My Exuberance List 7.10.12

Love is in the air

I'm trying something new, well new for me anyway. It's not an original idea, but I think it's  good one. I'm calling it "My Exuberance List,"  also known as things I'm groovin' on. It's a list of links, pictures, articles, and videos that I think are worth sharing. I hope you like it!
 I am, as always, Exuberantly Yours, Jana.

1. My kind of woman

2. Come away with me

3. Something just for you


4. How cool is this?


5. Top of the morning to you!


6. Wet your whistle


7.  Why don't I have one of these?

8.  A little getaway

9.  This made me dance

10. This made me lol

What I Found

Amongst my many enthusiasms is photography. As mentioned in a previous post, I lost much of  my exuberance for a period of time and a variety of reasons. The main reason - lack of time to focus on my creativity, led to the other reason - flat out depression. Now, I'm not a Dr., but I've been depressed in the past... and I'm pretty sure I recognize the sucky symptoms. Thankfully, I've moved past that and am in a creative place again.

Lomo-fi Filter

Did I mention that I like photography? I've never considered myself an actual photographer for a couple of reasons. Number One: I've always been surrounded by other creatives... and one of them was usually "the Photographer."  I, of course, was "the Writer." That didn't stop me from taking pictures though. I have a pretty good eye and can frame a shot. I also have the ability to recognize amazing lighting when I see it.  Other than that, I'll admit, I don't know a whole lot of the technical aspect of the art. The truth is, the only time I ever thought I might be a photographer was when I had some garden shots published in a couple of gardening magazines along with my articles. The other reason (which for the sake of structure we will call Number Two) that I've never considered myself a photographer, is that I've never owned a really good quality camera. When I needed to shoot stuff for a magazine I simply borrowed the Nikon of my generous "photographer" friend.

1977 Filter

As mentioned, I'm in a creative place again and am thrilled to have discovered the Instagram app practically by mistake. My sweetheart asked me about Instagram a while back. (Sadly, I'm the techie one in the relationship.) Some of our colleagues were sending him Instagrams from across the globe. I didn't know too much about it so I did a little research and realized that there is an app for the Android phone,  not just the iPhone. So download it I did, and I've been having a ton of fun with it every since.

 I love the different filters, borders and the versatility of shots that I can take, and while I realize that "actual photographers" may frown on it, I don't give poop! It has honestly renewed my interest in taking pictures, and as an exuberant foodie, I am jacked about how my food pics turn out, as in "happy, happy, joy, joy." My Facebook friends seem to appreciate them and so do the other folks that I sometimes force to look at them. I even have a follower! I wasn't expecting a follower, but hey, it adds to the fun.

Hefe Filter

Lomo-fi Filter

Great Expectations

I love making new friends! Meeting people and getting to know them, in most cases, is a joy and a delight. I find it interesting that fellow artists and gardeners and other creative types come practically knocking on my door on a regular basis. Amongst my newest group of friends that I have become acquainted with in recent months are a book editor, an attorney, a photographer, a couple of graphic artists, a chef, and ... wait for it.... a lovely fellow who leads wine tours. I'm not sure what I've done to deserve these new friends, but I am grateful to have them anyway.

My new friend, whom I call George, because ... well, that's his name ... was kind enough to take me on a winery tour this past weekend. What great fun we had! We are blessed to live in a region of the country that is making some wonderful wine. I've had the privilege of writing about Idaho wine in the past, and am constantly amazed at the talent of some of the local winemakers. Wine lovers are starting to realize that Idaho has a growing region like no other. Idaho wines are winning awards and the region has officially become more recognizable since 2007 when the Snake River Valley was named Idaho's first appellation. I truly expect great things to happen in the future of Idaho wine making.

Winemaker Ron Bitner of Bitner Vineyards and George Condit from Idaho Winery Tours

We had a wonderful day. The winery tour included about ten local wineries where in most cases, we had a few samples and some nice conversation with the winery folks. We also had a wonderful lunch at The Orchard House, a quaint and charming restaurant located in the heart of Idaho wine country. They serve excellent food with a smile, and lunch with them is always included on a winery tour with George.

Sherri McCoy and Kris Thompson of The Orchard House

If you've never had the pleasure of drinking Idaho wines, or you are looking to expand your experience, a tour with Idaho Winery Tours is a recommended way to try a variety of wines with friends, without worrying about who gets to be the designated driver. It's also a wonderful opportunity for photographers. The Idaho wine country is lovely and a great place to break out the camera.

Who knows? You might even make some new friends...

A Little Miracle

"A grape harvest is a little miracle" ~Robert Mondavi

I concur, Mr. Mondavi. A grape harvest is a miracle; it's also a whole lot of hard work. I know this because I have had the pleasure of participating in a local winery's harvest this past month. I, a long-time lover of the vino, was luckily able to convince the editor of the gardening publication that I am a sometimes contributor to, that the wine harvest would be a great story for me to write. The editor, being a lover of the vino himself, agreed... and I found myself returning to the winery again and again to shall we say, drink in the experience.

Day 3:

My mission: Stomp some grapes with my bare feet. The winery is having its annual Harvest Festival and I figure I better not miss the opportunity to put my bare feet in a barrel of grapes
ala Lucille Ball. It's freezing cold today with highs in the 40's... I'm not looking forward to the bare feet in the cold bit, but adventure is my mission. My photographer is late. He's apologetic on the phone, while I'm just...well...impatient. I'm hoping he shows up before the snowstorm does. I love the vino, but certainly don't want to die of frostbite with my bare feet in it.

He arrives, and wearing my old khaki gardening pants, already stained with a few seasons worth of mud and grass, I eventually venture into a half barrel full of pinot grapes. Someone yells "go" and I lose all trace of the fact that I am really there for a photo opp. I literally forgot to look up and smile...I was too busy trying to win. Yes, that's right, the grape stomping was actually a competition. Whoever could fill up a glass with the juice that was pouring...okay, dripping out of the hole near the base of the barrel would win a prize. Every bit of my competitive nature kicked in along with some adrenaline and a little bit of the wine I'd already sampled, and the next thing you know I was IN IT.... The competitive spirit, I mean.

In the end, I didn't win. Some guy who outweighed me by 75 lbs. did. And we didn't get a good photo for the magazine article...just me with head bent, stomping furiously until I couldn't feel my frozen toes anymore...Photo taken by Kenneth James Photography