Summer Evening Concerts at Boordy Vineyards

"Summer days drifting away to, uh oh, those summer nights..."

I love summer nights, probably second only to summer days.  There is something about the long lazy way the sun sets and twilight that seems to last forever in summer.  It's as if the sun doesn't want to say goodbye to us in the summer.  I think it misses us just as much as we missed it, after hiding away all winter.

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend a perfect summer night outside, with friends, drinking wine.  Perfect.  Did I already say that?

It was my first time at Boordy Vineyards in Hydes, MD (north of the city, east of Towson).  It's a nice scenic driving through winding rural roads to get out there and the grounds of the winery itself are pretty picturesque.

One of my best friends organized a girls night out on Saturday so we could attend one of Boordy's outdoor summer concerts.  The winery hosts concerts every Saturday evening throughout the summer from 6:30-9:30pm if you're interested.  Tickets are $20.  You can bring your own snacks and food (but no outside alcohol), and then purchase wine there.  There's a huge lawn to set up blankets/tents/tables and have a picnic!

 

When we got there is was still super sunny and HOT!  We're talking boob sweat, and I barely even have boobs.  Whenever I feel myself start to complain at times like those I just remind myself of the endless, freezing, arctic Winter we had and I'm all good.  Sooooooooo, yes, it was hot...and I loved every minute of it.  And what better way to rehydrate when you are sweating buckets than with wine?  Pretty common runner sense right there. 

 

Boordy had about 15 or more wines available for purchase:

 

A few of the wine varieties for sale



We ended up drinking mostly sweet and white wines.  I'm not a huge wine drinker or lover but I really do not enjoy dry, red wines.  #Italianfail

My favorites tend to be cheap, fruity, bubbly dessert wines.  I mean, lets be real, I enjoy some Arbor Mist.  HAHA

Boordy's Riesling was my favorite from the evening:

 



Also, side note, we had so many good snacks!  Everyone brought something and we ended up with: Olive oil and dipping bread, Veggies, fruit & dip, Chips and salsa, Pita chips and hummus, meat, cheeses and cookies.  YUM!

The band we listened to that night was also really fun.  They were a cover band that played all kinds of popular music from the 50's to now.  Think a wedding type band.  There was also a huge patio if you wanted to dance but we ended up just dancing on the grass. 

Started the night conservatively with 4 bottles

 

Ended the night with 8 (I think??)

 

 

Here are a few more pics from the evening:

 

 

 

Red solo cups.  We're so classy.





It was a great way to spend a summer evening and I hope we are able to do it again before summer's over.  I'd definitely recommend the winery or concert series to anyone in the Baltimore area!

I hope you all had great weather this weekend and enjoyed your summer nights!



What were you up to this weekend?

Have you ever been to a vineyard?

Summer Haiku



 





Sun that never sets

Twinkling sky filled with fireflies

Days that never end

 

 

The heat wraps itself

Like a blanket around me

Summer, I feel you

 

 

Bright ripe fruit so sweet

Peaches, melon, and berries

We waited all year

 

 

I shed my layers

And step outside to run free

Rain, not snow, cools me

 

 

Sand beneath my feet

Waves that crash against my legs

I have missed you, sea

 

 

Driving around town,

Windows down and music up

I am Taylor Swift!

 

 

 



 

Your turn!  Write me a Summer Haiku or two!  (3 line poem that follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern)

Happy Summer weekend to you all!

 

 



Summer Bucket List

"I proclaim this: The Summer of George!"  (<------ via my spirit animal, George Costanza)

Even though summer doesn't officially start until Sunday, it already feels like it's in full swing.  And oddly, every day that goes by makes me a bit sad - I can feel my favorite time of year slipping through my fingers.  It's funny how when we are in the midst of the things we love (spouse, children, pets, vacations, etc) our minds drift to the future thinking just how sad we'll be when they're gone.  Why do we do this?  Or is this only me?

Thoughts of summer are sometimes the only way I can get through winter.  Summer for me means living in color.  As opposed to winter, which often feels like a million different shades of gray.

Soooooooo, to make sure I make the most of this short, beautiful, wonderful season that is now upon us, I wanted to make a bucket list of sorts.  These are my summer 2015 dreams:

• Sand and saltwater.  I want to make it to the beach, any beach this summer.  We don't have any family vacations planned this year, and I don't get any paid time off, which makes taking vacations difficult.  But I NEED to be by the sea at least once during the summer.  It's essential.  Even if it's just a day trip.

• Make s'mores.  (Minus the chocolate obv.)  We did this last year when we were camping and I had forgotten how good real s'mores made over a campfire taste!  Since I don't have any camping trips planned this year, I'm going to have to get creative to make this one happen.

Camping with my niece last year!

• Even out my TAN!  T-shirt/shorts/flip flop tan is in full effect.  That needs to be remedied. 

 

• Ready more library books!  Books, Books, Books, Books.  Oh wait, that's Shots, nvm.  There are so many books on my reading list, and so little time.  But summer is the perfect time for getting lost in a book.  It's like a free vacation.

