Best Places : Best of the Hills

Best of the Hills

Nov. 2, 2007 - Best Places

Included here in the Best Places category will be such things as restaurants, attractions, etc. If you have a place that's best worthy, don't be shy in letting me know.

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Nov. 6, 2007 - Best Event -Bottle Your Own Wine

Fair Play, CA - Many years ago (at least 8 or 9 anyway), I stumbled across an ad in our local Village Life newspaper about a "Bottle Your Own Wine" event at Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards over Veterans' Day weekend. It was a couple weeks off and sounded so fun. I suggested it to our neighbors and my husband and we all made the decision to go. When the agreed on day came, the excuses started to come up. I refused to let them renege on our commitment, however, and we had such a great time my husband and I have gone ever since.
There are actually three of these events at Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards every year -over Veterans' Day, Presidents' Weekend, and 4th of July. At each one you'll usually have a choice of a white and a red wine that you can bottle yourself for a very reasonable $6-7 per bottle.
When you arrive you are given a tasting class (to keep) for $10 per person; or it is provided free for club members. Not only can you taste the wines available to bottle, but also "future" wines (fine wines that are still in drums waiting for their time to be bottled and released), and other wines they sell. There is always some kind of snack type food there as well. This weekend it happens to be soups and fresh breads. In the colder months there are patio heaters placed around to keep you cozy while you mingle and taste.
Once you've done enough tasting and made your decisions, you can begin your bottling. You can bring your own clean, recycled wine bottles to fill, or buy them there for an additional 85¢ each. Now that you have your bottles, you proceed through stations to fill them, cork them, seal the tops with a capsule, and label them.
Though we don't get to every one of the events, we go as often as possible, always dragging along whoever will go with us. And it's always a great time for everyone. It takes about 45 minutes to get there from El Dorado Hills, but the drive is beautiful and the experience is definitely worth the effort. It's a leisurely day thing so plan to be there 2-3 hours. If you make it there, let me know what you think.
This Veterans' Day event runs November 9, 10, 11, & 12 and is open 10:30-5pm daily, The winery is located at 8221 Stoney Creek Road, Fair Play, 95684. For more information go to their website at www.charlesbmitchell.com or call 800-704-WINE.

Nov. 2, 2007 - Best Place to Proclaim Your Joys & Sorrows- The Rocks

El Dorado Hills, CA - If you're heading north on El Dorado Hills Blvd and happen to see two big rocks off to your right with graffiti on them, you've come across an El Dorado Hills icon. There is quite a story behind them that began in the spring of 1999 when my son was playing baseball at Oak Ridge High School. While poking a little fun at our JV coach at the time, a couple of the players, I'll not name, decided to mimic a phrase the coach often used. In the middle of the night, with flashlights and paint in hand, they trekked up a big hill, to a huge rock that was originally located down the Boulevard and across the street where now stand apartments; and wrote their message. As it was definitely not easy to get to, the rock stayed that way for quite a while. Evenutally, others would make the trek up the hill and the message would change from time to time. The rock began to be a voice for residents and sometimes opposing sports teams. When the construction was to begin on the apartments, a teacher at one of our local schools saw it's value and did what it took to get that huge rock moved to its present location. Now being easier to get to, messages on it changed much more frequently; sometimes a couple times a day. In September of 2000, after 9-11 happened, an unknown artist painted the United States flag on the rock in honor of the victims. Time stood still for the rock for weeks as no one wanted to be the one to paint over our flag. Again, the concern for a place to voice came up, and again the problem was solved by bringing in another huge rock, not easily I can imagine. Eventually, the flag on the original rock was painted over. Now sit the two huge rocks, always with some kind of message. Sometimes it's a birthday message and sometimes it's a sad good-bye. There's even been a replica of Iwo Jima painted on it by a dear friend of mine. Regardless, every time I drive by, I can't help looking at them to see what's there, as you never know.

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Welcome to my weblog! The Hills I refer to here are the foothills east of the Sacramento Valley. My inspiration for this blog came as a result of my Real Estate profession where touring homes and knowing the inventory are some of the best parts of my job. Though my predominant intention here is to tell you about the homes for sale that have wow’d me, I also want to include what I consider to be among “other bests” of living in this wonderful area. You can search by categories, by clicking on the links below, or click on a tag word under one of my postings for more blogs about that subject. The prices shown on each blog is as of the date written. I'll try and update them when time allows. Please keep in mind that sometimes the pictures don't do a home justice, but they are what the listing agent has submitted to the MLS and what I have to work with. For more pictures or information on any of these postings or for help in locating similar homes available in our area, please contact me by clicking on the “Email Me” link below. Be sure and check out My Favorite Links for more helpful sites. Blog postings with * following the name indicate that the home has been sold and is no longer available.