Five Days in Napa

Grapes at Barnett Winery

Our little getaway, without children of any kind, has a dubious beginning. Still at the airport in Toronto, I receive a distress call from the Daughter. On her way home from dropping us at the airport she gets a speeding ticket. Her first! And under pressure to quickly produce the car's ownership papers for the police officer, her locating skills devolve to those of her father's and she can't find it, so gets a second ticket for that! Sympathy and reassurances are provided and soon we are sitting on the plane ready for our adventure to begin. And it does, in the form of spilling my Starbucks coffee on my white jeans. The only pants I have brought with me! This really is not going as I had envisioned!

The Hubby at Cakebread Winery

The Hubby is very surprised that he is getting to go to Napa and drink wine for 5 days. This is one of his favourite things to do but not something that he ever thought I'd agree to for this rare getaway. One glass of wine is my absolute limit. He recognizes this as a loving sacrifice from me and one he accepts appreciatively. I'm surprised at my selfless act too. But I guess that's just the people-pleasing self-sacrificing kind of person I am.

Our menu at Chez Panisse

We are each in our own little heaven. His in Wine, mine in Food. Every meal we have is amazing. I'm excited to be eating the food of chefs that I have been reading about for years. Alice Waters is arguably one of the first chefs to honor locally grown and sustainable eating. Her cookbook was one of the first I ever bought! Her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley is our first stop and I'm beside myself with pleasure.

Dessert at Bouchon

We have lunch in Yountville at Bouchon, one of Thomas Keller's restaurants. His most famous is French Laundry. I have the cookbook but have never made anything from it as it's very high level cooking. To get a reservation at French Laundry you must call precisely at 10am two months to the day of your desired dinner date and be prepared to hit redial many times. Bouchon provides French bistro cooking. I have the Laitue salad which is simply Bibb lettuce, fresh herbs, and the house vinaigrette. Then onto roasted chicken and a side order of frites. The waiter steers me away from profiteroles for dessert and instead recommends Iles Flottantes: cloud-like meringue sitting in a vanilla creme anglaise with a salted caramel sauce poured on top.

Amuse bouche at the Restaurant at Meadowood

Dinner at the Restaurant at Meadowood is an experience. The only thing offered is the chef's tasting menu. We don't order anything. We don't even see the menu. We are at the mercy of the chef Christopher Kostow. Bring it on! 9 courses of jaw dropping creativity and artistry. There must be 5-10 elements in every dish and they all combine to exquisite perfection.

Bacon Mary

We have brunch at Redd in Yountville. The Hubby has a Bacon Mary that uses bacon-infused vodka. I have exquisite French Toast made from brioche stuffed with mascarpone mousse topped with fresh local blackberries. The dish is light but rich and is delicious!

Blackberry French Toast stuffed with mascarpone mousse

In the caves at Pride Mountain Winery

We visit 9 wineries over 3 days: Cakebread, Pride, Barnett, Chateau Montelena (watch the movie Bottleshock!), Opus One, Schramsberg Vineyards, Merryvale, Quintessa, and one more I can't remember. My strategy is to just take one taste of each wine offered. I'm proud that I'm keeping up. However on the last day we cram in 5 wineries and as we walk to the last one of the day I confide to the Hubby that I can't feel my legs. Or, more accurately, I can't feel my thighs. I have been beaten.

Avoiding mountain lions

Our hotel in St. Helena has 250 acres nestled in the mountains surrounding Napa Valley. Our room feels like a treehouse. We decide or, more accurately, I decide and the Hubby agrees, to do an early morning hike to counterbalance all the food and wine we're consuming. At the trailhead there is a sign warning us that there have been mountain lion sightings in the area. Mountain lions?!! After some debate we decide to brave it anyway. Because that's the kind of fearless adventurer I am. Off we go, climbing higher and higher. The peace I feel in nature is marred only by my certainty that there is a mountain lion lurking behind every tree. We spot a lone bench strategically placed for the most breathtaking view of the valley below. There couldn't be mountain lions where there's a very civilized bench...could there?! Halfway through our hike the Hubby proclaims that he has figured out what to do if we are attacked. Yes?! Please tell me because I do best with a plan. If a mountain lion attacks us the Hubby will grab it around its throat and choke it into submission. Seriously. The 5 minutes I spend laughing takes my mind off the imminent danger. This definitely gets added to the list of Cute Things Men Say!

