Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Thanks for coming out to visit me. It was great experiencing the carts in Portland with you, eating at my favorite restaurant Press in Dundee over a bottle of Oregon Sauvignon Blanc, hiking 6 miles at Silver Falls State Park and showing you where I work.

For some reason, it was really hard this time to say goodbye at the airport. I know how much you miss me, and I know you hope I meet a good Midwestern man and I move back home. Trust me, it is just as hard for me to live far away from my family and close friends. I miss birthdays, weddings, holidays and I miss seeing all my beautiful niece and nephews growing up.

I don't know what the future will bring or where I may end up next. You know me...always looking for something new and exciting. What I do know is that I love you. Thank you for always being there when the world crashes around me. One of these days, my luck will change and I know I will look back at all of this and thank my lucky stars. For now, I just take it one day at a time. I enjoy each day and look forward to what it brings, the good, the bad and the just okay.
As Jim said today, "We can only control one thing: our attitude." Wise words to live by.

Love your daughter,
Becky

Harvest then to harvest now

Last year at this time I had just finished harvest in Santa Rosa, California. It was my favorite harvest job to date. I miss the 18 hour days working in the vineyard and winery. There is something magical about harvest. It is hard work both physically and mentally, but it sure beats sitting in front of a computer all day! Sometimes I wondered why I did it. But now that I am not doing it, I know why.
The closest I have gotten to the vineyard this year was when I took the Retail Department out for a quick lesson on Brix. Here they all are in the vineyard. The fruit was picked this week.

Looking Forward to My Last First Kiss

I heard a country song this week and it hit home. The lyrics talk about looking forward to a last first kiss. I too am looking forward to my last first kiss. Makes me wonder when it will happen and with whom. My life is getting exciting again. Last night I had a great night out with a few co-workers. What was supposed to be a couple of drinks after work, turned into last call at the bar. It was worth it.

I am starting to get control on my work/life balance again. Last week I started hitting the gym and taking new challenging classes along with my runs, I am making time to spend with friends and I am even having days off. I unpacked the rest of my stuff and organized my apartment and am beginning to adjust to my new life in Oregon. Although my original plans of moving here have changed slightly, I am sure there is a rhyme and a reason for me to be here. I look forward to finding out why.

Take A Quick Look Below

Do you get it? I cannot tell you how many times I have had friends (yes you Nathan and Leah) and even strangers pull up behind me and chuckle or coworkers (Randy) laugh because they think my license plate says "300 MEN"!

Ha! All I can say is that I cannot wait until I get my Oregon plates. The good news is that I finally own my XTERRA. I don't own many things. I am a simple person. What I do own and cannot be taken away from me is all the fond memories and experiences I have had in my travels and adventures. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world, even a couch or a microwave (Yeah. That's right Jonas.)

Homework Night 1: 2007 Pinot Noir

School ended early tonight. I was disappointed so I decided to come home and do some homework. Extra credit.

Homework Assignment #1: Comparative side-by-side tasting of two 2007 Pinot Noirs from Oregon.

Oregon 2007 Founders' Reserve Pinot Noir Willamette Valley AVA from Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, Oregon

Our mission in growing cool-climate varietals is to create elegant, classic Oregon wines from the Willamette Valley Appellation. As native Oregonians, we treasure our environment and use sustainable practices in growing and vinifying our winegrapes.” - Jim Bernau, Founder/President

Founder, Jim Bernau, purchased the Estate site in 1983 and cleared away the old pioneer plum orchard hidden in scotch broom and blackberry vines. He planted Pinot Noir (Pommard and Wadenswil clones), Chardonnay (Dijon and Espiguette) and Pinot Gris. In the beginning he hand watered the vines with thousands of feet of hose. To find out more about WVV go to their website: http://www.wvv.com/

Tasting Notes Willamette Valley Vineyards:

Price: $30
Alcohol: 13%
Color: lighter brick red
Nose: anise, raspberry and cherry aromas
Taste: medium bodied, slightly spicy with rounded tannins and nice finish
Overall: Willamette Valley Vineyards uses Not my favorite Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot but a great steal at $30.

Oregon 2007 Trisae Pinot Noir AVA Willamette Valley from Trisaetum Vineyards in Newberg, Oregon

Fate and Good Fortune. Most good stories have a little of both, and this story is no exception. It actually began fifty-five million years ago when Trisaetum’s estate vineyard was on the floor of the Pacific near an extensive line of submarine volcanoes and fate chose that one such volcano would erupt in that very location, spewing lava through the ocean floor, scattering glassy basalt nodules across the seascape, and leaving a unique mixture of volcanic and sedimentary soil that just so happens to be perfect for grapes. Unfortunately for grapes, the soil was at the bottom of ocean. To find out more go to their website: http://www.trisaetum.com/

Tasting Notes Trisaetum:

Price: $36

Alcohol: 13.4%

Color: deep crimson red
Nose: vanilla, oaky, spice with red fruit
Taste: this wine is smooth and full of delicate layers of flavor
Overall: Fantastic wine! Winery staff is delightful, great art gallery and very small production. This is a newer winery and one to watch.