Vino, te quiero

Life in the country can be hard - long driving distances, isolation, lack of good bars, restaurants and cultural activities. However, the country also provides many fruits, including the magnificent grape.

This weekend, Jamin and her new 'friend,' The Writer, came out to play. We decided an appropriate way to spend our Saturday hangover was to go to Colorado's Wine Country, aka Palisade. We 'tasted' our way through the countryside while Jamin and I got Q.T in the car and the Hubby and the Writer soaked up the sun in the sidecar.

My favorite winery, Carlson Winery, did not disappoint. This winery avoids the precociousness of other establishments. It has a simple tasting room that supports a down-to-earth and gregarious staff as well as cats that meander between the bottles. I also think think they make some damn fine wine*. As we worked our way down a long line of bottles, the staff sidetracked us with a buttery peach cocktail and a chocolate cherry beverage that, to quote the staff person, made the Hubby's "nipples go hard." Wine and chocolate together in one glass is a slice of heaven! We heard funny tales of the winery as well as the personal stories of the staff and how they came work and live in the community. And, for the first time in my life, I bought a case of wine.

In addition to stopping at the wineries, we stopped at a local roadside stand and got free ice cream from a woman who can only be described as grandma. Jamin was craving sweet cherries so we also stopped and she bought (gulp) 13 pounds. I will check in with her later this week to see how a mass of cherries mixes with one's digestive system.

On the way out of town, we stopped at Murdoch's. This store is unlike any other. It transends any Ace or local ranch store I have ever visited. On one side of the store, you stroll through aisle after aisle of work boots, Carhart clothing, cowboy and western ware. In the middle, you walk through an array of equipment and gear, from chainsaws, cowtags, fertilizers and wheelbarrows. On the far side of the store, there is more pet and animal feed than I have ever seen at a Petco or feed store. Even Jamin, who is an expert in all things pet-related, commented on the selection. We also studied a variety of watering devices for different farm animals, examined horse leads and bridals and looked at a number of interesting (& scary) rodent-capturing devices. I was quite shell-shocked and wandered around dazed. Our shopping cart: 1 pair cowboy boots, 1 cowboy hat, 1 John Deere "Farmer in Training" onsey for Hubby's baby cousin, 2 bags chicken feed, 1 beef jerky stick.

Back at the ranch, we celebrating our acquisitions by mixing up a pitcher of sangria with a bottle from Carlson's. Sitting on the lawn, watching the sun set and the horses frolick, I must say...life is damn good!

* Disclaimer: I am not a wine conisciour..I like what I like.