I Believe This is Heaven To No One Else But Me

The kids are napping, I turn on the Pandora for a little music therapy.  It's not a bad day, just not a great one.  I'm not particularly unhappy, just not feeling my groove.  I turn on the Sarah McLachlan station, hoping for some solace.  The first song that comes on is Elsewhere by Sarah herself.




This song used to be my theme song, circa 1994.  I was on my own in a dorm room at Mizzou, dating a guy my parents didn't like, but I was far away from them, making my own decisions, going at my own pace, in my own direction.

I often say that I need to give my children wings.  I feel that is the point of parenting.  I also think it might be the hardest part of parenting.  Not the diaper changing, the temper tantrums at the PTA meetings.  It's the "wings" part that is the most important, and possibly the most challenging.

And so, I have to give myself wings.  That which I wish to impart, I also need to embrace.

Deep Breaths

Hello?

Feel like I'm Snow White whistling into the well... "hello?"  Haven't put anything on this old blog for many months.  Can't imagine anyone is still looking.  We have been busy, and times are a changing.  I'm easy to find on facebook, if you know me, and if you're on facebook.  I'm looking at you, Susanne.  =)  I just added an easier way to see my instagram photos.  I'm busy as a beaver over there.  I'll be back here more often someday.  I'll be back for NaBloPoMo in November if nothing else, and anything in between is added bonus.  Yay!

Peace out.

A Lot On My Mind

Some things to keep in mind, even for myself... How To Talk To Little Girls

Cecilia goes to work too

These are pictures I took last week of Cecilia helping us lees filter the Cranberry.  Having the girls at work is great, I love being with them, having some extra time with them one on one, but it can be a bit of a challenge, especially when it comes to serious talks with Dad, or conversations on the phone with important people.  It's a learning experience for them. =)

Charlotte at the Farm

I take Charlotte with me to work on Wednesdays and Cecilia on Fridays.  The days are always fun, a little hectic.  Today Charlotte had fun playing in the new castle tent they got for Christmas and making cookies with my Dad.  She sure is sweet.  I love having her around.

 peeking out of the castle tent

 Pringle treat in the tent

 the tent in the middle of the bottling room, with Sharon, the cat, down below

 hop scotch rug in my office

 Charlotte, toys, Sharon

 Dad and Charlotte making cookies up at dad's house

 Charlotte adding sprinkles and Dad getting dough ready to roll out

 fireplace, family, fun

close up of an unbaked cookie with sprinkles, and the cookie sheet covered in smeared butter

365 Days of Dominic

I looked at a bunch of pictures last year from this girls' blog, http://www.momtog.com/ and liked the pictures and idea so much I decided to do it too.  If you click on the little instagram badge on the right side of the blog, and you have an instagram account, you can see a photo a day of Dominic.  Let the fun ensue.

Winter Morning, Rural Missouri Farm and Vineyard

I took these pictures this morning when I got to work.  I'm a sucker for picturesque winter scenes.  Posted all these on the Winery FB page too, click here if you're inclined.

Christmas In Poplar Bluff

 Grandma and Dominic

 Little People Princess Castle

 Charlotte's Chef outfit

 She loves to help in the kitchen, now she has the outfit.

 Adam and Will put together a dinosaur

 Cecilia's veterinarian outfit

 Will, Dominic, Charlotte, Cecilia, Helen, and David

 The kids love the box

 John's mom and dad have a joke book that is always a hit

Why do we buy toys when what they really like to play with is the box.  4 cousins and a nightlight in the box, too funny

Melissa, Adam, and Will were for Christmas this year and Cecilia's birthday.  These pictures were all taken at John's parents' house in Poplar Bluff.

Christmas Eve at the Farm

 Dad making brunch

 Dominic looking cute

 Uncle Matt getting a smile from Dominic while Hannah holds him

 Family of 5

 Grandkids

 Charlotte playing with her Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs Little People

 Cecilia and Rapunzel

 Norah peeking out of the new Princess tent

 Chef Matt

 We got Lesa a new little French egg basket

 John plays Princess with Charlotte

 Charlotte checks out one of my mom's Christmas decorations

The teeny boppers play Hedbanz

THESE are the good old days

Dominic's First Hair Cut

He had a bit of a cold, and wasn't so sure about the whole thing, but he sat on my lap and let her snip here and there.  He looks like a boy now, my baby is gone.

Barrel Sales

My brother, Joe and I took a trip to Napa in early December to sell some of his hand crafted Missouri oak barrels.  It was a whirlwind trip, full of coffee, wine, and focus (and a few long showers for me with no kids banging on the door.)  We stayed at our cousin, Mark's, hotel in downtown St. Helena.  There are worse business trips. =)  Joe is an easy traveling partner and it was nice to spend a few extra moments with him. We visited a few nice wineries, and I had a mini Fresno State reunion.

 My old classmate, Sara, is one of the winemakers at Peju.

 The Hotel

 Joe unwrapping his barrels in the Hotel common area.

 The barrel room at Ovid was magical.

 A nice view of the Golden gate Bridge and San Francisco behind

 Mark, his youngest daughter, Lucy, and his wife Kris

 the outside of the Hotel

 the inside of the Hotel

 Sara amid her barrels at Peju

 The view from Ovid

 Mark, Joe and I at Ovid

 Ovid tasting room

 Joe enjoying himself at Ovid

 outside of Ovid

The Wydown Hotel's Open House/Meet the Cooper night

One of the best parts of the trip was when I struck up a conversation with the lady behind me at Dean and Deluca waiting for a coffee, and she ended up being the owner of Ovid winery and invited us up to the tasting room.  It was very exclusive, very expensive, and all three of us were on a high, not only from the wine and the view, but sometimes wine can be so exciting and make you feel so alive.

We went out there ultimately for an Open House/Meet the Cooper night at the Hotel.  Joe's barrels were well received and he has already sold some.  Very exciting to see him succeed at something he loves.