Location, location, location

Indeed, location makes a difference. Last year the Colt convention was held in Houston and the hotel was not very good and was located in a poor area of the city right after the hurricane. They did not even try to add more help with all the added people to serve so needless to say....there was no service and only one little restaurant and bar......this year....................JACKPOT!!

The convention was held in Concord, N.C. at the Embassy suites and it was not only beautiful Glass elevator to the rooms that circled the atrium

or the winding stairs if you preferred but very accommodating with a complimentary breakfast, held behind the stairs and not just donuts but a full breakfast but also a nightly complementary two drinks popcorn/nuts managers reception. It needs to be repeated.....there is nothing like southern hospitality. The service was impeccable and they even made it possible to order a box lunch from the convention area and have it delivered so you didn't have to leave your table.....but the best part of all? The rooms...two bedroom suite with the best bed and pillows you could ask for. What a concept huh? So many times we can't wait to get back home to our own bed/pillow because the hotels are so uncomfortable. Well, needless to say, I shall consider staying at Embassy Suites again in the future.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Colt Conventions, they are held once a year the first week-end of Oct. at a different location in the USA each year. Only colt and colt products are displayed and sold at this show and there are some very unusual, high dollar items to be found here. There are many gun shows around the country but this is one I try not to miss because you see.....there is also a focus for the women. Every year they ask that you bring an item for the baskets they raffle and with the proceeds they pay for a woman's breakfast. They also build a special woman's gun and raffle it each year and the proceeds for that goes to youth organizations that help children to learn proper gun handling and etc. There are also special tours available that you pay to go on and I have to say that I have never been disappointed even when I thought I might...like this year. The tour I was able to go on was a wine tour and I have already been to many different wineries so figured it would be a little disappointing.....wrong! This was not just any old winery, it was the most beautiful place I have ever been. I truly believe it would be the same as what you would see in Italy. Even the behind the scenes had pieces of art and statues that just took your breath. Here are a few pictures snapped in the women's bathroom!

Can you see me?

The Richard Childress Vineyard (that name ought to ring a bell to NASCAR fans) encompasses 30 acres and it was harvest time. Pictures just don't do it justice but I tried....

The entrance and notice the hanging lamps on each side?

Up close and don't you love the flagstone?

Notice how they had decorated for fall

A spot in the atrium

After the behind the scenes tour we had a scrumptious lunch on this deck overlooking the vineyards

and then it was wine tasting time:) I didn't find anything I couldn't live without here but did find a few treasures in the gift shop like this pretty little serving dish and another cookbook!!!!! Oh, this one is different, everything is cooked with beer:)

Well, it was a great trip and we did good at the show this year, didn't need an extra suitcase to bring home the money but didn't have to hock one either.

Next year the convention is going to be held in Tulsa, Okla. and they have asked me to speak on my book at the women's breakfast; I consider that an honor.