JPPENS

  Since my book LOUD SECRETS A MEMOIR has been released I have had many folks contact me. Some generously shared their personal stories of triumph and life on the struggle bus. Some have asked me varying questions about wine and all the hoopla that goes with choosing one over another down to nitrites and what temperature should it be served at or how do I store an open bottle. Some have asked me about writing and how I got to where I now am. I have had fun with creating and building my blog and my viewer numbers continue to climb. I have never done any of my writing to purposely make money and refuse to do so with my blog so I will not allow any ads to enter my space. I write because I enjoy putting in print what I feel and see. To pass my mental images onto others in essay form, story form or through a simple sketch is what it is about for me. My blog allows me to just enjoy writing! I have been asked by many if I am writing another book. I have a few partial manuscripts on my bo...

                                  of 2024 Do I believe  or Do I hope When I believe I know through truth based on facts, science, data and evidence, not rumors or aspirations. When I hope I have an abyss of wanting. Do I believe that the political year will be different; I hope. Do I believe that mother earth will be kinder in her take back of her planet; I hope. Do I believe that selfish egotistic power hungry leaders in our world will be defeated at the polls; I hope. Do I believe that mentally anguished people will be housed, cared for and treated; I hope. Do I believe that automatic rifles will be locked up, not sold and unavailable to citizens; I hope. Do I believe that immigrants fearing for life and safety of their families can find refuge at the worlds  boarders; I hope. Do I believe that addictions can be helped; I hope. Do I believe that democracy is in peril; I do. Do I believe that...

 PRIDE MONTH is the time for me to answer so many folks who have asked, why is it so important for gay people to come out.  The first time I was asked that I found myself almost lost for words. In that brief moment I felt anger, confusion, hurt and wonder at why someone would have to even ask that! As the LGBT+ community once again comes under hateful attacks in this country, I am thrown back into the  60's and 70's when I was just a young girl trying to find my place in a society that kept telling me I was sick, disgusting and going to hell.  We all need to not just talk about ending the hate and the lies but we need to fight to turn this ugly tide. I will speak for myself and others who cannot...  We will not go away. We will not be going back into closets to live our lives. We will be vocal. We will raise awareness. We will call on those who know and love us to come out and support us. We will fight for equality and our right to be who we are without shame or...

Adult lives are filled with work, kids and their lives, adult plans, family, grocery shopping, cooking, worries, gatherings, date nights, bedtimes, appointments, alarm clocks and the list goes on... It seemed there was always a struggle to find the time... until the loss of people we treasured stopped our regular hurried routines; took our breath away, at least until we could find that place to store our grief and then attempt to move back into our hectic lives.  That loss, that memory of that person who filled our hearts has always, I believe, left a shadow over our hearts.  Heart shadows have no limits, no magic number, there is always room for more it seems still leaving room for beats.  The other day I was pumping gas and the fueling station had music playing outside over the bays of vehicles; a familiar song came on that stopped my hand squeeze on the hose nozzle. The immediate visual memory of that dear person who had passed was as palpable as if I had just learned ...

Warmer days are coming and with it comes the call for some new found "refreshing" sipping beverage and the marketing world has blasted ahead to meet that call. The domestic wine industry (winemakers in this country) are attempting to compete with the huge beverage business and are working to keep themselves in the game.  Hard teas, seltzers, beers, wines and spirits are being packaged in just about anything that will hold and protect the liquid! Mini squeezables (frozen slushies), slim cans and short boxes that can easily be placed in coolers or over ice are taking over the packaging world.  They make it easy to "pack in and pack out" and most are lower in alcohol (except Spirits) so they can be easily enjoyed for hours on summer outings.    The beverage market has always been extremely competitive within their ranks and the marketing venues have managed to confuse and mislead many consumers as the shelves are flushed with brightly colored and bold font beverage hol...

  Most of us in this country... pay our taxes work hard are good neighbors realize the power of our Democracy have never been investigated have never needed to be investigated sincerely care about others treasure our integrity respect each other are not afraid of our own thinking are not fearful of the truth don't have a team of lawyers don't lie their way into power don't ask for "loyalty" don't make promises we don't intend to keep don't rely on "hush" money to look good don't steal what we don't earn So how come "most of us" can't turn this mess around? "Most of us" would never elect a person like this to anything much less as a leader of this Country When "most of us" remain quiet people like this continue to fill our air I still believe that "most of us" are good honest people in the USA and our Democracy is dependent on "most of us".

 unless it is a ROSE-AY!!!! I know the Northeast is still in deep winter mode so keep enjoying those rich deep red wines but here in the Southeast Spring has sprung and that means it is time to begin to think about those chilled, fruity, crisp, dry and refreshing light red or dark pink wines to sip through the coming warm days. Because these wines are made from red grapes they tend to be more fruity and light because they only sit with the grape skins for a few hours instead of many days. The most common grapes used are grenache, pinot noir, syrah and sangiovese but others can be used as well.  These grapes most often make dry wines while White Zinfandel that is made with red zinfandel grapes tends to be sweeter. Rose wines can go the full spectrum from very very sweet to absolutely bone dry.  The style of wine and the winemaker who makes it determines the place on the spectrum.  For sure Rose wines have become much more popular. Just check out the "Rose" section at ...