evile

 

Wine Tasting & the Coast!

Friday: Up at the normal time. Breakfast at Denny's with Sweetie, then he
went off to work and I went back home, finished loading the car, and
off. I knew none of the wineries were open till noon, and New
Braunfels was the first stop, less than an hour's drive. Stopped at
Hancock Center HEB and got stuff for Decemberween & Lynn's cookies.

I stopped in San Marcos at The Paper Bear, which is a giant card,
gift, and party store that has just about everything. I got two 7
pointed star taper candle holders & a little cute metal rat for
Lynn's bday. I also got my mascot for the weekend: a greeting card
with a Majestic Sea Goddess on the front. (In typical ironic fashion,
turns out She was merely art for the front of a ship's menu. However,
She was my guiding spirit for the weekend and all went well, largely
thanks to keeping in perspective that one person's Goddess is another
person's invitation to Alka Seltzer city.) I got a glass votive
holder & an orange spice candle too. Even un-lit it kept the car
fresher than a road trip ordinarily makes it.

First winery: Dry Comal Creek Vineyards. The owner is a retired
attorney. What is with all these lawyers turned winemakers? The lady
running the tasting room was a stitch, there were some other people
tasting & it was just fun.

Mapquest gave me some goofy directions, but I finally found the
Poteet Country Winery. I got great directions from a guy at a
Shamrock near Poteet (may the gods and goddesses bless him for life!)
and found my way back to 281/37SPoteet Country Winery was...enh.
Really neat tasting room on some very Texas land, and a whole row of
bizarre windmills to show the way. But the wines were pretty nasty.
The strawberry "reserve" wasn't bad, but too sweet for me. I got a
bottle for Lynn. I also got some Mustang White, which was the least
objectionable of the remaining wines. The lady in that tasting room
was having bad allergies & kind of an 'off' day, I guess. But the
tasting room was very rustic Texan & they had an old fashioned cash
register with the metal tags that pop up with the amounts. That was
cool.

The drive to Aransas Pass was pretty good, I took some back roads &
saw some scenery, lots of Xmas lights & such. Mapquest *really*
screwed up the hotel directions. Once in A.Pass, 35 basically runs
smack into the hotel. Seriously, it T's right into where my hotel is.
But Mapquest insisted I go right and then right again...which was
wrong. So I got lost as a goose, but then finally stumbled across the
hotel, got checked in, did some quick yoga, got dinner at the local
grocery store, and crashed early. The hotel was about 6 miles/10
minute drive from faire. And a straight shot, so no wierdness with
the state road 35 and hwy 90 interchange. The room was OK except for
a musty odor which was mostly fixed by going to the HEB up the street
& getting some spray crap, and also burning my Sea Goddess shrine
candle. And I really like the king size bed. I want one for home!

Saturday:
I woke up on Saturday morning with actual BAGS under my eyes. Not
just dark circles, but BAGS. Agh. Looked like Grandma B.

I blame the mold in the room. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

First thing in the a.m., I went out to Ingleside Faire 'round 8 a.m.
I was hoping to meet up with sineater, skye_ds, and their 'rescuee', but I
never saw them. (Turns out they'd gotten to faire site at 5 a.m. and
were already well inside the faire grounds, so I never saw them.)

Anyway, while I waited in the car & kept an eye on the road in to
faire, I finished up Excalibur, which was book 3 of Bernard
Cornwell's King Arthur trilogy, which I amazingly managed to find all
of them in the library as I needed them.

Then it was 9:15, I was hungry and cold so I went back into Aransas
Pass where I'd seen a very promising-looking establishment for
breakfast.

Found God's Own Biscuits in Aransas Pass at the Bakery Cafe. They
were fantastic. I may mend my ways in hopes of going to Heaven and
having these things for breakfast every day!

