Not Your Typical Country and Western Concert

I have always loved going to concerts.  But it was one thing that slipped through the cracks when our kids were little...we were just too tired.  The thought of staying up till midnight just exhausted me thinking about it.  Now the kids are growing older and want to go to concerts so it is more on our radar.  We have been to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande is definitely in our future.  But it has been a coon's age since I have attended a country western concert.  In the 80's and 90's I saw countless acts, like King George (of course), Reba, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Conway Twitty, Vince Gill...you get the picture.  I am loving the new Country artists I hear on the radio, like Florida Georgia Line, Zac Brown and Darius Rucker.  So when I heard Luke Bryan was coming to town, I sought out the few country fans I know here in AZ and begged to go to the concert.  Please please please, let's do this.  And, wow, did I get an indoctrination into the new Country culture, namely of Fireball Whiskey and the proliferation of Daisy Dukes (do the kids these days even know who the original Daisy Duke was???...Catherine Bach, thank you very much...or the Dukes of Hazzard for that matter, and yes, of course I saw Waylon Jennings live).  And can we talk about Fireball Whiskey?  Has no one ever tried Hot Damn before?  Tastes exactly the same, but some guy is making a mint off that brand.

So on to Luke Bryan: Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year for 2013, Georgia boy, singer, songwriter, performer, Country cutie.  "Rain Is A Good Thing" has been one of the most popular songs on my iPod for a few years.  "Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky."  Clever, catchy, how can you not love it?  And speaking of loving it, let's move on to the topic of these jeans he wears.  Definitely not your run of the mill jeans.  Good bye Wranglers, hello shrink-wrapped jeans, apparently his signature.  Seriously, how does he get these on?  Or off, for that matter?  

I start with a rear shot, and I am almost nervous about sharing what the front looks like...

...the boys were even blushing...

...but I have to admit I found him darling

The girls, and the crowd, loved it, especially during "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)".  There were so many great songs, it was hard to pinpoint a highlight..."We Rode In Trucks", "Crash My Party", "Drunk On You", "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye", and one fabulous duet with Lee Brice, who opened for him, of Eil Young Band's "Crazy Girl".  At one point, he was drinking water out of a red solo cup claiming that the dry air was kicking his ass.  I think he was confused...his jeans may have been cutting off his circulation.  

In his life he has known some tragedy, losing both his older siblings, one in a car crash, and the other in unknown circumstances, according to Wiki.  So he dedicated his beautiful ballad "Drink A Beer" to all those for have lost someone.  One of the things I love about country music is the stories the songs tell, and how I can relate to many (not the mama got drunk in jail songs and run over by a train in the rain), but many others, and "Drink A Beer" is one I cannot listen to without shedding a tear.  So I feel I need to share the lyrics with you and hope you all raise a glass to a loved one lost.

When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say.
So I just hung up the phone.
I took a walk to clear my head,
This is where the walking led
Can't believe you're really gone
Don't feel like going home
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to...
... sit right here on the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer

Lyrics by Christopher Stapleton and Jim Beavers 

 

'xo M

Feeling a Little Cavalier

Our friends are well aware of how crazy we are about our dogs.  And when I say crazy, I mean off-the-wall mad.  There are times when Hubby even feels that he ranks below the dogs on the totem pole (what he doesn't know, and hopefully you will remain mum, is that he is even below the goldfish).  We love to snuggle, cuddle and dote on our dogs.  We take them everywhere with us as long as they can fit in the car (Pixie, the young female, has surpassed the weight restriction on commercial airlines).  So I have wanted to write a post, a little ode to our dogs, Gigi, Pixie Mae and Charlie, our dear Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Our first Cavalier was sweet Gigi, who was a gift for my 30th birthday.  She was loyal, loving, and very, very spoiled.

Gigi Pie

When we brought home our 1st child, Gigi would not leave her side for any reason...well, maybe to eat

When it comes to Cavaliers, one is not enough.  So after the birth of our 3rd child, we adopted Sir Charles III, or Charlie, lovingly know as le chasseur des lapins (chaser of bunny rabbits).

