FLASHBACK TO THE ISLAND.....just found this in the archives and had to share it with you all

My girlfriend Teresa manages a pub and beer and wine store on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo. She is a great lover of good wine, and gave me the opportunity to go along with her and her manager from the beer and wine store to a private tasting at a island winery.

Averill Creek Winery is located just on the outskirts of Duncan (about a 45 minute drive south of Nanaimo)


When you come to the property gates you have to make a bit of a climb up the mountain to get the the winery itself, but when you turn around, the view is amazing....that is the valley of Duncan below and about "11 oclock" in the picture is the ocean. I believe it to be Cowichan Bay. Very stiking view. The vineyards are both on the left and the right of this picture. The owner of the winery didn't realize how great of a view he had until he had all the trees and brush cleared away...and then "viola". Beauty abounds

The patio leading to the deck on the side of the winery....as you can see it is still spring here on the island and the trees look a little bare. The day was very warm and bright actually.

You will see that the owner took pride in making this winery a very upscale area to enjoy a sip of wine and a great view.
This is the back patio at the winery. Great rock work.

And leading back to the enterance of the winery...so pretty. Oh and by the way, the wine is FABULOUS. Averill Creek winery holds awards for their Pinot Noir for 2006. Yummy stuff. They also make a wine called Cowichan Black. It is not called a port but has the same richness that port does. I believe that they have to call it a fortified wine as it doesn't come from Portugal and as such cannot be called port. But let me tell you it has a wonderfull flavor of blackberries that transport you back to eating warm blackberries off the bush as a child. Very good.

Good bye sunshine

I have to say good bye to the sunshine now. I am flying home tomorow to the island. I am also very sad to leave my love here in Scottsdale for the next little while....but he has made obligations that he will fufill. Such a good guy.
And although I am sad to leave here I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends and to get my feet wet working at the salon for Jessica while she is on holidays.

Bittersweet....
Till next time
may the wind always be at your back and the sun on your face

SCOTTSDALE FARMERS MARKET

Downtown Scottsdale has a old section to it and on every Saturday they hold a farmers market where you can find amazing fresh organic produce as well as some yummy other treats...come enjoy the sites of the market. Too bad you don't have smellovision!!!!
This is where you can get great produce, herbs as well as bulk baby spinach, arugula, and braising greens. The tomatoes are to die for


You can't get any fresher mozzerella than this. These young guys own a restaruant in Scottsdale calle Digestif. They have wonderfully different items that include this freshly pulled mozza.
Chef Payton and his co-worker.
This was mine....you can get the cheese by itself or with some sides such as oven dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, asian mushrooms, or a lovely mixture of garlic, shallots, and anchovies slowed baked in olive oil. YUMMMY

Daniel made a friend at the market. This is the baker from the Phoenician bakery. The Phonician is a very uptown resort in Scottsdale where all the mucky mucks and movie stars stay at. Great restuarants and a amazing spa.....

Daniel loves olive bread and the baker told him he would make him a double batch of olive bread. Not only were they double but he made two for Daniel.

Very good with some fresh mozza and roasted garlic grilled untill nicely warmed through and the cheese is gooey .....mmmmmmmmmmmmm

PLAY BALL

Spring training is HUGE in the Phoniex area for baseball teams from all over the states. We got to go to a game between the Oakland A's and the Cleveland Indians.....

The Cleveland Indians dug out....

Boys at play. Now I can say that I have been to a ball game and had a beer and a dog. "Take me out to the ball game" has a whole new meaning....

SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA

So, after a couple of months in Las Vegas, we headed back down to lovely Scottsdale Arizona.

The whole area here is warm and very beautiful. Nothing gawdy about the area. The homes are well kept wheather old or new. The same goes for each seperate community in the Scottsdale area. Even the malls and shopping centers are beautifull in Scottsdale.

This is called a kokapella. A dancing musician from the native Arizonian indians


This is a resort a friend of ours stayed at. It just takes you into a different world.
I am in the hot tub at the resort looking at the pool. This place reminds me of my friends time share in Sedona as well. So pretty

Looking at the pool and hot tub

More friends in Las Vegas

More of our friends came to visit us in Las Vegas....thank goodness I had a week off in between... LOL

Frank and Patti came from Qualicum to enjoy some fun with us in Las Vegas and we took the opportunity to go out to Hoover Danm. I have never been there and neither had Frank and Patti. It was a very nice drive out there and the dam is amazing.

Now, if I was a really good tour guide I would be able to quote all the facts about the dam. Ie: when it was built, how much dirt it took, how much water it holds back ect, ect, ect. But, I suck at it so, I am just going show you the pics we took.

THE HOOVER DAM

I do know this is the the Nevada state side of the dam....very very very tall. It looks scary when you are looking way way way down there from about the middle point of the dam!!!! (I did take some pics but they didn't work, sorry)

And this is looking back to the Nevada state side. The construction is of the new bridge that will allow big trucks and other vehicles to pass from Nevada to Arizona without having to actually go over the dam. (Since 9/11 they have prohibited large rigs from crossing the dam for fear of explosives) If you look to the left you will see the bridge span rising about mid picture from Arizona, and on the far right mid picture, you can see the bridge span from the Nevada state side. The road below is the existing road to cross the dam. Quite cool to see in person.

Patti and I enjoying the views....check out the amount of water that is cursing through that dam far below us. And, again the bridge spans in the distance

And finally, one of the gaurdian angels at the Hoover Dam....how beautifull is she???

Amazing how so far back in time, man figured out how the harness the power of nature to help mankind.

YA YA'S IN LAS VEGAS!!!!!!

OH MY GAWD...... I would have thought that at the ripe age of 43 I would still be able to party for 4 days in a row....WRONG....LOL we had so much fun but it is a little hard on this ole girl now a days...tee hee

The gals arrive in Las Vegas....the gratuitous shot of Las Vegas


LET THE GAMES BEGIN...........................
Julie, Shannon, Chrissy, Corrine and Sue

Corrine at the Hilton....so pretty!

Julie, Julie,,,,,Julie, is that you? JULIE???? Have to look our best in Las Vegas tee hee

Flair bartenders at Kahunaville bar in the Treasure Island....we had such fun. He made us all a shot and then poured it in our mouths for us....oh yeahHe was fun. And then we went to see "Mystere" (from Cirqe de Soliel) across the hall from the bar in Treasue Island. It was a amazing show. We all left there and were just in awe....

then I ran into some folks from Qualicum Beach and got a great big hug....that was fun too.

And the day after everyone left, I didn't get out of bed till about 5 pm....my man made me breakfast and lunch in bed and rubbed my sore feet from all the partying we did.

A great big THANK YOU to my YA YA's for coming to see us sista's in Las Vegas. You made us feel very special.

YA YA Shannon

aka Emperess Because I Said So.....