I forgot to wish everyone happy Pi day.
Eat some Pi for me!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Springtime Arrives
I know that springtime arrived finally and that the dark days have passed for another year.
I know this because on Monday evening Chris and I began the process of cleaning out the leaves which collected during the winter in the area around the pool. The furniture was restored to operation complete with cushions and pillows that had been in storage over the winter.
A bottle of wine, cheese, and crackers were enjoyed to the sounds of music and the peepers and the birds.
It was an idyllic setting for the first evening of what I hope is a long an enjoyable season around the pool in the haven which is our backyard.
The first evening of the season is as memorable as the last, only the conversation focuses on the season to come rather the the good times passed.
This is the time I wait for and even the work clearing leaves and cleaning was enjoyable we watched the clock tick past seven and there was still daylight remaining to enjoy.
The lawn is greening and I can feel the tug of the mower coming. Even the plum trees are in bloom. I love those trees, they are the first blooming trees of the season in our yard. for some unknown reason, Chris desires them to be gone but I cannot imagine looking into the yard without them.
And so the season arrives.
And the promise of sun, pool, fun, family and friends.
Bring it on!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I know this because on Monday evening Chris and I began the process of cleaning out the leaves which collected during the winter in the area around the pool. The furniture was restored to operation complete with cushions and pillows that had been in storage over the winter.
A bottle of wine, cheese, and crackers were enjoyed to the sounds of music and the peepers and the birds.
It was an idyllic setting for the first evening of what I hope is a long an enjoyable season around the pool in the haven which is our backyard.
The first evening of the season is as memorable as the last, only the conversation focuses on the season to come rather the the good times passed.
This is the time I wait for and even the work clearing leaves and cleaning was enjoyable we watched the clock tick past seven and there was still daylight remaining to enjoy.
The lawn is greening and I can feel the tug of the mower coming. Even the plum trees are in bloom. I love those trees, they are the first blooming trees of the season in our yard. for some unknown reason, Chris desires them to be gone but I cannot imagine looking into the yard without them.
And so the season arrives.
And the promise of sun, pool, fun, family and friends.
Bring it on!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday Musings -- March 13, 2012 (Tuesday)
1. Sometimes Monday comes too fast.
2. Defending a title is much harder than winning it for the first time.
3. Daylight savings time has arrived--could you just put the savings into my bank account?
4. I stood outside the other night and noticed it--the smell of springtime. Damp earth in the moist air. A sweet smell against the backdrop of the symphony of the peepers.
5. Warm weather with a bottle of wine with cheese and crackers consumed on the back deck, what could be a better way to usher in a spring-like evening?
6. Travel is fun, right up until it is time to actually do it.
7. March Madness is upon us. Get out the brackets and make your picks. Go Syracuse!
8. Bring on the beach. I feel like sitting in the sand, under an umbrella with my sun glasses on and being mesmerized by the waves on the beach for the whole day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
2. Defending a title is much harder than winning it for the first time.
3. Daylight savings time has arrived--could you just put the savings into my bank account?
4. I stood outside the other night and noticed it--the smell of springtime. Damp earth in the moist air. A sweet smell against the backdrop of the symphony of the peepers.
5. Warm weather with a bottle of wine with cheese and crackers consumed on the back deck, what could be a better way to usher in a spring-like evening?
6. Travel is fun, right up until it is time to actually do it.
7. March Madness is upon us. Get out the brackets and make your picks. Go Syracuse!
8. Bring on the beach. I feel like sitting in the sand, under an umbrella with my sun glasses on and being mesmerized by the waves on the beach for the whole day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, March 12, 2012
Veritas Vineyards and Winery -- A Review
Located in the western portion of the Monticello Wine Trail, Veritas seems to have developed a cult following. We visited on a beautiful, sunny, early-March afternoon to find the winery full of visitors. We actually had to stand in line for 15 minutes before we were able to be accommodated for a tasting. But that was not a problem. The room is visually stimulating and worth the extra time to enjoy.
Veritas presents itself beautifully. The large tasting room has a very different feel than traditional tasting rooms.The sofas and tables around the room provide for a personalized wine tasting experience. The picture is of the larger than life sculpture on the bar.
At $5 for tasting seven wines, the cost seems average and we did get to keep our glasses at the end of the tasting.
The grounds are very nicely maintained and the large building housing the tasting room provides a larger than life introduction to the wines.
Once we finally made our way to the bar for the tasting, unfortunately we didn't manage to get into one of the sofa groupings, we began to experience the wines. I was disappointed by the wines--they are very young and need time to develop. The wines lacked depth and complexity. Although the tasting notes provide an introduction to the wines, for the most part the wines failed to live up to the excitement generated by the notes.
The best wine of the day was the 2011 Viognier. The most disappointing was the Merlot. The Merlot was more akin to a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet Franc.
The winery shows a lot of promise and as the vines mature, the depth and quality of the wines should improve.
Recommendation: Visit and enjoy the beauty of the winery, but don't expect too much from the wines. Travel note--my GPS did not plot the position of the winery correctly, so be sure to follow the signs over following GPS directions.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Veritas presents itself beautifully. The large tasting room has a very different feel than traditional tasting rooms.The sofas and tables around the room provide for a personalized wine tasting experience. The picture is of the larger than life sculpture on the bar.