 

• Hiking.  As much as possible.  I'm hoping to visit some new state parks and sites I have not been to this year.  How can you resist this:



• Visit Luray Caverns in Virginia.  This has been on my to-do list for a few years.  It looks positively magical.  Hoping to plan a weekend trip to VA this summer to explore.

via

• Planning my trip to CALIFORNIA in September!  I can't believe this is happening.  I've been waiting my whole life to visit CA and it's becoming a reality in just 3 months.  One of my best friends from high school is getting married in NorCal and I've decided to make a bucket list trip out of it.  For many reasons, I can only get a week off of work but I'm determined to see at least 2 major cities out there (currently thinking San Diego and San Fran).  I'm hoping to stay in hostels/with friends to save money, and to cap off the week, I'll be meeting up with my sister and another friend from back home and staying in a cabin in The Sea Ranch for the wedding.  I CAN'T WAIT!!  I've been waiting 36 years for this!

• SUP!  I've been wanting to try stand-up paddle boarding for at least a year or two.  There are now a couple locations offering SUP near Baltimore and I want to go! 

• Meet my new nephew before the summer's over.  My sister's due date has come and gone and still no baby.  Here's hoping he arrives before summer ends. (<----TOTALLY KIDDING LAURA!)  In reality, I hope he arrives while I'm home this weekend for Father's Day.  I know my sister's ready!

• Ride a roller coaster.  I haven't been to an amusement park in ages.  I'm hoping to get a day off in July to go with my sisters/nieces/nephews!

• Spend as much time outside as possible.  (<---- A million times this) 

Who needs a boyfriend when you have a love affair with Summer every year?! 


What's on your summer bucket list?

Natural Therapy: Patapsco Valley State Park

I've been craving time in nature lately.  And more than that, I've been feeling like I want to disconnect a bit from everything.  Maybe it's because it's summer and the weather is singing to me like a sea siren, beckoning me to shirk all responsibility and GO OUTSIDE.  And maybe I just need a little break from the constant influx of media and noise.  I'm not going to go all Into the Wild (yet), but a day spent in the woods was just what I needed this weekend.

If you're feeling a bit overstimulated or just have a case of the Mondays, perhaps the photos from my hike at Patapsco Valley State Park (located in Ellicott City, MD) yesterday can bring a little zen to your morning.  Go ahead.  Zone out for a minute.  Heed the call of the wild.  No one's watching :)  Ommm.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh Hiiiiiii!  Carry on.

 

 

Love, eternal

 

 

I made a friend!

 

 

Toes, water, Heaven

 

 

 

 



What were you up to this weekend?

Do you crave more nature/outdoor time in the summer?

Been hiking lately?

MDW in the ATL

I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!  I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend.  I had a great time down in Atlanta, and I'm happy to report the integrity of the surprise was preserved!  My sister had no idea I was in town until she opened her garage door and there I stood :)

I usually make time to visit my sister and her family a few times a year, but somehow I had not been down there since her third child was born last September.  Needless to say, there was much catching up to be done.

I didn't take a ton of photos or spend much time on social media while I was down there and that suited me just fine.  I enjoy the chance to unplug a bit when I'm away and love being able to spend QT with my nieces, nephew, sister and brother-in-law whom I don't get to see nearly enough.

Here are a few highlights from the trip with a few pics I did manage to snap.  Enjoy!

Visited Zoo Atlanta:

 

 

Spent an evening out (sans kids) in Buckhead where we ate at Seasons 52 and listened to some live music at Park Bench:

 

Branzino (fish) flown in straight from Greece! 

 

Twinning!

 

 

Hung out with the cutest kids south of the Mason Dixon:

 

 

No bias.  They are just legitimately adorable :)

 

 

And spent some time at the pool:

 

 

 

In between hanging out with the kiddos, I did manage to fit in some workouts.  My sister (who looks INCREDIBLE btw!) is also very active so we spent a lot of time working out together.  She goes on long walks every evening (which I joined her on) and has started adding some running into the mix as well!  She also lives very close to the Silver Comet Trail so we went biking there twice while I was visiting.  The trail is a great free, well maintained paved path that's 60+ miles long in North Atlanta.  We were out amongst many other bikers, runners, walkers and families and it was great to catch up, chat and enjoy the scenery on our bikes.

 

And in a surprising turn of events, she invited me to participate in her Friday morning yoga class which I actually enjoyed?!  If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know I've tried yoga a handful of times and can just never get into it.  However, my sister takes a class which is taught by a mom privately in her home studio.  On Friday morning, the two of us were the only students in class so we got lots of personal attention.  The instructor told us she combines yoga/Pilates into her practice and I really enjoyed the flow of moves.  I'd love to find someone similar in Baltimore who offers small sessions like this because I feel like I'd learn much better than when I'm in large classes at the gym (and have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing).  It was also much more peaceful being the only ones in class. 

 

It is always wonderful to reconnect with my sister and her family.  I don't get to see them nearly as often as I'd like, so every trip becomes a treasured memory for me.

 

This was my first vacation all year and getting back to the real world Tuesday morning was rough!  Hope you all had a better time of it than I did.  And now it's nearly June?!  I dk what is even happening to 2015.

 

Have a great day!

 

 

How did you spend the holiday weekend?

 

Do you have family that lives far away?  How often do you get to visit?

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how big does my hair look in that restaurant pic?!  Ha