie.

He has a little nest in the living room in which he will take a nap. I decided to buy him something more festive for my home office room. I bought this plush turquoise nest and placed it on top of my shelves so he could be near the desk. I was not sure he would go for it but he has adapted just fine and hops up to the shelf and pretends to nap while watching me through squinty cat eyes. I know he is faking it.

Faker!

The Joy of Cats

Since I moved Gary the Cat's favorite chair/scratching post out of my studio he has started scratching the back of my office chair for attention. I picked up a new scratcher toy for him and he took to it right away. Here he is using it as leverage while playing with his feather toy.



Gary is a bruiser of a cat. He has short legs and is muscular. We adopted him from the Humane Society. He was probably about 1-2 years old. We did not pick him, he definitely picked us. Or I should say, he picked my husband.



He put on a grand show at the shelter rolling around and making himself seen. We had never had a cat with claws before. That took a little getting used to as Gary prides himself on keeping them nice and sharp. I can only trim about 2 nails at a time and I have to trick him to get that many before he runs off.

Gary is also a chewer. He loves purse straps, pencils and cords. When we bought our house he promptly gnawed the kitchen faucet and left marks. Later when we got new window blinds he chewed the bottom half of all of the cords. He chewed lamp cords until my husband discovered something called bitter apple.

Gary loves to play rough. The notes from the shelter said that he was surrendered because "he beats up other cats". We know that he loves to play rough but doesn't know when to quit. He is strong willed and sometimes does not back down. We actually thought he may have been raised with dogs because of some of his behavior. One of his favorite games is to ambush me when I walk through a room. He will run out from behind some furniture and grab my leg and then run off. He is gleeful when he does it like he is so proud of himself. He loves to be chased too. He is basically a good boy and we are so happy we have him in our lives.

Animals are a blessing to be sure.

Cactus in Bloom

The cactus in my yard are starting to get their spring growth. They are beautiful yet will stick you if you get too close. I love how a close-up view looks so alien.

What a difference two weeks makes. Above is the photo from my post on March 16th and then the tip of the ocotillo this morning.
Notice how the branches are now starting to get the little leaves all the way down the stem.

This cactus has really grown in two years. They get these nice purple buds that become the actual cactus pads. This plant only stands about 2 feet high at present.

I love the way the buds look close-up.

Thank you nature. I am enjoying your show.

In Bloom

Bougainvilleas in Bloom One of the great things about living in Arizona is the flowers. Right now we have many plants in bloom. This past weekend I took a tour of some homes in the Coronado neighborhood of Central Phoenix. The weather was perfect and there were many beautiful flowering plants.

Flowers in bloom in the Coronado neighborhood.

This neighborhood is just lovely with homes built from the 20's to the 50's.

Flowers on a porch.

A cute bungalow with an informal planting. Lovely.

Ahhhhhh. Take time to smell the flowers.