My true sister is great, but I think Ashley and Kathleen are my sisters separated at birth. They hail from Baltimore, where my mom is from, so it’s quite possible!
They are visiting Cville for a weekend trip with their husbands and whisked me away on a wine tasting adventure this afternoon!
Our first stop was the beautiful Keswick Vineyards where winemaker Stephen led us through a delicious tasting. I first had Keswick when I participated in the Jefferson Vineyards blind tasting in November and it came out to be one of the best of show!
We tasted their flight
I really couldn’t pick a favorite but if you made me it would be the 2009 Signature Series Viognier – which was like COCONUT and pineapple (I believe Stephen mentioned “coconut butter”!!) and will be released on August 13.
Fun times!
Our next stop was the newly opened Castle Hill Cidery. Coincidentally the same venue where Dallas and Amy had there wedding a few weeks ago!!
We were greeted by a few chirping chicks in the most fabulous nest in town!
The ciders were great – yeasty, cheesey and a bit appley. Such a nice change from wine, and definitely worth a visit to taste!!
Including the beautiful scenery!
Our afternoon ended up back at our place where Matt met us for a beer tasting. Kathleen’s husband, Pete, is quite the homebrewer so the boys had fun comparing flavors.
I put out some OpenSky inspired snacks for the table: Danielle’s carrots (which the girls loved!!), granola and pretzels
My favorite of the night was the PUMPKIN tasting!! There is such a fall smell in the air – I am almost excited for the season to begin! Pumpkin beer, cool weather, no mosquitoes, and someone’s smoky stove wafting my way
We tasted a handful of beers – I tried to stick with small sips!
We sent our visitors on their way and Matt went straight up to bed. He’s exhausted and is baking sweets tomorrow due to 2 vacation days. I’m hoping to work the whole day to hopefully let him go home and nap and rest.
I stayed up and had a small dinner. It was one of those “I need something nourishing” moments.
Garden greens, sweet potato, egg and blue d’auvergne. LOVE!
Tea
And So You Think You Can Dance. I am happiest when this show is on!!
Headed to bed myself. This is the week that keeps on going. Tomorrow is work all day and we have another exciting event tomorrow night (and another on Sunday night!!!) Fun times.
Nite!
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
Sweet potatoes, greens, and eggs used to be my favorite meal combo! Until I found out I was allergic to egg whites, of course
What a sad, sad, day
Really?! I never heard of that – you mean just the whites and not even the yolks?
You guys are so busy Kath! Love it.
I had a friend who is allergic to egg whites. He has to be so careful, there are eggs in everything! Even in some ice creams!
Yeah! But luckily my allergy isnt too extreme, so I can have it in tiny quantities. But I definitely feel your friend’s pain!
YES ISNT THAT RIDICULOUS!? Just the whites, not the yolks!
Who wants to eat only the yolks anyway? haha
Um…I’ll eat just the yolks…;) I love them.
I’ve never actually tried that
Thanks for giving me a new kitchen objective for the day
ACK, I’m the opposite – I can only have the whites and am allergic to the yolks! Which SUCKS, because the yolks are so good for you, and are delicious
I can’t tell you how much I miss omellettes 
izzyy
Now I see why you played hooky today!! There are several blondies leftover ALL for you!
That looks just like the dinner I make practically every night. Since I only cook for myself, nuked sweet potatoes and eggs come in handy more nights than not! Fun fun friday!
You guys really could be sisters! You look alike! Sounds like such a fun day!
There was a nice chill in the air in Asheville today too and it got me all kinds of prematurely excited for fall, my favorite season!
They DO look like they could be your sisters!!! Oh the fun you all must have had!
Great! ….Supper looks wonderful too!
Oh my god you three are TRIPLETS. That Cidery is absolutely beautiful. It makes me want to have MY wedding there!
looks like a fun day
you all really do look alike haha!
Just reading about your life makes me exhausted! Haha. I don’t know how you do it all!
That dinner looks fantastic and I love the beautiful scenes from this afternoon – we had a beautiful day as well (and I even got to see a few chirping chicks myself!)
Looks like a fun day!
Looks like a fun day, and a great way to start the weekend!
Looks like a fun evening! Have a great weekend.
What a fun day! You ladies really could be sisters…you like so alike!
You really do look like sisters!
Thank you so much for mentioning Castle Hill! We’re going to Keswick tomorrow morning for wine tasting, and I’ve added Castle Hill to the agenda.
Can’t wait!
“the 2009 Signature Series Viognier – which was like COCONUT and pineapple (I believe Stephen mentioned “coconut butter”!!) and will be released on August 13. “—
PLEASE keep me/us posted. That sounds heavenly and like it would be worth it to have it shipped out to CA! WOW!!!!
The 3 of you DO look like sisters. You resemble each other and clearly are having a blast together.
Have a great day tomorrow…sounds like you’re going to be BUSY!
Like everyone else said – you guys DO look alike!
Lucky ladies with the home brewer and the wine tasting. Mmmmm!
You guys DO look like sisters, lol! What a fine evening you had. Hope you have a nice rest sounds like you will be all go go tomorrow!
You guys do look a bit alike! Looks like a very fun day!
I’ll help tomorrow as long as I can! You know me tell me jump I ask how hi!
Quite the resemblance between you three, and even your hair styles
The building at the Castle Hill Cidery is so nice!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Yup, you guys could definitely pass for sisters!
Your dinner looks quite tasty. I like busy bowls.
You do look like sister! Did you mum have some romantic nights she’s keeping secret?
That sounds like it was almost the perfect day. You and those girls could totally be sisters just based off of appearance. The ciders sounded great, wish I could have a taste too. I have to say that sweet potatoes and eggs are one of my fave meal combos so your salad looks perfect to me.
you do look like sisters! glad you had a fun day.
I am totally making that for dinner tomorrow! I have all the ingredients
“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves”
You could be distant cousins! You do look alike!
You look like sisters!
What a fun afternoon! You could definitely pass as sisters!
You guys don’t really look alike, but you all share almost the exact same hair colour. Creepy!
I love SP + greens + egg together!
Gorgeous photos! I LOVE your bowl of nourishment- I do that all the time!
Are you all natural blondes?
I am!
Highlights for this girl
It’s amazing how similar you three look! Beautiful!
A hint of coconut and pineapple in wine? I’m sold. Do you know if they have an online store?
I do think they ship. YOu might have to call the vineyard that day
Y’all totally look like sisters!!
Wholesome foods is what keeps me sane and going– often it’s the trick when feeling lousy
You guys really could pass for sisters!!!! Your mom has some explaining to.do!
Oh man, I can’t wait for fall and pumpkin EVERYTHING. Also wine + beer tasting? You live the life!
What a fun time!!
Had such a great time with you, Kath!! It was awesome to meet you and Matt in person and the bakery looks fantastic! Let me know when you come to visit your grandma again.
Kath, did you dance growing up? or do you just love watching people dance? My answer is Yes to both & I always love when others can appreciate good performers/performances!
I danced for 10 years!
Hi! Where did you find those beer tasting glasses! I think I am in love and my husband would be more so! Love your blog.
Matt collects them at breweries and stuff. I think they are from Carolina Brewing in Charlotte
Ashley and I went to high school together and I always have thought you resembled her. I’m catching up on blogs today and there she is on your page! You do indeed resemble one another. Fun stuff!
Fun!!