At $5 for tasting seven wines, the cost seems average and we did get to keep our glasses at the end of the tasting.
The grounds are very nicely maintained and the large building housing the tasting room provides a larger than life introduction to the wines.
Once we finally made our way to the bar for the tasting, unfortunately we didn't manage to get into one of the sofa groupings, we began to experience the wines. I was disappointed by the wines--they are very young and need time to develop. The wines lacked depth and complexity. Although the tasting notes provide an introduction to the wines, for the most part the wines failed to live up to the excitement generated by the notes.
The best wine of the day was the 2011 Viognier. The most disappointing was the Merlot. The Merlot was more akin to a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet Franc.
The winery shows a lot of promise and as the vines mature, the depth and quality of the wines should improve.
Recommendation: Visit and enjoy the beauty of the winery, but don't expect too much from the wines. Travel note--my GPS did not plot the position of the winery correctly, so be sure to follow the signs over following GPS directions.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Virginia Wine Country Weekend
We are in Charlottesville, VA for the annual Consensus blending at Keswick Vineyards.
A weekend away doing one of the hobbies that both Chris and I enjoy--wine sampling.
We have rediscovered a couple of wineries: King Family and Jefferson. We also sampled two new wineries: Pippin Hill and Cardinal Point. And for fun we stopped back by Blenheim, just to check it out.
I continue to highly recommend both King Family and Jefferson. They have nicely prepared selections of white and red wines which are nicely blended. We brought home not a few of their wines for enjoyment later.
Cardinal Point caters to wine styles which are a bit different and I could not fully appreciate them. I was intrigued by their white whine named Green, which does not age before being bottled.
Pippin Hill is very new and the vines are very young. The wines are young too. The facility is very nice and I believe this winery has promise for the future--especially as the vines mature a bit more and the wines begin to gain some depth and complexity.
Blenheim has expanded their parking to accommodate their increased popularity. They have very good wines, but unfortunately, the one that I enjoy the most was sold out.
Well, today it is off to Keswick today to defend our Consensus blending title. Really, just to have fun and meet new people who also share our love of wine.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
A weekend away doing one of the hobbies that both Chris and I enjoy--wine sampling.
We have rediscovered a couple of wineries: King Family and Jefferson. We also sampled two new wineries: Pippin Hill and Cardinal Point. And for fun we stopped back by Blenheim, just to check it out.
I continue to highly recommend both King Family and Jefferson. They have nicely prepared selections of white and red wines which are nicely blended. We brought home not a few of their wines for enjoyment later.
Cardinal Point caters to wine styles which are a bit different and I could not fully appreciate them. I was intrigued by their white whine named Green, which does not age before being bottled.
Pippin Hill is very new and the vines are very young. The wines are young too. The facility is very nice and I believe this winery has promise for the future--especially as the vines mature a bit more and the wines begin to gain some depth and complexity.
Blenheim has expanded their parking to accommodate their increased popularity. They have very good wines, but unfortunately, the one that I enjoy the most was sold out.
Well, today it is off to Keswick today to defend our Consensus blending title. Really, just to have fun and meet new people who also share our love of wine.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, March 10, 2012
What I Saw--Yesterday
Drivers changing lanes so rapidly that I wanted to pull over and calm down as one narrowly missed my bumper.
Crocus in the lawn.
Blue skies and warm temperatures.
A bottle of wine waiting on the table for my arrival at the house after another 12-hour day.
My dog, at the door barking happily at my arrival.
The pillow on my bed and my head nestled into it.
Darkness as sleep came over me at the end of a long day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Crocus in the lawn.
Blue skies and warm temperatures.
A bottle of wine waiting on the table for my arrival at the house after another 12-hour day.
My dog, at the door barking happily at my arrival.
The pillow on my bed and my head nestled into it.
Darkness as sleep came over me at the end of a long day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Friday, March 9, 2012
History and Space
While on my trip to LA and Lompoc, I had the opportunity to visit some of the history of American space fight.
That would be some of the Space Launch Complexes (SLCs pronounced slick) associated with space launches from Vandenberg AFB, CA.
This was the second time that something named for the former Chief of Staff of the Air Force Hoyt S. Vandenberg and I had crossed paths. The first was the ship, named after him, that I had the pleasure of diving while visiting Key West a few years ago. And now, the Air Force Base which carries his name.
Although I drove by a number of the SLCs, I was able to take a couple images of two of them--SLC-6 and SLC-8.
SLC-6 is interesting in that it was constructed to support space shuttle launches, but shortly after everything was completed, it was decided that the space shuttle would launch only form Cape Canaveral.
The big white building is SLC-6 which is now used for other launches.
The smaller facility SLC-8, which is dark in the image, is for smaller experimental rockets.
Despite the belief that with the demise of the space shuttle program the US was no longer engaging is space--I witnessed a lot of activity at many of the SLCs and can attest that between the government and private industry we are still forging a path into the final frontier.
