Vineyard Blessing and Dinner

Sometimes I wonder what my mother will get me into next. You that do not know her, may think I'm exaggerating. But I can give you a "for instance." I can't remember what year, but when I was living in Topeka, and I am getting ready to walk out the door to go home for Christmas My mother calls me up and says, "I know you are getting ready to come home, but I need a birdbath-warmer. Don't come home without one."

Another example, "There's going to be a blessing of the grapes and a dinner at the Smoky Hill Vineyard, it's this Saturday, what time should we pick you up?"

I will be the first to admit, and Sean will probably be the last to admit, that we went along to the Vineyard, which is one of the last places either of us belong. I thought for sure they would reject us at the door because Sean was wearing jeans, or because mom and I were not wearing dresses, or because we were trying to bring in a two-month old baby, but they didn't. Instead we attended the blessing, I took bunches of pictures, and no one said a thing. Except the guy I stood next to during the blessing, and he was just giving me a history lesson about the ceremony.




Okay, okay, so it wasn't all wine and roses. There was one lady that had enough nerve to do this.

She obviously didn't notice that heathen snapping pictures! The part of the blessing I liked, besides the golden robes, was where the priest talked about how wine was a good thing, in moderation. I think the "moderation" part was added because there was a tasting. Mom and I went in first and checked it out. We both agreed that the Cherry Port was the best kind we tried - but we only tried two kinds. We relayed this information to Sean and my father, who spent considerably more time in the tasting room. They returned to our table with a bottle of Red Raspberry. After my first taste, it was obvious they had done more research, cause the raspberry was excellent. Then again, my favorite wine is Boone's Strawberry Hill, so you understand my discerning palette. Then we had dinner overlooking the vineyard (seriously, I can't believe I just wrote that last sentence, who the hell am I?).
After dinner, I begged a famed photographer to take a family picture. I knew she was enjoying her time off, and probably didn't want to do it. She even made the comment, "I don't know HOW to work these little cameras." But I'm glad I asked anyway.

I have no idea what Sean and mom are smirking about, I think they may have finished off the bottle, or because they were shocked I just begged someone to take a family picture, I'm not quite sure. On the way out, mom decided Scouten NEEDED her picture taken on a wine barrel. I told her that I would be happy to, but Grandma had to be in the picture too. Once again, I think the wine kicked in, because she agreed! That wine sure IS a blessing...

If you would like to see more pictures from this fun-filled fiasco, you can click here. Sorry there are no pictures of my father's birdbath warmer, I don't think he's ever used it.