Momma Mia –

Napa Style did it again! Now you can have the same tubular spice experience with the stackable spice as the 12 spice travel spice tube but now a 9 spice assortment for Italian cooking! Yep now you have your choice. Same price as the larger one but only one spice is in the Italian choices that is not in the larger one. I still like this idea because you can make your own mixes too.

Idaho special for rubs and great new creations
Idaho special for rubs and great new creations
The major begining
The major beginning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theses can actually last for a long time if stored in a dark, cool, dry space!  They are so small and fit well in the smallest pantry.  Nice go to on the road and you can replenish them with fresh when back home.

Settlng to enjoy another restful dinner by the stream  Ahhh
A setting to enjoy another restful dinner by the stream at Shaw’s Shady Acres

We were so thankful that our best friends introduced us to the most wonderful Farmer’s market to enhance our traveling kitchen.  The Calistoga Farmers Market  is always waiting for discovery by new friends.  The locals get to enjoy the freshest, most beautiful fish, veggies, flowers, fruits and cooked delicacies ever.    We were ready to create with our Mobile Herbs!

The fresh caught white fish was a delicacy with just a little olive oil, fresh thyme and a sprinkling of salt and pepper done in our simple cast iron pan.  hmmmm so tasty and flakey.  Italian green beans with garlic, butter and olive oil, the local peasant bread and Sauvignon Blanc from Six Sigma made the evening so much more.  Relaxing in the evening with friends and food is what life is all about.

The next evening the local market had organic rib eye steaks on sale!  Smoked Hickory flavored salt rubbed on the sides with a little olive oil, hot cast iron over the outside grill, fresh salad greens with sliced local green apples and goat cheese was mouth-watering!  Add a little Coppola’s table red and you have a meal to enjoy by the stream at the Shaw’s Shady Acres with our stowed treasures to complete the scene.   Traveling to eat and enjoy is a nice carrot to get us out the door!

 

It has been awhile!

The poor little trailer sat sad and forelorn!  Nobody loved her —-  yes we do.  We forgot what great fun she could be!   It is the little 2 day trips that can bring us back to the reason a luxury silver trailer can make you smile.

Our Fall season begins now!  We have worked hard all summer and waited for the quiet of the off season.  This past weekend was a beautiful start.  Serendipity brought us back North.  We are wine members of the Six Sigma Winery.  The Paella event brought us back to Lake County.  This also allowed us to adventure out of our normal campground to a new and interesting place to unwind and relax.

 

Shaw’s Shady Acres!  A blast from the past, the early days of fish camping.  It is situated next to a charming creek, Cache Creek and the Anderson Marsh.  Unfortunately our severe drought has the level quite low.  That being said, the Blue Heron and Kingfishers are still fishing and the sense of calm abounds.  The campground also has year round residents.  There are kayaks, motor boats and one restored, vintage trailer that may soon be a “cabin” for travelers.     This historic resort began its life in the 1950’s and has been open for catfisherman and birders since then.  Its charm is what it can be and what is has innately available to travelers.  Lisa, the mistress of the grounds has great ideas for  making this resort a hub destination opening Clear Lake and Lake County hamlets the exposure they deserve.  It is and area that is not as high end as Napa County but has the rustic and warm charm that small towns of California’s past have.  We wish Lisa luck and fortune.  She is quite accommodating to small groups of vintage trailer buffs to string their trailers covered wagon style too.

We were directed to the Featherbed Railroad Caboose Bed and Breakfast!  Yep there are 9 real cabooses that have been made into creative period retreats!.  It is right across the street from Clear Lake, has lots of shade and trees.  Railroad themed music is piped through to the large outside porch and a train whistle is sounded everyday at noon.  The proprietor, Tony, is a wealth of local knowledge and can direct you to whatever floats your boat.  If we ever traveled without our coach we would love to maybe rest there a night or two.  The main registration area is an old style train station.

The two really bright stars in our short trip were visiting with old, dear friends, a quiet candle light dinner by the creek and stopping for an hour near a little lake off Pope Valley road.  Sitting just watching the birds, listening to the quiet and enjoying the warm breezes remind us . . .  less is often more.

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Happy birds live here at Six Sigma

Happy traveling!

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Lisa, the mistress of Shaw’s Shady Acres. She is a wonderful help to finding fun things to do , or not.
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Paella !! So wonderful with our favorite wines and hosts

The porch to cool off and meet new friends