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Some volunteers for the hospital sewed this stocking for the babies.
These days it holds my birthday presents under the tree
and still has the note from the lady who made it attached.
These days it holds my birthday presents under the tree
and still has the note from the lady who made it attached.
We moved to Lawrence, Kansas, when I was two years old so my sister and I could grow up closer to my mom's family. I didn't have any memories of Napa nor had I been back since. Enter Christmas 2007. My parents surprised me on Christmas Eve with a trip to Napa and San Francisco and we we're flying out on my birthday! After picking up the rental car, my mom says she "left something at the airport" so we had to turn around. That "something" was Rhett! Woop woop!
After the shock wore off, mom gave us the grand tour of San Francisco/Napa and with our forces combined we turned Rhett into a wine drinker... which only took us a winery and a half.
After the shock wore off, mom gave us the grand tour of San Francisco/Napa and with our forces combined we turned Rhett into a wine drinker... which only took us a winery and a half.
On my 22nd birthday at the hospital where I was born.
I was surprised, and felt a little misled, to learn that fortune cookies are absent in China
and are said to have been popularized by various immigrant groups in California in the early 20th century.
Of course such a beautiful place would have such a beautiful saying on their welcome sign.
I was surprised, and felt a little misled, to learn that fortune cookies are absent in China
and are said to have been popularized by various immigrant groups in California in the early 20th century.
Of course such a beautiful place would have such a beautiful saying on their welcome sign.
At a family favorite, Robert Mondavi.
A local artist, Veronica di Rosa, and my mom were colleagues when she worked for the Napa Valley Opera House, one of Napa Valley's most historic cultural icons since 1880.
Veronica called me the "Opera House baby," and thus began my career in the non-profit sector.
A local artist, Veronica di Rosa, and my mom were colleagues when she worked for the Napa Valley Opera House, one of Napa Valley's most historic cultural icons since 1880.
Veronica called me the "Opera House baby," and thus began my career in the non-profit sector.
Because Napa is world-renowned as "Wine Country," it would be silly of me not give some fun wine-o facts in this post. I recently read in Real Simple (academic source, I know, but this sounds about right) that people will, on average, spend $2 more for a bottle of wine with a fancy name. And it would be easy to spend a lifetime learning about wine, but based on the many blank stares I usually see in the wine aisles, I think most of us just hope the taste is okay and the price is right. Many wine aficionados will tell you not to worry if you don't know much about wine and just get your basics down.
And now for a few fun factoids:
And now for a few fun factoids:
-The fermentation of the fruit happens naturally due to the chemical balance of the grapes and when yeast is added, it consumes the sugars and converts them into alcohol and fun.
-In Napa Valley, the wine makers grow mustard along with the grapes to add a pretty yellow touch of color to the vineyards.
-Many of the vineyards in Napa Valley are family-owned and do not export their products outside of the valley.
-Although many sparkling wines are referred to as champagnes, true champagne only comes from grapes from the Champagne region of France.
-Great artists have been drawn to designing wine labels, an art in itself... and that little extra something that helps us choose a bottle off of the shelves :)
Each row of vines is labeled with the type of grape it produces.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and don't forget to go enjoy a glass of bottled poetry before the holidays are over!
[photo sources: Napa Valley Opera House, Mrs. WRCIV]
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