"WON'T YOU COME AND GO..."

I am so slacking on getting this post written. I am up in Santa Rosa dog sitting again. I have been here for twelve days so far. I planned on taking the opportunity to clean a few things out of my diet which I did. I spent the first five days with throbbing in my head (luckily no pain just pressure as if my brain was going to pressure ooze out of my eye sockets), exhaustion, queasiness, and stinky odors. WOW!

What did I cut out? Sugars and all things that turn to sugar including fruits and grains. WOW AGAIN! I feel great now but it took a week and I am not someone that eats a lot of sugar. I do however eat a lot of wheat products while on the road. They are easy to grab on the go. Ritz crackers and their knock offs are my "go to" for snacks not cookies. The bloating has now disappeared. This does not happen to me in Argentina. When I return to the USA with all it's tainted and processed food I gain five pounds almost over night. I won't get onto my GMO or ED (endocrine disruption) soapbox here. Let's just say I was pretty WOWed by the reaction this time. I am really glad I had a whole week of few responsibilities to do this. I am slowly introducing foods back into my diet and yup, seeing the immediate reactions. Knowledge is power. I make my choices... onward >>>

SO....... I stopped in Benicia on my way back up to Santa Rosa. I spent the weekend with my new friend Kathryn. We met a few months ago at a trail head in SLO county and exchanged cards. She and her friends treated me to a weekend of food and wine (wine is sugar by the way). On Friday she took me to a potluck dinner with foodies. It was so much fun. And then on Saturday four of us went to Napa for lunch and wine tasting. It was a perfect last hurrah before my planned dietary restrictions. We went to several vineyards for tastings. It was raining but we all still had fun. Here are some photos...

 

VERN IN RAYMOND'S VERY SPECIAL MEMBER'S ONLY BACK ROOM

CHOCOLATE & WINE PAIRING

Prior to staying with Kathryn I spent two nights a bit off grid with a family north of Paso Robles. On the way to their place I stopped at Sculpterra Winery as I had read about their sculpture gardens. There as no tasting for me as I was driving but I did stop into the tasting room and ended up talking to the owner about art and my environmental art. She gave me her card in case I make it back this way next year.

More art and wine but only briefly because frankly the sculpture gardens at Paradise Ridge Vineyards in Santa Rosa did not float my cask. The modern art there well... I will include just one piece and leave the rest. I won't busy up this post with more shots. Check PR when in the area if you like modern art otherwise pass. Their wine may be good. I don't know. I never taste and drive.

So that's it for now. I just wanted to catch up. Oh I had a birthday on Monday. It was super quiet, cool and rainy but I had the pups nearby and gobs of cheers from across the globe to keep me busy. I have no regrets. I consider this dog sit time a blessing and an opportunity to chill in a good way before the next leg of the journey which will be south then east then north back to Massachusetts. >>>

Cheers to Spring! Although this song is not from the 60/70's the artist sure is. Here is a little springtime diddy from now SIR Van Morrison. Enjoy!

Chau 4 now from me and Mollie (the EWOK) and Quinn (the FLAKATA RUG). The sun is out. Time to put on a sweater and drive to the dog park. I am a NICE pet sitter even if I "come and go". I am supposed to do that pups. Stop with the puppy guilt eyes already! :)