Research & Fun - Part Two: More Fun than Research in Paso Robles Wine Country

On the second day of my trip up north, I met with Shawn, who does some research for several of his own projects. We stayed at the Adelaide Inn in Paso Robles, which has become one of my "homes from home" during my jaunts in the Central Coast of the California wine country.

 

As you can see, the motel was already decked out for Halloween!




























Once Shawn arrived, we took off for a reception at one of the wineries for members of the wine club he belongs to. I had the honor and pleasure of being the invited guest. On the way there, we visited another winery. Here are a few pictures of the Pear Valley Winery and the Chronic Cellars in Paso Robles.

Now, don't you get the wrong idea! It may not look that way, but this was by no means pure entertainment. After all, in order to write intelligently in an article or a book about wine, you have to be able to taste and investigate it. Okay? Never mind.

 Enough research. The wines were anywhere from decent to excellent. Mission accomplished.

In the evening, dinner in Paso Robles.

One of these four gentlemen I came across in Paso Robles must have imbibed so much that he forgot to put on his appropriate shirt. He was, in fact, Drunk 3.

My pal Shawn wrote his own blog post about this day and has a bunch of fun pictures as well.
Attention: DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING HE SAYS ABOUT ME THOUGH!

https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-central-coast-with-christa-2017.html

To be continued.

Research & Fun - Part One: The Monastery of the Risen Christ

My friend Shawn and I recently met in Paso Robles in the Central Coast area to do research--Shawn for some articles he writes as a freelance journalist and I for my novel series The Wine Lover's Daughter. I'm working on book three of the series, called Fire in the Vineyard. I came up with the title long before the devastating fires in Napa Valley and I certainly don't think I'm psychic, but now, the title sounds almost ominous.

Anyway, we decided to pool our resources, do some "work" and have some fun at the same time. The first day of the trip, I was on my own. I drove up from the Los Angeles area to Paso Robles and made a stop in San Luis Obispo. One of the characters in my novels is associated with a Benedictine monastery in the Piedmont in Italy as well as in the San Luis Obispo area. To get a feeling for the place and the environment, I visited the Benedictine Monastery of the Risen Christ. It's a lovely place, simple and unassuming, high up on a hill with a gorgeous view of the valley and the surrounding hills and mountains in the background. Here are a few pictures.

 The main building open to the public with a chapel and small library

The inside of the chapel

So peaceful and quiet up here. Makes you want to just hang out.

Gorgeous view of the back country of San Luis Obispo

At the bottom of the hill, there is a meditation labyrinth made of stones where you can walk through the 14 Stations of the Cross or just sit on the bench and enjoy the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere.

There are different events at the monastery for the public to attend. You can also stay there overnight and get a feeling for the life in a monastery or just take a few days off from your busy life. Very tempting!

Here is the link to the monastery: http://monasteryrisenchrist.com/

After visiting the monastery, I drove the rest of the way to Paso Robles, the wine country, for another kind of "spirit." After all it does say somewhere: In Vino Veritas!

To be continued.

Letter from a farm kid

Great blog post!

"Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well. I hope you are too.

Tell Walt and Elmer that the U.S. Army beats working for old man Doggett by a mile. They oughta join up quick before all of the places are taken...."

Read more: