Thursday's Post for Friday

I was conspicuously absent on Thursday and a good portion of today. That was because I took my father and my fiance on a trip to Apple Hill, in the foothill country of Fornicalia above the Sacratomato Valley. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Apple Hill and its ranches.

Apple Hill lies at about the 3,500 foot level and consists of a number of farms and ranches that produce apples, pears, wines and, oddly enough, one really good beer. I'll get to that in a moment.

I took Thursday off and picked up Dad. We drove his Maxima up Highway 50 to the Camino offramp and so began our Apple Hill journey. First stop: High Hill Ranch.

We took in the various crafts booths; I purchased a fabulous print from Robert Foster, and Dad and my fiance consumed some apple pie a-la-mode. Smiles abounded. I purchased the print "Bearspective" and had it signed by the artist. Check out his site -- fabulous artwork!

They took in some wine tasting at the Lava Cap Winery vineyard, and we drove to the Jack Russell Brewery where I purchased two packs of dog brew and a dimple mug.

We concluded the day with three orders of ribs at Poor Reds in El Dorado County. Poor Reds pours more Galliano than anywhere in the continental United States -- and they are proud of that fact, via their Golden Cadillacs drinks.

When you enter the bar, the light hurts the eyes of those at the bar and you must soothe their savage souls. Buying a drink or two usually massages sufficiently -- as long as you buy yourself a Golden Cadillac as well -- which arrives in the form of a wide martini glass and another backup glass as well. It's as though you've ordered a massive milkshake and acquired the metal mixing glass. You couldn't be more fortunate.

Folks: don't do this at home. Only Poor Reds mixes Golden Cadillacs like this.

If you're lucky you've arrived sufficiently early for dinner. If you're after 6 PM you're hosed. You must wade three-deep to the bar for help. And you must fight for the ribs that fall off the rack and the baked potato and the salad with your choice of dressings -- in a dimly-lighted area insufficient for most nominal bathrooms.

But that's the way it is at Poor Reds.

Today Chris and I mixed and poured more concrete for the vertical posts.

I already took my Ibuprofen. I'll be taking some in an hour or so.

I checked out "Gridiron Gang" last night with my fiance and was impressed. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a remarkably versatile actor. And quite impressive.

BZ