May 17
My Puppy is Missing
When I got back to home last night the side gate to my house was open and the puppy is gone. The odd thing is that I specifically checked the gate before I left as sometimes it doesn’t latch all of the way.
The two other dogs are still here and were in the house when I got home.
When our dogs have gotten out in the past, they have never gone far, and always returned home after their adventure. They have never gone out solo, usually the pack travels together and my neighbors burn up the phone line letting me know they are out, so this is a little weird. Bella’s only 6 months old and on the small side for a Great Pyrenees. She is sweet tempered and very docile. She’d greet anyone and is dog friendly. I realize that she may be long gone by now and I’m heartbroken.
Bella wouldn’t fare well against a coyote and certainly not against a pack of coyotes which are also a concern. There’s a den not far from my property and there is daily coyote activity in the canyon.
I’m worried sick. I have been through the canyon multiple times now. It’s hard to see anything for all the foliage — but even a big puppy could hide anywhere. Bella’s pushing 50 pounds but is still young. I’m hoping against hope that someone will see the sign, banners, flyers I’ve posted around the canyon and give me a call, or that someone saw her so we’ll have some idea of where she headed.
Keep your fingers crossed for me please
If you know anyone in the East San Fernando Valley Area — Kagel Canyon, Lopez Canyon, Little Tujunga, Sunland, Sylmar, San Fernando — please forward this to them. 818.321.0099 text
Apr 20
Courtyard
Castillo di Amorosa
Calistoga, California
©Laura Quick
The masonry, ironwork and woodwork was fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Building materials included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone, in addition to paving stones, terra cotta roofing tiles and some 850,000 bricks imported from Europe. Extending into the hillside adjacent to the castle lies a labyrinth of caves some 900 feet (270 m) in length. Beneath the castle are the 2-acre (8,100 m2) barrel cellar and tasting rooms where visitors can sample the wines-all sold only at the Castle. This is ll a part of the Amorosa Castle in the Napa Valley in California.
Apr 20
Wine Thief
CASTILLO DI AMOROSA
Calistoga, CA
©Laura Quick
Though it looks like a sexual aid or S&M device, a “wine thief” allows Alison to “steal” young wine from a barrel for tasting. I love the name wine thief. Also the corked hole in the side of a barrel is called the “bunghole.” The cork is called the “bung,” historically a slang term for ass/asshole.
Though the cab balance was off due to its age, it was awfully promising already. We tasted a 2009 finished cab and it was terrific.
Apr 20
Castle Exterior, inside the Walls
CASTILLO DI AMOROSA
Calistoga, CA
©Laura Quick
The masonry, ironwork and woodwork was fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Building materials included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone, in addition to paving stones, terra cotta roofing tiles and some 850,000 bricks imported from Europe. Extending into the hillside adjacent to the castle lies a labyrinth of caves some 900 feet (270 m) in length. Beneath the castle are a 2-acre (8,100 m2) barrel cellar and tasting rooms where visitors can sample the tasty wines-all sold only at the Castle.
Apr 20
Castle Exterior with Moat
CASTILLO DI AMOROSA
Calistoga, CA
©Laura Quick
Castello di Amorosa is a winery located near Calistoga, California. First opening its doors to the public in April 2007, it is the pet project of 4th generation vintner, Dario Sattui who also owns and operates the V. Sattui Winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in San Francisco in 1885
The winery sits on property that was once part of an estate owned by Edward Turner Bale.
The castle interiors, which include 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground, cover approximately 121,000 square feet (11,200 m2). Among many other features it has: a moat; a drawbridge; defensive towers; an interior courtyard; a torture chamber; a chapel/church; a knights’ chamber; and a 72 by 30 feet (9.1 m) great hall with a 22-foot (6.7 m)-high coffered ceiling.
Almost all of the rooms are used as part of the wine-making process.
Apr 20
Aging Red Wine in Bottles
CASTILLO DI AMOROSA
Calistoga, CA
©Laura Quick
Depending on the varietal, red wine is initially aged in oak barrels (French Oak barrels are best), then further aged in bottles. This is red wine aging in bottles. There are hallways stacked as tall as a man, and running the length of the corridors throughout this winery. Yum!
Why?
The aging of wine, and its ability to potentially improve wine quality, distinguishes wine from most other consumable goods. While wine is perishable and capable of deteriorating, complex chemical reactions involving a wine’s sugars, acids and phenolic compounds (such as tannins) can alter the aroma, color, mouth feel and taste of the wine in a way that may be more pleasing to the taster. The ability of a wine to age is influenced by many factors including grape variety, vintage, viticultural practices, wine region and wine making style
Or, this could be the number of bottles of wine consumed in one evening by Tumblr folks at the Meet-up in Chicago this weekend. :)
Apr 20
White Wine Fermentation Egg
CASTILLO DI AMAROSA
Calistoga, CA
©Laura Quick
Castello di Amorosa is a winery located near Calistoga, California.
From Bottlenotes:
It usually seems that the more expensive a weird tool or product is, the more likely it is that a winemaker will buy it. Fittingly, concrete egg-shaped fermentation tanks are becoming all the rage in wine country—but many swear they make better-tasting wine.
Concrete tanks, though not egg-shaped, have been used by winemakers for centuries. Concrete went out of fashion once stainless steel—which is easier to clean, heat and cool—took over, but now concrete is back and booming
Apr 14
Cambria House - Living Room
Cambria, CA
©Laura Quick
I really needed a smaller aperture lens to photograph this properly, but you get the idea. Lovely living room, most of the view out the window is the Pacific Ocean. The house is really modern in design, but the wood keeps it warm and inviting. I just love it, and I’m glad that my friends are making this their home.
Apr 14
Cambria House (Office)
Cambria, CA
©Laura Quick
I just love this office. I could work here. I could live here. Please
Apr 07
KERN CANYON - HIGHWAY 178
I’m back in Lake Isabella for the weekend. To get her you pass Bodfish, and you know nothing good happens in Bodfish, right?
Mar 06
DAO HOUSE BARN
Danville, California
©Laura Quick
Eugene O’Neill’s Barn - I love this barn, it is currently used summers as a theater for his plays.
Also, he kept chickens!
Mar 06
PLAYWRIGHT EUGENE O’NEILL’S WRITING DESK
Dao House, Danville, California
©Laura Quick
America’s only Nobel Prize winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill, chose to live in Danville, California at the height of his writing career. Isolated from the world and within the walls of his home, Dao House.
O’Neill wrote his final and most memorable plays; The Iceman Cometh, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten, while sitting at this desk.
I visited Dao House this afternoon with my friend Daryl.
Mar 02
DANVILLE CEMETERY
Danville, California
©Laura Quick
Charming little cemetery in my charming little hometown. My folks moved here 1000 years ago and I’d never stopped by, today I visited with @Daryl Darko
Mar 02
BLOSSOMS
Danville, CA
©Laura Quick
I went to the Danville Cemetery today and these glorious trees were in bloom across the street. Driving up from Los Angeles, all of the fruit trees along the 375 miles of Interstate 5 are in bloom. It is gorgeous this time of year. There are times that I love living in California.
In other news, it’s 85 degrees today in Los Angeles.
