Fall Colors

Is it really time to start shopping for fall?? These are a few of the items on my wish list, courtesy of the crew.

Wine of the Week

2007 Conundrum White Table Wine

I'm having a glass of wine, so I thought why not post about it! This is an easy one to find and honestly one of the best white wine blends around. When we first tasted it several years ago, it was made by Caymus. But success apparently created a spin-off as now Conundrum is its own brand with a singularly focused wine maker. It's one of those wines that's hard to pigeon hole- it doesn't really lean chardonnay or sauvignon blanc or any other white varietal for that matter. The winemaker is a master at creating a unique and consistent wine. Extra bonus points for a screw cap! Retails for around $20.

An Excuse*

Or an explanation, depending on how generous you're feeling!

Due to the day job, I can no longer update this blog site during normal business hours. Or comment on any other blog for that matter. Heartbreaking, indeed.

I guess mornings started with my blog roll and a diet coke are a thing of the past.

I have truly enjoyed this experience; besides finding loads of inspiration I have met some really great people, both virtually and in person. The blog world is amazing. I wasn't sure what would become of ye olde blog, but then realized I (selfishly) can't give it up entirely! I am going to miss making regular updates to this site, but hope to post intermittently (do you subscribe though a reader? I hope so!). And I will continue to be a faithful (albeit tardy) reader of your blogs! Thanks lovelies!!

xo Amy

*** And in honor of keeping it real, images below of our current house project which sadly does not include fabric, paint samples, or anything sparkly.

Light and Dramatic

I'd love to spend a weekend baking in this dramatic, light filled kitchen (also loving the contrast provided by the cozy butler's pantry).

courtesy of here.

Wine of the Week

2006 Nalle Zinfandel

This blog has been lame with a capital L this week. I'm working on that, by the way!

Anyway, on to the wine...

With friends in town Tuesday night, we headed to one of my favorite spots. We complimented dinner with a bottle of this zinfandel. I've been to the winery in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley a couple of times. It's an odd, cement dome with no frills and a bit of a chill in the air. But the staff is gracious and the wines are good, so you won't hear any complaints from me! This selection is a blend of grapes, but the resulting flavor is all zin: big fruit with a bright, bold finish. 995 cases produced; retails online for $35.

P to the B

Pottery Barn's fall preview is up. Say what you want about PB (overpriced, generic?), they make trends available to the masses (like me!). Here are a few things that caught my eye.

Wine of the Week

2006 Source Napa Gamble Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

For me, sauvignon blanc can be hit or miss...sometimes, it's just too bland and a little watery. But this selection is neither and in fact, is an all around pretty great white wine. The winemakers are hoping to raise the quality of sauvignon blancs by focusing on site selection and limited quantities. The grapes are estate grown on the winemaker's own property and produce a wine that is complex and interesting with layers of fruit. A small production at around 2,000 cases; retails for around $25.

Grand Nantucket Style

courtesy of here

Blue & White

courtesy of here

Redesigned John Robshaw Website

Get shopping!

Wine of the Week

2007 2 Lads Rosé

We're back from our annual trip to Lake Michigan. I forgot my camera this year so here are a couple photos from last year. It still looks the same!

We used our free afternoon to wine taste along the up and coming Old Mission Peninsula. My favorite stop was Two Lads. Are you a rosé drinker? I think some people assume by the color that they all taste like a sugary white zinfandel (yuck!), but that's not the case! Today, boutique wineries all over the country are producing rosés that are typically dry, not sweet, and have just a hint of fruit. And because they're served chilled they become the perfect summer sipping wine. This rosé uses cabernet franc grapes which take advantage of Michigan's cool climate by producing an intense, ruby colored wine. Enjoy with a cheese course or a spicy chicken dish. Retails for $17.

Happy Fourth!

Enjoy the weekend!

image courtesy of katie ridder

Casualties

The kittens are entering the awkward teenage years. Here they are fascinated by running water.

It's a good thing they are so cute. See the pair of the leather chairs in my living room? They are by Mitchell Gold, amazingly comfortable, and the leather is incredibly soft. Perfect for kitten claws.
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They aren't scratching the furniture intentionally (relief), but all the running and scrambling over the chairs has resulted in an increasing number of nicks and marks. The chairs will need to be re-upholstered at some point and I can either spend the next few months watching their condition deteriorate, or I can start the fabric search now and then and move on to other things.

Guess which of those two options I'm going with!

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And if you know of a quality upholstery service in the Birmigham area, please leave me a comment!

Wine of the Week

2008 Spice Route Viognier

The past few evenings have been perfect for outdoor dining. Last night, we sat outside and enjoyed this wine with grilled steak and roasted asparagus. If you read my wine posts with any sort of regularity, you already know that I am a huge fan of viognier. I describe it as a chardonnay with more interest. Spice Route is a product of South Africa and this particular viognier is complex and fruity with a bit of spice. Retails for around $18 and available locally at the Mtn Brook Western.