Nostalgia

Hans has been in search of a 'new toy'. I guess his motorcycle wasn’t enough...

Hans drove to Indianapolis yesterday to buy the truck of his dreams. He took today off, rented a Uhaul and went BACK to Indianapolis to pick it up.

Hans' is a man of few words but when I texted him to ask him what it was here's what he texted back:

RARE 1972 CHEVY SHORT BED C10 PICKUP MUSCLE CAR. NUMBERS MATCHING 307 V8 MOTOR, 350 AT, 12 BOLT REAR END, PS, PB, FRONT DISC BRAKES, BODY IS FLAWLESS AND BUFFED OUT SMOOTH AS GLASS, UNDERNEATH AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BEAUTIFUL. CHROME HEADERS, ELDERBROCK 4 BBL, HEI DISTRIBUTOR, B&M SHIFTER, BUCKET SEATS, TUCKED REAR BUMPER, TRIUMPH REPRODUCTION TIRES, CHECKERED FLAG CENTER CAPS. TRUCK IS READY FOR SHOW!

Yep. We are now the proud owners of this classic truck. I must admit… it is beautiful. I immediately thought it was a spectacle but it was the entry to the truck I was not expecting…

I went to put open the door and the hesitant door (hesitance from the age in which is was made) hit a nostalgic nerve in my body. It was an ‘old school’ creak that you don’t get anymore with new vehicles – a ‘welcome – come on in’ creak. I sat in the seat and was immediately transported to my childhood.

When I was little Saturday’s were a sacred day with my dad. I was a ‘Daddy’s Girl’ on Saturday. Dad used to take me in his vintage Ford to the hardware store and to run various errands. As years grew by I would go with him on Saturdays in the ‘Binder’ our old International (with the 450 engine)… The second I sat in our ‘new’ truck I thought I was transported to my youth.

Being in the wine industry, we rely on our sense of smell, and the aroma from the ‘new’ truck hit me with a tidal wave of nostalgia. I thought I might cry. The aroma of gas, must and history hit me like a ton of bricks and wave of love for my Dad hit me. My Dad is an awesome man. Ask anyone who has met him and you will hear only great things. I didn’t want to get out of the truck because I felt like I was with him. The only thing I asked Hans to not alter on the truck? To never get an air freshener.

While I might not understand the verbage of an old truck, the one thing I do understand is the nostalgia it can stir in all of us. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of it… much to my husband’s dismay.

Love, love, love,


Christina

P.S. I should mention the truck sounds like velvet…

3rd Annual Outdoor Movie Night

It's time for the Heller's 3rd Annual Outdoor Movie Night! We're grilling up burgers and brats and party on the patio until the sun goes down and the movie screen comes up!

Everyone is just about to arrive and I thought I’d share a quick preliminary blog. I spent the day setting everything up. I first went out to cut some flowers from the yard for arrangements and was so excited to see that my Ichiban eggplant has its first bloom!

My white hydrangea is in full bloom so I cut some of its flowers for tonight’s party.

I prepared some Southwest dip and put out the party supplies.

You might remember last year’s shrimp ‘on the Barbie’. Well Barbie couldn’t make it this year so we invited the ‘Ken Twins’… I have a feeling they are up to NO GOOD!

Well, the cocktails are on ice and I have my pearls on so let’s get this party started!

I’ll be sure and share all the fun pictures later!

Have a safe and fabulous fourth!

Can I Get a 'Whoop Whoop'?!

My husband is a sport fantatic. Not the kind of sportsman you usually think of; football, baseball, etc. Hans loves extreme sports. Hans loves sports that include mad skills and exude the ability of endurance. He used to be a ski instructor, he windsurfs (he and his cousin Kevin once windsurfed to Martha’s vineyard), he kiteboards, he plays hockey and he mountain bikes. Being married to Hans requires extreme open-mindedness and the knowledge that he is safe (most of the time) in his endeavors.

While on a recent kiteboarding trip in Cape Hatteras, NC Hans and our friend Rich, informed me that they were going to do the Lumberjack 100. The race is a 100 mile mountain bike marathon and is part of the National MTB Ultra Endurance Series. The race course consists of four 25 mile laps in the Udell Hills area and crosses the

North Country National Scenic Trail twice per lap. The course contains over 8,000 feet of climbing and is 99% single-track. Due to venue limitations, only 250 racers are allowed to participate.

