CORRECTION:

First, I have to set the record straight about my remodel. I realized that the way I wrote it sounded like I was just now starting on this venture when in reality the remodel happened last year from April to October. I just now decided to show you all the progress in photos since that’s what we Senior Influencers do. And I’m hoping Better Homes and Gardens or HGTV Magazine will see how fabulous my space is and tap me for their editorial. I hope you’re not disappointed, but I still intend to share with you the crazy roller coaster that is renovation.

But that will have to wait until next week. This week, I have two stories to tell you about wine.

Red, red wine.

STORY ONE:

After my blog about my folks, which took many of you on a trip down memory lane, my friend Larry decided to host a retro dinner featuring meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and iceberg salad with Green Goddess dressing. As my contribution, I ordered a Tupperware Jello mold and proceeded to make cherry Jello with tiny marshmallows and fruit cocktail. I confess it had been years since I bought fruit cocktail (and I immediately remembered why–who likes those weird wrinkly grapes?) I also confess that tiny marshmallows are my go-to for late night snacking in the pantry so I had some on hand. No judging.

When I got to the dinner, my wonderful friend had also chilled a special bottle of red wine just for me. Light and fruity and just the slightest bit sweet (not like a dessert wine) it was very drinkable. A little too drinkable actually and I had to switch to water after my third glass.

It is called Reuniti Lambrusco, an Italian wine with a little fiz that is best served chilled (according to Larry, who understood my need for that exact thing) and I highly recommend it as a gateway red wine.

Let me also say that the retro dinner was delicious and very fun. Larry is quite the cook.

And he told me he had leftover Jello for breakfast.

STORY TWO:

One of the nine tenets of the Blue Zones is having a group of people you go through life with. For me that is TAPESTRY. This group of seven women have been together for over 20 years (we started as ten, but have lost members over the years–one to moving, one to death and one to Alzheimer’s.) We have shared births, deaths, marriages, grandchildren, crushing heartaches and incredible joys. We meet once a month and have dinner and dessert and wine. We used to do a book study, but over time we’ve gotten lazy and now we just have conversation. That is enough.

So the other night Kathy was opening a bottle of red wine and it proved difficult. It is Meiomi wine and this happened before and we just replaced the stupid bottle with one more user friendly. But the other night we were determined. I have photos of this process.

How many women did it take to open the wine? 3, with one looking on in amusement, one taking pics on her camera, one who hadn’t gotten there yet, and one googling how to open the bottle. So, 7.

We did it wrong.

But, I still have the other bottle. And the pliers.