Amanda Quintana-Bowles
@amandaqb.bsky.social
Photographer, Vocalist, Graphic Designer, Ikebana Artist, Traveler, Court of Master Sommeliers LV1, New Mexican living in Silicon Valley
Russian River Valley! #winesky #sommintraining
June 30, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Russian River Valley! #winesky #sommintraining
Missing you so very much, Dad.
June 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Missing you so very much, Dad.
After being under the weather for a few days, I was finally able to work with some flowers I had bought. It proved to be a challenge that required patience and focus, as the creative process took twice as long. 🫣
Featuring: Pink larkspur, pink/green roses and white mums. #flowersky #ikebana
Featuring: Pink larkspur, pink/green roses and white mums. #flowersky #ikebana
May 30, 2025 at 2:53 AM
After being under the weather for a few days, I was finally able to work with some flowers I had bought. It proved to be a challenge that required patience and focus, as the creative process took twice as long. 🫣
Featuring: Pink larkspur, pink/green roses and white mums. #flowersky #ikebana
Featuring: Pink larkspur, pink/green roses and white mums. #flowersky #ikebana
My Dad passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago. In going through some of my Dad’s certificates, we came across his knighthood into the Medieval Order of the Knights of Good Wine in Spain from 1985. Like father, like daughter. 🥰 #winesky #ordendebuenvino #sommintraining #wine
May 4, 2025 at 11:22 PM
My Dad passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago. In going through some of my Dad’s certificates, we came across his knighthood into the Medieval Order of the Knights of Good Wine in Spain from 1985. Like father, like daughter. 🥰 #winesky #ordendebuenvino #sommintraining #wine
Shape of the Container - This lesson challenged me to echo the shape of the container with the living materials. Featuring yellow and purple mums, white campanula, lemon leaves, and curly willow branches. #sogetsuikebana #ikebana #flowersky
April 15, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Shape of the Container - This lesson challenged me to echo the shape of the container with the living materials. Featuring yellow and purple mums, white campanula, lemon leaves, and curly willow branches. #sogetsuikebana #ikebana #flowersky
I love when we can take a quick trip to reset the mind and soul. A bit of wine and homemade charcuterie doesn’t hurt either. #pasorobles #cabernetsauvignon #cheese #charcuterie #winesky
April 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I love when we can take a quick trip to reset the mind and soul. A bit of wine and homemade charcuterie doesn’t hurt either. #pasorobles #cabernetsauvignon #cheese #charcuterie #winesky
Reposted by Amanda Quintana-Bowles
Meet P’oe Maestas, a Picuris mermaid from New Mexico 🪶 🥣
April 6, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Meet P’oe Maestas, a Picuris mermaid from New Mexico 🪶 🥣
My late sister was a talented floral artist. I always ask her in my mind to pick the flowers she wants for her birthday. This year I made her an arrangement featuring orchids, mums & lilies. If you see a pretty flower today, think of someone you have lost & send their memory a thought. #flowersky
April 3, 2025 at 3:34 AM
My late sister was a talented floral artist. I always ask her in my mind to pick the flowers she wants for her birthday. This year I made her an arrangement featuring orchids, mums & lilies. If you see a pretty flower today, think of someone you have lost & send their memory a thought. #flowersky
March 29, 2025 at 2:51 AM
My next tiny ikebana arrangement featuring one of my newest vases from @tinypots.bsky.social. Standing a sweet 3 inches tall, this little guy makes me so smiley. 😊
March 24, 2025 at 1:26 AM
My next tiny ikebana arrangement featuring one of my newest vases from @tinypots.bsky.social. Standing a sweet 3 inches tall, this little guy makes me so smiley. 😊
Guided wine tasting today with the incredible Master Sommelier, Tim Gaiser and Master The World. It’s one thing to read about what makes a wine special and another to have a master guide you. #sommintraining #sommelier #wine #winesky
March 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Guided wine tasting today with the incredible Master Sommelier, Tim Gaiser and Master The World. It’s one thing to read about what makes a wine special and another to have a master guide you. #sommintraining #sommelier #wine #winesky
Color of the Container - This class I challenged myself by creating with a non-typical flower color. Blue! My ceramic vase is deep blues and earthy brown. I chose blue Debi Lilly Hydrangeas and light blue Sapphire Mums along with young Spirea branches. #flowersky #sogetsu #ikebana #blue
March 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Color of the Container - This class I challenged myself by creating with a non-typical flower color. Blue! My ceramic vase is deep blues and earthy brown. I chose blue Debi Lilly Hydrangeas and light blue Sapphire Mums along with young Spirea branches. #flowersky #sogetsu #ikebana #blue
A bit of love from National Geographic for my home state of New Mexico’s beautiful and historic wine culture. www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/artic...
