Old Friends

Cait & I - Beresan Winery

Caitlin (Woolman) Mariani and I met each other on our first day of 7th grade, back in 1993, at Leota Jr. High.  We were sitting next to one another in Mrs. Barnfather's art class.  I was so nervous about making friends that day and she welcomed me right in. I remember that day like it was yesterday.  Since that day, we've seen each other through everything you can imagine.  I think one of the best parts of having a friend for this long is looking back and marveling at how much we've changed over the years, but also how we're really still the same girls we were in Mrs. B's art class.  It's all gone by in a flash really, and much has changed, but what remains is my friend Caitlin is still beautiful inside and out.  We have a great time together -- so when she & her husband Simmon made the trip over to Walla, we knew we'd have a relaxing, wonderful weekend -- and that's just what we did!  We did our signature Saturday walk to the Farmer's Market, grabbed coffee and brunch, and enjoyed the crisply sunny October day.  We also managed a trip to Beresan winery and enjoyed such beautiful atmosphere, adults drank wine contentedly while the kiddos (well one kid really) chased all the dogs through the vineyards.  We also snagged our favorite babysitter for Saturday night and enjoyed a delicious (if not completely gluttonous meal) at T. Macs. 

So glad Cait & Si made it over -- I know there will be many more visits in years to come.  Please come back soon!

Another gem from the weekend, Andy proving to me that taking care of two kids and drinking wine is "really not that hard" ;)

 

I'm pretty sure Hadley misses Simmon & Caitlin already, she has so much fun with them:

The gift of gab.

Well, she has it!  This kid won't stop talking, it's so cute!  She's a little difficult to understand (for everyone except mommy & daddy of course) but some recently heard little tidbits:

Mommy I want (fill in name of desired object here)
Mommy shoes, I wanna outside
Daddy doggie
Moatmeal peas (oatmeal please)
Mommy backhoe (when she sees any type of farm equipment, which in this town is often)
Uh oh dropped it...

I could go on and on, literally couldn't fit all her words here if we tried. But I hear from here it's a slippery slope - I'm sure we'll be discussing the laws of phsics in no time!

That's quite a rig you've got there.

Why yes, yes it is.

Klickers

Anyone in Walla Walla knows about Klicker's Berries & Antiques. It's an adorable little farm that started growing strawberries in 1918 and is still going strong with the fourth generation of the family. If you're serving a strawberry shortcake in the summer, your berries better be from Klickers.  Shoot, I am totally turning into a Walla Walla girl aren't I? Well in the fall, Klicker's does pumpkins (and Christmas trees in December) so we went out and spent a whopping $19 on as many pumpkins as we could fit in our two radio flyers (which were complimentary from the farm, of course). We are getting in the spirit over here! And wouldn't you know it...someone accidentally ripped open the 100 piece bag of Halloween candy already. Whoops...

More pictures from the farm:
 

 

 

 

 

 

Block's Cellar

We haven't officially named our winery yet...but what is official is the 60 gallons of Charddonay fermenting in new French Oak in our basement! We don't know where this venture will lead...for now it consists of a couple of wine hoses, a french oak barrel, 60 gallons of freshly pressed, premium Chardonnay grape juice from one of the top vineyards in Walla and the cellar we inherited when we bought our house. We are just two CPA's, two lawyers, a doctor and her winemaker husband (wine maker by day at Seven Hills, no less) -- so in other words, a bunch of dorks who like to drink wine!
Any ideas for what to name the winery? We're having a heck of a time over here.