"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." ~ Margaret Atwood

It was just two weeks ago that we could not walk from the house to the barn due to a severe storm that came through.  Even last evening, as we awaited sleep (one of us waited longer than the other), and the winds were so strong, it shook our interim residential quarters.  This author could not help but wonder, will anything grow this year?  And as morning broke and the sun rose, all of a sudden, it seemed as if the rancho was resplendent, courtesy of Spring.

Due to the current remodel construction at the ranch, the grounds manager and the product manager are both severely behind.  But didn't you get everything done during your niece's visit, when you powered through so much?  That was then, this is now.

So what's on tap, you ask?  Labeling the 2011 Cabernet, racking all of the 2013 and 2012 wines, bottling the 2013 olive oil, fine tuning and introducing some new and exciting rancho products -- which also need labeling and packaging, restocking all the products that were sold out during a very busy holiday season and getting them on the website -- and that's just my portion of the chores.  The grounds manager has an even more ambitious plan, prepping the area which the future site of our new olive grove of 120 new trees.

And with bud break and lists as long as the horizon, we best get working on those lists.  We will end with another of our favorite quotes by our favorite philosopher, Dr. Seuss:

"You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So get on your way!”

 Happy Trails!


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