Bakery Cafe was exactly the kind of place one should have breakfast:
odors of coffee, bacon, an cigarette smoke as soon as you walk in,
comfortably worn carpet & seats. Not yet shabby, but lived in. Sassy
waitresses with big smiles, TV turned to the news & weather station,
a table of ol' boys in their camo, getting a big breakfast before
spending the day out hunting or fishing. Local policeman sharing
breakfast with his sister, brother in law, and niece, gossiping about
the rent-a-cops at the local grocery store. In jokes & conversations
where everyone is referred to by first name. Great coffee. And, of
course, The Biscuits of God.

Went back to Faire, got there around 10:30. Turns out last-minute
helper/rescuee was sonar0m. He has decided he likes me and I'm cool.
Very worrysome. He says I talk like I'm on "South Park." I think it
was a compliment. (I never watch that show, but the 2 times I've seen
an episode it was all poop and puke and stuff...so I don't know what
he was talking about)--very worrysome that the boy likes me, though.

I am trying to keep a distance--I don't want skye_ds pulling a giant
sabotage like she did when Kaleon & I became friends and hung out
without her. It is bad enough that he likes me, hugs me hi and bye. I
will not make the mistake of socializing with him away from HFS
and/or her. And besides which, he is very young & immature. Nice kid,
but a kid nevertheless.

Ingleside Faire is a cute little faire. It's in a nice park, very
pretty setting for a faire. Like Excalibur in size & percentage of
garbed patrons, but with lots of trees. Very nice. I didn't see much
at faire that I wanted to buy. It was small and not enough variety in
booths. Mostly garb & jewelry. Oh well. There was a lot of basic garb
stuff, nothing I had to have. I did buy 4 soaps from one booth & got
some good advice on making clear soap--keep the mixture under 110
degrees through the whole process. I can't wait to give it a try--I
will make some clear soap yet!

skye_ds did 4 tarot readings on Saturday and made $40, so she was
happy. And someone gave sonar0m $5, for no apparent reason.

Their 'show' was to give children rides on the horses, kind of a fake
gypsy kidnapping thing. But they didn't do anything in persona or
tell the kids anything about Romany culture or anything, so it wasn't
really a 'show'. skye_ds stayed on Mirage & the little kids would get up
behind her, the bigger kids went on Jesse & sonar0m led them around.
sineater stood around with Arthur on his stand & made him do his few
little tricks.

In the tavern/food court area, I ran into one of the
alt.fairs.renaissance folks & we visited a bit: Selena (sp?) & her
guy & some other folks. She's an Austin Rennie type person. We see
each other at faires and that's about it. But it was very nice to see
a familiar face.

Actually, I saw many faces I recognized, but had no names or other
relevant things to go with them. I am not good about walking up to
familiar faces and saying "hey, I recognize you. Who are you?" Which
might be fun...but I never do that. Unless I can say "Hey, weren't
you a vendor at Excalibur faire in 2001?" or something I won't go
there.

Left faire 1-ish, went to Port A for lunch. I chose "Oceans of
Seafood"--a funky orange building. Not great. It looked like a great
place to buy fresh seafood to take home and cook yourself, though.

Walked on the beach. Collected shells.

Back to faire. Hung out until faire closing, helped sineater, skye_ds &
sonar0m a bit with putting stuff away for the day.
At one point, we were packing up for the evening and skye_ds was still
mounted up on Mirage. She said something about how her tarot cards
needed to be wrapped up and then put in a specific box, and I
said "Why don't you dismount and do that?" Fuck if she's gonna sit
her big ass up on the horse pointing and directing like we're her
damn slaves. She can treat sineater & sonar0m like that all she wants, but
I won't stand for it.

Back to hotel, changed clothes. Off to Corpus Christi to have dinner
and see the Brobdingnagian Bards , who happened to be playing an
Irish Pub in C.C. the same weekend as Ingleside. Coincidences are so
cool. BUT: I got lost as a goose, drove across the bridge about 5
times, gave up, had dinner at Blackbeard's. Another miss. Oysters
random sizes & shapes. Salad was iceberg lettuce & croutons. Good
dressing, though. Rather odd live music. Loud drunk Bikers. A giant
table full of even louder spoiled girls (sorority or high school?
Could not tell! Agh, I'm getting old!)

