A Weekend Ramble Around Two Terrier Vineyards

As John Denver would say, “Life on the farm is kinda laid back.” Which is not to say that it wasn’t an eventful weekend at Two Terrier Vineyards. It’s just, as warm Spring weekends tend to progress, this one’s activities unfolded in no particular order and leading up to no particular revelation or conclusion. So I’m not going to strain myself trying to find the kernel of wisdom, the deep inner meaning in this weekend. Stuff just happened. It was fun. Here’s a (mostly) pictorial review:

First event: Little Amelia May, who you will remember as the World’s Most Beautiful Baby and who I take (undue) credit for sort of helping to deliver, made her first visit to the farm. She was wearing the most adorable cowgirl outfit, specially purchased by her besotted Daddy.

The outfit included these so-sweet-they-give-you-insulin-shock calico bloomers with fringe.

The top was made of darling retro cowboy fabric.

And the front had a little sheriff's badge. Just in case you didn't know who was in charge.

Uncle Andy didn't want to let go of this cute little critter.

Which made another little critter very jealous. Terriers need cuddles, too!

Unrelated to this event, we took an early morning walk down by the seasonal creek. And marveled that we actually have a stand of old growth Redwoods on our property.

I'm still trying to figure out the angle that can show how tall these trees are.

As are most creeks in Sonoma County, ours was an ancient pathway for migratory Indian tribes.

Here's an old grinding stone that would have been used by Pomos or Miwoks to crush acorns into flour.

We walked back up the hill through forest glades.

These delicate flowers were all around in shaded areas. Our man, John the Baptist, says they are Checker Lilies.

We ended our walk at the top of the cliff Old Timers around here call “Indian Leap”. Legend says an Indian maiden leaped off the cliff when her father wouldn’t let her marry a boy from another tribe.

Nowadays, only terriers are leaping around here. And not from the cliff but on and off this rock.

In the final unrelated event, Andy has a new project for me. He wanted me to pick out one particular Cabernet vine from the vineyards and photograph it from the same angle every week from early growth through harvest. Sort of  “A Year in the Life of a Wine Grape Vine”.

Here's the star of that show.

Here's a close-up of one of the emerging leaves.

And finally, the moles and gophers seem to have scaled back on their destructive activities. Could be related to the fact that a Red Tailed Hawk has recently been swooping around the vineyards.

Snuffle-op-agus was also doing her bit to control burrowing critters.

I’ve signed up for the “Gophers and Moles” Seminar at the wonderful Sonoma Master Gardeners Lecture Series. But perhaps, between Mr. Hawk and Lucy, the problem will be solved by April 18th.