Hubby with Gigi (left) and Charlie (right)

We had 10 wonderful years with Gigi, who left us for doggie heaven in May of 2010.  She died just 5 days before Hubby's birthday, and all he wanted was another Cavalier. Along came our (then) little Pixie Mae.

Charlie didn't know what to make of Pixie at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly.

At first, he wasn't wild about sharing his bed ("Mom, please get this interloper out")

We have made a mission out of converting people to Cavaliers.  When my brother and his wife became empty-nesters, we gifted them with a Cavalier to fill the void (my hermano was not thrilled to start off, but he soon came around...).

Hubby, Charlie, a fabulous niece of mine, with the newly arrived Clover

How did he come around, you ask?  You just have to experience the wonderful qualities of Cavaliers.  They are the most easy going dogs.  They enjoy the daily walk, but don't obsess over them.  They are just as happy hanging out in bed with you when you are sick.

From climbing Montecito Peak in Santa Barbara...

to the red rocks of Sedona (watch out for those red paws!)...

...to hanging out when I am sick.  ("Mom, can I please have the Kleenex when you are done with it?")

They love to travel, play barbies and dressing up.

In the Texas Hill Country

Poolside with My Little Pony

Pumpkin and Sweet Pea

My only word of warning...do not get a Cavalier if you are not ok with having dogs on the furniture.  They enjoy the finer things in life.

Via the Waterlogue iPhone app...super cool if you don't already have it

The weather has broken here in AZ and I am going to spend the day outdoors...Happy Fall!

xo M

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nina Pham, the nurse being treated for the Ebola virus, and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bentley.

 

All photos by Marci Symington for texaztaste.blogspot.com

Funky Town

Located between West Cabrillo Boulevard and Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, the Funk Zone is a neighborhood of artisan shops, art galleries, hip eateries, award-winning microbreweries, and a craft distillery.  For many years it was an area of run-down and empty buildings, located in probably one of the best real estate areas in town, blocks away from the beach and the picturesque Santa Barbara Pier.  Local businessman Brian Kelly had the vision to renovate and started luring artists, winemakers, and up-and-coming chefs to take up shop in aged warehouses and forgotten scuba shops, transforming the zone into an eclectic array of hidden gems unique to California's Central Coast.
 
If you are visiting Santa Barbara and do not have the time to drive to the wine country, the Funk Zone is home to (as of the date of this post) 8 wine tasting rooms, making a day of sampling the local Santa Barbara County wine fun and easy.  Additionally, 5 of the wineries located in the Funk Zone are part of Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail.

On Yanonali St, Pali Wine Co. is a good place to start

Buy a cheese plate and a wine flight and enjoy the day

With wines on tap you can refill your bottles as often as needed

They have two labels marketed under Pali and Tower 15

This is a great label

AVA Santa Barbara is right next door and another good stop

And across the street is the Lafond Tasting Room

If wine is not your thing, you could spend your day channeling your inner artist, by visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara's satellite location at Hotel Indigo or taking a tour at The Santa Barbara Art Foundry.  In addition, there are many restaurants in the area, one of the most popular, and hard to obtain reservations, is at The Lark on Anacapa.  Or to grab a quick bite, you might find a food truck or two stationed at one of the intersections.  No matter your fancy, head on down to check it out.  

The Lark is housed in a very cool space that was the former fish market

The space was designed by San Francisco restauranteur Doug Washington

Crispy Smoked Pork Belly

Grilled Spanish Octopus with Israeli Couscous

The Lark shares a parking lot with the Lucky Penny Pizzeria

The entire facade is decorated with pennies

I hope y'all are having a wonderful week.  Bye, bye September, and hello October!
'xo M

Hooked On An 8 Second Ride

The Old Spanish Days Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo of Santa Barbara takes place early August and has quickly become one of my favorite summer traditions.  Built in 1958, the Earl Warren Showgrounds, where the rodeo is held, is an inviting open air arena where in a span of 2 hours you can take in steer wrestling, team roping, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, team penning, barrel racing, and the not-to-be-missed, mutton bustin'. 

Giddy up

To participate in the mutton bustin', you must be 6 or under...

...and are judged by how long you can stay on...

