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Daniel Boone has got nothing on these ranchers.  Upon arrival this visit, truck  tracks were noted just in front of the Wine Barn.  Further investigation provided additional clues.  The gate leading to the north portion of our property was closed.  Over a sporty little cocktail, facts were reviewed and a conclusion reached . . . the cattle had finally departed.  Ranchers and farmers are fully cognizant that one should not become too attached to the herd, especially when they are meat cattle, but it becomes difficult not to establish a rapport when a particularly gregarious steer follows one's every move around the property, and like a dog, begins to beg for food and nearly perform tricks, even with 80 acres of new green grass at its disposal.

Such was the case with the young steer pictured.  While only a calf last summer, he was the only of the cattle to sprout horns.  Perhaps this lent a presence to him.  Perhaps he was just a born leader.  However, he was clearly the leader of the pack and the most friendly of the group.  A guess was made that someday he could become a longhorn.   Then, one day, whilest thinning shoots and repositioning the vines and nestled in the very precarious area behind the cabernet and the barb wire fence, this aspiring vintner was fully focused on the most important task of anyone stepping foot on to the rancho -- watching so that a rattlesnake did not creep up from behind.  However, in focusing all eyes on feet and the ground, the proverbial forrest was missed for the trees and a gentle nudge was offered through the fence and delivered to the back side of the unsuspecting worker.   While no serious injury occurred, it was certainly enough of a nudge to gain one's attention.  The offending youngster merely stood back, and if cattle can grin, it is certain that this one was grinning.  

So when the reality had struck the other evening that the cattle had departed, despite the conviviality of cocktail hour, spirits were dampened a bit.  The disappointment was salved with phrases such as, "This is a part of having a ranch," and "It is all a part of the cycle of the seasons," and the ever popular, "For everything turn, turn, turn."  A Bob Dylan song could not be far off, so the waxing and waning poetic was disrupted midstream. 

There is nothing a sunset cannot fix, so to the patio this correspondent headed to view nature's resplendent closing act.  Seated with a playful glass of Zinfandel, a noise was heard beyond the horizon.  It sounded like the pitter patter of little feet - well, actually, the thunder of hooves, at which time, guess who came gracelessly sprinting up the hill, silhouetted against the sun setting in the west and bringing the stampeding herd and resulting dust with him -- yes, our herd leader.  After a long, happy reunion, a conclusion was reached that the truck must have just moved the youngsters to the southern portion of the property and that they would continue to grace the landscape of the rancho for another few months, but more importantly, they would be regular visitors at the back passageway.

What was plainly visible, however, even to a casual observer, was that this was no longer a calf, at some point, he's doubled in size and so have his horns.  Not being an expert in bovine affairs, the thought came to mind that research might prove useful, so here are some of the fun facts gleaned:
1.  "The horns of the average Longhorn cow reach 50% of their eventual
  tip-to-tip measurement a little later, at about 15 months of age, and they
reach  95% between five and six years of age. They continue to grow, but usually
slow  down considerably with age."
2.  "They can and do use their horns to manipulate objects and to scratch
their  bodies, so reasonable care should be exercised around the cattle to avoid
  accidental contact with the horns. "
So, of what use can this information be to a person at the rancho?  Well, that this youngin's horns will probably double in size in the next few years, depending how long he continues to graze at the rancho, and secondly, hugs are probably out; one will need the Cabernet vines as a shield against Junior's horns not too far down the road.  It's probably a better idea just not to turn one's back, which is sage advice, since one never knows what is just around the corner here.  
Happy Trails!
The Accidental Rancher 















 
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The rancho is going solar.  The photo to the left is the future home of 39 solar panels.   This author has wondered aloud how all those panels will mesh with the quiet majesty of nature at the rancho, but will apparently find out soon, because the engineers will be out to stake out the site over President's Weekend and then the engineering and permitting will begin, with some estimates placing installation as early as March 23rd.  Some coordination and inspection with PG & E will be necessary in order for their approval of said project, at which time, the rancho will be given the go ahead to flip said switch. 

While the ultimate goal was clean energy independence and self-sufficiency, the basic hope is that when we flip a light switch, the lights go on and the well continues to pump water to the house.   Air conditioning in summer would be a close runner up. 

It would be a happy day, indeed, to be able to report that this phase of planning and building at the rancho will conclude the numerous projects that were within the grand five-year plan.  It has come to the attention of one of the ranchers that the other thrives on planning and building things, and that while this very post is being composed, plans are being contemplated to build an annex to the tool shed -- yes, yes, you heard that correctly.  It was suggested that, perhaps, a pre-made tool shed from Lowe's might suffice.  A faint guffaw was heard in response.   "No, no," he was heard to say, "One must be constructed," and off he walked, into the sunset, muttering something about joists and lumber and nails.   That evening, over a glass of wine, it was revealed that the Grand Plan has been expanded.  Perhaps merely installing drawers in the closet and redoing the master bathroom would not be adequate.  Knocking out the front portion of the house by the master bedroom might provide the desired result. 

