Random pictures of interest...

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This wine didn't make it to the tast test but I rate it a "5" for original name!!!

(And it would have been tied for the most expensive bottle!!! LOL)

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A picture hanging above the bed in my mother-in-law's bedroom. I love to look at it every time I go there.
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This was a weed in the backyard rose garden area but I thought it looked so symmetrical! And green!
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Ambiance for a Wine Tasting...

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I love Yankee Candles. These three pictures just scream wine tasting!!!

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As you enter the front door.

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A close-up of the cheeses and fruit tray.

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I had sunflowers decorated around the house to compliment the hors d'oeuvres table and serving ware.

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The Wine Tasting...

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Using my rabbit ears cork opener, I was able to quickly open the first bottle to prepare for the tasting of our first mystery bottle of wine.
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Here, I explained the wine rating cards. We used these simple wine rating cards to describe each wine (total of 6 wines) and rated each one on a scale from 1 to 5.
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After we tasted the first 4 wines, we had some appetizers. There were several kinds of cheeses that go well with the wines and we sampled each one...Brie, Fontina, Butterkase, cheddar (mild, medium, sharp and extra sharp).

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Just friends around the table enjoying each other's company, sipping wine and sampling the hors d'oeuvres.

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Here's to a very successful wine tasting!

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CHEERS!!!

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The White and Blush wines...

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This was the first of our tastings. This Sauvignon Blanc was very dry for my liking but I thought it might go well with seafood, esp crab cakes! At $8.99 a bottle for 750 ml, we thought it to be a good white wine. Most everyone rated this one a "4". *Note: When traveling to Napa Valley, we passed by the Beaulieu Vineyards but didn't have enough time to stop in for a wine tasting!

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I have had about 3 Pinot Grigios and this one by Turning Leaf (a Gallo Family Vineyards owned company) was dryer than the others I have had. It was quite smooth but bland. I gave it a "3". At $6.23 for a 750 ml bottle, this was a good priced wine.
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The third bottle was the most expensive of the six bottles we tasted. $10.99 for a 750 ml bottle. This Robert Mondavi Riesling was again, not as sweet as I have had before (Schmitt and Sohne), but it was fruity and I liked it so much that I gave it a "4 1/2"!

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Bottle #4.....Ahhhh, what can be said about this rosy colored beauty?!!! Kent and I first tried the Sutter Home White Merlot in Napa Valley, CA on the encouragement of the Sommelier in the wine tasting room. I was glad I made the decision to try it. It has become my new favorite!!! And it was also chosen as the favorite of 6 out of seven taste testers at my wine tasting. This one was Beringer (the other winery we visited in Napa Valley) and usually more expensive than Sutter Home when you order a glass of White Zinfandel at restaurants. But, I bought a 750 ml bottle for $4.00!!! The 1.5L bottles were $8.00, as well. Either the Sutter Home or Beringer would make a great selection as your #1 blush wine. And both being reasonably priced under $5.00 per bottle!

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The Red Wines...

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After having a few appetizers to absorb some of the wines, we moved onto the red wines.

#5 was a Shiraz (pronounced Shirah-rhymes with hurrah) by Fat Bastard. This bottle was $8.99 for a 750 ml size. One of the seven chose this as her favorite wine of the evening and took the rest of the bottle home to enjoy with her husband!
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This was the last bottle we tasted. This wasn't a favorite amongst the ladies but I liked it better than the Shiraz. It went well with the bacon wrapped filet mignon bites that we had after the tasting was over! For a 1.5L bottle, this Inglenook varietal was the least expensive of all the wines I chose for the wine tasting at $6.49.

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My First Wine Tasting event...

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The invitation...
(I also followed up with an e-mail to let the ladies know not to wear perfume/cologne or lipstick as it can affect the taste/smell for them or others around them.)
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The front walk up. KJ decorated the doors with grape clusters hanging for a grand entrance!
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A view of the island with the places set for tasting and rating.

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Another view. The tealight centerpiece was designed by KJ. He even thought of coloring the water to look like wine! How divine!!!

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The hors d'oeuvres table was set up with Yankee Candle hanging tart burners. The colors of the sunflowers blended well with the burgundy, green and gold serving platters. There were plenty of cheeses and crackers along with fruits and vegetables to have after tasting the white and blush wines. KJ was the chef and made sure the food was prepared hot and ready.

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Karl had a first day, too!!!

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Karl's first day as a Freshman at UCF. He started with 20 credits from his AP exams so he is technically in his second semester but still a freshman. And what a Fresh Man he is!!!
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His drive to school is much shorter than the time it takes to park once he is on campus!!! We live a mile from the school campus! Nice!!!
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KJ home from first day of school

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KJ came home from school very slowly. I think he was worn out. Back to the ole' grind!
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A quick pause for a picture! Wanting to just go inside and relax!

