Today Nancy and I hit the open road…bound for Cannon Falls! The Old Market Deli for lunch what a cute place! I had the Mediterranean Sammy on sourdough with coleslaw, kettle chips and a pink grapefruit IZZE pretty flowers on the table in November is impressive π Peace Coffee…mmmmmm After lunch we went treasure hunting,…
Travel Journal
15 Years
by Melissa • • 8 Comments
“There is no greater risk than matrimony. But, there is nothing happier than a happy marriage.” Benjamin Disraeli 1870 (in a letter to Queen Victoria’s daughter Louise, congratulating her on her engagement) This past Saturday Jeff and I hosted an intimate anniversary party at one of our favorite places. A gorgeous building called The Sanctuary.…
Date Night~ The Port of Red Wing at The St. James Hotel
by Melissa • • 3 Comments
This week Jeff and I spent date night at The St. James Hotel’s Port of Red Wing restaurant. Such a lovely place. Great service, wonderful food, and my favorite wine guy works there. He’s so knowledgeable on the subject of wine, and it’s always an educational, enjoyable experience to talk with him. Entrance to The…
Six Senses Saturday
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
“The earth and every common sight, to me did seem appareled in celestial light, the glory and the freshness of a dream.” ~William Wordsworth Six Senses Saturday was something I started right before my blog went on sabbatical early this past summer… Someone recently told me they liked it…so, I’m going to start making this…
Falconer Vineyards presents “Music In the Vines” concert: Patchouli
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
“When wine enlivens the heart may friendship surround the table.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Last evening, while the sun began to set, we drove out to Falconer Vineyards. When we got out of the car the temperature had dropped noticably, there was the peaty scent of woodsmoke in the air, and the trees were becoming…
Red Wing Trolley Tour
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
Relaxing Ritual ~ Autumn Walks
by Melissa • • 0 Comments
house warming ~ little luxuries for autumn
by Melissa • • 12 Comments
~Make cider floats! Pour real apple orchard cider over cinnamon ice cream ~Harvest grapevines and make homemade wreaths for Christmas gifts…here’s a new twist on this idea. homemade grapevine wreath ~Go to a grape stomp or participate in a grape harvest at a local vineyard. ~Host a harvest party: plan a hayride, have a campfire,…
Sugar & Spice Honey Butter
by Melissa • • 17 Comments
This is a delicious, cinnamony-sweet butter spread for toast, scones, muffins, popovers…whatever!Β You may want to add jars of this yummy treat to your Holiday gift baskets. I like to use my Red Wing pottery beater jar to make this spread. This little jar is also nice for making salad dressings, beating eggs, and even…
Grape Harvest
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
“Wine is bottled poetry.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson Today we spent most of the day harvesting grapes with our friends the Falconers. They own and operate a beautiful winery and vineyard here in Red Wing. It’s located in an ideal spot for producing grapes that yield some of the yummiest andΒ most unique wines we’ve ever…