Nothing But Sunsets

Here is a short slide video of sunsets shot on the Djuma Reserve, Sabi Sands, S. Africa, that we took while on virtual safari drives over the past month. Enjoy!

Find more videos like this on WildEarth.TV

Idaho Spring Snow!

Well .... That's Idaho! What's Idaho? Maybe snow on April 15th. Maybe 4" of snow on April 15th. Maybe if you wait for 5 minutes, the weather will change. Nooo! That won't happen. Wanna bet? This is Wednesday ..... by Saturday temperatures in the low to mid 70's for the next 7 days! Yes, that really is snow in the photo. It's taken just 8 miles west of Twin Falls.

No, this is not Twin Falls, although, there really is a Twin Falls. The falls pictured here are Shoshone Falls. They are higher than Niagara Falls, but they don't always flow. Idaho Power has opened the river to release the water and the spring melt. (As Bill Cosby said, "Yea. Right!")


I had to go to Twin today, to have the car serviced - we have 1 year free of service. About 30 miles west (towards Boise) I ran into snow - heavy snow! When I got to Twin, there were 4" on the ground. So the Shoshone Falls are always a good side trip, especially with snow on them. That's a loooong way down through that hole in the cliff! I don't think I should get much closer to the edge - No rope!

Anthropological data states that before Idaho Power got control of the river and closed it down to a trickle during the summer, the salmon came all the way up to the falls. Not being able to get above the falls, the salmon were easy prey for the Native Americans and later for the Oregon Trail immigrants. Interesting since, as I said, we don't normally see the salmon any more this far up the river. It was a good trip to see the falls, very different with the subdued light on them than when the sun is full on them. I told Robin that from the freeway, about 10 miles north, you can see the "mist plume" rising. You can not see the falls, just the mist. I've never seen the mist like that.

New Vehicle

OK, so our trip on 29 January to Twin Falls, was supposed to be to see Rudy's - A Cooks Paradise (see the post on the Boise Foodie Guild Blog), but, like some of our sojourns, they can get involved. This one was no different!

We went to see Robin's cousin, Randy Perrine, who works at Bob Green's GMC dealership on Blue Lakes Blvd, Twin Falls (Your're welcome for the plug, Randy!). Robin wanted to sit in a Cadillac Escalade. She did. $40K worth!

Instead of the Cady, we looked at this one - a delightful 2008 Chevrolet Equinox. Large, roomy, you can see over the guard rails of a bridge, smooth ride and comfortable seats and the maintenance and mileage on the vehicle won't be much more than the 1996 Subaru we are trading in on it. The back is large enough for probably 12 cases of wine, well, maybe 8-10!
I drove it back to Boise and the electronics on the car are awesome: MPG info, average speed, how many miles are left on the tank of gas, good cruise control, great radio and CD player and a great security system. This will be a great vehicle when we travel to San Diego later this year and maybe Texas.
OH, well, such is retirement! Cheers!

Pendleton (OR) Underground

Part of our trip to the wine country in Walla Walla, WA., was a stay in Pendleton, OR. What fun this was! Seeing the "Pendleton Underground" and Hamley's Restaurant. Here are the photos. Enjoy!

Cold Springs Winery, Hammett, ID

What a nice trip we had on Saturday, 18 Oct. Robin and I and Geno and Debra Chantrill, all drove down to Hammett and to the Cold Springs Winery, where Robin's cousin, Jamie Martin, is the winemaker. It was good to see Jamie again. Here are some photos. Top Left: Cold Springs Winery Label. Top Right: Some old vine grapes

On the (Left) Robin and Jamie, with Geno Chantrill in the background and on the (Right) New Vines. Have you ever had a "new wine" (Syrah) that is about 3 days off the vine? We did and that is going to be a great wine, Jamie!


On the Left, Jamie's label for his "Hot Rod White". But I really must say that his Hot Rod Red is much better - along the lines of his Basque Red. On the Right, Riesling grapes ready to be converted to wine! Robin, Jamie, Debra and Geno - hiding!











On the Left, Caroline punching down the Syrah and on the Right, Robin, Geno and Debra tasting the Riesling grapes.






Left, another one of the Cold Springs labels and, on the Right, bottles of Riesling lees - still full of sugar and some yeast - that Jamie gave me. I have a special project that I am going to use some on. I will post the project and results at a later time. This should really be fun and interesting. Any suggestions for the use of the lees? Keep Tuned In and I will post updates. Cheers!

Video of our Carmel Sojourn

Here is a video of our sojourn to California. It is not too long. Enjoy!

Click to Play

Part 1 Of Our Trip To Carmel, California

What a great adventure! We found some really delightful places to stay. One such place is in Moss Landing, California at the "Captain's Inn". A superb bed and breakfast with a great breakfast. Rooms are delightful and the owner's, Capt Yohn and Melanie Gibson are wonderful people. Their web site is The Captains Inn and well worth the stay if you are in the area! And if you are in Gilroy, CA., the perfect restaurant is Mama Mia's Ristorante Italiano. To contact them (408) 847-8808. All of these places are in the photos below.

This is just the first part of the photos. Stick around and I'll post more. Here are the photos of the first part of our trip - almost 3000 miles driving! There will be more photos and a video, eventually. Enjoy!

Part 2 of Our Carmel Trip

Here is the second part of our trip to Carmel. These photos are of Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the VIP Reception for the Tomato Festival. Such a beatiful home! We thank the Conway's for their hospitality.

Part 3 of Our Carmel Trip

What a great 8 days! Ah! To do this again. Well maybe. However, this Tomato Fest, the 17th, may be the last. I hope someone picks it up. These are the photos of the festival itself and the tomatoes! Over 500 varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes to taste! I made it to about 350 and Robin made it to about 150. Then to some wineries: Chateau Julien, Buena Vista, Ravenswood and Bernardus Winery. I did not get any photos of the Bernardus Winery, but we purchased 2 bottles each of their 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, 2006 Ingrid's Chardonnay, 2006 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc and 2007 Saignee De Pinot Noir (a Rose Wine) and 1 bottle each of the 2003 Marinus Flagship Wine Red Table Wine and 2002 Marinus Red Table Wine.

At any rate, here are the photos of the 17th Annual Tomato Fest and some of the wineries we visited. Happy Trails!

Heirloom Tomato Festival

In early September, we will be going to Carmel, California to the Heirloom Tomato Festival. I think this is the first one. Maybe it is competing with Gilroy and the Garlic Festival. Anyway, here are two photos where it will be held.



We will let you know how it went when we return. But it really should be a good time and adventure. Maybe I'll get some new tomato recipes and/or seeds.

Our Silver Anniversary in Silver City, Idaho

Our Silver Anniversary in Silver City, Idaho! What an adventure and what fun! The photos of Silver City are historic, in that the buildings and furnishing are as they were in the mid 1860's. The items in the rooms, lamps, beds, drug store items, etc., are all the actual furnishings as they were in the time - they are the actual furnishings. Silver City is on BLM land, but the buildings are all privately owned. Electricity is at a premium, but there is running water. The temperature at night was in the 40's with warm days. There was still snow on the higher peaks. Robin and I thank Jerri and Roger Nelson, owners of the Idaho Hotel, for their hospitality and Geno, Marnie, Kim and Michelle for helping in the kitchen for the Saturday night dinner. It was an extremely successful and enjoyable weekend. Robin and I hope to see you next year on the weekend of 10 - 13 July 2009. If you want copies of the photos, let me know the name of the photo and I will send it to you.