Pickin' out a pumpkin on a beautiful fall day
Yesterday we trekked out to Sauvie Island (just to the NW of Portland) to take Sam and Patrick to
The Pumpkin Patch. Unfortunately the rest of Portland had the same idea. We probably should have turned around when we hit a traffic
jam a few miles from Sauvie Island. But, the kids were asleep and we were enjoying the first relaxing moment we had
shared in awhile. However, when we finally crossed the bridge onto Sauvie Island we realized our fatal error.
The traffic getting off the island was single file, a mile plus long, and moving at a snail's pace. Too late to have
second thoughts, off to pick out a pumpkin!
The Pumpkin Patch is great. They have animals, they have hay rides, they have a corn maze, they have elephant ears
(aka fair food), and yes, they have pumpkins. They must grow tens of thousands of tons every year! We all took
the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and spread out to find the right pumpkin. I say "right" because the "perfect"
pumpkin was long gone. All that were left were odd shaped, odd colored, and too big for kids to carry. But
who cares anyway.
After that it was time to get Sam some sugar and then back to the car. The better part of an hour later we were
off the island. Not bad considering that our friends Rick, Ashley, and Renner decided to take the shortcut, and it took
them over 2 hours to get off the island!!!!....for a freakin' pumpkin!!!
A great time, but for now on we'll go somewhere else more laidback, like Fred Meyer.
Matt, Meredith, and Hugh gave Sam some sunflower seeds for his birthday this year. I dug a hole and Sam planted
and watered them. He did an excellent job.
After a cold maceration, primary fermentation, and pressing I'm left with about 3 gallons. Not bad for 20 vines in the
front yard! I'm surprised actually. I was hoping for a gallon or so. My goal when I planted the vines was to have enough for
5 gallons of wine. I think I'll get there when the vines mature in a few years. The wine is now undergoing a malolactic fermentation.
In a week or two I'll rack on top of some french oak cubes.
