Blue Skies in Our Future

I'm sure many of you know about the devastating fire in California.  The Rim Fire is what they are calling it and it has burned over 301 square miles and has moved into 6th place on California's list of largest wildfires! It is located in and around the Yosemite National Park area and as of today it is 35% contained.

Here in Reno we have suffered poor air quality for the past two weeks due to the smoke from this devastating fire.

I wanted to share some photos with you so that you can have an idea of what we are seeing....or not seeing.  LOL!

I took this picture from our home looking to the West earlier this year

 

 

I took this picture just this past Tuesday looking at those same mountains from our home

 

 

These next before and after pictures are courtesy of Douglas County, just about 30 miles south of us

 

 

Today looks promising that there may be hope for the complete extinguish of this horrible fire.

 

 

Predictions are that the Rim Fire will be extinguished on September 20th.

 

Please pray for all involved in the efforts to put an end to this devastating fire.

 



Happy Sunday

Today we spent a peaceful morning just 10 minutes away from home!
Davis Creek Campground in Washoe Valley has a nice 2 acre pond for fishing and Stijn wanted to try his skills once more.

 

And even though the smoke from the fires in California is still lying thick in the Truckee Meadows, I couldn't help but feel very lucky to live in such an amazing and beautiful area of Nevada.

 

Wishing you all a blessed Sunday!

My Two Loves

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my Wine & Cheese! 

I could live on the two.  And I don't really care (or knew) what cheese goes best with what wine.  To me it's all good!  When asked, "What wine do you like best"?  I always reply, "I like them all!  After 3 sips they all taste the same anyway"

But then I was introduced to this great little cheese shop by my friends at "Picasso and Wine".  You can read my story about painting and drinking wine HERE.  I have returned to Picasso and Wine for happy hour since my painting lesson and though Alanna and Alissa serve nothing but fabulous wine, they suggested going next door for some cheese to bring back and enjoy with my glass of wine.  Cool! 

Well, this is when I discovered the "Wedge". 

 

Oh my!  This is not a place you send a girl who has an addiction to cheese!  I was overwhelmed by the wonderful aromas of all the different varieties of cheese from all over the World!

 

 

They even have a small deli

 

 

You can create a "Wedge Plate" to try a cheese that maybe you've never had (or an old favorite) and some pate', salami, crackers and even a bottle of wine and viola' you have a picnic in the making!  Just add a red checkered tablecloth and wicker basket!

 

 

Just when I thought I'd seen it all.....I see this......

 

 

 

I could stand to be a little more polished when it comes to drinking wine and eating cheese.  So I didn't hesitate at all when I stumbled upon a flier as I was paying for my cheese to eat next door with my wine.  Remember, I was next door for happy hour?  hehe

 

The flier had all the information regarding, believe it or not, a "Wine and Cheese Pairing Class"!  Where's the pen? Where do I sign?  Here's my money!!

 

So on May 27th I arrived for my lesson on how to choose the right cheese for the wine I'm drinking.  Is there a wrong cheese?

 

 

Eight different cheeses set on a plate representing a clock and five wines were set in front of us in an orderly fashion.

 

 

We began sipping and tasting after listening to how different wines can compliment cheese, OR how a certain cheese can make a wine taste so much better!

I have a confession here.  I really don't like Chardonnay.  However, after sampling several of the cheeses on my plate I discovered that a Voucheron MontChevre'  (Goat Cheese) from California all the way to a Fourme d'Ambert from France make a 2011 Chardonnay from Mendocino California taste yummy!

 

 

Or was it because I had more then 3 sips?

 

Cheers! Sante', Salute!

 

 

Kicking Off Summer With A Splash

I don't know about you but for me this summer has just flown by!  I can't believe it's mid-August already!

But I guess that's what happens when you live in Reno! 