Could it be that Mrs. Winchester has been reincarnated into this industrious rancher who never seems to stop building?  Is it the vast horizons that are visible at the rancho that motivate a person to be ever expanding over the horizon?  What drives a person to demonstrate such a level of work ethic, perseverence, and schpilkas?  There is a suspicion that it is hereditary, as well as environmental.  I will leave the reader with a quote by one of the geniuses of this world, which may shed some insight on a person who possesses this indomitable spirit to achieve:

"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well."
Johannes Sebastian Bach



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The nonstop crop
The casual oberserver may be thinking to themselves, "Seriously, you cannot still be picking lavender."  Sadly, the answer is yes, the rancho is currently picking lavender.  In fact, a lavender grower recently visited the ranch and said it was the darnedest thing ever seen.  It never stops growing.

Fortunately, though, for these ranchers, other things have stopped growing and given them the much needed year-end break, and they've  caught their breath, gotten a little rest (which has made a small dent in the crabbiness factor), and reached a previously sought-after equillibrium, in which the work at the ranch is being accomplished more quickly and proficiently, leaving the ranchers time to actually get out and enjoy some of the things their guests rave about, but which the ranchers never have time to experience, because they've always been entertaining and racing to get the ranch work done once the guests have departed.

Consequently, all vines have now been pruned and retied -- and this time, with agri-lock, so that the vine ties will not break midseason, requiring more tying.  All wines have been tested by our chemist extraordinaire.  The Petite Sirah has completed MLF.  The Zin is nearly done.  We'll give it until March.  The Cab probably won't get busy until it warms up in spring.  It's MLF didn't have a chance to begin before the serious cold set in.   This tasting, the Zin's star is shining.  It was petulant and difficult all through fermentation, so it was a pleasant surprise that it didn't rise up to smack one in the face while tasting.  The Petite Sirah continues to be good, but there is a suspicion that improvement could be achieved with a bit of adjustment.  The Cab, flat out, needs MLF and an adjustment and aging.  A refinement of the number at which the grapes will be picked next year has also been accomplished.  

All olives have been rebrined; and incredibly, the herbs that have been hanging to dry have now been destemmed and chopped, and finally, the little herb jars which have been sitting on top of the dryer for months have now been moved and fresh herbs have been placed in them.    All weeds have been sprayed.  The garage is being cleaned out, and slowly, but surely, items are being given to the thrift shop or taken to the trash.  The tots' toys have again been sanitized and organized.  Plans for an additional equipment shed are in the offing, so all tools and equipment from the garage will be placed there.  The bikes and golf clubs will eventually be hung on walls.  The window company has been out to diagnose the problem with the fairly new picture window in the kitchen.  The news is as expected, it has failed and needs to be replaced, but thankfully, it will be covered under warranty. 

All this has been accomplished, and yet, two rounds of golf were squeezed in by one of the ranchers and two 13-mile bike rides were squeezed in by the other, as well as an afternoon of championship-level loping, and some great glasses of wine by the fire.  The lesson that is emerging is that this is what had been envisioned all along, a place to which one could escape to get off the merry-go-round, work with the vines, the olives, the land, but yet, have some time to rest, engage in favorite recreational activities, and return home with batteries charged. 

And so it is with renewed energy that all calendars have been reviewed and business trips placed on the calendar, all vacations and traditional yearly get-togethers have been placed on the calendar, all ranch work that is time sensitive has been placed on the calendar, harvest season has been blocked off, and essentially, our 2012 is planned up to and including January 1, 2013, and we are adamant that we will not overschedule, because we enjoy having the time to catch our breath and enjoy life a little, just like everyone else. 

So it is with a renewed sense of optimism that we sign off with the words of T. S. Eliot:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."


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Much of our time during a year is spent planning, but January provides us the blank canvas of endless possibilities.  The opportunity to do things better.  The chance to correct past mistakes.  We came away from last year exhausted, but with a bit of R & R, we are resolved, again, that we will do it better, and maybe a little smarter in 2012, and definitely with less wear and tear on us.  We are also going to be stringently guarding the calendar more carefully, saying "No" more frequently, and not over-scheduling, which results in overtired, unhappy, and grumpy ranchers.  We also plan to spend a bit more time having fun -- yes, I know, it's hard to imagine.    

As far as plans for the ranch, the list is endless, but for starters, a new year presents a chance to prune better,  the chance for a year without storms or frosts; a year for perfect heat; the chance to shoot position and thin early in the season; the chance to get ahead of the pests; the chance to bottle previous year's vintages; the chance to create a really outstanding vintage; the chance to streamline the olive oil process, so it's not always occurring in a blinding rainstorm at 2:00 a.m., when it's 40 degrees; essentially, a new opportunity to care for the grapes, olives and lavender -- as well as ourselves -- better. 

So it is with high hopes that we head into 2012.  For us, we truly believe the best is yet to be.  

And to all of you, we wish a very happy, healthy 2012! 

Slainte!
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