{"id":271,"date":"2007-05-15T11:23:37","date_gmt":"2007-05-15T15:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.summerofjim.com\/2007\/05\/15\/the-day-ivory-snow-was-late-to-the-wine-tasting\/"},"modified":"2007-06-08T09:52:21","modified_gmt":"2007-06-08T13:52:21","slug":"the-day-ivory-snow-was-late-to-the-wine-tasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/?p=271","title":{"rendered":"The Day Ivory Snow Was Late to the Wine Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our ancestors would say that the\u00a0“time before time, vines covered the land for as far as the eye could see.\u00a0 From The <\/em>Great<\/em> <\/em>Sea<\/em> to The Far <\/em>Great<\/em> <\/em>Sea<\/em>“.\u00a0 <\/em>And then came the Time of Troubles\u2026<\/em>we can leave that story for another day. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s good to be passed the darker time<\/em> and to see a patchwork quilt of vineyards returning to Venderbee.<\/p>\n

Forgive me.\u00a0 I should have introduced myself.\u00a0 My name is Santie Mayfare, and I live in a small place near the Feathered Lagoon.\u00a0 I make tierboxes and my cottage is home to both me and my craft.\u00a0 I also have a small parcel of land planted to Finomencia\u2026 a noble red varietal that produces wine that is abundant in flavour and rich in texture\u2026 perfect to enjoy with a tasty roasted pouflon.<\/p>\n

I should point out that just about everyone in Venderbee has at least a small vineyard that is growing this or that.\u00a0 We even have one great landowner, Gweeto of Venderbee, whose vineyards stretch from Gafter Zee to Steep Rock.\u00a0 Besides being our biggest landowner, Gweeto is also the Chief Magistrate and <\/em>High Official of the Harvest Celebration.\u00a0 And as it turns out\u2026 today I happen to be putting the final touches to Gweeto\u2019s personal tierbox that he will use for reviewing the Harvest Parade.<\/p>\n

Gweeto\u2019s tierbox is by far the most important commission of my year.\u00a0 Satisfying Gweeto is not hard.\u00a0 But pleasing the present \u201clove-of-his-life\u201d, the Ivory Snow\u2026 well, that\u2019s a different matter.\u00a0 And if I appear anxious to you, it\u2019s because I am presently expecting a visit from Ivory to check on my progress.<\/p>\n

Ivory Snow and I go back some\u2026 oh, not the way you think.\u00a0 We all grew up together\u2026 and when we were younger, my cousins Barl Whighorn and Larb Hornwig took a powerful shine to her\u2026 and they would get into bloody fights to win her attention and affection.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be honest\u2026 I never knew whether she favoured Barl or Larb.\u00a0 Not that it mattered in the end.<\/p>\n

Barl certainly has done very well with Golden Trane.\u00a0 Larb?\u00a0 Well\u2026 he tends his vines.\u00a0 No one makes better Grey Zabia.\u00a0 And his Wren Hoolish took the <\/em>prize at the Harvest Grandee.\u00a0 Still I suspect that a day doesn\u2019t go by when Larb is not aware of his hurt or of the vacancy in his life.<\/p>\n

Just the way it is\u2026 I guess.<\/p>\n

Other folks would say that Gweeto was mighty lucky to have someone as special as Ivory Snow to spend his years with.\u00a0 And maybe that\u2019s so.\u00a0 But I think it\u2019s Snow who\u2019s lucky!<\/p>\n

It was a sad day when Lady Wisteria was brought down in a savage attack by a Ridged Zelbax\u2026 or that\u2019s what was said.<\/em>\u00a0 It happened on her travels beyond Steep Rock, to the land of Far Steep Rock.\u00a0 Gweeto would never forgive himself for approving the expedition.<\/p>\n

In her absence there followed many seasons when he could no longer tend his precious vineyards.\u00a0 There were those who feared for the well being of Venderbee.<\/p>\n

