#montinore estate

[thedaveandkimmershow]

I wanna say May was a busier month. Really, though, what happened is that there was a diversity of experience going on across 31 days.

We weren't necessarily busier... we just did a bunch of different things during the one month.

Definitely that showed up in my work where, with the help of AI, I restored distorted audio then went on to work on a number of projects including short packages that emphasize process and experience, an intro piece for an organization and its work, and then finally a documentary.

In the meantime, Kimmer's still doing her Kimmer thing. Still balancing the full-time professional work with the full-time doctoral work. 

And yeah. Her brain is full.

First week of May's the week we celebrate her cousin's birthday so on the 4th we're hanging out at Paine Field airport 'cause its a really slick airport with a terminal that comes across more like the lobby of an upscale hotel rather than what we're all used to at SeaTac. So we get there early to lounge with coffee 'n hot chocolate before getting on the plane.

We had a good time, of course. Relaxing a bit. Hanging out. Catching up. Planning. Celebrating.

At one point we're all at a friend's, standing on the patio overlooking a sunlit valley whilst enjoying wine and appetizers.

At another point we're sharing a family meal around a table at one of our favorite local restaurant/pubs with Kimmer's cousin and nephew. 

And then later I'm trying to hurl a discus at a nearby park and it does not. go well.

On the upside, none of us had any expectations for my performance. Like, at all.

But it was interesting to hear Kimmer's nephew talk about his first year's experience of discus throwing as part of his high school's team.

He demonstrates for us a few times and then asks me if I want to try.

For laughs, I'm guessing.

And you bet I delivered on those laughs. 🤣🤣🤣

A few nights later we're home again, thankful for the good care a friend of ours has taken both of our home and of our cats.

That's a heckuva thing to say out loud, by the way.

Cats.

Plural.

Which is its own ongoing story, its own episode of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom in which we introduce a friendly indoor cat into the home of an indoor/outdoor cat who's spent the better part of ten years marking everything in his house.

That's right. He's possessive.

So he's like a big brother who's bothered by his little brother who's absolutely relentless. Who just won't leave him alone. Who always wants to know what're we doing what're we doing what are we doing???

The new cat, Quarter, is also a big cat who doesn't get that he's a big cat. So he doesn't understand about his sheer physical presence. 

And then one day I hear the cats galloping around the house, taking turns chasing each other, challenging each other in staring contests, swatting each with paws.

No claws out, by the way. Never claws out.

And our old cat, Dinker, seems just as engaged at these times.

And then other times he's quite curmudgeonly. And then other other times, when the cats are sleeping, Quarter rests his head on Dinker and all is right with the world.

They have a complicated relationship I guess is my point. But it seems to be moving forward. Expanding in a good way.

So there's that 

A couple days after we're back from California, a milestone:

We get our Kia Soul back from the shop.

It's been a quest with this car ever since it was stolen at the head of December last year when it was literally swiped off the street as part of a TikTok challenge, the first of four such vehicles that would be stolen in sequence that same night by the same crew.

Same crew? How would we know that?

Because a stolen car, ours first we believe, would eventually end up somewhere where another such car would be swiped and then that car would end up somewhere where yet another such car's stolen.

Anyway.

Once recovered, our Soul went to a nearby tow yard where it sat a week or more before being transferred to a shop that could handle some of the damage immediately. It took 'em about a week to handle what they could handle and then we had the car in our drive a couple months until a second shop could take it and finish the remainder of the work.

May 10 is when we got it back in working order. 

Then it's Mother's Day and we're at my Mom & Dad's place to celebrate. Then it's the Sunday after Mother's Day when we celebrate Kimmer so that we can completely focus on her and we have a great day together as a family getting her cards and gifts ready in the morning while she puts in the day's doctoral work, indulging a Linzy-prepared picnic at Tapster, South Lake Union, and then painting garden rocks at Linzy's place while Pixar's "Brave" plays on a nearby monitor. 

Afterward, when we're back home, just the two of us, Kimmer takes the time to place each of the painted rocks in various garden pots out back like she's the Easter bunny hiding eggs. ☺️

In-between those Mother's Days, we're at Mod Pizza thoroughly enjoying one of Kimmer's creations that Mod assembles for us. The experience is worth an honorary mention because while we're there we get to experience the most lovely sunset.

Because it's the small things in life. Right?

And then later we're at Value Village where they have a map of our solar system that includes Pluto.