...a fast and wily mutton (don't you love the red tights?)

This kid has it all figured out

Present-day rodeos offer a unique window into our past.  Tracing its roots to the large ranches and estancias of California, New Mexico and Texas, rodeos evolved after the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War, when Anglo cowboys learned the skills of their Spanish or Mexican counterparts, known as vaqueros.    

Many rodeo events were based on the real life tasks required by cattle ranching, duties that included roping, horse breaking, riding, herding, and branding (and I would argue this still holds true today).  Ranch-versus-ranch contests gradually sprang up, and shortly thereafter, bronc riding, bull riding, and roping contests appeared at race tracks, fairgrounds, and festivals of all kinds.  William Cody, aka Buffalo Bill, created the first major rodeo and the first Wild West show in North Platte, Nebraska in 1882.  Following this wildly successful endeavor, Cody organized his touring Wild West show, paving the way for other entrepreneurs to create what became known as the professional rodeo.

Bareback bronc riding

I could easily take this lovely little Palomino home with me to AZ

 

In my next life, I will come back as a barrel racer...

...and not a bull rider...those guys are nuts

Of course, I didn’t know any of these fun facts as a kid/teenager in San Antonio…I just looked forward to every February when I could stuff my face with cotton candy, Frito Pie, fried twinkies and funnel cake (but don’t do that before you get on the Gravitron).  Reminds me of the time Hubby took my nephew on all the rides, including the Gravitron and the Cranium Shaker, after feeding him everything he wanted, only to see it come back up during the singing of the National Anthem.  But I digress…never heard of Frito Pie?  Oh my friend, get a small bag of Fritos, cover with chili (no beans!!!), cheese and onions, and possibly drink a Dr. Pepper with that, and you will have a taste of Texicana (ok, so not a word, but I am going with it). 

 

Have a gut busting week!

'xo M 

All photos by Marci Symington for texaztaste.blogspot.com, with the exception of the last one, which came from www.steamykitchen.com. 

 

Presque Parfait at Presqu'ile

A visit to Santa Barbara wouldn't be complete without a day of wine tasting in the nearby Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys.  Ever eager to try something new, I heard about Presqu'ile Winery last summer from a San Antonio friend who raved about the architecture, ambiance and wine, bien sûr.  Owned by an Arkansas family, Matt and Amanda Murphy, Presqu'ile (pronounced press-keel) began producing wines in 2009.  Varietals include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Rosé de Pinot Noir.  The winery is named for the Mississippi family estate of the same name that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Presqu'ile is a Cajun/French word meaning "almost an island".  Tom Taylor of San Francisco's Taylor Lombardo Architects was the architect, and Carol Puck Erickson of Santa Barbara's Arcadia Studio was the landscape architect.  Neil Korpinen of Montecito's Korpinen-Erickson was one of the designers for the winery and the hospitality center.  Wine maker is a South African by the name of Dieter Cronje.  

The main tasting room

We enjoyed a $15 tasting flight and also managed to bring home a couple of those cool glasses

This hospitality area tells the story of the family plantation and the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina

The patio overlooks the beautiful Santa Maria Valley

A view up to the winery

Enjoy your wine on one of the many patios, or perhaps over a game of bocce or horseshoes

The bottles we purchased were quickly consumed...we need more come to think of it

Presqu'ile Winery and Tasting Room
Tasting Room Hours:  Saturday through Thursday 11 am to 5 pm, Friday 11 am to 6 pm
Tours by Reservation at 11 am and 2 pm

5391 Presqu'ile Drive
Santa Maria, CA  93455
805-937-8110

http://www.presquilewine.com/ 

I would also like to pass on the name of these wine glasses we found while eating dinner at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos last November.  Zalto is made in Austria, and they are perfection, virtually weightless with clean, contemporary lines:

 
 
You can find them on one of my favorite websites, http://www.ahalife.com.

PS  I have no affiliation with any winery/restaurant/hotel about which I write...I just like what I like.

Happy Monday!  It rained so much in the Valley of the Sun last night that streets are flooded and school is canceled.  It's like having a free day!  Off I go to play with the kids.

'xo M