2019 Deep Freeze

We've made it through the worst of the cold. Yesterday morning we got down to -8F. The greenhouse held at 52F and the plants seem to be fine. Too early to tell what the grape damage will be.

What Was I Thinking?

We're still in the middle of winter, but the winemaking continues. We bottled the 2017 OVZ and blueberry wines last weekend. We need the room and the bottles so today I bit the bullet and cleaned out about 3 cases of old stuff we are never going to drink. Here, for posterity, are some brief tasting notes

• 2012 Persimmon Mead - sweet, almost like a low alcohol port, with good aroma. Alas, this is the last bottle. If I had more I would not dump it.
• 2013 Lime Ginger - may be a good basis for a cocktail of some sort, but not wine. Citrus just doesn't make good wine.
• 2012 Plumeria - oxidized.
• 2013 Apple - very one dimensional, with little aroma.
• 2014 Elderberry Persimmon - the surprise of the bunch. A very nice light red wine which has aged well. Currant, elderberry are prominent but not overpowering. Persimmon is in the background. Might be the only persimmon wine we'll drink. Determined not to dump the rest.
• 2013 Lavender - smells like hotel shampoo.
• 2012 Crabapple - oxidized, too sweet, and unbalanced.
• 2015 Lemongrass Mint - smells like hotel bath soap.
• 2015 EB - too much elderberry, too little acid, unbalanced.
• 2013 Loquat - tastes like it was spiked with Amaretto (which it was).
• 2013 Hibiscus Cranberry - oxidized.
• 2014 Lemongrass Ginger - not terrible but could use more acid to better balance this wine.
• 2015 Blueberry Hibiscus - not flawed, but just boring.
• 2012 Bay Leaf - oxidized.
• 2013 Catawba White - this was a super acidic wine to start. I ended up backsweetening a lot to get it balanced. Of course now, the acid seems to have settled back leaving too much sugar. I still have a case of this wine left.

At the end of the day I've got 3 more cases of clean bottles. It's safe to say we won't be making most of these wines ever again.

Snowpocalypse 2019

Over 3 days we've had 17.5 inches of snow, so Lisa and I hunkered down.

We have yet to get the driveway plowed, so we do not know yet when we can get out. Saturday we had the standard winter supper: fish tacos!

The crappie was wonderful and we have plenty of extra for additional meals.

Costa Rica 2019

The blog is generally about our free time at home in Missouri, but there is precedent for publishing vacation posts. The family went to Costa Rica to ring in the new year. We had a terrific time in Guanacaste, but really, I'm just here to brag about the fish.

View from our villa

Dinner. Adam looking more serious than necessary.

We caught 16 of these, had to release most of them

Mahi mahi ceviche

Christmas 2018

Allie and Jake were home for Christmas. Allie brought Joe which was great because Joe is a breadmaker. Puzzles. Games. Good food. Family Fun!

Concrete Countertops

Indecision about countertops in the new poolhouse turned into inspiration and we decided to build them on our own out of concrete.

I researched the many ways to do this and eventually decided on the Buddy Rhodes "press technique." We got concrete from Lowe's and pigment and other ingredients online and set to work.

The forms were fashioned out of 2" hard foam. Prior to pressing the concrete we coated everything with Pam as a form release.

I have to say it worked better than expected.

Shawn and Jake both helped with the skim coats of contrasting colors, the sealant, and the wax.

I cut out a space for the drain flange and they are awaiting final hookup in the poolhouse. I'll have to grind a bit out of the bathroom counter as the front of the sink extends a bit too far. The 24" x 48" piece will get special treatment as a custom island.

Very satisfying project. I may have found a new medium.

Christmas Repairs

The weekend prior to the Christmas holiday turned out to be sunny and warm. Allie, Joe, and Jake are here but went off shopping, so I took that opportunity to fix the truck bay garage door opener. Then I got on a roll and repaired the fence, a bathroom dimmer, and a TP hanger. While we still have months to go, I'm very anxious for spring.