Monday, August 31, 2009
Something I did in Napa Valley: Hot-air ballooning.
Both balloon photos were taken by me.
Something I didn’t do in Napa Valley: Grape stomping.
I Love Lucy grape-stomping episode
News reporter grape-stomping fail
Family Guy’s Stewie imitates the reporter’s grape-stomping failure
UPDATED TO ADD MORE PICTURES:
Here’s one from the air.
You can recognize me by my Francis patchwork plaid jacket.
After the flight, we had breakfast at a Tex-Mex place, where I was amused by this sign.
Believe it or not, I had nothing to fear because I wore sneakers in order to climb into the balloon basket. MrB thinks it’s the first time he’s ever seen me wear sneakers outside of the gym. He took a picture in case people didn’t believe it really happened.
Believe it or not!
Ooooh hot-air ballooning! WOW!
XoXo
If only we could attach a barrel filled with grapes to a hot air balloon and combine the two activities! Heaven!
Wow hot air ballooning – have never done it looks amazing in Nappa Valley though!
LOL, you took the right choice, it looks so much fun and what an awesome experience!!
It’s looks beautiful! I think the grape stomping looks more my thing! I don’t think I’d like being in a hot air balloon – hope you enjoyed it. The views look amazing!
oh, i love the pic of the balloons!
Twitter: stylishthought
says:
lol @ Winona! Sounds amazing Wendy!
lol – that clip from ilovelucy is such a classic! napa valley looks amazing from your bird’s eye view
Twitter: couturecarrie
says:
Oh, how wonderful, WB! I have always wanted to do that in Napa!
xoxox,
CC
P.S. I love Stewie!
I used to have a friend who hot airbalooned cool!
That seems like it would be great fun! Especially if it was ballasted down with water balloons, because you know, there are probably people below you at some point.
Twitter: sallymcgraw
says:
How utterly fantastic! Did you get dizzy? You can stomp grapes next time …
How I wish I could go hot air-ballooning. Unfortunately, I would surely have a heart attack and crap myself.
The grape stomp fail – ALWAYS funny.
wow that sounds like so much fun! great pics!
Hi Wendy!
You just made the entire blogosphere jealous with your hot air ballooning adventure!
And that Family guy grape stomping parody is too funny!!
Love Napa! And yep, Boba is a Pekingese.
I’ve never been hot air ballooning but it looks like fun! That is…if I could get over the “terrified of heights” part.
Hot air ballooning looks like so much fun!
Cool! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go for a hot air balloon ride! And how do they land those things anyway?
I’ve lived in SF 21 years now and have never gone hot air ballooning in Napa – it looks like so much fun, so beautiful. BIG note to self “GO HOT AIR BALLOONING IN NAPA!”. Ha! I remember Lucy’s grape stomping episode!
I love the grape-stomp fall!
Never seen the Stewie version…
Just laughed so hard I have tears in my eyes.
WOW! I’ve always wanted to do this too! Your photos look stunning. So beautiful and makes me feel happy just looking at them.
Wow…great fun! I’m wondering how was the ride…not all that scary? Would love to try this!
so beautiful!
we are heading up the coast later this month…can’t wait!
I’ve always wanted to go hot air ballooning – nearly did it in Cairns, but the weather wasn’t up to it.
Was it way fun?
OMG! HOT-AIR BALLOONING IN NAPA! I’m sooo JEALOUS!!!!:)
p.s. I HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A BALL and LOTS OF WINE!!!!
Lucky! That sounds amazing!
LOL! Good for you with the hot air ballooning. I’d be hardpressed to blow up a balloon right now, hee hee. That must have given you a spectacular view! When I grow up, I want to be brave like you!
Have a great week, my adventurous one!
Holy cow! In a zillion years you couldn’t pay me to go ballooning (you know my height thing and the urge to jump…). Was it scary?
Grape stomping I’d do.
Hot Air Ballooning?! That looks fabulous! As does the grape stomping. Speaking of which- that sounds like a great work-out for your legs… and then you could celebrate with a glass of wine- haha! That should be a new exercise video.
ps- thanks for the sweet comments about the photos, WendyB. I give credit to my Nikon D40 and my photo shopping skillz (I’m a graphic designer in “real life”).
will be going to napa in a couple of weeks. : )
funny story about lucyyyyy:
when i moved to illinois i was SHOCKED to find that they sell wine in the grocery store! bc i am from the south and we just don’ do that! so anyway, i was browsing through the wine and noticed a brand that had a baby’s foot stamped on the wine label … this baffled me EVEN MORE!
so i thought and thought and finally, with the help of lucy, i figured it out! the foot represented the old world way of gettin wine from grapes! yay lucy!
Twitter: BonBonRoseGirls
says:
That is one thing I don’t think I could get down and dirty to do. I’m weird about my feet being dirty. I’m a freak like that.
I give you so much credit for doing this! What a view from up there – hope you took pics
I love Lucy… I love it!
Twitter: FrancesASales
says:
Oh, WendyB, I’m so envious. I’ve always wanted to fly up in a balloon. And in Napa Valley, too! One day!
P.S. That poor reporter sounded like a wounded dog. I had to laugh.. in horror! =(
anti-spam word: vanguard
I used to live 15 minutes from Napa and worked there for a few months. Every weekend we got to see the hot air balloons as they floated along. It was so nice to see and something I miss here in this desert I live in now :-p
That’s my favorite I Love Lucy episode EVER!
Oh wow. Napa is gorgeous from the ground and even more so from the air. Great photos!
I am oh so jealous. I’m terrified of heights but I’d absolutely love to go hot air ballooning. They’re so magical somehow.
“You can recognize me by my Francis patchwork plaid jacket.”- Haha, as if we could ever miss that killer smile.
I’ve been been grape stomping but it looks fun, and I can’t help but laugh at that lady!
So fun! I love you in sneakers!
Your blog has such a pretty layout! Love it.
The balloons are gorgeous!! I’ve never ridden in one, but I can just imagine that it is truly a memorable experience
I have to believe that last picture of you in the sneakers is actually the Photoshop shenanigans of ENC.
woohoo, that looks like tons of fun. and thank you for what is probably the worlds’ biggest grape stomping videos-compilation. and lastly: i wore sneakers today, too. we are crazy.
The balloon looks like so much fun . . .
Hot air ballons awesome, Looks so fun I’m jealous.
I tagged you with a lil award on my blog =)
I am curious about the hot air-balloon ride!
I have a phobia of heights so I do not share your enjoyment of hot air balloons.
Plus two different hot air balloons have crashed into my house and did considerable damage. So my family is not a big fan of them.
DUDE!!! you are so brave!!! i would be a BASKET CASE (pardon the expression) in a hot air balloon! i am chickenshit of heights!
but i would love to stomp on grapes. in fact, i would like to stomp on a LOT of things.
p.s. you are gorgeous!