Sweet Nectar of the Gods

As you must have read in my earlier blog---for our 2 year Anniversary, Rian bought me a certificate so that we could go make our own wine together. I chose to make a Cab Sav.
First we did the mixing of the ingredients at the end of May--which didn't take long at all. Then the mixture had to sit for 6 weeks. Then, at the beginning of July we went in to bottle our wine. It was an interesting set-up with all of the pipes and bottles and everything--but Rian and I had lots of fun fill up our 30 bottles of our own wine!
Here is a picture story of how we made it:

This is the bottle that our wine was made in and where it fermented.....

This is the actual bottling machine....the tube from our big jug hooks right up to it and you are able to stick the bottle in there. You press a button and it knows exactly when to stop filling the bottle!

Here is Rian pressing the button and watching the bottle fill up with our yummy wine!Now this is the corking machine. Here I am putting the cork on top and then sticking the bottle under it...

And here Rian and I are moving the lever down to push the cork down into the bottle. MUSCLES!And here is our finished product! One of THREE cases of wine!

I am happy with my present and excited to drink the Rian & Noelle wine!
It was a great present and I really cannot wait until we can drink it. The downfall is that we have to wait NINE MONTHS before we can drink it! Man....I don't know if I can wait that long!
In the meantime, we bought labels that we are going to put on the bottles---we can print them out on the computer and knowing us, Rian and I will be putting funny picture of us on the bottles. They will be big items on Ebay--so watch out for that!

I'll See You When You Get There.....

Man---Life is so nutty. It really is. Its up and down and all around.
I haven't felt like I've had a steady lull of good stuff (or bad stuff)--everything is just all over the place. I feel like I'm back to square one with so many things, and boy is that frustrating!

I guess I really haven't updated in a while--I'll try to do an overview of some fun things....

Rian and I went to New York and had a blast. Although it was hotter than hell, we braved the heat and enjoyed the Big Apple. We had an amazing time at the Yankees game (even though the Twins lost) and we had fun walking around and exploring the city. Here are some pics...
The Brooklyn Bridge (one of my favorite NYC spots)
This is where Rian and I had our fancy dinner----Koi. A wonderful meal of sushi, shrimp and melt in your mouth Kobi Beef! YUM!Central Park....Rian and I...all nice and sweaty by the BB....

Rian and I in our sweet shades---riding on the open top bus ---enjoy the nice cool breeze!We literally just walked off of the subway---and this is what you see.......YANKEE STADIUM!
Rian and I at Yankee Stadium!!!
We really had a blast--but definitely next time, I would like to go NOT in the dead heat of July!

Rian and I want to try and take a trip to a different ballpark every summer. We are maybe thinking San Fransisco for next year!

I can't believe it is already the middle/end of August! This month really has flown by.
In August, we celebrated my Grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary! Can you even believe it? How many people reach that milestone?!? It was a great night! The only thing missing was Rian but he was hard at work at an airshow in WI.
There was a mass said in their honor as well as they renewed their vows. (Which I of course cried during it all) After dinner, we went to The Lexington for dinner. It was a great time -- nice to catch up with so many family members.

Here is the back of my Grandpa Jim and Grandma Carol---
My family---missing one very important Rian....
Just another typical Sister picture.....We are so cool, or something--at least we make each other laugh.......
This is me and my Great Aunt Dodee from California.....she is so sweet!
Me with the happy couple....still so in love!SO much going on....I'll write more updates SOON!
This quote is something I've been trying to focus on the past couple weeks.....

"If you're going to do something, make it right and make it as good as you can. Don't waste anybody's time, especially your own"