Too soon it's time to go. We have enjoyed every minute of our mini vacation. We're still full and still just a tiny bit inebriated but feeling relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to Home.

The Beamer

Still, every once in a while, I'll be hit by profound sadness about the Beamer's disability. This weekend it happens as we're doing our usual walk along the retail street in our neighbourhood. The Hubby always asks "Where to?" but he doesn't have to because he knows. It's always to the other end. To the Starbucks. If the Hubby and I are doing the walk by ourselves it takes about 15 minutes each way. But when we go with the Beamer it's an outing. The Beamer walks part of the way. He doesn't quite understand the point of going in one direction, in a straight line. There are so many interesting things and people to see off to each side and even behind. Many of the store windows have his nose print on it.

On this day, the street fair has brought out all the young families. Strollers and toddlers in abundance. Cute little kids with painted faces, eating ice cream, marveling at balloon creations. Some of the kids stare at the Beamer. They know he is one of them, but not one of them. I cast my love protectively around him. I know it's irrational and completely misplaced but I feel resentment at all the happy looking families with their beautiful perfect looking children. The Hubby and I are pushing our stroller too. But instead of a perfect toddler we are pushing our beautiful imperfect 12 year old. I turn down the offer of a balloon. What's the point? The Beamer would not even notice it. We rush by face painting. The Beamer would never sit still for its application. A freezie is declined. The Beamer would not know what to do with it.

Then, almost to the Starbucks, a woman who I have never seen before speaks to me. She is compelled to tell me that she often notices the Beamer when he's on one of our walks because he always gives her the most amazing smile. I thank her. And I feel a little better. Then I remember at the beginning of our walk that a man had passed us, and as he did he turned to look at me and gave me a very familiar smile. I asked the Hubby "Who was that?" The Hubby had no idea. A little while later, a woman with a little dog came out of a store as we were passing and she also gave me a huge smile. The Hubby asked "Who was that?" I had no idea. This happens regularly when we walk with the Beamer. People we don't know, know the Beamer. The Beamer smiles at them. They smile at the Beamer. Then they smile at us. And I smile to myself.

Sibling love

The Pizza of Summer

In the garden

I'm exhausted trying to appreciate summer. Summer is usually almost gone before I've realized that it's finally here. The date this realization hits me varies from year to year but it always hits me at some point.This year it happened 3 days ago.

Fruits of summer

I wait all year for summer. I love summer. I love warm steamy nights, eating outside, iced drinks, and Ontario produce. I love the sound of flip flops and screen doors at cottages. I love sunglasses and sunscreen.

I'm committed to summer being fully appreciated.

But full appreciation takes a lot of work.

Me and the Daughter dining outside

This feeling first hits me on Thursday. That night, we go out to dinner and sit on a restaurant patio. I am happy.















Friday dawns hot and bright. I decide to be spontaneous and invite friends for dinner that night AND the next. I must be suffering from heat stroke! In my mind's eye is the beer commercial fantasy of a summer barbeque with laughing beautiful people. That's what I'm aiming for. Never mind that on this particular day in Toronto a heat record of 37C is set. It's smoking hot! Friday night I make everyone stay outside all evening. They keep glancing wistfully at the house where it is nice and cool inside. Suck it up people! What's a little sweat running down our backs? What's a few mosquito bites? It's going to be winter soon!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Saturday morning we wake up ridiculously early but I'm happy to so we can do a 60 km cycle before the heat sets in. Waking up this early on a weekend is something I would only consider doing in the summer. But of course things never usually go exactly as planned. Literally the exact moment the Hubby's foot passes over the door frame there is a crack of thunder. The Hubby takes a second step toward the beautiful summer morning waiting to be enjoyed. Another crack of thunder. Then a downpour. Seriously?! We end up at a spin class, indoors, where the sun don't shine.    

The Hubby, Mary, and Mike creating pizza

Saturday night The Vegetarian (Mary) and Mike come over. I discover that as a general rule vegetarian food is not barbeque-able. I decide to make pizzas.

Toppings for the pizza

The barbeque is out of gas and the Hubby doesn't think the pizza stone will fit in it anyway. So it's pizza made inside in the oven. The pizza stone must preheat in the oven for one hour at 550F. This is almost as bad as me wearing a sweater and having my heater on in my office during the heat wave. I buy pre-made dough. I feel authentic as I hand form it into the pizza shell. Olive oil is drizzled on the shell. Then we add combinations of Robiola, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, sliced garlic, sliced red onion, fresh arugula, basil, and oregano, and prosciutto (for the meat eaters). Sprinkle with sea salt.