Back to hotel, crashed & burned.

Sunday:

Sunday I didn't go in to faire at all. Dragged sineater, skye_ds & sonar0m 
to Cafe Bakery (or was it Bakery Cafe?) for breakfast. Drank wayy too
much coffee and got a little silly. But I think it was good.

skye_ds thinks I have a great instinct for finding wonderful, offbeat
places to go, but it's really very trial and error. Obviously, since
I never share my failures with anyone, she doesn't realize that for
every good restaurant, shop or off-the-beaten-path destination I
stumble across, I also endure some of the most embarassing, dreadful,
and just plain horrific experiences imaginable. Admittedly, however,
it's really nice that someone thinks I have this wonderful unerring
talent. Very ego-gratifying.

skye_ds was full of HFS bla-bla, is still pissed at Kim for Kim
thinking skye_ds is usurping the inner circle, or whatever. But sineater
managed to get her attention long enough for her to realize it was
time to go. I hugged everybody 'bye, then headed the opposite
direction for the Corpus Christi Aquarium. I had time to kill before
it opened, so I went to the marina, found where the bards had played.
Found it very easily in daylight, of course. Took pictures of a
piratey looking boat. Peed in the marina bathroom, that was swank.
Walked along the water a bit. Then went back across the bridge,
walked on Corpus Christi beach, made a little shrine with the shells
I'd found at Port A yesterday, took pictures of my Sea Goddess
shrine, walked around barefoot, then went to the Texas State Aquarium.

The Aquarium in Corpus Christi is very very cool. I know I'm going to
have nightmares about all the huge tanks full of large fish, but it's
totally worth it. Getting to the aquarium first thing on a Sunday is
a fine thing. No people at all. The staff was very friendly. I saw
water birds, petted sharks and rays, tripped out on some comb jellies
(I can't wait until we can splice comb jelly DNA into our skin and
blink and flash with iridescent colors like they do...) & other
jellyfish, and saw a really big fucking grouper who is going to give
me nightmares. OH! AND a blue lobster! I crawled through the kid-
exhibits, laid down on the floor of the underwater dolphin
observatory and got eye-to-eye with a dolphin. I got to see one of
them pee, too. That was...unique.

Then I saw the dolphins do some tricks for their actual 'show'
(depressing: they are both a bit over 19 years old, and both male. I
wanted to ask if they ever got female company. I wanted to ask how
long Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins live. But...I am afraid I would
have been more depressed knowing the answers) then went to lunch (a
hit), then on back to Austin, listening to loud 80's hair bands and
singing along the whole way.

It was a very pleasant outing. I communed with the Ocean. I did Yoga.
I ate oysters & proved to myself once and for all that Cooter Brown's
in New Orleans is the only place worth the trouble of ordering
oysters.

I wrote it all down in my much-neglected paper journal, too.

It was nice. More sleep than debauchery, but that's what getting old
does to a person, I guess.

I had a very pleasant weekend. I took 107 pictures. I am tired &
either sunburned or windburned or both. But it was a great little
mini-vacation and I had a good time.

No drama, but here are a few of skye_ds's latest crazies:

some woman in Oklahoma drove off a broken bridge in the dark, so now
skye_ds doesn't want to cross bridges. Plus "67% of the bridges in
Texas are unsafe, you know, and only the school bus drivers know
which ones." Um, okay then.

Some wierdness at breakfast, with skye_ds being pissy with sonar0m 
because she didn't want him ordering more than he could eat. She did
that at Las Manitas, too, now that I think on it. Girl has serious
wierd food issues.

Some wierdness with skye_ds talking about being pissed at sonar0m's 
parents because they aren't consistent with what they say they want
from him & what they bully him in & out of doing. Sounds like
leftovers from her own upbringing that she's trying to resolve
through him & his 'rents.

And there may yet be repercussions from me telling her, literally, to
get off her high horse & do some damn work.

