'Falling' at the Cabin

See the last post....way forever ago... ok, now you are up to speed on what we did months ago.  Sorry.  I guess I keep blogging because Sam and Jack have continued to remain cute.  I fully admit that I only occasionally blog now because Sam and Jack have continued to remain cute and busy. 

While Jess and I were at the Winery we left the boys at the cabin with Mom and Dad.  The winery was only a couple of hours from the cabin so it made it a pretty reasonable drive. 

I don't actually know what they did while we were gone because there are no pictures.  I think they just played and were cute.  I suppose if I had blogged about this sooner I may have remembered what they did.  I do know that the kids were well cared for and we were so grateful to have a night off. 

We came back on a Husker Saturday and Sam was dressed for the game.

When we got back to the cabin, Jess, Jack, and I headed to the "climbing beach."

You have to drive across the lake to get to it, which is partially why I did not get to play there a ton as a kid, but I always loved it.  Skip forward to Bill bringing his girls to the cabin; now the climbing beach's greatest obstacle is getting there before the party crowd.  In September this is not an issue. 

You you really can climb up on the cliffs at this beach... a'la climbing beach. 

We enjoyed an excellent dinner (this is a priority with us, have you noticed?) and a beautiful sunset. 

See, still cute!

Sage Hill

Confession:  we may be addicted to buying Groupons and the like.  

One of said Groupons was for an overnight stay, wine tasting, kayak rental, and a meal (which we did not get, but it didn't matter...I'll tell you why) at Sage Hill Vineyard and Winery in Parks, Nebraska.  

Parks?  Yup Parks, like almost to Kansas and/or Colorado. 

"I've never heard of Parks" you say...but yes you have, it's where that Amtrak train derailed.

 Ok, but to be honest, it is also in the middle of nowhere in the BEST possible way.    We left Lincoln for a long weekend and headed west.  We left the boys at the cabin with mom & dad and hit the road past Benkleman...off the highway and onto a gravel road... you go through/past Parks, and eventually you turn off the gravel road, cross the cattle guard and enter a well worn path in the pasture. (insert comment by Jess about being embarrassed that we are driving the Prius in a pasture).  

As you enter the pasture you look to your right and see a vineyard and a couple buildings at the end of your path.  It is breathtaking.

I've not been to "big sky country" in Texas, but this is what I imagine it feeling like.  Finally I was somewhere that I could look and there were no power lines, no fence lines, and no trees; I was able to imagine what it was like to be a pioneer (a pioneer in a Prius, might I remind you). 

 

The view of Rock Creek.

When we got to the vineyard, we were greeted by Carol and sat down in the tasting room.  They had friends and some family visiting as well and we were welcomed as if we too were long time friends.  Carol began our tasting, which would last into the evening.  It was perfect weather for September and we were able to sit out on the patio for the evening with the Walkers and their friends.  

 

Sunset over the vineyard

We were also able to tour the vineyard and the winery with Hal and Carol.  Hal took us through the different varieties of grapes that they grow (I'll get to them soon) and described how the vineyard has grown over the years.  We then headed inside and they showed us where they make the wine. 

We even got to help make the wine.  Hal and Carol taught us how to "punch the cap".  This is the process of pushing down the fruit that has been lifted to the surface by the release of CO₂.  This is something that is done multiple times per day.  It is also hard work because there is tremendous gas pressure under the grapes that you are trying to release and I'm a WIMP.    

The Walkers spent the evening telling us about their decision to start growing grapes, and the evolution of Sage Hill.  We also discussed fish hatching as they live on the state fish hatchery.  I was happy to be able to bring back some fish news to Dad.

As I previously mentioned, our stay was to include dinner, but that was part of the kayak rental portion of the groupon and because we were using ours in September, "Kayak Jack" was not doing the dinner portion of the deal.  That did not matter because we were treated to some summer sausage from the Wurst-Haus in Eustus.  Sage Hill is beginning to partner with the guys from Eustus and that was part of our conversation that evening.

We had a fantastic evening before retiring to the Winemaker's Loft.  Hal told us part of the decision to build the loft was as an incentive to get a power line run to the winery...remember, no other power-lines in the view.  I'll come back to the loft, because as great as it was, I want to move onto the grapes.     

When we were up and going the next morning Jess and I went out and walked the vineyard again...this time in full daylight.  Jess had hoped to see a turkey to shoot while we were walking and we had heard some that morning, but we never saw any to shoot at the vineyard.  Hal said he'd be happy to have Jess shoot a turkey there, but if he was going to he was supposed to shoot ten. 

They grow five varieties of grapes and purchase grapes from other vineyards in the state (and neighboring states) to produce their wines. 

 

Makes the Seyval Blanc, by far my favorite white. It was a real treat to taste as they are sold out until Feb. 2012!