Which always warms my heart. ❤️❤️❤️

Late in the month, one of the bands Linzy's in, Midnight High, performed at the Rabbit Box Theater a level down from street level at the Pike Place Market. Now, we've been to Midnight High gigs before but for some reason this one blew us away all over again as if we were seeing the band for the first time. Not sure why that is... the venue I think had a little to do with it. Small-ish with a French/New Orleans vibe. With dining, tables and booths in the area right in front of the stage on the same level as the stage which made the Midnight High light show even more amazing.

Darndest thing.

The band blew us away all over again. 🤔🤨🤯

The month of May also found us using Claude AI as a teacher. Me, I had it explain the inner works of neurons, neural networks, neural plasticity, synapses, and neurons that fire together wire together.

As for Kimmer, Claude AI was able to explain to her certain fundamentals of statistics that she's always always always struggled to articulate. And then one evening she just rattles these concepts off to me as if she's always known them as opposed to the reality that she's always pulled her hair out whenever they were part of the assignment.

So.

Huzzah! to Claude AI. Claude's definitely been doing good by us.

A coupla other tiny moments:

Linzy sent over a photo of her cat, Marlowe, all snuggled up on a blanket on her papazan. She titled the photo— 

"Oh to be a cozy little cat on a fuzzy blanket" 

—which sounds to me like. it should be the first song on her hypothetical children's label. 😊

And then the second tiny moment is a sunny afternoon walking across campus after work and being fully aware of the sun, the warmth, and how lovely everything looked. ☺️

For our month's finale, I'm gonna steal a day from June, tack it onto the end of May, and call it May 32.

Why?

Because Linzy had a pair of solo gigs Friday and Saturday that seemed to close out the Month perfectly.

Friday was at Cafe Umbria in Ballard that was as much a recital for Linzy's students from kids to adults as it was a cafe performance. She mentioned she had the gig and everyone wanted to be there. She even got offers for a pair of free lattes. ☺️☺️☺️

So the cool thing about the performance is that Linzy was responsible for at least ninety percent of customers who were there that night.

And everyone bought food and/or drinks.

Toward the end when requests were on the table, Linzy had more kids and teens right there up front. There were even seats set in front of her about four feet back. The kids brought a lot of fun energy and anticipation. The adults were genuinely happy for the experience.

The following night we were at Montinore Estate and Landline Estates in Woodinville, a combined wine tasting room with a lovely menu.

This time it wasn't a recital but enough people wandered in to fill the place anyway... with a couple at the table behind me who were tuned right into Linzy's set, whispering/soft singing along with most songs in a way that was sweet and not annoying.

The staffs at both gigs were the best, by the way. Super helpful and enjoying the music like everyone else.

The last thing I wanna mention is "IF", the film that's written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski, starring Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, and a truckload of stars.

The experience at the Crest was like  a live Pixar movie complete with a heartwarming Pixar twist at the end that I saw coming... although not by much.

It was an amazing, sometimes breathtaking experience that was fully unexpected and, therefore, fully appreciated.

And that was May.

Onward!

☺️

[haybug1]

La Messe Albana Secco ~ Wine of the Day

Happy 2024! Though some may be taking the month of January off from imbibing in their nightly cocktail, we resolve instead to drink more diversely. I will always enjoy a classic cocktail or sip a favorite international variety of wine. However, this year, I hope to uncover new offerings that deliver great taste along with an interesting story, leaning into my belief that #EveryGlassIsAnAdventure.…

[inthecityofgoodabode]

March 2022: Breakfast To Dinner

My queen surprised me with an omelet for breakfast: 

Mockingbird visiting one of our feeding stations: 

I grilled shrimp skewers for dinner: 

Yeah, it’s good: 

[pedrogil73]

Montinore Estate Pinot Noir 2016. Produced and Bottled by Montinore Estate. Forest Grove, Willamette Valley. Oregon. 13.6%. USA 🇺🇸 Rojo cereza, especiado, aromático, notas de ciruela, cereza, hoja de tabaco, cedro. En boca taninos suaves, Frutos de bosque, blackberries, ciruelas. Especiado. Retrogusto largo. Mi Puntuación : 89/100 #montinore #pinotnoir #Willamettevalley #lapenadelquijote #instawine #wineup #winegeek #winetime #goodwine #winetime #wineup #goodwine #oregon (en New York, New York)

[wineworldtv]

