Now is the Winter of My Discontent

An English poet, other than the one referenced above, said “April is the cruelest month.” Not to argue with the inestimable Mr. Eliot (who riffed here on Mr. Chaucer), but I would suggest that February is crueler. Especially if you are a novice farmer. Certainly if you are one in California. February is the month where everything is dormant. Unless you’ve planted a...

Shamelessly Pandering to My Eastern Euro...

It never fails. When I post up something that hits Google with keywords like “cowboy”, “country music”, “Indians” or “Wild West”, Eastern Europe goes wild — judging from my stats. After yesterday’s post about taking my mother to an Indian Casino, there was hardly a soul east of the Elbe who wasn’t tuning in. However...

Selling Firewater to the White Man

I went up to visit my mother this weekend in Lake County. It’s the next county over from Napa, but a world away. I won’t say she lives in a One Horse Town — her town probably has more horses than cars in it which is great. It’s real Cowboy Country. But it does only have one main street. Except for the paved highway and the Espresso shop, it probably...

Another Stephen Fowler/Wife Swap Pile-On

I may be the last person in America or maybe in the English speaking world who has just discovered the huge steaming pile of sanctimonious, arrogant ego that is Stephen Fowler. But that’s because I don’t watch reality TV. (And hey, don’t accuse me of being elitist. I love my TV. I’m just watching too many episodes of Law & Order to fit in non-crime-oriented...

The Sprouts are Dead, Long Live the Fava...

Taking advantage of a rare break between our back to back storms, I rushed up to Sonoma to finally deal with those rogue Brussels Sprouts. You’ll remember, these are the sprouts that went feral after our two heat waves in January and blowsed out into fist size cabbages instead of tight little heads. (Note to self: outside of the coastally cooled areas, you cannot grow Brussels...

Winemaking Solution: Throw a Little Brit...

Last week, Two Terrier Vineyards hosted a prestigious group: The McNabb Family of England. Old friends from way back, the McNabbs are also very knowledgeable about wine. Knowledgeable as in lifelong oenophiles with two members (Paul and John) being graduates of a prestigious and difficult wine course in France which I understand is aimed at training top level sommeliers. You may ask...