But, overall, I think it was a successful trip, both just for me, and
in regards to how I relate to sineater & his complicated baggage.

PS: I didn't have nightmares about the aquarium, but I did dream that
we ate the little spotty shark from the petting pool and the octopus
from the kids' display. They were very tough & I was sad to be eating
them.

 

• Sep. 16, 2002

   

  Taurus
  Horoscope (by astrocenter.com)
  Ingenious new ideas for making money grow could come to you today,
  dear Taurus, and you might apply them not only to yourself but to
  your job as well. This could earn you some corporate kudos with the
  higher-ups! A lot of energy, both mental and physical, could be
  channeled into career matters. You might find yourself considering
  some rather bizarre career options. If you're going to try something
  off the wall, dear Taurus, this is definitely the day to lay the
  groundwork.
  
  Gemini
  Horoscope (by astrocenter.com)
  You and the man in your life might kick around a few ideas for
  getting away together, dear Gemini. Perhaps you are contemplating a
  trip by air, maybe to a warm country like Italy or Mexico. Or perhaps
  you are skiers and will want to do the opposite! If you're seriously
  thinking of taking such a trip this is the day to start planning.
  Make some phone calls and collect all the information you can.
  ============================
  Went to fryes & goodwill with Tom, got Xargon 3 at goodwill computer
  works. We ran into Big James & his roommate Larry there. That was
  kinda fun.
  
  Went to Bull Creek park Sat. evening & cooked out. That was cool.The
  waterfall was really going.
  
  saturday nite, I dreamt that Holly was an assasin who had to dress up
  like a guy to make her kills.
  
  Sunday, I went to Nude Yoga, but it was officially cancelled-Dionysus
  showed up & let me know.
  
  Then I went to the williamson county show barn--yuck. No native
  costume events. took a couple photos & left.
  
  gym-20 min treadmill, 20 min wt ct, 20 min treadmill
  
  Played Xargon, read, puttered.
  
  Nice weekend, seemed like enough time to do everything.

• Sep. 16, 2002

   

  http://www.spring.net/austin/wine/
  Texas Hill Country
  
  Alamosa Wine Cellars
  PO Box 212, Bend, TX
  Phone: (915) 628-3313
  E-mail: k_j_johnson@email.msn.com
  Hours: no public tasting room
  Call for appointment for private tour & tasting
  Fumé Blanc, Sangiovese, Viognier,
  
  Becker Vineyards
  Jenschke Lane, PO Box 393, Stonewall, TX 78671-0813
  Phone: (830) 644-2681 Fax: (830) 644-2689
  E-mail: beckervyds@fbg.net
  Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun Noon-5pm
  Tasting: yes; Tours: yes
  Homestead B&B
  Viognier, Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,
  Malbec, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
  
  Bell Mountain Vineyards / Oberhellmann Vineyards
  HC 61, Box 72, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
  Phone: (830) 685-3297 Fax: (830) 685-3657
  Hours: Sat 10am-5pm;
  Tasting: yes; Tours: 11am,1pm & 3pm;
  
  Cana Cellars Winery
  11217 Fitzhugh Rd., Austin, TX 78736
  Phone: (512) 288-2582
  
  Chisholm Trail Winery opening 2002
  RR2, Box 139, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
  Phone: (830) 990-CORK
  
  Cordier Estates
  IH 10 Extension 285, Fort Stockton, TX 79735
  Phone: (915) 395-2215 Fax: (915) 395-2431
  Brands: Lorval
  IH 10 Extension 285, Fort Stockton, TX 79735
  Phone: (915) 395-2215 Fax: (915) 395-2431
  Brands: Lorval
  
  Comfort Cellars Winery
  723 Front St., Comfort, Texas
  Phone: (830) 995-3274 (830) 990-9965
  Hours: daily noon-6pm
  
  Dry Comal Creek Vineyards
  1741 Herbelin, New Braunfels, TX 78232
  Phone: (830) 885-4076
  E-mail: howzr@swbell.net
  Hours: Wed-Sun noon-5pm
  Tasting: yes
  French Colombard
  
