Family Farm Friday #64: A Grape Lesson

"Grapes are the most noble and challenging of fruits." ~Malcolm Dunn, Head Gardener to the 7th Viscount Powerscourt

I've managed to get behind on some of my posts from the summer, including this one that I've been planning for a while. You might remember that back in August I went to Napa for a little wine tasting tour with my girls (and our fantastic new friends from Dubai who we met on the bus!)
Well, because once you're an ag girl, you're always an ag girl, I enjoyed the opportunity to learn a little bit about a totally different kind of agriculture....grapes! (Just a reminder in case you forgot, we raise cattle, sheep, alfalfa, wheat and sorghum.....nothing close to grapes!)
In addition to enjoying a variety of samples on our tour, we also got to tour a couple of vineyards and a wine making area. Loud Oklahoma Girl and I put our ag degrees to work and along with a very nice older man from Texas (who we learned worked for Farm Bureau....further evidence that I was right last week when I said I feel like I should be falling for a Texas boy) asked a few questions about the grape growing and wine making process.
First off, we talked to a farmer at an organic vineyard in Napa. He talked about the stringent regulations that they have to meet, and about how careful they have to be to ensure that their crops are protected. He told a story about a farmer in the area whose neighbor did not use organic production methods and somehow his herbicide spray ended up getting into the organic field, causing a big disaster for the organic farmer. This is a total different way of farming than what I'm used to, so it was interesting to hear their take on it.
Second, we learned about harvesting at the Sebastiani winery in Sonoma. All of the grapes there are harvested by hand, not by machine. I guess I had pictured something like a grape combine (it's because I'm a wheat girl!) that apparently doesn't exist.
Then we learned a little about the wine-making process. You know all the oak barrels that you see around a winery? They actually do hold wine while it ages. And the type of wine that you put into a particular barrel is really important because the type of wood will impact the flavor of the wine. So, for example, you don't put some some sweet white wine into a barrel made of a very strong flavored wood. Instead, that's where the red wine goes.
My favorite bit of grape-growing info? If you ever go to Napa (and you should!) you'll see beautiful rose bushes everywhere. They are at all of the vineyards. I thought it was just for looks and tourism. Turns out, the rose bushes serve as a "canary in a mine" for wineries. Just like mines used to use canaries to tell them if the air was bad, vineyards use the roses to tell them if any diseases or pests are going to infect the grapes. Apparently any type of disease or pest will first attak the rose bushes. So if the farmers see problems with the roses, they can quickly take action to protect the grapes. Pretty darn genius, right?

Agriculture is such a diverse industry that it's amazing to learn how things are done in other parts of the country. And if you're ever somewhere that you have the opportunity to ask questions...trust me when I tell you....farmers LOVE to talk about their operations. So ask away! Stay tuned next week for a quick chat about the tobacco farming I saw in Tennessee!

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #7: The Finale

"Life is short, so let's go live it. Ain't no time for wasting time. Days like these, they go by way too fast. Days like these, you want to make 'em last." ~Jason Aldean, Days Like These


In case you missed any of the prior recap posts, just click here to check out the entire trip from start to finish.


What a weekend. New friends, old friends, wine, great food, karaoke, 13.1 miles, 473 pictures, and memories that I plan to keep forever. I might describe it (like I have in the 6 prior posts....) as perfect.

I love taking trips to catch up with friends. I think that this is probably one of the most important things that I do in my life. Why are these trips so important?

Let me explain: 3 years. A year and a half. 6 months.

Confused?

Research shows that it's most difficult to maintain friendships, meaning that most friendships are lost, between the ages of 25-40. This is the times that people are so busy building careers and marriages and family....and if we are not careful, our friendships fall by the wayside.


The list of numbers you saw above? Those were the length of time that had passed since I had seen Georgia Boy, Gonzaga Friend, and the Oklahoma Girls. That's a lot of time. (And you can add 27.5 for all the time I went without knowing our new friends Swan and Word Up Bro!)

