Friday, July 31, 2009

Here we are around the fire-pit with the Cartys and Aunt Jo and Cousin Heidi.  The Port and brownies were the bonus to the beautiful evening!

work in progress

Arrgh!  my last post did not turn out like I had hoped.  Gotta figure out how to add a photo without changing the entire page layout.  Kelley, where are you when I need you.

I find it fascinating when friends drift in and out of your life over the years and this week an old friend resurfaced.  About 15 years ago, we went rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon for the adventure of a lifetime.  Our friends the Parkers were scheduled to raft with us when Cathy injured her knee and had to bale out of the trip.  Scott replaced his maimed wife with an old childhood friend of his, Dave Carty.  
Dave was and still is a fun guy to be with.  He proved that on the river and again this week when he and his beautiful wife Diane stayed with us at the Bed and Breakfast.  His family has been coming to Paso for years and stay at the nearby lake.  This week was the Carty family reunion on Lake Naciemento so based on recommendations of the Parkers, they took a day out of the schedule to stay here.  Dave and Diane are Per Cazo fans, so he asked if the family could come over for wine tasting.  Sure, bring the fam, we would love to meet the family and introduce our wine.
Well, they arrived at 2 and stayed all afternoon when the wine tasting morphed into a great afternoon party by the pool.  Dave comes from a large Irish Catholic family so Dave's mom and all 6 kids and spouses came, drank and heard the Per Cazo story.  We poured all 5 of our wines plus the port of our winemaker and sold a bunch of wine.  But more importantly, we found ten new friends who I know will stay in contact with us.
It was a day of family connections when Dave's aunt and cousin arrived just in time to meet the Cartys.  We all had a great meal together followed by our first bonfire at the fire-pit in the common area of the B&B.  It was a perfect Paso evening.  

Thursday, July 30, 2009

What's in that dish?

On most Monday nights, I can be found at Movie Night at the Dubost Winery.  Kate and Curt Dubost began this tradition months ago with the idea of finishing the open bottles of wine from the weekend tastings. Curt mans the grill and everyone brings a side dish and a their open bottles of wine.  Following dinner, we sit in their barrel room where a movie is projected up on the wall. 

It's always interesting to see who will show up.  The regulars include the mennonite Weibe family who bring milk from their farm since they do not imbibe.  Nan Dubost is the chain smoking matriarch of the clan who has a sharp wit and always a wise perspective toward the issues of the day.  Farm Bureau buddies Rachel and Debbie always arrive together with some delicious dish but some of the other regulars bring very unique offerings.  The worst was rattlesnake and once there was a dish identified as rabbit but we all suspected that it was squirrel. Very chewy.  Fortunately, most of the food is not strange but very tasty with a tendency of nostalgic dishes ones grandmother prepared.

This weeks movie was an oldie but goodie, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.  Its selection was to honor the anniversary of the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. I am sure I saw it long ago but did not remember much about it.  I don't know if I would rush out and add it to your Netflix list, but it was entertaining.  When was the last time you saw a movie with Red Skelton in the credits.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

E-Harmony Success Story

One of the biggest joys of being an innkeeper is meeting the guests who are staying at the Creekside B&B.  This weekend was no exception.  Paul and Leslie checked in on Thursday for a 3 night stay.  They were coming for the Journey/Heart concert at the Mid-state Fair in town.  They visited the coast on Friday and Wine tasting on Saturday.  As is our usual custom, we invited them for wine tasting poolside on Saturday evening.

They arrived with Maddy offering a wet greeting, as she had just been swimming in the pool, all dressed to go into town following our impromptu pouring.  Conversations were typical-what one does for work and fun, kids, wines, shared interest - golf, skiing, and wine of course when the topic turned to how they met.  Paul and Leslie are the poster children for E-Harmony.  Two perfectly matched, attractive people who just happened to GET ENGAGED AT OUR INN!  Without sharing too much detail, Paul proceeded to say how he had been planning the romantic weekend since May.  Leslie showed off her beautiful ring and mentioned how she was totally surprised by the proposal. They had danced in the room and were swept away by the  magic of the moment.  Needless to say, Dave and I were overjoyed and after they left for dinner, snuck a bottle of Champagne in their room.

The other guests of the weekend were equally delightful.  A mother/daughter arrived to celebrate a recent graduation from UCSB and a birthday.  Although they could only spend one night, they made the most of it.  Terry flew in from Philadelphia earlier in the day and met Lauren in Santa Barbara.  They arrived and sampled the Per Cazo Epi Telos on their patio and went into town for an early dinner.  Scheduled for Sunday morning was an in-room Spa experience.  Since the previous guests had already departed and they had the inn to themselves, we arranged for their treatments to take place in the privacy of the common area of the Inn.  Imagine getting a relaxing massage creekside with the birds singing and gentle breeze blowing.  I can't conceive a better way to start the day.  They departed shortly thereafter for the rest of their journey up to Sequoia National park.

I will live vicariously through our guests and invite you to live vicariously through our experience "under the Paso sun."

I have joined the blogosphere!

After many months of threatening to begin blogging about my new adventures in California, I finally have taken the time to launch "Under the Paso Sun."  Thanks to the patience and tutoring of my daughter Kelley, I am up and running on Blogspot, Twitter and Facebook.  Please indulge me while I share the life and times of a new innkeeper, wine owner and Californian.