Screw Caps Anyone?

I wanted to start today with a peaceful scene of Portugal, because this time of year I can slip into some negative feelings about Portugal's cork industry.  I have been screening corks for the upcoming bottling since March and at this rate will not finish until July.

These are large format corks that I first visually inspect and select, to ensure I only soak the prettiest corks.

 Corks on the left are pitted and a lower grade (C) than the corks on the right (Grade A).  I took these pictures at a supplier facility in Portugal.

After sorting, I screen the corks by soaking them over night (24 hours) in 10% ethanol to extract any potential TCA.  I explained the process in more detail in last year's post: Soooo Much Cork

So for today's post I will share my favorite corks.

This is Happy Cork.  Intern Amber found him a few years ago while she was inspecting corks.  Todd Pickering captured his portrait last year.

Happy Cork reminds me of Happy Toast.  I almost ate him during a lunch in Portugal.

Meet Skeptical Cork.  He's not sure about this cork business.

This one looks a little constipated to me.

Gentleman Cork. I think he is only missing a top hat.

Just go with it. . .

 I need to find happy little mustache faces, because sometimes I feel sad thinking about all the cork I have to soak.

Other times I feel totally over whelmed. . . .

But then I remember Love Cork.  Every time I feel overwhelmed, looking at Love Cork makes me feel a little better.

-L

Happy Birthday M & M!

I took my puppies to visit Todd Pickering in Pt Reyes a few weeks ago.  We spent a morning running through the fields across from his studio.

 These are my Beagle puppies, who are 1 year old next week.  Max is on the left and his sister Mila is on the right.

 I wanted to capture them before they lost their puppy-ness.  Max already looks like a dog, Mila still has a puppy face, which lets her get away with more shenanigans.

Mila is on the left and Max on the right.  They are exactly the same age but Max is bigger than her and usually people ask if he is older.

Since they are hounds I get questions about whether I'm going to teach them to track, or sniff out TCA.  I'm still working on teaching them not to throw up in my car.  I think it's going to be a while.

Mila running towards us.  I love the ears! I took hot dogs to bribe them to run towards the camera.

I also wanted to capture moments like this for when I need to remember that I love them.

Because sometimes they do this:

 Tear up packages.

 Tear up their toys.  All stuffing must be removed from all toys.  Always.

Tear up favorite wool sweaters.  Fortunately for them they have yet to tear up any shoes.

And as for the throwing up in my car . . . I think you can all picture that yourselves.

Also they are constantly escaping from my fenced yard.  Ever other week or so I get a call from a different neighbor who found them wandering the streets.  Or in their yard.  Or at the Round Table pizza half mile from my house.  Or in front of the local dive bar.

At least Mila looks sorry.  Sometimes.

Hopefully this photo session was a warm up for my real goal: Winery Dog Calendar 2014!

-L