I'm lucky to have so many friends from different parts of my life---childhood, high school, two colleges, law school, summer in San Francisco, adulthood---but becuase we are so spread out, it makes it hard. Sure, we talk on the phone. We email. And we send birthday and Christmas cards. But friendships need some face time if they are going to make it.

I've been given a lot in my life. And I don't deserve any of it. But hands down the blessing I am most thankful for in my life are the people in it. And that's why these trips matter. Well, that and the excuse to drink wine at 10:00 am. :)

Before Girls Weekend 2011, I was worried we would never top Girls Weekend 2008. I'm here to tell you, we blew it out of the water. At this rate, I cannot wait to see what Girls Weekend 2012 has in store!

Signing off from the best trip ever....
Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #6: The Aftermath

"Three things are needed for a good life, good friends, good food, and good song." ~Jason Zebehazy

As soon as the race was over, we all headed to Crepevine for breakfast and mimosas! This little event has become a tradition after College Roomie, Nomad and I went there after Bay to Breakers. This time, I had amazing pumpkin spice pancakes. And a mimosa. A girl has to get her Vitamin C you know! Health first! And after we all stuffed our faces, we headed back to the hotel for a shower and some non-sweat drenched clothes. It's amazing, but a shower, some lip gloss,and a clean fleece can make a girl feel like a new woman!
It was during this time that I discovered this little beauty. That would be the biggest blister in the history of life, covering my entire toe. Yea. Quite the souvineer.

Anyway, because we're hard core like that, we decided to get out and about instead of laying around taking a nap or something normal people would have done. (Looking back, I think this helped TREMENDOUSLY with my soreness the next couple of days--so word to the wise--after you run a long race, keep moving!)

First off we headed for Alamo Square Park to see the "Painted Ladies" (aka the Full House houses).

Then it was time to take a couple of our traditional "We bleed orange" photos!We took lots of pictures--including a fun little photo shoot. Anyone recognize these trees? Think Full House theme song---picnic in the park---cool, huh?

And, because the girls are good sports, they let me practice my person photography skills, which I hardly ever get to do! Lucky for me, my best friends are freaking gorgeous and make it easy!
After that, we headed down to the Marina to check out the sailboats and stroll along the bay.

From there, we hit up Fisherman's Wharf, where the other girls did some shopping, and College Roomie and I met up with one of my friends, who you all know as Little Yao Ming's mom! Of course, Little Yao Ming came to see Aunt Tiffany too.

By then, it was time for the last supper so we were off to North Beach. I had run literally across the City and then walked around a good chunk of it! And I was feeling it. I'm not a girl who takes medicine---ever---but I totally made a pre-dinner stop at Walgreens for some pain killers!

Fortunately, the mixture of drugs, drinks and yummy Italian food cured what ailed me. :) The girls and I met up with Georgia Boy at my favorite Italian place in San Francisco....Pinocchio's Trattoria in North Beach. I know I keep saying this, but it was the perfect night. Great drinks (including the first one I ordered not because I liked the drink...I didn't particularly...but it was called "Screw Love" and I had to say it to the waiter), amazing homeade pastas (homeade gnocci and chicken covered in a gorgonzola sauce), amazing conversations with some of my favorite people (Georgia Boy got lots of "So, you're a guy, explain this..." questions).....I couldn't have asked for a better night.

And then, it was time to pack our bags and get ready to leave the next day. Always the worst part of our Girls Weekend trips.

The Oklahoma Girls headed out super early, while College Roomie and I bummed around the hotel, I went to St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral for a little quiet time (totally am an idiot and forgot to put the memory card in my camera, so no pictures!), and then we had one last lunch with Gonzaga Friend before heading to the airport.

For the handful of you (i.e. the girls who went on the trip!) who are not completely sick of hearing about this trip....stay tuned tomorrow for my final wrap-up post!

