Wine wine wine

I got a wine making kit for Christmas from Jen, bless her soul, and today I bottled my first batch. Hooray! We'll sample a bottle tonight, but then the rest should age for at least a month, preferably three. I don't think they'll get a chance to age three months. The entire process has been exciting, it's like being in chemistry class again with all of the sampling and testing equipment. Very fun. The best part has been designing my own label. I went with a vintner's name of "White Peat" since this is the literal translation of Witteveen into English. And it's just goofy enough to work, for this label anyway. I plan on creating a new label for every grape we do. A little background on this one: Barolo is from northern Italy, the Piemont region specifically. Venice is also in northern Italy, only on the other coast. That's close enough for me. So this label gives a sort of regional/cultural reference to the wines origin. And it makes me laugh. -M I don't know who this gondolier is, but he is a dashing fellow if I do say so myself. His mustache is quite jaunty.

Spring. Coming soon to a theater near you.

We went to the Meijer Gardens on Monday to see the first butterflies. What a beautiful day! We didn't get to see too many, but the kids did fairly well and always love a trip there. Right up until a butterfly landed on Amelia's head. Wow, she looked like an extra in the movie "The Birds." Then she stuck out her finger to one on a flower trying to get it to land on her. When it took off, repeat prior scene. She was no longer allowed to try to touch them purely for the butterflies' safety. Maybe garden members should get free post traumatic stress debriefing after a visit.

Amelia before the "incident."

Slide Show

Enjoy the new slide show. I think you can get to our web album on Picasso through this to copy/print full sized photos. Let me know if there are others you want specifically and I'll post them for your pleasure. M

Ow.

It's been one month since the last post so here is what has been going on around here. I got injured at work a few weeks ago doing something very heroic and strenuous. Yes, I was shoveling snow from around a fire hydrant. Turns out that herniated me. Surgery last Thursday, and I'm still tender. I have another week off of work at least then I go back to working in the office in administration. Not quite as exciting as being on the street with my crew. Jen probably broke her toe going up the stairs today so she's limping around. She's only waiting on me hand now, since her foot is out of commission for a while. On a happy note, best bud Brent just hired on with Escondido Fire Dept. He starts in March sometime. Now I have to head out there and see him at his station. Congrats B! That's all for now. My junk hurts. M

My New Year's Resolution

My resolution is to be even more sporatic with my posts this year. Since haven't posted in around a month, I figured I'd better get something online so all of you's wouldn't think badly of me. See you in '10.

O Tannenbaum

Yes we killed a tree. Well, it's not dead yet, but it is on life support. I love the rush I get from knowing I hold the power of life and death in my hands. Mwahahahaha. Seriously though, we risked life and limb to get our tree this year. Winter storm warning? Pshaw. I spit in the face of caution when Christmas traditions are at stake. We have a Dodge frickin' Caravan for Pete's sake. WITH newer tires. So after white knuckling it for a half hour to get to Hart's Tree Farm in Rockford. We were lucky enough to have Santa Claus drive us out to pick out our tree. I do have to say, we did get a nice Douglas Fir. Maybe I can make something out of it when we throw it out. A nice bow perhaps, or a very skinny dugout canoe... Are these the cutest elves ever? On a related note, the tree did not fall on any of our children this year. Thank goodness, but there goes our shot at 10k from AFHV. However, Jen's mascara was not snow proof, and she didn't know she looked like this until she got back into the van to go home. Jackpot.

Thanksgiving

This is probably a little late. Okay, it's a lot late, but here is the pic from Thanksgiving. We had the whole gang over: Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Mark and Aunt Crystal, and new neighbors/friends the Skillens. We had the best turkey ever (a fresh farm raised one) so suck it Butterball. Ow, I just hurt my shoulder patting myself on the back. Can you believe this is the only picture we got on Thanksgiving? Sad. No people gathered around the table enjoying fine food, and better company. Nope, just a jackass giving the thumbs up to gluttony.