The finished pie

Under the broiler for about 8 minutes and it's done. The pie is gorgeous.

Ontario berries, ice cream and Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert. The Hubby is unduly impressed that I can create chocolate chip cookies, just like that, in the time it takes him to get a couple of forgotten items at the store.

It's the end of the weekend. Thank goodness! I'm exhausted. The Hubby complains that my pile of unread magazines is getting higher and higher and threatens to qualify me for hoarder status. I don't have time to read, I'm too busy trying to eat outside!

I have successfully maximized summer this weekend. I am appreciative. 

The Zen of Cottaging

Eileen and Chris have invited us to their cottage for the Canada Day weekend. I am so there! I should be a cottager. I embrace the cottage lifestyle. Except for the work part. But the relaxation part I totally embrace. It starts with the necessary stress of packing up and leaving the city and thinking is it really worth it? But by the time the congested city highways have turned into dusty cottage roads the answer becomes clearer. A stop for ice cream cones and I can't remember what all the fuss was about.

Moose Tracks - vanilla ice cream with a fudge ribbon and mini peanut butter cups!

Eileen and I met at university and so have been friends for a very long time. For many of those years, Eileen lived in faraway places like Atlanta, Georgia and Singapore due to her first husband's job. But now she's back in Toronto and we have been able to establish a more regular contact.

When the Hubby and I arrive at the cottage she and Chris have already been there for a couple of days and are chilled. The difference in our energy is palpable. They are languid. We in comparison are static electricity. But just a bit of time looking at the lake sparkling in the afternoon sun and we`re languid too!

The view from Eileen and Chris's cottage deck

Even though I don`t have a cottage, I have managed to compile my own repertoire of favourite cottage activities. First on the list is morning coffee on the deck. The coffee must be strong and hot and the perfect colour. This can only happen with cream. Milk, particularly skim milk, just turns coffee into a horrible shade of grey/brown, totally unsuitable. The air is not yet hot as you know it`s going to become so you sit in the morning sun soaking it and the view in.

Morning coffee

Ideally someone is inside the cottage making you an amazing breakfast. On this morning, Eileen and Chris are making us Oat Pancakes with Ontario berries and maple syrup, scrambled eggs and bacon. The perfect start to the cottage day.

Laura holding the milk bag on which the recipe for Oat Pancakes is found

A leisurely boat cruise around the gorgeous lake has us fantasizing about which cottage should be ours. Reading on the deck or dock is also on the cottage to do list. As usual I bring up way too many magazines but I'm ever hopeful.

Me and Eileen on the boat

Dinner is made on a charcoal grill. Gas barbeques are fast and convenient for the city but at the cottage there's time for the charcoal ritual. Dinner is shish kebabs and a cucumber salad with yogurt and fresh mint from the garden.

Chris and Eileen

Eileen and Chris have pampered us by providing all the meals. In turn, the Hubby and I happily do the dishes. Well, first the Hubby attempts to bribe Laura, Eileen's daughter, to do them for him. But when that is ultimately unsuccessful he then happily does them too. Dusk at the cottage is the best time of day. Loons call and make me remember my mother and how she loved the sound. Mosquitoes buzz and I add "screened in porch" to the must-have list of my imaginary cottage. Momentary stress occurs when the Daughter, who is home looking after the Beamer for the night, calls in distress that he won't fall asleep. Visions of us driving the 2 1/2 hrs home in the middle of the night pass silently through both of our heads. But thankfully she manages to settle him and we marvel once again at the competent and self possessed young woman the Daughter has become. After dinner Laura watches Lars and the Real Girl and I am faced with a conflict of choice. Lars and the Real Girl is my favourite movie of all time! But the pull of euchre is stronger. I choose the Hubby as my partner. When he's the opposition he annoys me to no end. But when we're on the same team I am happy to let him annoy others while I maintain my cottage serenity. Eileen and I must endure as each play is analyzed and debriefed. Manly verbal jousting occurs. Eileen and I just roll our eyes. And eat chips.

Euchre playing

Before we know it, it's time to go home. Many thanks to Eileen and Chris for sharing their cottage paradise with us. A fitting way to celebrate Canada Day!