Too Many Pumpkins

Tuesday Tale – Too Many Pumpkins

I have had the nice surprise of meeting a fellow blogger who is also a Speech Pathologist!

She is starting a new series on Tuesdays called Tuesday Tales. She will review a children’s book and give insight and ideas on how to expand children’s language skills through books. As a huge fan of children’s literature and a big believer in the power of books, I am honored to guest post on this new venture from time to time. Her website is AVT coach.

The book I have chosen is Too Many Pumpkins, by Linda White and Illustrated by Megan Lloyd. A great read for October.

The simple story introduces us to its main character a senior woman by the name of Rebecca Estelle. Rebecca an avid gardener, enjoyed growing everything except Pumpkins. She hated pumpkins. Rebecca had vowed never to even look at a pumpkin again and she didn’t until...
..one Autumn day several pumpkins fell off a passing truck in her front yard. We spend much of the next few pages watching Rebecca try to rid herself of the pumpkins. In the end the reader is pleasantly surprised to see the change in this character’s attitude about something she hated for a long time.


For the complete review head over to AVT coach's website.



My favorite thing about this story is we get to witness a character who ends up changing her mind. Learning that there is always a chance we could change our minds is a great life lesson for old and young alike.

I hope you all find a great read this October and enjoy the magic of a book shared with a child.

Golden Nuggets, Caution Slips and The Free Market Economy of the Fourth Grade

Last night at dinner, my bookworm made a surprising announcement.

"I am buying a blank caution slip from my friend for four golden nuggets."


(Caution slips are given to children when they are in big trouble and usually involves a trip to the principal's office)

She proceeded to explain how a friend of hers was given a blank caution slip and now apparently the fourth graders in room 12 decided it was a very valuable commodity. The bidding began, with one student offering to loan the child a favorite pen while others offered favors. With many children attempting to gain possession of the slip, the bidding switched to a more specific currency, golden nuggets. Golden nuggets are a paper ticket given out for good behavior to be used at the class store for prizes. My daughter informed me that she had won the auction and she and her friend shook on it.

I was still shocked and feeling like I should reprimand my child. I was thinking of warning her that she could get in big trouble, but her uncle and father beat me to the punch. They proceeded to shower her with praise and encouragement for this recent endeavor.

Before giving my lecture, I decided to dig deeper and ask her why she wanted the caution slip. Her eyes lit up as she explained how she wanted to have it so she could give it out to some ill behaved student if needed. The glint in her eye revealed how she relished the power she would wield as the possessor of the blank caution slip. I could barely keep a straight face as the look in her eye reminded me of the power the ring had over Frodo in Tolkien's recent cinematic tale.

Ah the desire for power, so intoxicating and undeniably strong, perhaps this is what happened on Wall Street. One too many souls getting that glazed over look and letting power and greed take the wheel. Quick grab a blank caution slip.

Sorting the Fruit - Sticky Fun

Sorting Fun...

With Harvest upon us, and all that harvest time brings to the vineyard/wine business, I have not been able to post. More posts will be coming soon. In the meantime, check out how many people sorted our fruit! If you counted correctly, there were seven in the video. My Love is almost completely hidden on the other side of the sorting table, but if you look closely, you can see his legs. When I wasn't taking pics and joined the sorting crew, there were eight.

Harvest 2008 - Yeah we did it again!

Sweet fruit...

Sticky hands...

Dark color.....

Hard work ....

The pictures tell the story, another harvest completed.


Check out more photo stories it's photo story friday.




Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

"Great- Now We Have To Do It Again" - Bottleshock

A few nights ago I ventured out to town to see Bottleshock the movie. It is based on the true and historic story of when, in 1976, California wines were submitted in a blind tasting against noted French wines … and won!

I enjoyed watching the story unfold about the various struggles between a father and son, the pursuit of a dream, and the hard work that goes into farming. This story really demonstrates the growing pains of a young wine business.

There were more than a few great lines. Several of them reminded me of why I love this life we’ve chosen, and why I embrace the struggle of farming a vineyard. Farming is a great analogy for life. My experience of “Living on Some Land” has given me a great appreciation for this fact. Farming is a daily reminder that many things in life are out of our control. First-hand experience has increased my understanding of why Jesus often used a vineyard as a parable in his teachings. I try to remind my children that they have more control over their reaction to life's events than the events themselves.

My favorite line from the movie is the title of this post. In farming, you work all year for the harvest and when it’s done, you start all over again. Sending my kids to school feels much the same; with a new year comes new expectations, new teachers and new schedules. Life often comes at us in cycles. Like housework, homework and cooking, there is always a do-it-again around every corner.

So, I give this film a tip of the wine glass and a recommendation to see it if you have the chance. I think many will enjoy this slice-of-life story that gives a nod to the American dream and American spirit of hard work.



Disclaimer: As a California vineyard owner I am definitely a biased reviewer!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 NIV

A Look Back at the Artist

My son the artist in 2004 drawing and showing his sister his art.

A recent piece.

He did write "feel lucky punk" as the caption for this robot!

He is such a 13 year old.

For more wordless wednesday posts check out five minutes for mom.

Sister Cousins

I consider myself very blessed to have two wonderful sisters. We have so much fun together. We love shopping, staying up late, doing creative projects and just being together.

Recently my sisters came to town, both living far away and they arrived with their daughters in tow. We were all blessed to have a daughter, however none of our daughters have a sister.

As I prepared for my sisters arrival a pang of sadness washed over me for my girl. She will not have this experience (sisters coming to town) as she only has her one brother.

My sisters were on the same wavelength when they arrived they announced - "we have decided that the girls need to be sister cousins instead of just cousins." My funny sisters would say to one of the girls "go ask your sister" every chance they got. The girls were such good sports, they tolerated us with very few eye rolls. They genuinely love being together.

My sisters are a bit older. As I watched my nieces playing with their much younger cousin it was like looking back through a window in time. The age difference between myself and my sisters is so similar to our girls.

My Love's ideal family would be two girls and two boys - so each child would have a sister and a brother. Being a working mom I just couldn't rally for any more after two. So thank goodness my daughter has sister cousins.

Sisters - two in college and one in grade school many years ago.


Cousins Sister Cousins- two in college and one in grade school current day.

My Kitchen and the Soup Nazi

I am addicted to the food network and I have a son who loves to cook, however I still consider myself a novice in the kitchen.

One type of food that I really enjoy cooking is soup. I have a talent for soup. Maybe it is due to my goal and deep desire to only have one pot to clean. Whatever the reason, my soups are usually the best thing on the menu. Some of my specialties are: zucchini soup, blended vegetable soup, corn chowder, chicken tortilla soup and butternut squash soup. Thankfully my family all love soup.




Fortunately for my family, I am not nearly as temperamental as the Soup Nazi, but I do like saying "No soup for you."