My Saturday Adventure.....

Hi Friends! What a wonderful day!  Pull up a chair and let me tell you about it.

I got up with every intention of making an early morning visit to the Farmer's Market and then maybe venturing over to a neighboring town for Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days and then maybe a trip to Shreveport for a day of shopping and dinner out somewhere.  It was my husband's weekend to plan what he wanted to do and as long as we were hanging together, that was okay with me.  I had no idea what lay in store for me today.....

We got up and dressed and out of the house early and my husband decided to that we should fill the car up before we hit the Farmer's Market.  I thought it was a bit odd; but, I went along with the flow as he headed toward Wal-Mart. 

When we got into the parking lot, he was talking about my birthday present that he had ordered and that he hoped I would be okay with getting it early and then he pulled into a parking space at the edge of the parking lot.  I told him that it was fine to get it early as I was fully expecting a new lens for the camera.....and then he said.....Happy Birthday......this is your present.  What??  Wal-Mart is my present?  I looked around and still didn't "get it".  He said....."the Winery tour is your present".  At that point, I noticed the Tour Bus.  He had booked us for a day trip with a local group to visit two vineyards and wineries!!  What a great surprise!  We saw a flyer last weekend about it and I mentioned what a cool present that would be....not expecting AT ALL that he would book us on that trip.  Neither of us had ever done anything like this before! 

Mayo Tours from West Monroe, Louisiana provided a brand new bus for our "daycation".  What a great way to travel!

Here I am chatting with our tour bus driver for the day.  He was such a nice man and a very good driver.  We were in good hands with him! 

As we got on our way in our nice comfy bus, our host and hostess for the day, Hugh and  Carol treated us to some yummy Daylight Doughnuts and Mimosas.  I could get very used to traveling like this! 

Our first stop of the day was Enoch's Stomp Vineyard and Winery located in the piney woods of East Texas.  What a beautiful place!  Take a look......

Amazing huh?  These pictures truly do not do this place justice.  It's pure serenity out there!  We enjoyed walking around and enjoying the views and taking pictures of the scenery.....and then there were the grapes.  Look at these beauties.....

After walking around for awhile and taking in the beauty of this place, we went inside the Lodge to look around, cool off (It was really hot today!!) and prepare for lunch and our wine tasting.  The Lodge is a beautiful compliment to this property.   Some couples choose this place for their wedding and I can see why.

The Lodge is available to rent for overnight stays too and I must say, the accommodations are luxurious.  Who wouldn't want to stay in such a beautiful place?

The kitchen was a flurry of activity as they prepared for lunch.  Wait until you see what's on the menu!

I am having a blast.  Can you tell?

As the staff of Enoch's finished the preparations for our lunch and wine tasting, the views through the french doors beckoned us out to the wrap around porches.

Oh yeah...still having fun!

So we all find our way back inside for lunch and our wine tasting.  Take a look at the menu.....

I'm sorry but we had so much fun with the group at the table that we didn't have time for photos of the actual food.  Trust me, it was fabulous!  And the wine.....

There were some that I preferred over others; but there was not one served that I didn't enjoy.

After lunch, we were taken over to the winery for a tour of how the wine is made.  Here are few photos of the technical part...

   

And we couldn't leave this wonderful tour without a few of our favorites to remember the occasion...

When the grapes are ready to be harvested at the end of the summer, you can actually go to the Vineyard and participate in the stomp....Just like Lucy!

After our tour of Enoch's Stomp, we loaded back up on the bus for the next part of the tour.  Our next destination was back to West Monroe, Louisiana where we visited Jeff and Libby Landry at Landry Vineyards.  What a beautiful place right in our backyard!  Jeff and Libby moved up to North Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and have built a wonderful family business with their four children.  We toured the vineyards with their son, Noah, tasted their wines and learned about each one from Jeff and had a wonderful Jambalaya dinner prepared by Libby.  It was the perfect way to end the tour.  Here are some highlights from Landry Vineyards.....

I loved this sign!

And of course, we couldn't leave without a few of our favorites......

Thank you for joining me on the tour of my day.  I honestly cannot remember when I have enjoyed a day like I did this one.  I spent the day with my very best friend doing something that I've never done, seeing things that I've never seen and meeting new friends.  What could be better than that?  I hope your Saturday was everything that you hoped it would be plus more.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  They go by way too fast around here.  Candace~♥