#winesky #newmexico #nmtrue #highaltitude #wine
#winesky #newmexico #nmtrue #highaltitude #wine
The unexpected wine country you need to visit: New Mexico
Hispanic and Native American wine producers cultivate vineyards at high altitude and on desert plains in this southwestern state, making for some unique cellar-door visits.
www.nationalgeographic.com
March 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A bit of love from National Geographic for my home state of New Mexico’s beautiful and historic wine culture. www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/artic...
#winesky #newmexico #nmtrue #highaltitude #wine
#winesky #newmexico #nmtrue #highaltitude #wine
I harvested three of these giant citron from our tree. (Regular store-bought lemon for comparison) I’m going to be removing the thick rind to make citron candied peel. This should be fun! #citron #diy #makeyourown #homeharvest #lemon
March 11, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I harvested three of these giant citron from our tree. (Regular store-bought lemon for comparison) I’m going to be removing the thick rind to make citron candied peel. This should be fun! #citron #diy #makeyourown #homeharvest #lemon
I found the fantastic @tinypots.bsky.social & bought a group of her handmade tiny #ikebana vases. I felt so inspired by her pieces. This is my first arrangement, standing 3” tall!
Heavenly bamboo “branches”, white Japanese andromeda flowers & pink California yerba santa. #flowersky #sogetsu
Heavenly bamboo “branches”, white Japanese andromeda flowers & pink California yerba santa. #flowersky #sogetsu
March 9, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I found the fantastic @tinypots.bsky.social & bought a group of her handmade tiny #ikebana vases. I felt so inspired by her pieces. This is my first arrangement, standing 3” tall!
Heavenly bamboo “branches”, white Japanese andromeda flowers & pink California yerba santa. #flowersky #sogetsu
Heavenly bamboo “branches”, white Japanese andromeda flowers & pink California yerba santa. #flowersky #sogetsu
A Study in Straight and Curved Lines - Featuring curly willow branches, purple iris and ornamental kale. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #zenarts
March 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
A Study in Straight and Curved Lines - Featuring curly willow branches, purple iris and ornamental kale. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #zenarts
Curved Lines - A fun lesson in direct opposite of last week’s straight lines. Featuring forsythia branches, Queen Anne’s lace, purple spider mums and daffodils. I can’t wait for the daffodils to open up! #sogetsu #ikebana #flowersky #zenarts #zen
February 27, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Curved Lines - A fun lesson in direct opposite of last week’s straight lines. Featuring forsythia branches, Queen Anne’s lace, purple spider mums and daffodils. I can’t wait for the daffodils to open up! #sogetsu #ikebana #flowersky #zenarts #zen
Studying for wine certification is much more fun in person with fellow students!
#wset #sommintraining #rioja #riojareserva #beaujolais #winetasting #winesky #lenezduvin
#wset #sommintraining #rioja #riojareserva #beaujolais #winetasting #winesky #lenezduvin
February 23, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Studying for wine certification is much more fun in person with fellow students!