Did I mention that Hans didn’t really train for this race?

Hans and Rich came in last but not really. They spent 13 hours on their bikes and 45% of the racers did not finish! Hans says…’We finished’. Yep, that’s about all I got from him. What did Hans get from this race? A shirt. A patch. A beer glass. Chafed nipples. Pride.

I am so proud!!! Can I get a ‘Whoop Whoop’?!

Love the very proud wife,

Christina

P.S. I decided to keep the 'Armpit Tour of America Tour' music for this post. Seems appropriate...

Armpit Tour of America: Day Three - Pittsburg

Wild Hogs have nothing on our boys…

Frank & Bob make a cute couple...

The Armpit of America Crew continued to send me photos from Pittsburg. As you might recall, the boys spent Saturday night at a bar next to the hotel watching the Stanley Cup Finals. Earlier that evening the Crew also attended a Harley Davidson stunt show.

Since the boys were out of town I took the opportunity to spend Saturday with my friend Vicki. She and I headed to our first farmer’s market of the summer in Downers Grove, Illinois.

While at the farmer’s market we kept running into a chef (he had his chef coat on) and I finally asked him what he was buying, what he was going to do with his purchases and where he worked. He told us he was the chef for a place called the Cellar Door, a wine shop/restaurant, just two blocks away. Vicki and I practically ran there. In fact, we beat him there. What a find!!! We enjoyed a tasting platter of cheeses and cured meats and a Panini (and wine, of course)…

Vicki salivating over rhubarb

I couldn't resist buying eggs from this chick... I mean dude

During our lunch I received some hysterical photos from Hans and Pete of them at a go-cart track…

After lunch Vicki and I found a dog bakery called ‘Happy Dog Barkery’ and picked up some treats for Corbets and her ‘nephew dog’ Bandit.

When the Armpit Crew started planning their trip they knew they wanted to stay in a nice suburb outside of Pittsburg. While visiting with my mom we realized that the Crew would be staying in Cranberry Township – the town my Aunt Patty & Uncle Larry live in!!! It was soon decided that the entire Armpit Crew would be visiting them.

From what I’ve heard Aunt Patty, Uncle Larry, my cousin Wendy and her kids all had a fantastic time visiting with the boys. They all met ‘Ginny’, Larry and Patty’s

Maine Coon cat (she’s huge) and made sure to make some noise with their bikes when they left the quiet neighborhood, upon my aunt’s request!

I am happy to say the Armpit Crew all made it home safe and sound! Now to find out where next year’s Armpit Tour of America will be…

Take it easy,

Christina

Armpit Tour of America: Day Two - Pittsburg

It is day two of the annual ‘Armpit Tour of America’ with Hans, his family and friends! Pete must have seen my blog threatening to not cook for him if he didn’t send picture because I received three pictures from him and even one from Hans on the road!

The first picture came at 10:00 this morning (central time) and showed the boys wandering downtown Pittsburg…

The second picture came minutes later. Not sure –more wandering I presume…

The next text photo was at 2pm central time from Hans. This is the kind of picture I knew would be coming… Frank 'feeling up' Steve.

I am calling Hans as we speak…

Just got off the phone with Hans –

As you may know, Hans is a HUGE hockey fan and being that the Pittsburg Penguins were in the Stanley Cup Finals and Hans said the bars were packed! Pittsburg just won!!!!!!!!!! I could hardly hear him – but I was able to get him to send me a pic of his motorcycle crew as Pittsburg just won:

Tomorrow the Armpit Crew is invading my aunt and uncle’s house. This should be good…

Life is a highway,

Christina

Armpit Tour of America: Day One - Pittsburg

Gentlemen: START YOUR ENGINES!



Ladies and gentlemen, if you have your speakers on, you know by the change of music, the 3rd Annual Armpit Tour of America has begun!!!



Hans and his family started a motorcycle tradition three years ago that includes Hans leaving from Chicago and his uncles, brother-in-law and a friend leaving from New York. They find an area, halfway, that has historically been termed an ‘Armpit of America’. The first year found them in Erie, PA and last year in Cleveland, OH. This year they chose Pittsburg.