We've been hiking, biking, fishing, water skiing, floating the Truckee River, enjoying the beach at Lake Tahoe, taking short nearby day trips....and a big trip to Europe!  You can read about our trip to Europe Here

And of course having fun with all the local events!

So let's start with May and the "Reno River Festival"

For 10 years now the Reno River Festival has drawn competitors from around the World to the heart of downtown Reno at the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield for an action-packed weekend of whitewater, music, and food.

It sounded like a lot of fun so on Sunday May 12th we headed downtown to check this out for the first time.

It seems that top athletes from the pro kayaking tour were the focus of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could watch these guys all day!  But there was also a Slalom competition going on upstream.

 

 

So we found a spot on the rocks to watch these guys make their way down the Truckee.

 

 

The goal is to complete the course the quickest without touching the poles!

 

 

Located between the two competitions at Wingfield Park were various bands entertaining the spectators.

 

 

This event certainly got us excited for the summer ahead here in Reno!

 

 

Painting and Wine! Or is it Wine and Painting?

A few months back I was asked by a dear friend, Leila if I would like to join her for a night of painting and wine.  Well this invitation took me all of 2 seconds to respond....YES!!!

This is when I discovered another great reason why I love living in Reno!

Picasso & Wine is located in Reno's Midtown District in one of the many historic buildings that make up this fun and unique part of Reno.

So here is how this works.  You pick a class that you would like to attend.  Now what's great about this is that you don't need one ounce of talent to be able to leave at the end of the class with your work of art!  Your class includes the canvas, brushes, paints and the lesson on how to create your masterpiece!  But the BEST part for me was that great glass of wine that is included with your lesson!!! 

 

Does it get any better then this??

 

Owners Alissa and Alanna have created their own masterpiece in coming up with this amazing idea of painting and serving wine.

 

 

Alissa's background and experience in Art along with Alanna's career in the bar and restaurant business and knowledge of the wine industry is what makes a perfect combination for such an amazing and unique business!

 

While Alissa helps you create.........

 

 

 

......Alanna pours the wine!

 

 

 

And in the end you go home with your masterpiece!

 

 

As you can see you are also free to express your inner Picasso like Leila did with her painting on the left.

 

I've taken some painting classes before and they were very frustrating and I have never been able to complete one painting!

 

This was a first for me.......and I'm sure it had something to do with the wine!

April Fool's Day

It seems that April 1st never goes unnoticed for just having some plain old fashioned fun and laughs! I'm sure there are plenty of April Fool's Day jokes and pranks being played today by people all over, from school children to adults in the work place.

I was not spared this morning when my husband yelled out "Stella! You killed another bird?"  Of course I came running out with my eyes bugging out of my head looking for the poor little innocent creature.  My husband smiled and said, "April Fools!"  Haha....

That one was easy to take.  But I have to tell you, the one that is being played on me right now is not looking to funny.

I just went outside and this is what I saw.

 

 

I just took these two pictures while standing in my backyard and looking to the West

 

And then I looked to the East

 

I really hope this is just Mother Natures way of playing her April Fool's joke on all of us here in Reno!

 

Is Mother Nature playing the same joke on you?



It Was Awful And We Loved It!

Reno is famous for a lot of things; gambling, great events and festivals, and great winter skiing, just to name a few.

But when the Travel Channels "Food Wars" voted Reno Nugget's "Awful, Awful Burger" the "Best Burger in Northern Nevada" for the past 10 years, you just gotta go see what all the hype is about!



And that's just what Stijn and I did shortly after we moved here. 

To get to the Awful, Awful you can walk through the Nugget Casino on S. Virginia and make your way to the back.  But why do that when you can go down an unassuming alley and walk right into the narrow dining/kitchen area.

 

 

Make sure you bring "CASH" and "Patience".  Awful, Awfuls are made to order!

 

And most importantly, bring an appetite!  Not only is the Awful, Awful huge but they also give you a pound of fries to help fill those void spots in your tummy!

 

 

 

 

 

Bon Appetite'