Picker's 10

This year my job title changed from Membership Director to Grape Picker and I must say that life is really good. Working at Stonyridge Vineyard has been an awesome experience. Here's a list of my top 10 in no particular order except number 1, which is my favorite. But I'm starting with 10, because this is my blog and I can -- but don't cheat and skip ahead to 1. For those of you who know me well can probably already guess number 1 ;-)

10. Great Outdoors - I've been lucky in my previous jobs to have positions that involved getting out of the office on biz trips to tradeshows, conferences, and board meeting type events. Even though I haven't had office jobs that kept me at my desk for 40 hours a week, year after year, they've all still been office jobs. Now, I'm outside under the sun, breathing fresh air, sitting on wet grass, and really enjoying the change of scenery!
9. Me Time - Picking grapes allows for a lot of personal time. It's really nice to just enjoy the silence or just get wrapped up in my own thoughts. It can be very meditative and peaceful. Sometimes I listen to my ipod or eavesdrop on other people's conversations :-) (Sometimes I'm forced to hear conversations that I don't want to hear. Unfortunately, I can't turn people off.)
8. Lunchtime - It involves food, what's not to love? Plus, Stonyridge provide lunch, which is really cool. It's also really nice after hours under the hot sun to sit under the olive trees over looking the vineyard. I must say that food after manual labor is much more satisfying than following hours in front of the computer. That said, I definitely miss all of the lunch options that The Mission has to offer and of course the occassional long lunch that ran over an hour ;-) EFFers please visit Evergreen for me, and Pakwan, and El Toro, and Mr. Pickle, and Big Lantern...(omg I'm hungry)...and Weird Fish, and Popeye's (Chris, eat meat!)
7. Backpackers - I knew I wouldn't be the only foreigner in the vineyard, but I had no idea that I would be picking with twenty some odd people from around the world! People from the Czech Republic, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Uruguay, Japan, Thailand, some Brits, and some annoying Americans too! They're all here on working holiday as well and it was great getting to know them whilst picking side by side amongst the vines.
6. Bug's Life - I'm a city girl. Born, bred, and lived in cities so it is normal and expected that I freak out when I see bugs. Until now, that is. Picking grapes pretty much requires that you become one with spiders (tons of spider webs), massive roach-like creatures and their occassional leftover skin shells, ants, bees, and other unidentified crawlies. I don't love them, but we're able to coexist.
5. PeeWee and The Pheasant - PeeWee is a dog and she belongs to Peter, a Waiheke Island local who rides his bike in to work with PeeWee caged on the back. PeeWee's often found sleeping under the sun in between the rows of grapevines making all the pickers jealous of her life of leisure. As you may know the grapevines are covered with nets to protect the grapes from evil birds. They're meant to keep birds out but there are times that birds get in and have difficulties finding their way out. In this instance, The Pheasant never made it out and PeeWee scored dinner for Peter. Well done, PeeWee.
4. Waiheke Island Locals - There are about 10 locals who return to Stonyridge every year out of their love for wine, their ongoing relationship with the vineyard, and simply to be part of the island's harvest season. They're a colorful group of islanders who have lived here since before the island was popular for it's wine. One woman worked in the kitchen on the Rainbow Warrior and another used to be a professor at Oxford back in the day. I overheard a conversation about painkillers one day that was especially amusing. It started with chronic knee pain, evolved into all sorts of physical ailments, and finishing with a discussion on the various pills popped for relief. One pill had such an overwhelming effect on the chronic knee pain lady because it was so strong that it made her hallucinate! As scared as she was she also imagines the experience was one that she would have enjoyed a few years back...
3. Blue Snips - Snip, snip, snip. Snips are an essential tool for picking grapes. Every morning we gather around the snips bin to choose our fate for the day. The blue ones are the newest and the best! Watch your fingers!
2. Harvest Party - All good things must come to an end. Grapes are all in so we celebrated the harvest with a party with the Stonyridge staff and pickers. Yummy bbq, a few drinks, and a nice opportunity to have a good time before saying goodbye.
1. Nature's Candy - Raisins, yes! I love raisins! And being able to have them straight from the vine after spending the season ripened by the sun is such a treat! I didn't indulge very often since raisins are a sweet addition to the wine, but a couple managed to make their way into my mouth ;-)

More pics of Stonyridge here.