#wset #sommintraining #rioja #riojareserva #beaujolais #winetasting #winesky #lenezduvin
#wset #sommintraining #rioja #riojareserva #beaujolais #winetasting #winesky #lenezduvin
Today’s tasting: 2022 Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmen - D.O. Maipo, Chile. Good balance & complexity with pronounced ripe black cherry, black plum & eucalyptus notes. Silky vanilla, mocha & sweet tobacco flavors round things out. Yum! $18 @ Total Wine. #sommintraining #winesky #winetasting
February 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Today’s tasting: 2022 Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmen - D.O. Maipo, Chile. Good balance & complexity with pronounced ripe black cherry, black plum & eucalyptus notes. Silky vanilla, mocha & sweet tobacco flavors round things out. Yum! $18 @ Total Wine. #sommintraining #winesky #winetasting
The Beauty of Straight Lines: Stems of the Bird of Paradise plant are the main lines. Purple irises are pops of color and staggered depth. Yellow craspedia’s spherical heads contrast their thin stems. Yellow from mums bring mass to ground the arrangement. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #floral
February 19, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The Beauty of Straight Lines: Stems of the Bird of Paradise plant are the main lines. Purple irises are pops of color and staggered depth. Yellow craspedia’s spherical heads contrast their thin stems. Yellow from mums bring mass to ground the arrangement. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #floral
Well now, this is a very lovely Barbera wine from Boeger Winery in Placerville, CA. Savory, meaty aromas that transition to ripe red and black fruit with clove and cedar on the palate. $15 at Trader Joe’s and new regular for me. #winesky #barbera #boegerwinery #ElDorado #sommintraining
February 17, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Well now, this is a very lovely Barbera wine from Boeger Winery in Placerville, CA. Savory, meaty aromas that transition to ripe red and black fruit with clove and cedar on the palate. $15 at Trader Joe’s and new regular for me. #winesky #barbera #boegerwinery #ElDorado #sommintraining
Ikebana class is back in session & I’m so happy! Here’s my arrangement focusing on using two or more containers. This features green Bells of Ireland, maroon Ti leaves, purple baby mums, lemon leaves, and red/yellow tulips. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #flowers #japanesearts #zenarts
February 12, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Ikebana class is back in session & I’m so happy! Here’s my arrangement focusing on using two or more containers. This features green Bells of Ireland, maroon Ti leaves, purple baby mums, lemon leaves, and red/yellow tulips. #ikebana #sogetsu #flowersky #flowers #japanesearts #zenarts
Here we go, officially! Slightly different designations on the WSET deductive tasting grid than what I have memorized from CMS. Wine + food pairing, and storage + service is a review. Monday is my first Zoom tasting. Looking forward to it! #sommintraining #wset #lifelonglearner #winesky
February 7, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Here we go, officially! Slightly different designations on the WSET deductive tasting grid than what I have memorized from CMS. Wine + food pairing, and storage + service is a review. Monday is my first Zoom tasting. Looking forward to it! #sommintraining #wset #lifelonglearner #winesky
Had a real difficult time in doing my deductive tasting on this one. Strong compost & rubber aromas at the start, leaning towards raspberry & cola once it opened up. Red currant, juniper, mocha & limestone on the palate. Dry with medium tannin, acid and alcohol. #sommintraining #malbec #winesky
February 5, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Had a real difficult time in doing my deductive tasting on this one. Strong compost & rubber aromas at the start, leaning towards raspberry & cola once it opened up. Red currant, juniper, mocha & limestone on the palate. Dry with medium tannin, acid and alcohol. #sommintraining #malbec #winesky
The end of an era. My last bottle of the original formula Sriracha is finally empty.
#roostersauce #sriracha #foodsky
#roostersauce #sriracha #foodsky
February 4, 2025 at 4:14 AM
The end of an era. My last bottle of the original formula Sriracha is finally empty.
#roostersauce #sriracha #foodsky
#roostersauce #sriracha #foodsky