If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~ Anne Bradstreet



One look at this picture, and one might think that spring is progressing along just as it should be.  Sun shining, birds tweeting (yes, they were the first ones to tweet) and all being right with the world.  Well, keep thinking that and the driving hail and freezing temperatures and relentless rain that once again blighted the area will not be mentioned.  No sooner did our unfortunate, yet still aspiring, vintners walk the vineyard and proclaim to themselves that all was right with their world and hail began to pummel the tender newly budded vines.  The rain has not even stopped long enough to repair the driveway after the monster storms that moved in the week of March 20th.  The quicksand-like driveway nearly claimed two cars and slimed them into the ditch on the 27th.  How's that for man triumphing over nature? 

Consequently, at the first break in the weather the second weekend of April, three pickup truck loads of gravel were brought in so that the driveway could be traveled upon by a dump truck, that would even bring in more gravel, so that cars would no longer sink.  While nursing aching muscles after shoveling gravel for a day, the ranch manager determined that this was yet another occasion when negativity could creep in, and instead opted for wine.

In the end, though, the gravel was unloaded, the driveway filled in, the 2010 Cab was tested for MLF completion.  While not quite there yet, it is closer to being done than when last tested.  The big news, however, was that our olive oil underwent the chemical analysis to determine if it can be submitted to the California Olive Oil Council for the final level.  It passed, which made all that tasting of adversity over autumn and winter a little more palatable -- excuse the pun.  And while we have not yet achieved "prosperity" yet, that small, small victory provided a level of momentum that was needed.

A fairly long-ish encounter was had with the barn owls one night, upon returning to the rancho.  Call it a meet-and-greet.  The car lights were turned down, and because the hybrid was being used, perhaps the noise from the auto did not bother the owl as much.  He merely turned and looked at the entering vehicle, which stopped to look back at him, and a mutual admiration moment occurred for, perhaps, 30 seconds, at which time, the little woman popped her head out, wanted to know who was visiting, apparently wasn't in much of a visiting mood, and flew off, leaving the car's occupants and the other owl continuing to gaze upon each other.  Since it was nearly 9:00 p.m. and well past the bedtime of the occupants, they were forced to drive away, leaving the silhouette of the owl against the dark night sky.

Spring, Easter, and Passover promise hope for the new season and for the year, and from the rancho to you all, Happy Spring, Happy Easter, and Happy Passover!

May the wind be always at your back . . .

The Ranch Manager