Ramblings....: Turning Termites into Temecula...

We got notice that we had to be out of our condo for almost 3 days and 2 nights for termite tenting. Let's start off by saying F YOU to our HOA. Thanks for that you dicks. Talk about an enormous pain in the ass. We got no stipend. No nothing. Just get out and figure it out yourselves. So we had to house Luna (Thank you mom for kitty sitting) and bring Poe along with us wherever we went. Oh and we had to bag up ALL OF OUR FOOD EVERYWHERE. It was such a pain you guys. We took some stuff to my moms. Had to move all my plants. Bagged up everything with their special bags and just had to hand over the key and be like "bye!"

It was so weird.

It was also weird to return to our condo knowing it had been just chilling in poisonous gas for 2 days. Like. Its cool. Ok. Your clothes and stuff is fine. So...I guess we're good? It felt super apocalyptic too, cuz all our neighbors were all coming home around the same time Wed afternoon with luggage kinda going "WTF", like we were. Then the unpacking and unbagging and moving stuff and it was like 90 degrees. So that was just awesome. There better be no goddamn termites. So to our HOA (who also mind you just sucks in general with so many other things) -

Ok...on to the Pat and Jami making lemonade out of lemons - or better yet - WINE. We recently joined the Europa Village Wine club so we thought - hey - let's just stay there when we pick up our wine! OK!!!

As much as I love Europa - they don't let pups stay overnight so we found a winery that does. Carter Estate Winery! Woot! We booked a bungalow and set it up.

We headed out Monday morning after breakfast in the Circle and hit our 1st stop which was our favorite and our wine club - Europa. They also are one of the few tasting rooms that open earlier than 11am. They welcomed Poe inside too!

Poe's 1st winery

Members Only

1st tasting of the trip!

Next up was a little snack at Oak Mountain. We wine tasted here last time and loved it. Knew the outside took pups so we headed there. Sadly the patio experience was not as fun as the wine tasting we did last time, I think the server was new...or just confused...but anyway...had an ok charcuterie board and fun tower wine tasting. Oh and it was also sprinkling! LOL! Last day of July and it rained! (Quite the downpour for a few min when were were inside Europa)

Tower of tasting

We then decided to see if we could check in early at Carter and we could!! Yay! This place is rad. Huge rooms. Gorgeous views. My biggest complaint is do NOT let them put you by the pool. We had the room right next door and that evening was met with screaming children until 10pm and weird convo in the jacuzzi right next to our patio Tue nite - so that kinda sucked. But I'd love to go back and stay in a different room because otherwise everything else was rad!

Poe is ready

Poe got a goody bag too!

We got wine. Yaaaas!

Assed out already

Walks around the vines

In my element

That night we had dinner at Oscars Brewing where pups were allowed on the patio and what a patio it was! Really pretty view of a little park with a lake! Food wasn't bad either.

We then walked around the little lake (Because there was also a geocache!) and I'm glad we did because it was really pretty and also I think the teenage makeout spot - so that made for some giggles. There's also a very touching memorial.

So many black ducks!

My one and only geocache for the trip - can you see me holding it to the upper left?

Patiently waiting for mom to geocache

Tuesday morning we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise. Our bodies never let us sleep in anymore, but it pays off sometimes. I enjoyed my coffee watching the sun come up. I went in for a refill and Pat starts yelling - get back out here!!! There were hot air balloons taking off right in front of us! It was so rad!

Poe and I enjoying the sunrise

Can I start every day like this please?

So rad!

This was followed by a walk around the property and vines before it got hot.

More balloons

Walkin around

Back to Europa since they open at 10!

We love Europa!

Next up was Baily Winery who also allowed dogs inside! Yay! We had a lovely visit with the wine guy and did a couple of tastings. He mentioned a Sip Pass which we plan to purchase. Look into that friends! A really great deal for weekday wine trips.

Lunch on the move

Found the Shakespeare in the Vines location! Guess it's at Baily!

Baily tasting

Poe liked the cool winery floors

Bought a Cab

We figured we'd hit up the sister winery to Carter for lunch - South Coast Winery. I'd been to this one years ago. Really dig the grounds. Food was delish!

Mango Mimosas!

Back to Carter to chill. I hit the pool for a bit.

We then decided to try the Carter Estate Tasting room. Yet another that allowed Poe inside! Yay! I wanted to get a souvenir here since we stayed here. They had plastic champagne glasses to purchase so I told the fella to add that on, well he gave me glass one's for free! That was a lovely surprise.

Poe is getting used to this winery biz

Love these towers!

For dinner the Baily guy had said the sunsets at Akash were amazing and they apparently were having a Taco Tuesday truck - so off we went. The grounds were awesome. And the guy was right - killer sunset. Tacos were ok. It was a bit crowded for our taste, but that may be due to Taco Tuesday - or the fact that it really was a great place to just hang and look at the view. Reminded us more of a brewery feel. Many little photo shoots (Influencers, etc) happening which made for great people watching. It was the perfect end to our trip. Just beautiful!