Little Napa

The North Fork of Long Island boasts 40-something wineries on its 40 mile stretch, besides pumpkin farms and some veggie stands, vineyards rule the land here. So our lives are immersed in wine and grapes and salty sea air. Recently we had the opportunity to work a rush grape harvest, rush because a salty nor'easter was coming our way and when a storm hits here you gotta prepare for it! We had to get the grapes in before it hit because mold had taken hold and the grapes were headed downhill. My Dad was not pleased, he was waiting for their flavor to be of spiced apple, not Granny smith (or whatever). It was a grueling four twelve hour days, with 20-something workers handpicking and cleaning the chardonnay grapes. We were the only english speakers, and stood out a bit, but we are hard workers and love the outdoors so we got along fine. (I think word got around that i was the winemaker's daughter, so they weren't sure what to make of us... I hate that...) But, work is work and we'll take it- after all we have a new engine to pay for! The best part was Ziggy got to come with us, he had a blast exploring the acres of grapevines and eating sour grapes (boy did he stink). Everyone was highly amused by him, and we were proud of our good dog.

There is probably more to come in terms of grape picking and our new juniper inards are being ordered as I write (shiney and new) so things are moving along...October creeps up on us and tonight the first presidential debate will be shown. Strange times and the future awaits.