Sauvignon Blanc

The grape harvest is approaching and finally the weather is warming up so perhaps we won't have to pick in November. Last year was my first harvest and it was a blast. I am eagerly waiting to taste the Sauvignon Blanc which is our first grape to ripen each year. Sure hope the wild turkeys save us a few grapes....

What lives in the vine

When Catherine pulled the leaves away from the vine she found a bird's nest with newborn chicks living inside. This is a Zinfandel vine that is starting veraison (the onset of ripening, when the green color changes to red and the berry begins to soften)

Catherine and Soda Pop have a disagreement

He starts out lunging okay but then...

he decides that Catherine should be lunging as well so he decides to follow her lead...

Caroline and Charlie

Catherine wins the Trifecta

At 5:30 AM on Thursday, Jim and Catherine went to Golden Gate Fields to take care of our racehorse Topper's Smiling. Later they went to Santa Rosa to the Sonoma County Fair, to go to the  races. In the third race, Catherine went down to the paddock with Jim to look at the horses being saddled and she observed each one carefully then chose the horse to win, place and show. This is what Catherine told me: ""Saw Perfection" was the tallest horse with a broad chest for big lungs, large hind quarters and shoulders and his odds were 3-1.  Jim chose "Preach the Gospel", because the jockey is Topper's rider.  "Jaunty" was my second choice, because of his physique, although he was smaller than Saw Perfection." Jim placed their trifecta bet at the window then they went up to the stands and watched the race. Catherine then heard the announcer say "they're off." As the horses headed to the turn "we felt that Preach the Gospel was going to win but Saw Perfection pulled in front and then Jaunty pulled ahead of three horses to come in third." Catherine and Jim screamed with excitement while the other spectators looked on with amused curiosity!