This post was supposed to be about more winemaking technique. Or maybe about my latest adventures in cooking and canning with the produce I’ve grown. Instead young Oscar got stung on the nose by a wasp and precipitated a tour of Sonoma’s veterinary clinics in search of a place that would take him on an emergency basis.

It all started as I chatted with John the Baptist and we plotted our usual strategy to capture Oscar so he didn’t run out the gate in an attempt to follow John home. (John, as loyal readers will know, is a huge favorite with everyone. But no one more than Oscar.) Suddenly Oscar came running in and jumped in my lap. That’s not normal behavior. Usually, when it’s still light, he has to be bribed in with squeeky toys and food. Oscar’s not going to give up a moment of playtime in Sonoma. He knows stepping into the barn means someone is going to lock the doors and maybe take off to town without him.

But now here was Oscar looking like one of those big-eyed Keane paintings. Then we noticed his nose visibly swelling and a puncture mark down by his nostril. We quickly checked him over to see if there was a second puncture, which might have meant a rattlesnake bite. Luckily we didn’t see one, but the swelling seemed to be getting bigger by the minute.

Heres Oscars expanding nose.

Here’s Oscar’s expanding nose.

Because the swelling followed the contours of the black stripe along his muzzle, it looked even worse.

Because the swelling followed the contours of the black stripe along his muzzle, it looked even worse.

Just for reference, Lucy shows what a normal, non-stung muzzle looks like.

Just for reference, Lucy shows what a normal, non-stung muzzle looks like.

Now Oscars nose was getting alarmingly large. And it was itchy too.

Now Oscar’s nose was getting alarmingly large. And it was itchy too.

Luckily, Good Dr. Rosner at the Sonoma Veterinary Clinic was able to get Oscar in immediately. After a couple of injections, the extraction of a half inch stinger and an hour’s observation and Oscar was released into my custody.

But its still not a pretty sight.

But it’s still not a pretty sight.

Its going to be a long night.

It’s going to be a long night.