The Wine Cellar

So, of course, every winemaker needs a wine cellar. We have the perfect spot in a back bonus room in our basement. It stays very cool, and was a long, narrow room... perfect for closing off one end. 

Kevin has a cool, hidden door planned. He is building a cabinet door that will actually have little wine glass holders and a little shelf. It will look like a cabinet built into the wall, but will open into the wine cellar. I guess he is afraid that people will come into our house, go down to our basement, and steal our wine. Oops... I guess the secret is out!

Since I had the camera and fisheye lens out, I thought I would take a photo of our beautiful kitchen. Kevin's work, also, with the help of a couple of our friends. I LOVE our kitchen... just thought I would show it off today.

So, now we just have to plan the wine tasting event...

The Idaho Winemaker

Kevin has been making wine with his brother for several years. Each year gets better. They started just making Cabernet, but now have ventured into Port.

He realized that the large bottles were too large for the port, so today he re-bottled the Port in smaller bottles, filtering the wine one more time.

Stay tuned... we may have some award-winning wine to share.

Inauguration

 I have been spelling it wrong.

A new day.

I share this sentiment by William Rivers Pitt from truthout:

"It's strange. You wait for a day to come, you wish for it and pine for it and imagine what it will be like, you want so badly and wait so long for it to come that you despair it will ever be, and then one day, you're there, and you're not quite sure what to do with yourself. That was today!"

Circle of friends

Ancient native legend says that at the end of the evening, friends would gather around a bonfire and share their hearts. They would speak of the good qualities of each other and remember times shared. As the embers faded, their friendship was said to be sealed anew, bringing them closer together. (Mexican legend)

The candle holder above is a gift from some very good friends of ours. It represents our friendship and our bond. 

Today — the day before an historic innauguration, and on MLK day, a day that symbolizes tolerance, acceptance and respect for each other — I have such hope for our country. I am so moved by the hugeness of this past election, and how each of us, in our own small way, can make such a difference.

Today I encourage all my friends and family to join me in a commitment to speak well of each other, remember our times shared, and seal our bond anew.

Byron Bowie

Byron competed in a costume contest hosted by "The Reef" where he works. He went as David Bowie's character Jareth the Goblin King in "The Labyrinth," one of my favorite of Bowie's roles.

And he won! He said people were asking him to pose with them in photos all night. He won a gift certificate for a dinner at a nice restaurant in Boise, and a night on the town for he and his friends in a limo. How fun is that?

I think he looks amazing! Congratulations Byron!

Maegan and her pooper

Maegan and Rylee are out playing in the backyard where the snow is finally melting and we can actually see grass... and dog poop... everywhere. I can't wait to clean up the backyard this spring. I have a plan to purchase one of those easy pooper-scoopers so the chore doesn't become overwhelming.

It is still pretty treacherous walking on our street, and walking on the snow isn't too fun because the top layer is just an icy coating. I am nervous about falling, having taken a couple of tumbles the last two winters.

Today was a gorgeous sunny day, cool yet inviting. I took Rylee out front a couple of times to throw his favorite toy. He loves chasing it and then making me chase him to get it back. We all get our exercise this way.

Cats and doggies

I was just thinking how darn cute they can be.

The Moose Riddle

So the moose spent the night in the neighbor's backyard. You can see how young he is, but he will be a large one... just look at that hump on his back.

So, here's the riddle: How many Fish and Game Wardens does it take to move a 600 lb. young bull? Hint: it takes a gun and a red dart with sleepy medicine.

Answer below.

This whole process went quite smoothly. Our moose friend slowly went to sleep. One of the guys braved approaching him and patted him on the butt to make sure he was out. Then he removed the dart. They tied his eyes shut and his hooves together for protection for them and him. Then loaded him up in this make-shift guerney to relocate him to a more moose-appropriate spot. I was impressed with how gently they were with him. Today this guy should be happily rejoined with the rest of his herd who apparently live fairly close to us. Hopefully he will live a long and happy life and survive hunting seasons to come.

Moose on the Loose

It is unusual to see such large animals right in the city. But this moose must have been in search of food with the immense amount of snow I can imagine that is laying in his usual neck of the woods.

But this young bull wandered his way into Jill and Richard's back yard this afternoon, and then sauntered over the fence into their neighbor's as if it was merely a little log to negotiate.

He was only skitterish once when a large vehicle passed by and honked its horn. Otherwise, he happily feasted on the junipers and arborvitae and low limbs of fruit trees. When he tired of me snapping away at him (always with a get-away plan), he made himself a bed underneath one of the evergreens. He is still there now, and I am hoping still in the morning when I can maybe position myself to get some better shots.

Meanwhile, it was 52° here today, and amazing to see how quickly all the ice is melting away. The huge icicle that went down our chain drain in the front yard was whole this morning and is gone this afternoon. And flooding like you wouldn't believe! We still have plenty of snow in our yards, but if the weather stays like this for the next week (as they predict) it will be gone. Amen to that!

The wee hours of a winter morning.

There is something incredibly calm about a snowy winter early morning just before the sun comes up. Amazing how quiet it is... deafeningly quiet... as if winter is trying to make a point.

I might be going a little stir-crazy. Or perhaps I am just adjusting to hibernation with less patience than other animals who are used to a long winter's sleep. Since New Year's Eve when we went out for a little celebration, I have only ventured out once... to the bank and grocery store. I go out to the mailbox once a day, and take the dogs out a lot to run around, but I don't get much farther than that. I tried yesterday, but realized that the roads are no fun to drive on, and the nut cases are no fun to drive beside, so I postponed my lunch date and will try again soon.

Could the point be some time for reflection? simplicity? humility? a chance to catch up on old TV reruns?

By the way, Kevin and I tried to watch Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" last night and hated it.

The big story today... COLD!

That was the beginning of the newscaster's weather report this morning. Duh! It is -4°, and even colder in Coeur d'Alene. Fortunately, the wind isn't blowing. Atleast it isn't snowing!

Here is the view of all that snow weighing down the branches of the maple tree in the front yard. 

Our poor weeping willow was really covered yesterday, but lost some of the snow before it was frozen onto its branches.

And look at all that snow on the ground with little pathways that are almost like mazes for Rylee who can't see over them as he runs around back there. Yesterday, he and Jack played and chased each other in their limited little space. They both ended up with their faces so snowy, they looked like they were getting ready for a shave. The cats seem content to stay indoors for the most part.

Spokane reported at least 28 roofs have caved in. I keep asking Kevin if ours is safe... he says it is so far... I look through those sky lights every morning that you cannot see through and just hope the snow doesn't come crashing through on top of me... brrrrr. Now that would be a rude awakening!

Happy New Year!

As I sit here watching yet another snow storm move in, I am laughing at the response in the editorial section of the paper to another whine about all the snow: "It's winter. Get over it!"

We are expecting another 7 or so inches of snow today. I went out yesterday to put the compost in the bin, and couldn't get the lid off the bin because of all the snow packed on it. There is so much snow, I can barely even make it to the bin, so digging it out will be a challenge today. That's okay... I see it as good exercise. 

Speaking of good exercise and the new year... it is time to make that resolution: to eat better and exercise more often. No diets. They never seem to work. I know what I should and shouldn't be eating (or drinking for that matter). My resolution is to drink less wine this year... that should remove a few pounds all by itself.

We celebrated the close of 2008 at our favorite little martini bar, 315 martini & tapas at the Greenbriar Inn in Coeur d'Alene with some of our good friends. We had a great time, but were home by 11 and asleep when the new year rang in. Oh well. We got our new year's kisses this morning. I am good with that.