Author: LivingLifeForté

Shutterbug. Half of a couple who cooks together. Freelance wine geek. Local food enthusiast. Partner in a garagiste winery. University lecturer.

THE Madre’s Soft Cream Jumbles

Few remember “the year of the cut-out cookie debacle,” in which I spent months trying to make a decent sugar cookie. Tears were shed, cookie sheets thrown into a snow bank, Martha Stewart cursed. Finally, I sought out THE Madre, who led me step by step through her Soft Cream Jumbles and to success. The…

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Then I Saw Her Face

Then saw her face
now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love

In Sync

We have been through a lot of late. But here they are.

Touch of Grey

Grey vireo holds a wisp of moss … or is that one of my grey hairs?

León marino

We took the little dog to see the sea lions. She was not impressed.

Rough winds do shake

… the darling buds of May. Sonnet 18 is easily the one of the most recognizable Shakespearean sonnets. And it danced through my head as I walked the dog in the neighborhood today. May has been exceptionally windy, and the little dog stopped to stand faced into the blow from the bay, eyes shut tight….

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Interrupted

I stood wishing for that 400mm telephoto lens I know I’d never carry. But, good equipment or not, I was still rewarded with that moment. The hunter circled back.

Monochrome

Back when I thought my trajectory would change, I went back to school. I was leaving teaching behind to follow my passion for plants. In my second semester at community college, I took a special projects class. Our project–raise poinsettias. I had never thought of all the colors and variations of poinsettias until I saw…

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Vineyard View: Goodbye Holman

My last picture of the landscape at Holman Ranch.  We decided to end our wine club membership and give up the yearly stays.  We loved the property, but the wine … meh. On to new adventures.