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It has been quite a summer here in Sonoma County. The season is changing to Autumn, the grapes are being harvested, and both Anna and I are working. But before we get to Anna's job, let's take you through a few of the events of the summer
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First we have to revisit this picture from the "Back in California" pictures. Only when you view this before picture can you truly appreciate the job we faced.
And by "we" I mean Gary, Jordy, and Anna (Lana was re-arranging our kitchen -- don't ask). We first planned to take a few feet off the top and be done by early afternoon.
Didn't work out that way...
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It was us versus it. We struggled all day on Saturday. In this picture it's not clear who has the upper hand, Jordy or the Ivy.
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All told, we took out three truckloads of ivy -- and you can see when we say truckload, we mean it.
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End of day one.
Three sides of the Ivy had been decimated. What started as a trim turned quickly into carnage. We stopped because three factors converged: 1) the temperature was hovering about 95; 2) despite our best efforts to remain hydrated, we were all a bit drunk from the sun, and 3) the saw started smoking. Really.
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The final morning, Gary had taken apart and rejuvenated the saw, we had a nice breakfast in Occidental, and were ready to destroy the last of the Ivy.
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And it was over.
I'm pleased to say that new ivy sprouts are covering the gutted ivy limbs. However, we have all vowed that the ivy will never, ever reach the massive proportions it had grown to. A reminder... |
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We did slip out of town for the Fourth of July weekend. Gary and Lana threw a big shindig in their backyard where Gary barbequed, and we all rejoiced. When Gary gets food near a barbeque, it's all good!
At this happy table, we have Gary at the head, then clockwise, George, Peter, Tania, Jeanny, Misha, Jeanny's mom, and Jerry. |
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A good time was indeed had by all! |
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| Jordy's Mom, Jan, made it. |
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And so did Anna's old roommate, Stephanie
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| Here Jordy poses with Stephanie, Wife number two. |
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Meanwhile, back home on the river, Anna got a job. Both Anna and Jordy had been looking feverishly for jobs since arriving. Jordy was lucky enough to land a gig just three weeks after his search began. Anna, unfortunately, wasn't so lucky and continued to send off resumes and go to interviews, to no avail, until...
Anna got a job at Ridge Vineyards at their Lytton Springs building on the outskirts of Healdsburg (that would be in the Dry Creek appellation, for those keeping track).
This is Anna just before she left for her first day of work!
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And this is where she would be going -- the largest hay-bale building in the world! On the roof you can see the solar panels from which they derive all of their power for the winery. It's really a beautiful and amazing building.
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The vines are head-trained (as opposed to trellised), and are lucky enough to have this gorgeous view. With a view like this, the wine's gotta be good!
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And if you think the grapes have a nice view, this is Anna's view from behind the bar...
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...This bar, to be exact. The decor on the inside is spare, but people are coming for the wine, not the decorations. Incidentally, the staves on the front of the bar? Old tank stays stained with zinfandel.
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After a couple days on the job it's time for Anna to take her show on the road, literally. She was representing Ridge at the annual Russian River Wine Road festival. Here's the crowded table representing the Dry Creek winery posse (in the hizouse). |
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And here's Anna's fiercely guarded turf.
Though outrageously hot, Anna kept her (and the wine's) cool and had a wonderful time at the event.
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The next weekend, Gary, Lana, and Anna's cousin Sasha came up to visit. Anna had to work, so we decided to go for a tour and visit her at work.
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Back in the barrel room Gary, Sasha, Jordy and Lana pose as Anna takes a picture. We all silently pray an earthquake doesn't strike right now!
(To be fair, they've thought about that possibility, and the chocks between the barrels make them quite adept at riding out a severe earthquake right where they are).
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And, since we were there we had to make sure Anna knew how to pour. You know, customer service and all!
She can pour just fine, in case you were wondering. |
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Misha is snarling because it is his birthday. That's a birthday snarl, can't you tell?
We ventured down to the South Bay to make it to Misha's birthday dinner at Chef Chu's. Okay, wait, we have got to get rid of that snarl...
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...okay, sans-snarl; better. Anyway, Jeanny and Misha strike a pose. |
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And so do Gary and Lana (Gary, it should be noted, wearing an Anna original slugshirt).
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Back at home, the cats showed that they were settling in as well. These are their morning stations. Must greet the day by staring out the bedroom window. |
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Shurik manages to somehow cat-nap in this strange contorted position.
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na-na-na-na na-na-na-na BAT-CAT!
If you've ever heard us refer to Amaya as our bat-cat, now you know why. If she turns her head just right we swear she can get cable on those ears. |
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We have had one wild summer! Who would have guessed we'd end up in wine country?! Who knew? But as the leaves start to change, we'll leave you here in the vineyard, in our vine life.
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