We may have lost the capability to put men into space for a while--but we are still alive.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
That would be some of the Space Launch Complexes (SLCs pronounced slick) associated with space launches from Vandenberg AFB, CA.
This was the second time that something named for the former Chief of Staff of the Air Force Hoyt S. Vandenberg and I had crossed paths. The first was the ship, named after him, that I had the pleasure of diving while visiting Key West a few years ago. And now, the Air Force Base which carries his name.
Although I drove by a number of the SLCs, I was able to take a couple images of two of them--SLC-6 and SLC-8.
SLC-6 is interesting in that it was constructed to support space shuttle launches, but shortly after everything was completed, it was decided that the space shuttle would launch only form Cape Canaveral.
The big white building is SLC-6 which is now used for other launches.
The smaller facility SLC-8, which is dark in the image, is for smaller experimental rockets.
Despite the belief that with the demise of the space shuttle program the US was no longer engaging is space--I witnessed a lot of activity at many of the SLCs and can attest that between the government and private industry we are still forging a path into the final frontier.
We may have lost the capability to put men into space for a while--but we are still alive.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Return of the Peepers
I heard them in the swamp the other night, the peepers singing.
Another sure sign of the return of spring.
The weather is warmer and the robins have returned. The grass is growing and Tru-green dropped by to get my lawn ready for mowing season.
I am so ready for the weather to get warmer.
I love the sound of the peepers in the swamp on a relatively warm evening at the end of the long, but mild winter.
Let's get on with life.
I did find some crocus hiding under a pile of leaves.
The temperature this morning is a balmy 52 degrees.
It is spring--really!
Let's celebrate.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Another sure sign of the return of spring.
The weather is warmer and the robins have returned. The grass is growing and Tru-green dropped by to get my lawn ready for mowing season.
I am so ready for the weather to get warmer.
I love the sound of the peepers in the swamp on a relatively warm evening at the end of the long, but mild winter.
Let's get on with life.
I did find some crocus hiding under a pile of leaves.
The temperature this morning is a balmy 52 degrees.
It is spring--really!
Let's celebrate.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sure Signs of Spring
Flowers are the way that I judge the passing of winter and the arrival of springtime.
It really does not matter what the calendar says, but rather it is the buds on the trees and the bright blooms of springtime flowers that really start the season for me.
And so, daffodils blooming in my neighbor's yard yesterday marked the passing of winter in my neighborhood.
I believe that I will be mowing the lawn in about two weeks and that I will be opening my pool in just a bit over a month.
The darkness has passed--we need to enjoy the sunshine and the flowers. And we can begin living outside again.
I was reminded of the old Beatles song Here Comes the Sun and the lyrics which are:
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
It really does not matter what the calendar says, but rather it is the buds on the trees and the bright blooms of springtime flowers that really start the season for me.
And so, daffodils blooming in my neighbor's yard yesterday marked the passing of winter in my neighborhood.
I believe that I will be mowing the lawn in about two weeks and that I will be opening my pool in just a bit over a month.
The darkness has passed--we need to enjoy the sunshine and the flowers. And we can begin living outside again.
I was reminded of the old Beatles song Here Comes the Sun and the lyrics which are:
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
How Far Is It?
An interesting question.
Think for a moment, how far could you travel by driving for three and three-quarter hours and flying for four and a half hours?
One answer:
From Lompoc, CA to Elkridge, MD using Los Angeles International Airport (affectionately known as LAX) and Dulles International Airport.
As I realized a few minutes ago, I have been "up" for over 24 hours with only a few (four) hours sleep on a large airplane.
It is funny, I do not remember taking off from LAX. I did, however, see the sunrise over Washington as the plane landed at Dulles.
Ask me what kind of flight I had, and I will respond, restful. That is what a "red-eye" is supposed to be like.
The driving portion of my day led me onto the Pacific Coast Highway and roads known affectionately, to those living in LA, as "the 405", "the 101," and "the 105." On the Washington end--yeah I got to experience "the Beltway" during morning rush as well I-95 and US 1.
So now it is time to shower and sleep to force another 3-hour time change into my circadian rhythm.
So how far is it?
Well that's easy--all the way from the left coast to the right coast! Or, yesterday into today.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Think for a moment, how far could you travel by driving for three and three-quarter hours and flying for four and a half hours?
One answer:
From Lompoc, CA to Elkridge, MD using Los Angeles International Airport (affectionately known as LAX) and Dulles International Airport.
As I realized a few minutes ago, I have been "up" for over 24 hours with only a few (four) hours sleep on a large airplane.
It is funny, I do not remember taking off from LAX. I did, however, see the sunrise over Washington as the plane landed at Dulles.
Ask me what kind of flight I had, and I will respond, restful. That is what a "red-eye" is supposed to be like.
The driving portion of my day led me onto the Pacific Coast Highway and roads known affectionately, to those living in LA, as "the 405", "the 101," and "the 105." On the Washington end--yeah I got to experience "the Beltway" during morning rush as well I-95 and US 1.
So now it is time to shower and sleep to force another 3-hour time change into my circadian rhythm.
So how far is it?
Well that's easy--all the way from the left coast to the right coast! Or, yesterday into today.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