  Fall Creek Vineyards
  1820 Country Rd. 222, Tow, TX 78672
  Phone: (915) 379-5361 Fax: (915) 379-4741
  E-mail: chad@fcv.com
  Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat noon-5pm; Sun noon-4pm
  Tasting: yes; Tours: yes
  Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Johannisberg, Riesling, Muscat Canelli,
  Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, White Zinfandel
  
  Fredericksburg Winery
  247 W. Main, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
  Phone: (830) 990-8747 Fax: (830) 990-8566
  Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-6pm; Fri & Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 11am-6pm
  Only available from the winery
  Sparkling Wine, Sherry, Port
  
  Grape Creek Vineyards
  Hwy 290, PO Box 102, Stonewall, TX 78671
  Phone: (830) 644-2710 Fax: (830) 644-2746
  E-mail: relax@grapecreek.com
  Hours: daily Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm;
  Tasting: yes, no charge; Tours: noon-4pm
  Inn on Grape Creek-B&B
  Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Fumé Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
  Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Muscat Canelli, White Zinfandel, Riesling
  
  Hill Country Cellars
  1700 N. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park, TX 78613
  Phone: (800) 264-7273 or (512) 259-2000 Fax: (512) 259-2092
  E-mail: hccellars@mindspring.com
  Hours: daily noon-5pm
  Tasting: yes;
  Tours: Fri-Sun 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
  
  Pillar Bluff Vineyards
  FR 1478 & County Road 111, Lampasas, TX
  Phone: (512) 556-4078
  E-mail: vineyard@n-link.com
  Hours: by appointment
  Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc
  
  Poteet Country Winery
  400 Tank Hollow Rd, Poteet, Texas 78065
  Phone: (830) 276-8085 Fax: (830) 742-8274
  E-mail: poteetwine@peoplepc.com
  Hours: Fri-Sun noon-6pm
  Tasting: yes, no charge; Tours: yes
  A relaxing country atmosphere surrounds the winery. Come and picnic,
  enjoy special chuckwagon cook-offs, hayrides, Old West get-togethers,
  and foot-stomping musical events, and in general just spend time
  enjoying life. Strawberry, Blackberry, Peach Pear, Mustang Grape Wine
  
  Sister Creek Vineyards
  1142 Sisterdale Rd., Sisterdale, TX 78006
  Phone: (830) 324-6704 or (830) 324-6682
  E-mail: sistercreek@hctc.net
  Hours: daily noon-5pm
  Tasting: yes
  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon,
  Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Muscat Canelli
  
  Slaughter-Leftwich Vineyards
  4209 Eck Ln., Austin, TX 78734
  Phone: (512) 266-3331 Fax: (512) 266-3180
  E-mail: events@slaughterleftwich.com
  Hours: daily 1pm-5pm; Closed Mon
  Tastings: yes; Tours: Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm
  Cabernet Sauvignon
  
  Spicewood Vineyards
  PO Box 248, Spicewood, TX 78669
  Phone: (830) 693-5328
  E-mail: tastings@spicewoodvineyards.com
  Tasting & Tours by appointment
  No sales on site
  Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bluebonnet
  Blush
  
  Texas Hills Vineyard
  RR2766, PO Box 1480, Johnson City , TX 78363,
  Phone (830) 868-2321 Fax: (830) 868-7027
  E-mail: wine@texashillsvineyard.com
  Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm
  Tasting: yes
  Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,
  Sangiovese, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandel
  
  Wimberley Valley Winery
  2825 Loneman Mountain Rd., Driftwood, TX 78619
  Phone: (512) 847-2592 Fax: (512) 847-1038
  E-mail: info@wimberleyvalleywinery.com
  Tasting Room In Old Town Spring:
  206 Main St., Spring, TX 77373
  Phone: (281) 350-8801 Fax: (281) 288-8298
  Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm; Closed Mon
  Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Apple Wine, Sangria, Mulled Wine, Spiced
  Wine
  
