Catching up

Little Bartlett Pear

mmm mm mm 

Plums!

Little apples growing

Mini Lime! 

Aren't they cute?

Things are going pretty smoothly over here with the orchard. I have found a few curious things in regards to the leaves of some of the trees, so I have been researching many diseases that can affect the trees in question (nectarine, peach, and apple). Hopefully it's nothing too serious (most of what I found can be treated) so I am keeping my hopes up. And it's encouraging to see that while some trees might have questionable leaves, they are growing some pretty good looking fruit! 

I am currently on the look out for sustainable, eco-friendly insecticides to use for organic gardening. I will let you know how that goes as I have no clue where to start (guess you have to start somewhere). Hellooooo internet.

Wish me luck (:

"Vegas, Vegas Baby!"

Hey everyone! Sorry things have been so quiet around here the past week or so. Things have become quite crazy and are just now starting to settle down. I thought I'd share some pictures of my Vegas trip this past week. Here it goes!

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1) Early morning at Denny's  2) Waiting for fooood  3) Big bugs in the bathroom equals skepticism of breakfast  4) Sunny sun at the Wynn  5) Mister digging his new sunglasses  6) Family vacay!  7) Winner Winner Winner!  8) The family that gambles together stays together  9) Greek God (kinda :P)  10) Fat Tuesdays  11) Fat Tuesday #2 is so much better than #1  12)  Successful night in Vegas. Maybe too successful :P

I'll be back tomorrow with updates about my little vines and the orchard. I have so much catching up to do!

<3

Silence

late bloomers!

Hello everyone!

I realize that I have been quite silent over here the past week! Things have been oh so busy what with traveling, making up work, and all the thrills of unpacking. I promise I will be back this week with some fun pictures from Vegas and more updates about the vineyard! Hope you all have been well (:

xo.

Just checking in...

Hubert shredding the grapevine cuttings

Happy almost weekend everyone!

This week has been very slow in regards to the vineyard and orchard. After making the cuts to the vines last week, all I can really do now is wait for them to grow a bit more and start training them in the directions that I want! They are going to look so good. This morning I actually walked the vines a bit and saw that some of them are indeed growing the way they are supposed to (I did my cuts right!) so I am a little relieved, to be honest. Tomorrow I shall go out and start tying some of them to the wire so they know which direction they should go. 

In terms of the orchard, I've been doing a lot of research on pruning/trimming methods of some of the fruit trees we have, and man there is a ton of information! In addition to that I am trying to find some handy information about pesticides/natural pesticides to use on the trees cause I really want to start using sustainable gardening techniques. I will let you know how that search goes for me (: If you have any tips/suggestions, I would gladly appreciate them.

As for everything else, things have been good. I found two roma tomatoes in our garden that were ripe and a little cherry in the orchard that was ready to be picked! I'm a happy camper.

Have a lovely evening!

<3 

BottleRock/MIDTERM MADNESS

Hey party people!

This weekend was beyond crazy! First of all, Bottlerock happened.

Me at one of the stages waiting for the Shins

First glass of the day! Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Carl getting his bearings

Willpower Stage

This was seriously one of the coolest events I've been to in a while! First off, there was food, there was wine, there was beer, there was music and it AMAZING. 

Audience for the Shins (left) Cindy Pawlcyn! (top right) Gigantic connect 4 (right middle) yummy pizza for Ca'Momi (bottom right)

Mr. Sinsley and I and WAYNE COYNE! 

I had such a good time, ate such good food, drank AMAZING wine and literally saw one of the best shows ever by The Flaming Lips. Literally. AMAZING. Other bands we saw: Flagship, Alabama Shakes, and The Shins. I can't wait until next year!

As for today, it was back to the same old thing. I walked the orchard, checked my garden (we had zucchinis!) and trimmed some of the late bloomers in the vineyard. Also, I took my midterm and phew man! That class is no joke. But I will best it. Mark my words!

Also, I get to see one of my very dear friends tomorrow for the first time in months (!!!) so, I am SUPER excited, if you couldn't tell. 

I hope you all had an amazing weekend (:

<3

Snip Snip

Hello hello!

The past few days, I have started giving my vines little haircuts, and they look so cute! They are in the second stage of training, and things are looking good. However, I had no idea that giving them little haircuts would take me THREE FULL DAYS. Let's just say, I am exhausted.

In other news, today is BottleRock. 

I am so so excited, I woke up at 6am (mind you the event doesn't even start until noon), but I can't help it! It's going to be so fun. For all of you who wish you could make it but can't, I have some good news! BottleRock is doing some live streaming of the event. You can check it out here. That's right, you can see some of the top bands performing LIVE. Now I'm off to get some little things done before heading to the event...I'll be sure to take lots of pictures (:

Have a Happy Friday!