From North Beach with stomachs full enough to pop....

Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #5: Crossing The Finish Line

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." ~John Bingham

Finally.....it was race day. I was hopeful that I could do the 13.1 miles, but I wasn't convinced. That doubt---the one that I think we all have in our abilities---was still hanging on. This had been one of my goals for 3 years.....but could I really do it?

Here is a map of the race course for those of you who are interested--we started at the Ferry Building and ran all along the Embarcadero, along the wharf, through the Marina Green and Chrissy Fields, up to the Golden Gate Bridge, across the bridge (actually on the roadway because they shut 3 lanes of traffic down---this is the only time you will ever get this opportunity!) and back, and then into Golden Gate Park to the finish. Here is a great video of the course that really shows you excactly what I did....it's pretty cool, so check it out!

The girls and I took the usual pre-race photos...please note that I'm sporting my OSU running shorts and that my bib read "Go Pokes!" One of my non-OSU friends said that was stupid. I hung up on him. We bleed orange around here y'all!

And then, I took my place at the starting line along with the other 15,000 runners.

The gun went off, and away I went. As I crossed the start, I pushed play on my iPod shuffle in order to start up the awesome new playlist I made thanks to my blog readers suggestions....and nothing happened. I pushed it again, and heard the most dreaded of sounds....dead battery.

I had purposefully charged it the night before by plugging it into the computer while College Roomie and Blonde Oklahoma Girl were singing karaoke in the hotel room. Apparently, it didn't charge. About this time, I pass the girls who are cheering me on and I turn around and scream "My iPod is not working!!!" Here is photo proof. See the little head with arms raised in panic?

Well, this was one of those, "when the going gets tough" moments in life. I had never run without an iPod. Nor I had never run 13.1 miles. But you know what, today was going to be that day. And so I ran. And I decided at 1.25 miles that there would be no quitting. Today was my day.

And so I just kept running. And I talked to everyone who I passed (or who passed me). We talked about running and iPods and the views and the hills and what we would have for dinner. I took pictures of myself and the views. I called my parents and my brother from the Golden Gate Bridge and answered a text from Georgia Boy, who was supposed to be running with me, but had overslept.

I was not totally without music.....I kept singing two lines from two songs.....the chorus from Rehab (thank you karaoke two nights before!) and the only line I knew of that Black Eyed Peas Song "Let's Get it Started" that says "keep running, running hey running, running..." in my head. Yea...2.5 hours of THAT. But, pretty soon, I forgot about not having the iPod and I realized that I was doing this on my own. I am actually glad that I didn't have the iPod. Just made the goal harder and the achievement that much sweeter.

Running across the Golden Gate Bridge was something I can't put into words. I mean it was beautiful and invigorating and awesome. It got even better when I met up with Gonzaga Friend and got to run back across the bridge with her!

From about miles 11-13, I was pretty ready to be done. Mostly because I was starving. I mean, STARVING! And I was out of my jelly beans that I brought to snack on. But I kept on going. When I wanted to quit, I thought about a quote from Will Smith that I read a while back and absolutely love: I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked.”

So that's what I did. I stayed on the treadmill. (If it's good enough for the Fresh Prince....)

About Mile 12 or so, there was a spectator with a sign at the base of a pretty small hill that said, "Keep going! Last hill!" I was so excited that it was the last hill that I could have kissed the guy. And then I rounded the corner and saw two more hills. Big fat lying cuss word. There was SERIOUS consideration about turning around, running back to that guy, punching him in the face, and then going back to finish the race. But I didn't have the energy. Lucky for him.

Instead, I texted the girls who were in a cab rushing across town (after each kicking booty in the 5K) to meet me at the finish that I had one mile to go! They were almost there, so there was at least a chance the timing would be perfect.

