Spring Planting

A trip to Pearson's in Vista to fill the trunk with herbs, vegetables, fertilizer and a few flowers for aroma and pollination purposes.

Love this place, see last year's post.

Filled two of our garden boxes with the following:

Tomorrow the tomatoes, zucchini, squash, lavender, bush beans, strawberries and pink flowers will find a home in our backyard.

What are you growing in your garden?

Citizenship

This morning I had the privilege of attending a swearing-in ceremony in downtown San Diego.

There were 724 people from 77 countries.

Stand up if you are from Afghanistan and on and on …... Sweden and Syria and the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

The largest groups represented Iraq and Mexico.

They all took the pledge and became U.S. Citizens.

Then we stood up (hundreds of family members and friends in the balcony) and all the proud new Americans in the Grand Hall below.

With our right hand over our heart.

And even for those of us who have repeated these words over and over since grade school, it meant something, it really meant something.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all."


During the ceremony, there was a taped message from President Barack Obama welcoming the new Americans. We all chanted about the importance of registering to vote and then actually voting.

But what touched me the most was the speaker from the Department of Labor who reminded us that the group in front of us was what made America great and he went on to describe his own Thanksgiving tradition that was a mix of turkey and Chinese dumplings that reflect his heritage.

Reminding the crowd (and I am paraphrasing here) that although there is a lot of divisive talk and political speeches regarding immigrants right now, we are a country of immigrants and that is what makes us special and great.

Let us not forget that.

What Will They Think Of Next?

Have you been bowling recently?

By recently, I mean this decade. Or even the last one. Or possibly the one before that.

Because I don't know when this started but now little kids can use the dragon (seen below).

They simply perch their ball (or have their parents do it) on the dragon's head and give it a push (with the tail facing the pins).

Keeps kids in their lane. Avoids gutter balls. Brings smiles!

Almost as fun as the neon pink ball I used to try and break a hundred.

Dump Bucket

A container available at wine tastings.

So that you are not forced to drink the entire amount in your glass and can 'dump' what is left and move on to the next selection.

I didn't peek inside this shiny shell but I imagine it was empty……

because:

A) it is too pretty 

B) wine should not be wasted

This classy dump bucket sits at the bar of this beautiful winery on the hill along West Highway 46 in Paso Robles.

Love the enormous front doors.

And was tickled by the detailed descriptions.

The 2013 Sextant X-Series See Canyon Syrah:  

Wild black currants, cranberries, and blueberries are pronounced as hints of dark chocolate, nutmeg, and white pepper arrive conspicuously. This wine shows complexity with vanilla hints on the nose and an undulating mouthfeel of supple tannins and acidity. A touch of ripe pomegranate and dry sage linger on the intriguing finish.

…….And the Oscar goes to Sextant Wineries for coming up with the most flavor-packed description that we would have classified as 'lovely'.

Or gives a 'glow-y finish to the consumer'.

Tour of Templeton

There is more to Templeton than the popular Hewitt Hardware Store that I wrote about yesterday. 

Let's walk down Main Street and check it out.

Chamber of Commerce

Love the architectural details on this old building.

Bright yellow music….seems like a happy place to learn.

We were told that this is THE place to eat.  McPhee's!

Nature's Touch Nursery & Harvest

Venturing down a side street is this lovely church.

And residences that are not bound by strict HOA rules.

And if you go further out, you will see:

And this is where our tour started. 

Bella Luna Winery

Charismatic owner and a stash of maps so you don't miss anything in the area.

Be sure and taste the Fighter Pilot Red.