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Like a kid at Christmas, I couldn’t wait to visit Guglielmo Winery’s 28th annual Holiday Faire which runs for three weeks every December. A dizzying array of wine and holiday themed gift items is paired with a special section devoted to wine and food tasting. Platters of prosciutto, salami, pate and a variety cheeses lined long tables. A chafing dish contained warmed bagna cauda, an Italian dipping sauce with intense flavors of garlic and anchovy.

I can’t believe it’s taken me 60 years to learn about WubbaNubs and Baby Einstein, things that are among my most valued possessions now.

When my daughter was very young and the first drops of rain began to fall, she would scramble for her rain boots and slicker, and run out the door. Most of us view a rainy day as time to hunker down, but Vanessa knew it was a perfect occasion to play outdoors. Count on the wisdom of youth to turn a rainy day into an opportunity for adventure.

With our 5-year-old granddaughter in tow, we recently visited Casa de Fruta, an eclectic experience that combines fun for both adults and children, all in one venue. Casa de Fruta offers a casual restaurant, 3-star lodging, amusement rides for children, a huge fruit stand, a candy shop and a wine tasting room. Because granddaughters always take precedence, we started out on the miniature locomotive and Venetian carousel ride. While my husband watched her play at the children’s playground, I ventured across the parking lot over to their wine-tasting room.

Daddy Long Legs brings us a delightful moment of time in theatre. Written in 1912 by Jean Webster (a grandniece of Mark Twain), Daddy Long Legs has been made into a number of movies and plays when John Caird, famed director of Les Miserables adapted the classic novel into a musical with Paul Gordon handling the music and lyrics. A story about an orphan whose education is a sponsored by a benefactor who does not want to be involved other than to receive a monthly progress report. Sounds like a cross between Great Expectations and My Fair Lady.A well done production directed by the esteemed Robert Kelly, with a super cast including Hilary Maiberger as Jerusha Abbott, Daddy Long Legs is delightful and charming. The story provides her character a spirit and magnetism that gives her performance life. Maiberger carries the show; she sings beautifully and matures believably into a delightful young woman. Her secret benefactor, Jervis Pendleton, (Derek Carley) does an admirable job supporting her.Of course, predictably, all’s well that ends well with Jerusha captivating Jervis with her wit and innocent wisdom in her letters.Musical Director William Liberatore carries the musical accompaniment with his group with his usual perfection. Joe Ragey’s super library set using books and trunks as props for the scenes is imaginative and holds attention. It blends with Steven B. Mannshardt’s subtle lighting to make for scenes that are soft and creative.Daddy Long Legs is a delightful charmer.  ‘Daddy Long Legs’Book and Direction by John CairdFrom a novel by Jean WebsterMusic and lyrics by Paul GordonLucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo AltoPerformances through: Dec 31Tickets: $30-$80  Details: call: (650) 463-1960, or visit www.theatreworks,org

So … life had been going well. Really well.

There are many types of inspections that require our attention when we are selling our home.

The word “boutique” sends a message of stylish, individualized clothing. Entering a fashion boutique is akin to being transported into one of the fashion capitals of the world, where the quality, patterns and cloths used all depict the quintessence of haute couture.

Prior to the election on Nov. 8, we had seen a slow but steady rise in mortgage interest rates. Many attributed this to the fact that the markets were being conservative prior to the election, and that the Federal Reserve had indicated a rise in short term rates in December was a given.

The flu season is fast approaching—the other day while at a stoplight I was sandwiched in between two people who were coughing incessantly—but fortunately science has given us ways to get through the winter months with fewer sick days. In terms of preventing the flu, getting a flu shot—surprise—is a must-do.