Welcome to Second Ferment! Wine pairs well with life ... and food, travel, people, work and play. Grab a glass and join me as I explore the wine scene in Ottawa, Canada, and beyond. Love hearing from my readers, so please leave a comment. Cheers! - Bethany

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Mothering

May was a long month. I ain't gonna lie.

Just in case you were wondering where I've been ... Hubby was in New York for a marathon session at the UN. From the end of April until just last weekend. A month. Me and the kiddies. Single Mom Detail™ of epic proportions.




It's not like it was a complete nightmare or anything, nor did it result in me losing my mind. But it was hard work. And single moms of the world will tell you that: some (most) days, it's a lot of hard work.

Somehow I kept the girls on schedule and kept the house from falling apart. By the third week, settled into a decent groove of our own making, the three of us were able to look at each other and say, "Hey! We're doin' alright!" High-fives all around. And they're both still running up and giving me hugs and saying how much they love me, so I must have been doing something right.

Which is what made Mother's Day extra-special this year. I hadn't thought of going anywhere, and wasn't expecting anything more than the annual (super-adorable) hand-made cards from the girls. (I did get a gorgeous pink-and-purple bouquet from Hubby that ended up lasting two full weeks - love that guy!!)

Then I got an email from Savvy Company about a "Bubbles and Brunch" 'do at the Marriott (yes, the same one with the revolving room) and thought, Why the hell not??

It ended up being practically perfect in every way, to quote the ever-wise Mary Poppins. The children, lovely in their Sunday best, delighted in the vast quantities of whatever-they-wanted-to-eat, accompanied by a ROOM THAT SPINS! MOM! DID YOU SEE THIS?? THE ROOM! IS SPINNING! The FLOOR is MOVING!!!

We ate, I drank (entire flights of white and red, with bubbles, and dessert wine ... yes, THAT is how brunch is DONE.) We laughed, we squealed excitedly when the resident peregrine falcon swooped by our window, we told stories and funny jokes, we cuddled and hugged.

"Mom, you're the BEST," my Doodle loudly proclaimed, and her sister agreed. I was glowing with pride. And we sat back and enjoyed the ride as the room - and the whole world, it seemed - kept right on spinning.

***
Highlights:

Sue-Anne Staff 2011 Sparkling and Sassy Riesling - Slightly off-dry, just the way I like my bubbles. Still a pronounced blend of yeasty/brioche notes coming through, but a light body, fine mousse and zesty fruit following through.

Devil's Wishbone 2013 Pinot Grigio Rosé - A surprising blush done in the vin gris style that was dry, mineral-driven, and crisp on the palate.

Ridgepoint 2010 Cabernet-Merlot-Aglianico - It's the latter grape that gives this wine its heft and muscle. Gorgeous red fruit and meaty tannins, but nicely balanced, without the flavours and textures overpowering each other.

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