A little something

Hello my dears!

Here 3 little things that made me smile today:

1. These. Cats. I'm not gonna lie, they are too cute for words.

Hugo (left) and Ellie (right)

2. How awesome is this photobomb by Jennifer Lawrence?

You can see it in action here.

3. THIS VIDEO. SO. FUNNY.
It involves chips and wine. LOVE.

That is all for today. I am going to go lie on the couch and not move until it's time for bed for I cut the vines, and now my body hates me. Sigh.

xoxoxo

Look what I found today!

wittle strawberries

Hello everyone! Today I was out in the garden and I found these itty bitty strawberries hiding behind their leaves. Aren't they cute?

Today has been a somewhat hectic day! I am so close to being done with my study guide for my wine intro class, but all that means is that I am so close to actually taking my midterm. Eek! Therefore, this evening will be spent reviewing information concerning yeast, bacteria and wine operations while also attempting to watch to watch one of the shows I've become obsessed with, The Voice. Do any of you watch it? I'm super excited to see the results!

Have a lovely evening (:

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BOTTLEROCK.

Okay people. This weekend, one of the coolest events for a wine lover is going to happen. I'm talking BottleRock in Napa. 

And I am going. 

(original source could not be found)

For those of you who aren't aware, BottleRock is the very first event of its kind to be featured in Napa, comprising music with wine, food, and beer. It's similar to Coachella and Outside Lands but it happens in Napa. NAPA. 

Not to mention the lineup is beyond amazing (not just the bands but the wineries attending as well). For those of you interested/have the funds/have the time to attend, tickets are still available for single day and multi-day passes, and oh man. I would encourage you to attend if you can. And if you can't, I will do my best to take TONS of pictures. 

TONS.

Have you ever been to a festival like this before? It's my first time and I'm curious as to what I should bring. Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

I'll Make a Vine Outta You

Hello dear friends!

I hope you had a lovely weekend. Santa Clara was a blast, as always. I got to catch up with quite a few friends on Friday, which was soooo good. However, you remember how I was looking forward to getting my shopping on? Well the store that I was so excited for was a bit of a let down. Don't you hate it when that happens? I literally saved up money so I could go on a spending spree, but noooo. Eh, oh well. I'll live.

In other news, my vines are growing like little beanstalks! So that means...training time! Oh goodness. We got quite a bit of rain last night, but my little vines held fast and luckily, no one broke! So now we can move on to phase two, which is where we start training them as a bilateral cordon. That pretty much means they are gonna have two arms.

What my little guys will eventually look like. Source here.

However, I being the wimp that I am, will wait until tomorrow to start the process since I do want to wait for most of the moisture to dry before I make my cuts. That, and also cause it is cold outside. It's going to be a lot of work but I am excited! 

Well, I'm off to start my study guide for my winemaking class. My midterm is next week and there is SO much stuff to review. However, I'll be back later to share an exciting event happening this weekend! (: 

Oh, and just for fun, here is what I think of when I'm training my vines. Don't judge :P

Happy Friday!

We added rose bushes to the vineyard this past week. It'll look so pretty!

Hello my friends!

This weekend I am Santa Clara bound to visit my mister. I am super excited since it's been two weeks since I've seen him. However, before happiness will be mine, I need to go out to that dang orchard and spray some deer repellent. I wish none of you that horrid task for it smells foul. Ugh. 

In other news, San Jose's Santana Row just opened a new Madewell store and I am so excited to get my shopping on. Speaking of which, they are having a 30% off sale on sale items plus free shipping on orders over $50. So...you should go have a peak. I am currently dying for this dress.

What do you guys have planned for this weekend? Any fun trips? It will be Cinco De Mayo on Sunday, so that should be fun! Can you say MARGARITAS?!

Here are little things I've found that I'd like to share with you:

1. An amazing short video about a dog and his human. LOVE

2. A song I can't get out of my head.

3. A pretty tunic.

Have a lovely weekend! 

A New Beginning

My little babies growing

Somehow I have become the owner and caretaker of 875 vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 

And I love it.

If you asked me a year ago if I could see myself planting, caring and learning all there is to know about grapes and winemaking, I would have never believed you. I mean, it was a dream for sure, but I honestly never saw myself in this situation. I had a plan of going to grad school in Portland, pursuing a Master's in Publishing. I was going places, yo. 

Now, I'm still going places, only it is to drink different types of wine. And you know what? That is more than fine by me. (How could you complain about that, am I right?)

I have decided to create this blog as a way for me to express the joy, the frustration, and the complete and utter confusion I've been feeling these past couple months. Won't you care to join me on this new adventure? 

I certainly hope so! (:

P.S. (Did I mention there is an orchard too?)