Reflecting on my trip while I wait to take off from #PHX. 33 wineries. 1 Distillery. 8 interviews. Willamette Valley Vineyards (Interview) Erath (Interview) Sokol Blosser (Interview) Adelsheim Bergström Colene Clemens Ken Wright Cellars Nicolas-Jay (Interview) Ponzi Vineyards Stopped by Dundee Bistro (founded by Ponzi) and had wines from Montinore (Vivace) and de Lancellotti Vineyards (Famiglia). Got a taste of Ponzi's Gelato too. Left Coast Estate (interview) Bryn Mawr Cristom Freeland Spirits Soter (interview) Stoller Lingua Franca (Larry was out of town) Pike Road Domaine Serene Argyle Four Graces ROCO Trisaetum Penner-Ash WillaKenzie Tillamook Cheese Factory Patton Valley Vineyard (interview) Eminent Domaine Domaine Drouhin (bought a VinGardeValise for cheaper than Amazon sells it) Résonance Archery Summit (interview) Bethel Heights (supposed to be an interview, but ended up eating lunch with the family (Mom and Uncle) and other staff having wines from 2013 and 2007 and then tasting current releases with Ben). Anne Amie Troon (Southern Oregon Applegate AVA wholly contained in the Rogue Valley AVA and not a single Pinot). Final was a tasting at Walter Scott. Then rushed to the airport to catch my flight back. Needless to say, I've hit a lot of OGs, rockstars, and solid producers. Sadly I just plain ran out of time to see about a dozen more of the well knowns. I got 8 interviews for my show, got a shit ton of drone footage, drank about 30 different local beers, made friends with the locals, made some great connections out here, and a greater understanding of the Willamette Valley. #videowinereviewerlife #lifewithmark #sommlife #wine #oregonwine #willamettevalleywine #podcast #podcastlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Q872Mn09n/?igshid=ugof5khrmznu

[klondikejoel]

Dilly Dilly Dilly (at Montinore Estate) https://www.instagram.com/klondikejoel/p/Bwz_0OEhjVh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=k41ovt3c0y1k

[shibasommelier]

2015 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir

Ohai... just chillin’ with some Oregon Pinot! Red and black cherries on the nose with cinnamon, brown spice, and tea leaves. Cherries and ripe strawberries on the palate with brown pie spices. Cheers!

3/5 bones

$$

Pinot Noir

13.9% abv

Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

[thefullerview]

The Shamrock; by Fr. Charles O'Donnell Sprung from a vanished hour of sun and shower, you bore a people's faith, a fadeless flower. Fr. O'Donnell was President of Notre Dame (1928-1934), WWI Military Chaplain, prolific poet and my Great, Great Uncle. Unless you have a fondness for poems about Saints and Scripture you're forgiven for not knowing of him. I am of equal measure English, Scottish and Irish blood with a little shot of Swedish in the mix. My Irish ancestors had died off before I came of age, so it was our Scottish grandmother who most influenced our cultural identity. But for today I will dust off my Irish chops and wish you all a ☘️Happy St Patrick's Day. ____________________ #stpatricksday #irish #ancestors #poetry #shamrock #nikon photo taken at Montinore Vineyards outside Portland OR (at Montinore Estate)

[snowshoe1980]

Get ready to hit it tomorrow!!!! (at Montinore Estate)

[damianlopezwine]

Montinore Monday #wine #nyc #monday #montinore #pinotnoir #estate #latinosporelvino #willamettevalley #organic #biodynamicwine #demeter (at Washington Heights, New York)

[bellaspadiva]

@Regrann from @bonappetityall - Montinore Estate was our featured winery this weekend! We served an Almost Dry Riesling, a Borealis White blend, a Pinot Gris and and Pinot Noir! They were all fabulous and they are all available here @bonappetityall !! #shermantx #texoma #shopsmall #wine #winetasting #sogood (at Bon Appetit Y'all)

[snowshoe1980]

Montinore Road Race, brought to you by only the finest @grown_rogue_cycling posse. 5.5.18. Hit up OBRA calendar for deets (and pre-register while you’re at it) (at Montinore Estate)

[snowshoe1980]

Also, we found Lil' Sebastian. (at Montinore Estate)

[snowshoe1980]

Beautiful morning for a bike race! See ya out here! (at Montinore Estate)

[snowshoe1980]

Next Saturday, get your legs and your liver ready! @olympia_cycling brings you the @montinore Road Race! Wine beer and bike racing!!! (at Montinore Estate)