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Almost asleep just inside the front door!

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No, that's not MacCauley Caulkin in the pictures behind KJ!!! That's how KJ looked when he was in preschool so many years ago!!!

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First day of school for KJ...

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The first day at Hagerty High School for this freshman! He is now a Huskie!

He woke up at 6:30...a new start time! But, he likes getting home at 2:30 much better!
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His friend Jordan was dropped off at 6:45 so they could leave together for their first day. See how excited they are about school?!!!
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The proverbial first day of school picture.

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A new adventure, more independence, more responsibility! KJ's ready!!!

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Oh, what a night!

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Below is the evening Karl and Teagan had on August 13, 2007 to celebrate his 18th birthday. A gift compliments of mom and dad!
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Dinner before the show...malto bene!!!

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Okay, I gave Karl $ for dinner before the show, too. It had to be a complete night, right?!!! They ate at the restaurant where they had their first date almost one year ago. Mama Della's at the Portofino Bay Hotel across from City Walk Universal Studios. When they had their first date, it poured. So, if you look closely in Karl's right hand, you will see an umbrella!!!
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Just another captured moment!

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After dinner, a wonderful dessert came over along with singing of the Italian version of "Happy Birthday".

GRAZIE Mama Della!!!

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Okay, doesn't she look like everyone's grandma? They said she was just as nice as could be!

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One last picture taken just for me!!! Karl knows what I like!!! Grazie Karl!!!

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BLUE MAN GROUP

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For Karl's birthday, we gave him two tickets to see the BLUE MAN GROUP on August 13, 2007.
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They took a self-photo before the show started. (The bandana was made out of crepe paper and everyone wore one during the show.)
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After the show, you were able to get pictures with the BLUE MEN and they "autographed " your ticket by kissing it with their blue lips! (If you look closely, you can see Teagan's blue eye shadow and blue bracelet worn just for the occasion!)

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These guys did the percussion and guitars. They were flourescent so you could see them moving in the dark. Karl said he wants to be one now!!!

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Let the good times roll...

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or sail...

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For Karl's birthday, Teagan took him parasailing...it sure looks like they're having fun (when don't they?!!!)
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An extra long dip in the ocean for the birthday boy...

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When they were decelerating, the captain of the boat gave them a longer time to come back down, along with a toe-touching dip in the water...WOW!!!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARL!!!

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WOW! What a difference a year makes....

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Karl's 17th birthday one year ago...
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Isn't life grand?!!!

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Lots of surprises for his birthday. T-shirts and socks from his favorite store, a $50 gift cert from there also, the gum he likes, 2 tickets to see the Blue Man Group on August 13th along with $ for a meal at the restaurant where he and Teagan had their first date (Momma Della's) and the big one...WCD passenger gift certificate. What a night! (Oh, BTW, Kent got his birthday present last night, too..... as the driver of the WCD cars!)
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He's Legally blonde....

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and an adult!!! As of 8/7/07!!!!!

The day has come. Karl Adam Banks has to register for selective services, can buy his own lotto tickets, is now able to vote, can buy his own cigarettes or snuff, can sign his own waivers (already signed his first one) , can get married in any of the United States, can buy pornographic material, and can purchase and/or possess a firearm. (There's probably more that he can now do.)

That totally scares me. He is so not ready for going into the armed forces under the draft. Lotto tickets, well, within reason, that isn't something I would be concerned about except if he were to "go in" with others. His government class has prepared him for the next election and what it means. Heck, he probably knows more of what it means than I do! I'm not worried about the cigarette or snuff issues...he watched my brother suffer through his lung cancer treatments long enough. The waiver issue...hmmm...that's a tough one. He needs to take heed in knowing what all a waiver actually means. I think he is pretty level-headed about that one. Marriage! Hah!! He isn't ready and he knows it...but he is planning out the future and thinking about it. That is one thing he is taking very seriously...I can just tell. Porno....he's a guy...nuff said! I don't see him with a "real" gun...KJ, yes, but not Karl.

Still, I know he may be an adult by certain standards or definitions but is he ready to tackle the world without some parental guidance. No way! The world to an 18 year old in the 70s was very different. You could make it on your own with a full-time, minimum wage job while having a car (with insurance) and a decent apartment. In 2007, that's impossible. So, to college he will go, preparing for his future and knowing that, having one eye on the future at all times is necessary to be successful in this world. And that having parents around isn't so bad, after all.

He may have some priviledges that an adult receives but he still asks mom for $ for a haircut and to buy his favorite clothes. We still pay for his car insurance and health insurance as long as he is in college. The word "adult" is cliche. Maybe it's because to me, he will always be my "child".
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