This morning our alarm went off at 5 am and Hans and Neighbor Pete began their preparation for the trek to Pennsylvania. The boys awoke to some ‘lovely’ weather (i.e. rain) and luckily they were prepared with rain gear. I got up early to capture the excitement of their departure…

This is the first year that Neighbor Pete is joining the Holy Grail and I have bribed him into sending me constant pictures via text (I threatened to not cook for him if he didn’t send me updates). The first picture arrived around 12:30 today and showed Hans in front of some water tower. The second picture was simply named ’70 miles from destination’. The third showed their arrival and was appropriately named ‘The Gang’s All Here’…










The entire trip has been focused around one major item: the Unhealthiest Burger in America. They had heard about it and with their luck they found it on the first night: steak, coleslaw and French fries on white bread…



It’s only 9:30 PM Pennsylvania time so I know there is much to be said for the evening but I have a feeling this might be the end of my ‘from the boys’ updates for the evening. I promise to be back with more tomorrow!

Radar lovin’,

Christina

News to Come: Saturday they are visiting my Aunt Patty & Uncle Larry!

What The Heck We've Been Doing

My blog posts lately have been few and far between and that is because I have been crazy busy with work and fun. There is no way to truly express everything the ‘Crazy Heller Fam’ has been up to but I have composed a little version just for you.

Memorial Day weekend found us visiting our friends Jon and Sue’s house and then a barbecue the next night at our house. I made a ‘red, white and blue’ cheesecake to celebrate.

Memorial weekend we also spent some time lounging about the house and I bought a new orchid I named ‘Ursula’.

Hans did some travelling including a trip to Minnesota and was able to stay with my Aunt Connie and Uncle Rich (and yes, I have chewed him out for not sending me pictures…)

We have been busy at the winery with events and this time of year we are doing a ton of bottling. The other day we bottled over 800 cases of Merlot and 500 cases of Chardonnay. The winery cellar doubles for wine production and events; I captured our Assistant Winemaker, Sergio, bottling vino and our Events Coordinator, Lisa, setting up for a luncheon.

This past week has been sort of a ‘friends and family’ week at the winery for me! The other day I received a call in my office that I had a ‘special visitor’ to see me. I wandered downstairs to find me and Hans’ cousin, Jennifer, there to surprise me!

Speaking of surprise visits we also had our friend Scott from Portland come for dinner one night this week and my aunts Lori and Linda (and all of Lori’s sisters and mom) come visit me and the winery! I am just sick that I did not have my camera with me to capture them for my blog! Oh, and Hans sent me flowers to the winery last week, too!

our friend Scott (with his son)

Friday Hans went to see our friend Rich (who was with us on our kiteboarding trip to Cape Hatteras) for a 40 mile bike ride in Michigan. Hans and Rich are training for the Lumberjack 100 bike ride next weekend. He came home on Saturday and he and I went for beer tasting at Rock Bottom Brewery (and enjoyed an ‘Erik the Red’ beer in toast to my brother Erik) and then spent the rest of the day playing lazy.

So, the recap since Memorial Day hardly covers it all, but we finally arrive at today…

Today:

Every Tuesday morning finds me chatting with my mom on the phone. I love ‘Tuesday’s with Vickie’. After our phone conversation I went for a much-needed day of self-pampering including a haircut, highlights, pedicure and manicure.

I came home from pampering and noticed that my ‘Julia Child’ rosebush has its first bloom and about 50 buds!!! The rose smells of licorice and butter… so appropriate for the ‘Julia Child’ rose (by the way: did you know I met Julia Child about 9 years ago?! She was delightful)!

I had full dinner planned of baked halibut, roasted tomatoes and pasta but it was all curbed due to hockey. The hockey playoffs have Hans and his buddies pretty pre-occupied. I FINALLLY got them out of the house and away from my bottle of red Zinfandel by telling them they would be late for the start of the game.

So… there is my recap. Be sure to log back to the blog this weekend. Hans and Pete will be heading to Pittsburg for their annual ‘Armpit of America’ motorcycle trip with Hans’ uncles. He’s even going to stop and see my Aunt Pat and Uncle Larry! Trust me, the pictures he sends are priceless…

More to come…

Christina