Keuka Lake wine trail

We finally are home, 

but we had such a 

good time yesterday.

We started the morning with

blueberry & cream cheese pancakes,

turkey bacon,

and home made english muffins..

yum!!

We spent the day wine tasting

along the Keuka Lake

wine trail.

There are 8 wineries that we

visited to taste, and buy.

We started out at

Keuka Springs winery..

very good wine, 

and a fabulous view:

The weather was so nice,

we couldn't believe that we

didn't need a coat!

Next was Barrington Cellars..

The wine cat!

George looks very serious

about his tastings..

One of our favorite wineries,

Ravines cellars.

They have a tasting pairing

chocolate and wine.

The wine pourer is very

knowledgeable.

Of course the views of the lake

are terrific..

from every winery.

We had a great time,

and did a little Christmas shopping

as well.

cheers!

We finished our day by

going to a great restaurant,

Ports Cafe.

Now we're home,
and it looks like winter
will be here soon enough.
George has ordered
another space heater for the RV!
I think we have more heat
per square foot than the
average house :-)

Skaneateles

What nice weather!

We can't believe how perfect

this late fall weather

has been for us.

We are still in

Penn Yan, NY.

This morning we woke up

to a nice breakfast,

complete with homemade

english muffins, 

poached pears,

and a blueberry & walnut

Dutch baby.

Yum!

We headed north to

Churchville, NY

which is up by Rochester.

Our service dealer is

at a Camping World 

up there.

We met the guy who 

will be servicing some of 

the issues that we have

when we took delivery of our 

Montana.

Once we were through there, 

we headed east to the

town of Skaneateles, NY.

It's one of the smaller finger lakes.

This time of year they have 

a Dicken's Christmas festival.

There were people walking

around in costume..

and there was a sing-a-long

with different Christmas carols..

Everyone looked so 'Dickens'..

even though it didn't feel quite 

like Christmas yet.

There was part of the 

singing where we did hand

motions to

Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Of course, I was all involved!

Even Father Christmas was there!

We found a great place to eat at

the Sherwood Inn..

then walked it off by the lake to 

a nice sunset.

Tomorrow is wine tasting,

on the Keuka wine trail!

Happy Thanksgiving!

George and I want to 

wish everyone

a very nice

Thanksgiving!

As we prepare to

drive north to

Penn Yan, NY

to our favorite bed & breakfast..

to spend Thanksgiving,

(and a mini honeymoon!)..

we wanted to spend a 

minute to give our thanks..

to..

each other, for we are each others

best friends ever.

to my parents,

for giving us the

nicest wedding!

to both my sons,

for making sure

that I know I'm loved.

to my new step-daughter,

for being a great friend..

and..

to God..

for getting us through

a year filled

with flooding.

Things are turning out

just fine ;-)

Convection oven rating

Since so many of you asked..

I will give my personal opinion

about my experience with

the convection oven.

Our Montana comes with 

a 3 burner propane range,

and oven.

Up above is a built-in

convection microwave.

It comes with a metal rack 

that stays in during convection cooking.

You take it out during regular

microwave use.

We've been using the microwave

feature all by itself, no problem..

for the most part. 

We found out it's only a 900 watt

microwave, so frozen dinners

need a bit more time than stated

in the instructions.

We use it to heat up tea, and

warm up other things.

But..it was time to use 

it to make something 

with the convection feature.

George has a meatloaf 

recipe he likes to cook..

so he mixed it up..

the recipe said to bake

it for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Hmmmm..

not sure what time to 

put it in..

so I used the power of Google..

and looked up 

a similar meatloaf recipe,

and the time in a convection oven.

25 minutes!

Wow!

We were impressed!

It came out perfect, 

not dry,

and in a quarter of the time!

While it was sitting..

we threw the potatoes

in..

and they were microwaved

in 10 minutes.

You can use metal in the oven..

only in convection mode, not

combination convection/microwave.

That you have to save for plastic..

ovenproof things.

I think I'm going to

like this contraption!

Beautiful Sunday

What a beautiful weekend 

this has been.

The skies have been blue,

the temps have been mild.

Not at all like 

pre-Thanksgiving weather!

We are still enjoying

some shopping 

from some wedding

gift cards from

some of my customers.

Yesterday we went 

to Kohl's to 

replace a few flood-ravaged

things..

Winter gloves for me..

Some long sleeve shirts for George..

A new hoodie for George,

and a couple new bowls 

for cooking.

Today, we went to church,

then stopped by George's Dad's gravesite,

as today would have been his

84th birthday.

We had a nice relaxing afternoon,

watching a movie, and

eating some snacks.

Then George made his famous meatloaf...

we're going to try out the

convection microwave.

Wish us luck!

Our Thanksgiving Plans

This morning was a nice, relaxing one.

We sat at our kitchen table,

sipping our coffee,

from our Keurig coffee maker.

The sun was coming through

the window, and it was nice

and warm in the Montana,

as we discussed the upcoming holidays.

We typically like to plan

something for the 

Thanksgiving holiday, 

as I get 5 days off

during this time.

In the past we've gone 

to California,

but since we just came 

back from there..

that was out of the question.

So..

since it's been awhile..

we've decided to go

to one of our favorite places..

Los Gatos Bed & Breakfast

We've gone there a few

times before..

it's on Keuka Lake,

in Penn Yan,

in the Finger Lake region

of New York.

They are having a special..

we get treated to

Thanksgiving dinner at

Glenora Wine Cellars,

and since we are staying

3 nights..

we get wine trail 

passports for wine tasting

on the Keuka lake wine trail.

We are looking forward to it!

Replacing things..

Thanks to many lovely people,

we received some nice gift cards

for wedding presents!

George and I have been

making a list as we think

of things, 

mostly kitchen gadgets

and utensils.

So, armed with several gift cards,

we took off for stores yesterday.

Kohl's had the winter boots

that I lost in the flood..

Maine Source (a restaurant supply store)

had wisks, spatulas, pancake turners,

bottle openers, cutting mats..

Then it was off to Target..

my favorite store!

We bought some new bath towels,

Airbake cookie sheets & 13 x 9" pan,

found some cool 'pinch' bowls..

I use these a lot for food prep..

also got a wire caddy for 

all my new utensils!

As we were shopping, 

our tummies were growling..

so we decided to go to 

Olive Garden.

We also got gift cards to use there!

Since a car wash is right

next door..

we dropped my car off

for a nice wash and hand wax

while we ate lunch.

It was a fun day,

we bought the things that

we needed...

now we have one

of each item that we 

need, not 5 :-)

That flood really helped us out!

George ordered some items

from Camping World,

some nesting pots & pans,

and he also got a hitch cover.

We both got some nice gift cards from CW!

I think we're set for awhile!

Ch..ch..ch..changes...

Post-wedding things that you must do.

Oh yeah, we made it home on

Sunday, just fine.

The Montana was sitting

there waiting for us.

We missed her ;-)

So, since I'm all caught 

up at work..

today, 

I took the time

to do the things you

must do after you 

get married.

If you are a woman!

I went to  3 different banks..

to change my name on

the signature cards.

I went to the DMV

to get a new license..

with a new, better picture!

I filled out the paperwork

to change my name on the

car & truck registration.

Then...I ran out of time!

So tomorrow..

I have to go to the 

Social Security Administration..

to change that.

I've called the few

companies that I hold

credit cards with

to change my name with them.

You men have it soooo easy!

But..

I like being

Mrs. Owen!

;-)