Sitting outside a silvery lizard slithers by, at first I think it is a snake. It is shiny and has a red mark on it, most of the lizards I have seen match the rocks here, blue-gray and brown and green. They move their head up and down and then make a run for it. This lizard seemed to slide from the wood pile to the rock wall with little effort. Several birds flew by, some stopped and had a bath. I could hear the bees buzzing…Eventually I heard the wine train and that means it is time for lunch!
Can you believe this beautiful weather? I just love Spring. All the leaves coming out on the grape vines, flowers everywhere and wonderful weather. What a perfect day for the Plumpjack Golf Links. Today is the 11th Annual and the money raised is going to the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. Please bid on our gift box of EVOO, balsamic vinegar and wildflower honey and have a great time out on the golf course.
Check it out we are even on the Sponsor page! Thank you PlumpJack!
Thank you to everyone who came to our wine and cheese event on Sunday evening! We had a lot of fun with words and our tasting. Since we received many complements on the cheese and crackers I thought I would mention what they were.
Rustic Bakery – Polenta Black Pepper Sourdough Flat Bread
Leslie Stowe – Raincoat Crisp Cranberry and Hazelnut Crackers & Salty Date and Almond Crackers
Harley Farms Goat Cheese – Pescadero, Ca
Brie Fromage D’affinois Double Cream Guilloteau (that is what the Whole Foods label says)
Blue Original Raw Milk Point Reyes
Goat Humbolt Fog Cypress Grove – one of my favorites!
Gouda 3 year al best (that’s what the Whole Foods label says)
Parmigiano Reggiano Raw Milk Mitica served with our Harris Ranch Napa Valley Wildflower Honey
I really want to thank the woman at Whole Foods who made the cheese and cracker suggestions. Enjoy!
For more information on the Brie Fromage D’affinois Double Cream Guilloteau – it isn’t technically a brie!
http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-03-02/wine/17284918_1_goat-cheese-ultrafiltration-cheesemaking
Currently in SF, wanting to go out and enjoy the sunshine but my son is coughing non stop. He was sick last weekend and was better so he went to school Thursday and Friday. I want to get him completely healthy so here we are cooped up inside. Know a way to calm his cough and get him back outside? Let me know!
The Way of Boys
In the meantime I am reading the Way of Boys by Anthony Rao. I am so thankful this book was written that I fell compelled to tell everyone about it! It gives insight into the minds of little boys and some big ones too. It talks about how to discipline and talk so they understand. I’m only 1/2 way though and I highly recommend this book to anyone with little boys!
We are planning a very simple dinner with family, and we hope to stay up to watch the festivities in New York.
Happy New Year! Wishing you health and happiness in the new year!
Vivanista compiled the best of the best and we are on it! This was in their Viva Scoop email that they send out:
Best Hostess Gift: Harris Ranch Napa Valley
We are thrilled!
We had several wonderful events and are so grateful for your participation. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
It was such a beautiful day. It makes such a difference – in past years you are bundled up in all sorts of rain gear and you starting picking olives and as soon as you reach up to grab them the water goes sliding down your arm. The olives are slippery but that is nothing compared the tarps. Once a couple of olives have been stepped on the tarps are very slick, and don’t forget we are picking most olives on the hillside. So you are standing on an uneven ground covered in slick olivy muddy tarp. That is why it is so nice that it was sunny!
This is a photo of me as I sorted the olives, taking out the leaves and but mostly the squished olives. Then when the olives get to the press they get washed and the leaves get seperated from the olives.
A baby snake just slithered by me, butterfly almost flew into me , little birds chirping and flying here and there while the hawk swoops from tree to tree. out of nowhere several turkey vultures start circling. The hawk flies again, this time much faster out out flies the vultures and they circle higher and more broadly. The bees are buzzing all around the lavender bushes that seem to be in full bloom. The adjoining mint seems to be attempting to take over the lavender, normally I’d think the mint would win but the lavender is holding it’s ground, for now. The tomato plants are flowering. i can’t wait for the tomato crop. Then it will be summer!
it wasn’t a snake afterall. it was a lizard more shinny and lower to the ground, slithery than the grey green lizards we usually see.
Fire Fighters Museum on the corner of Pearl and Main street – 1201 Main Street.
We were so happily surprised. This is a must see with anyone with children. They are allowed to climb on several of the trucks and ring the bell. We were shown how a fire alarm used to work and all sorts of things. My son is planning his next visit and wants to be sure that all his friends join us.
http://www.napafirefightersmuseum.org/
707-259-0609
Taylors, Model Bakery and the Oxbow Market are just across the river and are child friendly. For our visit the power was out so we picked up some delicious sandwiches at the Model Bakery and a couple of cupcakes from Kara’s. So much to be thankful for yet again!
And then we saw Santa on a fire truck as we drove away!