  Woodrose Winery & Retreat formerly Oak Hill Cellars
  662 Woodrose Lane, Stonewall, TX 78671
  Phone: (512) 664-2111
  
  

  882Re: texas wines

   

  • Sep. 16, 2002

     

    btw, cap rock & messina hof both make a sparkling champagne-style
    wine. (for future Texas tasting )

381 Friday scopes
Mar. 15, 2002
Taurus

Horoscope (by astrocenter.com)
Your sense of self may be challenged today, dear Taurus, and you
might have trouble keeping your seat during the joust. Keep in mind
that the way others see you isn't necessarily who you really are.
Don't feel like you have to change your direction to please anyone.
Ultimately, your only responsibility is to make yourself happy and to
be true to yourself. Today's aspect could set off bizarre events,
asking you to change your way of thinking. So stay flexible and adapt
to whatever situation occurs.

Gemini

Horoscope (by astrocenter.com)
As you single-mindedly follow the path toward acquiring the latest,
the greatest, the fastest, and the best, you may find that you have
left behind some fundamental values dear Gemini. Don't lose sight of
the principles that make up your foundation. You could get shaken
today when your ego goes on trial for pig-headed behavior. Keep
yourself in check, and be conscious of the way you project yourself
to others.
=============================================
Up till 1 a.m. making leg covers for my ezup top and little medieval
flappy things. Also a surcoat, which turned out badly. Sewing machine
doing bad things, loose stitches, skipped stitches, etc. Seems to
misbehave every time I have to replace thread in bobbin. FOO

Otherwise quite productive evening. will do glass tonite than crash &
burn.

382 Amber?

Mar. 15, 2002
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/wishlist/Z5B5SY8YDJ3A/ref=wl_s_3/104
-5812276-2893560

Amazon.com has a wedding registry now....I wasn't able to find andrew
but I did find a few ambers in bloomington, in. I think maybe this
one is 'our' amber. Sent the link to Jen, we'll see what she thinks.

 

383 for diaryland wish list pg

Mar. 15, 2002
http://ncapp-cdi.trifecta.com/styles/art/feature.jpg
http://www.styleschecks.com/jsp/SiteNavigator.jsp


384 Finished Do What Thou Wilt, Lawrence Sutin



Mar. 15, 2002
Not a bad book, a little strangely annotated/footnoted, but not bad.
Seemed very fair. Made me less sympathetic to AC than I had been in
the past. Possibly latent homophobia? or something? His
relationships with women really disturbed me. Devoted his life to
magick and was a crashing failure by any means of assessment. Died in
poor health, in debt, addicted to drugs. Very sad.

He is 2-3 generations from me. Died 1947. People my grandmother's age
were his students. His son is 62, if still alive. Interesting to
think that it is possible to speak to people who directly knew
Crowley. History passes away. wwII veterans dying like flies...soon
there will be no one who remembers the turning of the Aeon, passing
from Victorian morality to ...whatever.

Hm. Wow.

Amazing how long 1 book can last when I'm just reading on the bus and
not at home or work.

Need to hit the library today at lunchtime.

385 2000 Port

Mar. 15, 2002
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily/News/1,1145,1639,00.html

