We hope everyone has been well and not too tipsy being locked at home for so long. We are thankful to friends like Roy Reynolds for taking the lead on setting up the online poker games. That has been a fun break for us all. We hosted a Zoom Open that Local bottle event a few weeks ago and were able to share a magnum of 2010 Domaine Drouhin Laurene with Ryan and Lauren before they left back to school, while our friends on Zoom made their own choices!
We have been very happy on our 8 acres with jobs to complete everyday. We have been able to cut back almost 80% of the blackberry on the property. At least now it can be managed a little better. It has really opened up our the views on the property along with the trimming of the trees. Don’t worry there will still be more than enough for blackberries later this summer. Also check out the photos of the various beautiful tulips given to us by sweet baby girl, Lynn Reynolds and her parents, Bailey and Ryan. Everyday people slow down and take pictures of these incredible flowers. There are probably 10 variations planted by the road entry to our house.
Happy 25th Anniversary to us 
Danette?? really
Spring brings much time of celebration to our family. Lauren and Dona Jean just celebrated birthdays. Danette will turn 53 next month and Rod follows in June with 52. (The vine tags are only odd numbers!). We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Of course all of these celebrations were similar to years past, the #stayhome hasn’t changed the fact we still go to work most days and usually are not working in the same zip code. But, we are fortunate that we still have jobs and as always, remind ourselves that every day is an opportunity to celebrate not only our anniversary but the fact we have been blessed to constantly pursue our next greatest dream as we travel on this journey together with so many friends.
We are also working to keep the deer out of the LaLa block and have worked on the post/fencing surrounding that 2/3 acre. Usually by 4pm each day we are exhausted and ready for a great glass of wine. A great benefit is that our friends from other wineries are starting to bottle their wines now and drop off bottles for us to try!!! Our vineyard manger, Rob Clark from Terrapin Cellars, dropped off several bottles of his Rose. It was good, not too sweet, but alas its gone. We can’t wait for others to join us and we can go get more and do a complete Rose tasting at the multiple wineries just around here: Stangeland Vineyards, Cristom, Witness Tree, and Bjornson Vineyard all within walking distance.
Time passes and we can see the arrival of new life and the animals and vegetation arising from their winter cocoons, even if we humans are still shut in. Bud break has happened here in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and is reassuring that soon we all too will be released. But hoping, like the vines during this time of required dormancy we have been able to get the enrichment we need to be able to endure the next seasons of our lives. Check out Ilahe Vineyards instagram @illahevineyards and Walter Scott for great explanations of what happens on the farm during this season. It is so reaffirming to watch the buds sprout. It
Over the last 4 weeks a lot of progress has occurred in the barn office. Walt was able to complete the interior changes last week and we are very happy with the result. Full shower, on demand water heater, small fridge and a beautiful view of the mountains in the morning all over looking the LaLa block of Pommard vines.
small kitchen 
Completed bathroom 
Mt Hood in early March 
I will post more final photos and some initial furnishings later this week. More importantly we will be ready for friends to come and stay when the lock down is over!!!! This place will be ready! And more importantly, we are ready to see you and connect face to face. Remember most Willamette Valley wineries are delivering for free and have reduced prices for those of you in Salem and Portland. And for those of you further away, they have amazing deals on shipping. Check these out for fun and different: Landmass Wines check out her instagram for clever mixers she is making and delivering; Holloran Vineyards light rose for spring time celebrations, has deals on their instagram too.
Hope each of you stay safe. See you soon.
Rod and Danette
