SLO Vintners and Rockin' Harvest

Years ago,

before

Petit Soleil

was

even

an

apple in our eyes

I

had

the

privilege

of

working

with

the

San Luis Obispo Vintners' and Growers Association

aka

SLOVAG

I

worked

with

the

best people:

the grape growers

the wine makers

and

other folks

just

passionate

about wine

The head honcho

back then

was

Archie,

the quintessential wine aficionado

and

in our little office

were

Gail (second in command)

Diane (who got the jobs done)

Laura (who got the jobs done)

and

me (who helped get the jobs done)

Basically,

we

worked,

sometimes

laughing

'til tears

(often until we pee-ed)

it got us through the stress

of getting

events and marketing

maps and brochures

done

for the

grape growers

wine makers

and

folks passionate about wine

...

fast forward

SLOVAG

is no longer

run

by

Archie

or

Gail

Diane, Laura or me

but

we four girls still do laugh 'til tears (2010)

and we get together whenever we can (2011)

sometimes we call Archie,

to just laugh

and harass him a bit

..

Ten years

after putting on

a

SLOVAG

Harvest Celebration

John and I

had the

opportunity

to

go to

Harvest Celebration

as

guests

(not as grunt workers)

The theme

for

2011

was

Rockin' Harvest

Petit Soleil

donated

a stay

for

the

live auction item

"Living la Vida SLO"

John and I

arrived

about

11

grabbed

a

plate and glass

and

got to be

early birds

for the

wines

and

foods

being

highlighted

Clay and Frederika

are passionate

about

their winery,

Claiborne and Churchill

their

Dry Gewurtztraminer

and Dry Riesling

are

outstanding!

We met up

with

Gwen,

the passionate owner (with winemaker hubby)

of Kynsi Winery

Kynsi's

Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noirs

are

delicious

Oh,

and look!

Clotilde

of Olea Farms Olive oils

was there

with their new olive oil blend, Fusion!

the

tents and surrounds

were

cheerfully

decorated

with

memorabilia

and

lyrics

from

Rock 'n Roll faves

Baileyana, Cadre, Tangent Trenza and Zocker Winery was there... (one winery - many offshoots)

Love their wines!

and

rocker

winemaker

extraordinaire

Mike Sinor was there

with rocking wife Cheri

whipping it good

Passionate about wine,

Mike makes wine

for

Sinor-LaValle (his own label) YUM!

Ancient Peaks wines

and

Center of Effort wines

(with Nathan)

Mike was just

featured in

Wine spectator!!

congrats, Mike!

Paul Kwong's pumpkin curry rocked my world!

Paul is the owner

and chef

for Mee Hung Low in SLO,

the charming and delicious

noodle house

next to the Palm Theatre

the day

was

picture-perfect

the

main auction tent

was

happily

decorated

and ready for some serious auctioning

Petit's

next-door neighbor

Splash Cafe

had

killer empanadas

and mini pizzas

mmmmhmmmm

Cal Poly

shared

a

couple

of really

amazing wines

good job, Cal Poly!

Avila Beach

seen

through

the tent

a

really

fun

couple of

hours

with

stellar wines

and

delicious

fare

from

local restaurants

go

here

to the

SLOVA

website

and

mark your calendars

for

the next wine

event

and

Whip it - Whip it Good!

Domestic Divas, Queens of Cuisine etc.

First

of

all

I

apologize.

I

am

so

sorry

that

I

don't

have pictures

of

ALL

of

the

amazing

employees

we

have

had

at

Petit Soleil

I

haven't

been

taking

pictures

THAT

long

We hire these

awesome

young ladies

(and men)

..

most often

Cal Poly Students

and

they

perfect their baking skills,

and their appetizer skills

and they learn about

wine

and

they

serve people

with

huge smiles

and often,

because

they become

domestic divas

and Queens of Cuisine

they

get engaged,

married

and begin their lives

post

Petit

happily everafter

....

to name

a few:

Lindsey (married),

Dylan (married),

Cole (married),

Ellyn (married,

Ellen (married),

Maggie (engaged),

Kelly (married),

Tani (married),

Carey (married)

and

many

many

others...

Last weekend

was

Libby's

wedding.

Libby

worked at Petit

for over a year

and

Jason

proposed to her in Paris.....in the Eifle Tower

(hello? - how spectacular is that?)

...