Top Names In Port Declare 2000 Vintage Posted: Thursday, March 14,
2002 By James Suckling
The Symington family, owner of such prestigious Port names as Graham,
Dow, Warre and Quinta do Vesuvio, is the first Port shipper to
officially declare the 2000 vintage. All the other big names are
expected to follow, including Taylor, Fonseca, Noval and
Niepoort. "I am unusually enthusiastic," said Peter Symington, the
veteran Port blender who oversees all of the Port production for his
family's massive enterprise. "The 2000s get better by the day. People
will be very enthusiastic when they taste them. I don't see anything
lacking in the structure of these wines to put them behind 1994. They
are absolutely superb wines. They have real guts, color, tannins and
aromas." Port houses declare a vintage, on average, for about three
years out of 10, traditionally waiting until the second spring after
the harvest to make their decision. A declaration is simply publicly
announcing that they intend to bottle and market a particular year of
Vintage Port. The last two declarations for Port were 1997 and 1994.
The latter is the greatest modern vintage, rated 99 points on Wine
Spectator's 100-point scale, while 1997 received a rating of 96.
Prices for the 2000 Ports are expected to be at the same levels as
1997. This means top names such as Taylor, Fonseca and Graham should
sell for between $75 and $85 a bottle. A large percentage of the
production will be sold this spring as "pre-arrivals," although most
Ports will not reach retail shelves until the end of this year.
Rupert Symington, a director for his family's Port shipping firm,
expected brisk sales of the 2000s, even though Vintage Port prices in
general are flat in the global market. "The wines should sell very
well," he said. "I don't see any problem -- this is a full-blown
vintage." He said that quantities of 2000 are small compared to past
vintages, due to a very small crop. Yields in some of the best areas
in Portugal's Douro Valley, the delimited vineyard area for Port,
were down 35 percent to 40 percent because of a bad berry set in
June. This gave the harvest a small, compact crop of grapes that are
packed with rich fruit and tannins. "The vintage is up in quality
with many of the best in recent decades," added Peter
Symington. "Anyone who thinks that 2000 was declared simply because
it was the year 2000 is wrong. The vintage made great wines." The
Symingtons are making 2000 Vintage Ports at all the houses they own,
including Dow, Graham, Warre, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell and
Quarles Harris. In addition, they will be making 2000 bottlings at
the properties of Quinta do Vesuvio and Quinta do Roriz.

386  5 questions - from Arizabif on Diaryland

Mar. 15, 2002
Her answers:

1. What's your favorite animal?
Elephants
2. What pets have you had in your lifetime?
Hamsters, gerbils, dogs, fish, hermit crabs, cats, ferrets, and 1
hedgehog.
3. Is there any specific pet you have wanted, but never had? Why?
I would love to have a sugar glider, but they are really hard to care
for, and I have 5 cats who would love to eat a little sugar glider.
4. Are you allergic to any animals? Nope.
5. Do you have any 'pet' pet peeves(your pets or others')?
Cat hair covering all my black clothes. Cats that chew up important
papers. Cats that barf on freshly cleaned surfaces. Cats that get
right up by your face and then fart or belch.

My answers:
1. What's your favorite animal?
Hedgehogs
2. What pets have you had in your lifetime?
Mice, hampsters, 1 gerbil, cats, dogs, a hedgehog, fish.
3. Is there any specific pet you have wanted, but never had? Why?
I want finches, but not as housepets. I want a little outdoor aviary
for them, and I don't have the $$$ or time to make one & stock it
right now. Plus my sweetie really doesn't like birds.
4. Are you allergic to any animals? I think I'm allergic to our 2
cats. maybe the dog too. But I live in Austin, I'm allergic to
everything. Grin & bear it!
5. Do you have any 'pet' pet peeves(your pets or others')?
Cats that won't use their litterbox. Pets that people take where
they're not supposed to (ferrets & snakes at a renfaire with a "no
pets" policy, for example). Exotics that aren't well cared-for.
Spoiled, bratty pets. People who take their pets in public and don't
make them behave, let them onto the dining table to eat everyone's
food and think that's "cute", let them shit everywhere and don't
clean it up. Pets that people bring into my house or to other
gatherings without asking &/or under false pretenses ("we'll bring
it's cage and it can sleep while we visit"--and then it doesn't sleep
or stay in its cage, the owners let it run everywhere and shit
everywhere)

387 more pet pet peeves

Mar. 15, 2002
aggressive/misbehaving pets who are not on a leash or otherwise
restrained by owners.