And then, I saw it. The sign that said 13 miles. Only .1 to go. And I kicked it into high gear. About that time, I saw the finish line and heard my friends screaming their heads off. If you haven't yet, you have to check out the video of me finishing here. Listen to the frantic screaming of my girls.....that's love y'all! I just ran my little heart out. And then.....I crossed the finish line.

But it was so much more than that. That doubt I talked about earlier? Crossing that line crushed it. My fear of failing? Gone. Concern over my physical fitness level? No mas. Feeling that I was not good enough....not today! All because I crossed that finish line. I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of anything I've done in my life. The feeling I had was one that I hope to carry into every other area of my life....the feeling that I can do anything, that I can overcome any obstacle, that I am good enough, and the knowledge that my friends will be there cheering me on when I reach my goals.

So, officially, I ran 13.1 miles in 2:34:51. Unofficially, I think I changed my life. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.

From the finish line wearing a cape, medal and a huge smile.....

Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!

Girls Weekend 2011 Blog #4: Sandy Bread

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” ~Anonymous

Two quick things...In case you missed any of my prior Girls Weekend posts, just click here to see them all! To read Blonde Oklahoma Girl's posts on the trip, click here!

So Saturday was a little bit more of a laid back, play it by ear, low key sort of day. The first reason for this is that we were all freaking exhaused from the insanity that was Napa and karaoke the night before, and the second was that the next morning we would be running and I knew that if I was going to make the 13.1 miles, I would have to behave on Saturday!

We started out the morning meeting up with Gonzaga Friend and heading to the Farmer's Market. I'm telling y'all, if you are ever in San Francisco on a Saturday morning, this is a MUST do! You talk about amazingly fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and honey, baked goods, goat cheese, bread, flowers....you name it, they have it. We had a great time just taking in the beauty of the market and picking out our picnic cuisine!

After the market, we headed for the SF Marathon packet pick up to get our numbers and race shirts. I am pretty darn in love with the half marathon shirt--it's orange (it's fate!!) with the bridge on the front, 13.1 on the back, and the marathon theme "Worth the Hurt" on the sleeve.

While we were there, I saw this tank top and thought it was awesome. TOTALLY kicking myself for not buying it! It says "Half marathon....I like it because it's shorter and I'm lazy like that."
After that, we headed for the beach at the Hyde Street Pier. We had big plans to hit up Baker Beach---probably the most beautiful spot in the City (and one portion of which is a nude beach, which both scared and intrigued the Oklahoma Girls!) but we were starving and tired and decided to just go with the closer option.

We, of course, took some ocean side shots.
My favorite is this one below---Loud Oklahoma Girl and I were attempting to jump and College Roomie was going to take a shot with us up in the air. Well, as we were jumping, the tide came in and we ended up landing in the freezing cold water soaking ourselves. I absolutely love this picture!
The picnic was one of those things that may have been better in theory--you know, in your mind when you sit at home on our couch. We did have yummy food----fresh strawberries, black berries, grapes and peaches, shaved parmesean cheese, jalapeno jack cheese, sourdough bread, salami....but, alas, the wind sort of covered our yummy food in sand.

Things did get better when we moved from the beach to a bench overlooking Ghirirdelli Square, but the sand blasting damage was done. Whatev. In the words of the nice homeless man who we gave our leftover bread too when I warned him it might be a little sandy, "A little salt never hurt anyone." I like people with a positive attitude.
So....we also spent a lot of time on public transportation, entertaining people on the bus with our thoughts on "if we were prostitutes" and "If you select green as a wedding color I am not wearing your dress" type of discussions.
And we ended the night with a "carb loading" meal at an amazing Italian restaurant in Pacific Heights called Luisas. We're talking homeade pastas, wonderful salads, and great wine (of which we did not partake--we were trying to be hard core runners, and our livers were still getting over the day before!)

Stay tuned for tomorrow----race day!

From the beach eating bread, cheese and fruit all covered in sand.....

Xoxo,

Gossip Girls!