Libby and Jason

chose the

glorious

Edna Valley Vineyards

as the

destination

to

celebrate

their wedding

we celebrated

with

Libby and Jason!

with Ashley

and Caitlin

Riley

Annie

and

MacKenzie

and

Molly (over there to the right)

I

do believe

that

Edna Valley Vineyard

has the most

beautiful

views

of

the

Edna Valley

Libby and Jason

10.1.11

gorgeous,

at

sunset

Honestly,

Petit Soleil

has been

blessed

to have the

best

employees!!!

we

watch

them

grow

and mature

move on

and thrive

crocodile tears

Libby and Jason

heartfelt

Congratulations!

Eldra and her Amazing Technicolor Dream Quilts

Eldra

is

passionate

c r E a t i v e

and

so

INSPIRATIONAL.

She

inspires

11th graders

to love

literature

and writing

...

to

be

compassionate

to

take

initiative

and

be

'the change'

For

seven years

she

has

inspired

11th grade girls

to run

half marathons

with their moms

and

fundraise together

to beat

Leukemia and Lymphoma

Eldra

is

passionate

about finding

a cure

for

Leukemias and Lymphomas

and

she

is

passionate

about

designing

and sewing

quilts

Eldra

is selling

a few

of her

amazing

technicolor

dream quilts

as

a

fundraiser

for

Team in Training

This

is

one

of the

quilts

will be

for sale

at

Petit Soleil's Fete d'Arte

It

is

passionately

painstakingly

and lovingly

stitched by hand

around each

little

house, window and door

look closer

Eldra's

quilts

are bright and happy

They are pieces of art, really

The

back

of each quilt

is as lovely

as

the front

They

are

amazing,

technicolor

dream

quilts

Please

join

Eldra

with artist extraordinaire

Natellie Saia

ART AND DESIGN

and her

stunning

art

at

Petit Soleil's

Fete d'Arte

July 24th

12-4

delicious

cupcakes

by

cupcakes teamintraining

Hotcha! that's some a'spicy biscotti!

I always

love

an

easy

fun

and

tasty

nibble!

we serve

this

biscotti

with

a salami roll,

apple slices

and

lovely and bold red wine

(maybe Tolosa Syrah, or Ortman Eddie's Cuvee or Hitching Post Generation Red YUM!)

the recipe

calls for

black pepper

red pepper

cumin

and

sharp

cheddar cheese

flour

cornmeal

butter

egg and water

Mix

and form

two logs

The are baked

as logs

then

sliced

and baked again

thus

BI scotti

easy

and

a

bit addicting

1 tsp black pepper

2 c. flour

2 Tbs. cornmeal

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp red pepper

mix dry ingredients

1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

add cheese to dry ingredients

1/4 c. melted butter

1/4 c. water

1 large egg, beaten

mix wet ingredients together

and stir into dry.

Knead four or five times on floured surface

Divide dough in half

and

form

halves into logs.

Place logs on baking sheet and bake 30 minutes.

Cool log 10 minutes and cut diagonally into 1/2 inch slices.

Bake 15 minutes - turn and bake another 10 minutes.

These would be yummy

served with a

roasted tomato soup!

350 degrees

the most pain and the most joy

a

bLOg

gives the

bLOgGeR

the

absolute

power

to be

self- indulgent

granted,

there is

a huge

possibility

that

no one

will

read the

self-indulgent

bLOg

but

that's ok, too.....

Self-indulgently,

today

on

TTT with Toulouse

(or Rantings and Ramblings With Reggie the Randy Rover)

I am

celebrating

my dearest,

albeit only,

son,

Andrew!

He

turns

24

today

If you have been to

Petit Soleil

you

may have seen him

at the front desk

or washing dishes

fixing things

planting

or in an apron baking scones

Here

goes

extreme

self indulgence

Andrew August

was born

on Feb. 9

after 2 plus

days

yes DAYS

of labor pains

...

8lb 1 oz 20 inches

This is

our first day home

He is

about 8 months old

here

playing with

Schroeder

Christmas 1988


About 4 and a half here

Andrew's

self

portrait

first grade

(such a like image I think!)

Bath time hair -doos

and shenanigans

with

favorite

(and only)

sister,

Annie

Andrew is about 6 years old

8 year

birthday party...

seven crazy boys

making pizzas

going buzzzzerk

and

finally settling in to

watching movies

A L L

NIGHT

LONG

My treasured letter

that

Andrew

(and his favorite

and only

sister, Annie)

wrote to me

when

John and I

first started dating

2005

High school graduation

2009

Graduation

from California Lutheran University

and

many

many

many

happy

and

not

so happy,

but memorable

times

inbetween

all these

pictures and

events.

Self indulgently

I

am so

proud

to be this

amazing

young man's

mom

Happy Birthday,

Boogie!

Post Script

Remember the rugby blog?

The cut above

the eye

is from

his

last

game

..... they won!