"Little Red"

The only one with grapes still on the vine. 

We were able to taste the Chambourcin both as grapes and as last year's wine.  We brought it and several other bottles home.    

I also learned that morning that cats are far more difficult to photograph than children... if you can photograph a cat: quit your day job, buy a new camera, you have a future as a photographer!

I also learned what wild sage looks like.  Unsurprisingly, the hills around the vineyard are covered in sage. 

Everything at the winery is beautiful and the planters were so full of color.  Not what you may expect considering that the place is in the arid corner of the state. 

 

 ...Oh yeah, the loft.  I told you I'd get to it!

As I mentioned before, they put a potential residence above the winery in order to help bring power to the winery, so you have your own apartment while you are there. 

Hal and Carol did all of the work themselves, including the quilting (Carol's handywork, not Hal's). 

We anticipated cooking supper in that evening... but as I mentioned before wine and sausage was our supper so we just made late night snacks and breakfast in our kitchen.   It is a fully functional kitchen and really equipped for most anything you want to cook.  I noticed canning supplies and a pack of sure-jel even!

 We just continued to be amazed by one thing after another on our visit.  All of the labels for the bottles are original watercolors by people that Hal and Carol know.  Several of them are done by Hal's mother.  I was really taken with the painting as you enter the loft. 

The view from the kitchen window.  

Like I mentioned before, we had kayak rentals included in our groupon.  We headed out to Rock Creek SRA that morning "the best bass lake in the state" (without any fishing gear) and paddled around.  Jess finally saw his turkey, but we were floating in the middle of the lake.  It was a fun addition to our time there, but the company, beautiful views, and outstanding wine were the highlights of our stay there.  We are anxious to go back and encourage you to check it out on a free weekend or on your way to Colorado, or wherever you may be headed out west!

If you missed the links above, here is the info again:

http://www.sagehillvineyard.com/Index.html

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This place is not to be missed!  I'm also writing about our stay with more details for Rural Nebraska Living.  I'll link when that is available. 

Arizona Trip

Once upon a time...

(Ok, I say once upon a time because I'm finally getting around to finishing these long neglected blog posts)... back to the story.  Once upon a time, we took Sam on his first vacation!

 We took a trip in October to Arizona!

 We went to Arizona to see Nonnie.   She has seen Sam in Nebraska, but last summer she broke her hip and so it is harder for her to travel to see us, so we wanted to go see her.  (truth be told, we want to go see her again and again). 

 Sam and Jack both loved playing with her walker.

We flew in on a Saturday late afternoon and headed to a Husker Football party.  Yes, we were able to go to a full on Husker party in the desert.  We did have to put up with a Wisconsin fan just one week after that disaster though.  It was a fun party and I got a great new dip recipe. 

That means that we did not see Nonnie until Sunday morning when we went to her  beautiful apartment.  She lives in a great facility where she and Burt were able to live in a private town home and then she moved into an assisted living apartment where she is now.  She can also have a higher level of care if she needs it too.

We had a delicious brunch when we got there in the dining room.   Jack was thrilled to get to drive Nonnie's "rascal" scooter and play with her walker. 

 Nonnie also has a beautiful balcony where she and Jack blew bubbles.

 She also has a pool where Jess and Jack enjoyed swimming.

 Sam, Nonnie, and I just watched. 

 Like I said, Jack loved Nonnie's walker.  I think Nonnie was pleased to drive Jack around.

 We also wanted to go to Phoenix to see Jim, Nicki, and James!!!  As I mentioned before, we went to the Husker party, and we went with them, and spent our evenings with them.

 It was so fun for Jack to get to play with James, and for us to get to see Jim & Nicki!!!

 One evening, we went to "Oktoberfest."

It loses some of it's German nature when it is held in the desert, but it was a lot of fun for us. 

 The boys had lots of fun playing at the hotel too. 

 (so did Nicki!)

 Each morning, we headed over to Nonnie's to spend the early part of the day with her. 

 Our second morning, we headed to the zoo by Nonnies.

 The highlight of the trip to the zoo was feeding the giraffes.  There are three of them to feed.

  

We were in Arizona for Jack's birthday.  It was extra special for us to spend that with Nonnie!!!!!

 On Jack's birthday, we headed up to the white tank mountains.  Jack had a hard time walking up the trail.  Nonnie and Sam enjoyed staying in the air conditioned car.

 We had a lot of fun hiking up the trail.  I was glad to get to take Jack to show him the "real desert."

We were really sad to say goodbye to Nonnie.

 On our last evening, Jim and Nicki had us over for supper and a tractor ride.

 They planned a great birthday celebration for Jack!

 It was a great trip and we were home before we were ready to be which is always a sign of a GREAT vacation!!