OAKtoberfest at Avila Beach Golf Resort... Get your tickets!!

 So here it is not even July yet and I'm itching for October to get here already... WHY you ask? Firestone Walker's OAKtoberfest of course! A day filled with celebrating all things beer? OK! Normally I am Mrs. Wine, but I love a *good* beer (sorry Mr. Coors and Mrs. Michelob, not talking about you!). Firestone Walker happens to make some really great brews, and Rob and I have been known to frequent the brewery and restaurant in Buellton. Their Special Reserve (porter) is by far my favorite, but they have well rounded list of others that I will say I am a fan of. They once did have a hef that tasted like banana though.. not a fan.

aw, look who...

OK ok ok, SO, about the event. I have posted a link to it on fb before, but now it's time to get a move on and buy those tix before they sell out and since this year the event will be at the Avila Golf Resort, I'm thinking they will most likely be gone by the time October rolls around. The best part... it's only $15!! (in advance of course). When we have wine festivals in the county they are known to start at $75 and move on up to $200 (easily) for a ticket, so $15 might as well be free. This is a day where you get a ridiculously large mug to take home and a frothy beer to go in it as well as German inspired fare and a great time with friends oh.. and more BEER!! (unfortunately you have to pay for the rest after the first, they aren't going to let people get drunk for $15 know what I mean).

It should be a hoot of a time in a gorgeous setting. How bad can that be? And to top it all off, you get to spend some quality time with.. ME! Yay for you! Reserve your tickets now.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/103966

oh.. and it benefits the Hospice of SLO County

Pictures courtesy of http://www.oaktoberfest.com/ and they are from previous years not held at the Avila Golf resort

Wine Industry? Take advantage of a free nights stay at the beautiful Santa Ynez Inn

 Hello! I know I promised a blog full of fun composting facts which everyone is so excited for I am sure (lol), but that will be put on hold in lieu of letting you in on a wonderful place to plan some r&r or some honey time at (But don't think you are all off the hook for composting! I'll get to it later!).

 The place that I want to share with you is the Santa Ynez Inn in Santa Ynez, CA. It is known as a luxury boutique hotel, and this is so true, it has a wonderful upscale b&b feel with such great personal service and attention. I just booked a one night stay as a wedding present for our friends for the night after their wedding as a gift. I read up on it and I am really impressed.

This place is so so so classy I know they will love it. Of course it has a day spa and whirlpoool and all that comes with a luxury hotel, but what I really like is that at 3 pm there is a reception with wine, cheese, drinks, and gourmet goodies, then later in the evening they serve an incredible desert for the guests. In the morning the guests are treated to a gourmet breakfast like none other that I have heard of on the Central Coast including Italian Eggs Benedict and Black Forest Ham and Gruyere Crepes with Eggs and Grilled Heirloom Tomatoes, complemented by hand-baked scones and muffins. I've been to the Alisal's $120 breakfast and it doesn't compare!

 

So why tease you with this when the price per night starts at about $400? Because, a little known fact is that the Santa Ynez Inn allows each person in the local wine industry one free nights stay with all the amenities included. They are so very generous over there and have kept their small town charm alive. If you happen to be part of the industry here, give the manager a call and reserve a special night for you and someone you love. The only thing they ask is that you bring both a red and a white for the wine reception.

Enjoy!

Tell me you don't want to dive head first into that bowl of goodness!!

http://www.santaynezinn.com/

Welcome to my blog!

 Welcome! Today is the day I give blogging a whirl. I'm so glad you are joining me. I'd like to start by introducing you to my new obsession: my garden. I am, for all purposes, attempting to "greenize" my life in as many ways possible. Logically, a garden with organic soils and growing methods is a good start. I have had gardens in the past (including another one for herbs located in the front of the house in terraces), but none to rival the size of this baby I have going on now in the backyard. Complete with a "pest" fence (a dog keeper-outer) and sprinklers! Whoo hoo, I am on my way to fresh organic veggies!

Since planting in April I have managed to kill a cucumber plant, a bell pepper or two, and there is a good possibility one of the other pepper plants may not make it either. Tragedy, but alas, my swiss chard and fennel rows, japanese eggplant, blueberry bushes, jalapenos, parsnip and broccoli rows, and ohhhh the 3 kinds of squash, are outpacing my daughter in growth which is a hard thing to do since she is herself, a weed. I planted everything according to the seed packet instructions and I now have 9 large mounds with as many as 6 squash plants growing out of each. Anyone for free organic squash this summer?? I'll have it coming out of my nose and ears by then. So speak up now for some free goodies! (Zucchini, cocozelle, and yellow crookneck).

 This is also the case for the tomatoes who need a paragraph dedicated to themselves. They are fantastic! I better learn how to can tomato sauce since I have 6 fast growing bushes already with lovely little yellow flowers all over them. I'm most excited about the crazy looking (and sweet tasting) heirlooms, but the plums, cherries, and others are looking really great too. I read in Jamie Oliver's book that you should grow things like chives, basil, marigolds, and other "smelly" plants around the tomatoes to keep away pests. So far the only pests I have had to deal with are the typical ones... my nemesis, the evil and voraciously hungry garden snail. I have tried everything in the past from tuna cans filled with beer, to copper tape, to an outright cayenne pepper wall. They laughed at me while getting a good buzz off the beer, having a snail orgy on the copper tape, and watching the rain wash the pepper away. I have now resorted to the un-godly expensive eco-kill-all from Ortho called Eco Sense Slug and Snail Killer. So far it has been successful, and I can't complain too much about the price since it is in fact the only thing I have used that really works.

http://www.amazon.com/Scotts-0243110-Ortho-EcoSense-Killer/dp/B001H1GPXM

A few pics of my herbs this spring which grew a tremendous amount since last year! (Sage and thyme shown)

Best cooking and gardening combo book ever: Jamie Oliver's Jamie at Home:

http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Home-Cook-Your-Good/dp/1401322425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277768439&sr=8-1

p.s. I loooove Amazon so you'll see that a lot of my links are from there.

Next time: Composting... ohhh you THOUGHT it was lame, or hard, or both, but just WAIT 'til I show you how unbelievably cool it is! Not to mention the organic soil that I make from my scraps goes into the garden and makes everything Awwwwesome! You will be amazed. I was.

Ciao Chau!