388 Silk sheets

Mar. 15, 2002
http://www.domesticbin.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/product-
id/16059.html

http://www.silklinens.com/silkbedding.htm

http://www.domestications.com/parent2.asp?product=A370736Bx =$140

also do ebay search "silk sheets" + queen


389 possible gifts for SIL or things for me to read, anyway

Mar. 15, 2002
Of Women and Horses
by GaWaNi Pony Boy author=GaWaNi%20Pony%20Boy/104-5812276-2893560> (Editor)

She Flies Without Wings : How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul
by Mary D. Midkiff author=Midkiff%2C%20Mary%20D./104-5812276-2893560>

390 More horse stuff

Mar. 15, 2002
Listmania!
Books for Novice Horse-people
by George Slusher, Pro trainer/instructor
E-mail this list to a friend

1. Buying Your First Horse : A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing For,
Finding and Purchasing a Great Horse
by Mary Guay, Donna Schlinkert (Photographer) (Paperback - October
1997)
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George Slusher's comments:
Best book on choosing a horse for a novice rider/owner

2. The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship : Basics for
Beginners/d Level
by Susan E. Harris, Ruth Ring Harvie (Editor) (Paperback - March
1994)
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George Slusher's comments:
The book to start with--for kids AND adults!

3. The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship : Intermediate
Horsemanship/C Level
by Susan E. Harris, Ruth Ring Harvie (Paperback - June 1995)
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George Slusher's comments:
Continues where the D Manual left off

4. The Parent's Guide to Horseback Riding
by Jessica Jahiel (Paperback - June 1999)
Out of Print--Limited Availability
George Slusher's comments:
Great for parents of horse-crazy kids

5. Riding for the Rest of Us : A Practical Guide for Adult Riders
by Jessica Jahiel (Hardcover - April 1996)
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George Slusher's comments:
Best book around for novice adult riders

6. The Horseback Almanac
by Jessica Jahiel (Paperback - May 1998)
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George Slusher's comments:
For younger kids (8-12)--and their parents!

7. Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage : Facilities Design and
Management
by Cherry Hill, Richard Klimesh (Illustrator) (Paperback - October
1991)
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George Slusher's comments:
If you plan to keep a horse at home--get this!

8. Horse Handling & Grooming : A Step-By-Step Photographic Guide to
Mastering over 100 Horsekeeping Skills (Horsekeeping Skills Library)
by Cherry Hill, Richard Klimesh (Photographer) (Paperback - April
1997)
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George Slusher's comments:
A great pictorial guide, clear & concise--see Cherry Hill's other
books, too

9. Horse Health Care : A Step-By-Step Photographic Guide to
Mastering over 100 Horsekeeping Skills (Horsekeeping Skills Library)
by Cherry Hill, Richard Klimesh (Photographer) (Paperback - April
1997)
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George Slusher's comments:
Like this one; another great pictorial guide

10. Becoming an Effective Rider : Develop Your Mind and Body for
Balance and Unity
by Cherry Hill, et al (Paperback - December 1991)
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George Slusher's comments:
Covers both English & Western riding in surprising depth, but great
for novices

11. Understanding Equine Nutrition : Your Guide to Horse Health
Care and Management (Horse Health Care Library)
by Karen Briggs (Paperback - May 1998)
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George Slusher's comments:
Cuts through the hype & hoopla, taking the mystery out of feeding
horses

12. Uc Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Horses : A
Complete Medical Reference Guide for Horses and Foals
by Mordecai Siegal (Editor), et al (Hardcover - 1996)
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George Slusher's comments:
Best all-round vet book for horse owners

13. The Horse
by J. Warren Evans, et al (Hardcover - March 1990)
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George Slusher's comments:
Eventually, you'll want a "big" book on horses: start with this one

14. Basic Horsemanship : English and Western
by Gaydell M. Collier, E. F. Prince (Illustrator) (Paperback - April
1993)
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George Slusher's comments:
Superb approach to learning to ride English or Western

15. Consumer's Guide to Alternative Therapies in the Horse
by David W. Ramey (Paperback - November 1999)
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George Slusher's comments:
Balanced, careful look at controversial topic; look for Dr. Ramey's
other books