Maybe that\u2019s why so many folks breathed a sigh of relief when Ivory entered into Gweeto\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Me?\u00a0 I kept my distance.\u00a0 And so did Barl\u2026 and Larb<\/em>, too!\u00a0 We all knew that there was charm\u2026 and then there was dangerous charm<\/em>.\u00a0 Our Miss Ivory Snow packed plenty of the latter.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I enter?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIvory\u2026 you\u2019re always welcome to my cottage.\u00a0 Can I offer you a small cup of my Finomencia?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy yes Santie\u2026 you make an extraordinary Finomencia\u2026 full of depth, richness and lasting flavour.\u00a0 It chills me to think of its soft caress\u2026 its silk like feel.\u00a0 Very sensuous.\u00a0 Can I see Gweeto\u2019s tierbox?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I pour a small amount into a cup\u2026 which she consumes in a single down-the shaft.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me pour you another portion\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are so kind.\u00a0 You have always been kind.\u00a0 Ah, yes\u2026 slightly<\/em> chilled the way I prefer it.\u00a0 The box?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes\u2026 but it\u2019s not finished yet.\u00a0 Small touches I assure you\u2026 crown molding no quite there\u2026 a touch of paint here, a rough edge there\u2026 you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand.\u00a0 Now\u2026 which box is it?\u00a0 I hope it\u2019s not the hideous one over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHideous?\u00a0 Well, no\u2026 that one is for Mave Fabish.\u00a0 It\u2019s an older design, I grant you\u2026 But Ivory\u2026 let me pour you a small taste of Larb\u2019s Wren Hoolish\u2026 he only makes a small amount and I have to beg for every drop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis Wren?\u00a0 Yes, that would be nice.\u00a0 Now Santie\u2026 the box?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking.\u00a0 This is just one more episode of my insecurity showing itself\u2026 and rather than confronting Ivory Snow head on\u2026 I prefer to \u201cduck and dive.\u201d\u00a0 And perhaps get Snow a bit tipsy.<\/p>\n

OK.\u00a0 Big deal.\u00a0 So I am trying to distract her\u2026 but it\u2019s with some of the finest wines in our parts\u2026 not some dumb Telmein or Brauver (heaven forbid)!\u00a0 <\/p>\n

And\u00a0I know Ivory Snow and you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

“I saw the tierbox you made for Gweeto a few seasons ago.\u00a0 I used it for kindling <\/em>last winter.\u00a0 There was no style<\/em>… but it burned well.”<\/p>\n

“No style?\u00a0 Hold it there, Ivory.\u00a0 I chose those columns from Hadrian’s Temple… they haven’t been used in 10,000 years!\u00a0 That was a unique treatment in a tierbox, no one else has even attempted to replicate it.\u00a0 Here… let me pour you some lighter Hoolish… it’s not as robust has Wren; but it has exquisite charm and balance… like you.<\/em>“<\/p>\n

“You are so kind.\u00a0 It is tasty.\u00a0 Santie… I hope you intend on using a different stain this year.\u00a0 Now point me to Gweeto’s box, I must see it…”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Yes, yes… I know.\u00a0 But surely you will want to have a careful study.\u00a0 And look… the sun will soon set and Gweeto will expect the both of us to be at the pre-tasting of the Celebration wines.\u00a0 And surely we don’t want to disappoint him…”<\/p>\n

“True. But please… dear, dear Santie, tell me that the box in the corner is not Gweeto’s.\u00a0 Because if that ugly <\/em>thing is to be his, then I think we have a problem.\u00a0 And tasting or no… I will have to suggest to Gweeto that he give the commission to a different carver.”<\/p>\n

“Ivory… I’m sure anything<\/em> can be corrected to your approval… I look forward to your careful impression and impeccable taste.\u00a0 And while we consider improvements and corrections… let me serve you some of my most treasured vintage of Finomencia.”<\/p>\n

“So kind of you Santie… but do you have any more of that breathtaking Wren Hoolish?\u00a0 And how is your cousin these days?”<\/p>\n

“I will open a new bottle just for you, Ivory.\u00a0 Larb?\u00a0 Well… I should think he is well.\u00a0 And I am sure that your image beats a path in his mind every day.”<\/p>\n

This is true.\u00a0 I’m not making it up.\u00a0 And it’s easy to see how anyone<\/em>… Gweeto, Larb, Barl… and even Mave Fabish would be taken in by Ivory Snow’s beauty and charm.<\/p>\n

Of course, the fact that she is mentioning the possibility of me losing my commission… I <\/em>don’t find that<\/em> charming.\u00a0 It doesn’t take much to put me on edge… being the nervous fellow that I am.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

I glance at the window to the setting sun.\u00a0 Gweeto would be starting the tasting soon, and I couldn’t risk being late.\u00a0 I prayed that the second Wren that I had opened on the sideboard would begin to work its narcotic effect.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

When I knocked on Gweeto’s door and entered, I saw everyone at the tasting table.\u00a0 Larb, Sanje Lem, Lahka Feis… even Mave Fabish.<\/p>\n

Gweeto greeted me, “My good Santie we’ve been waiting for you!!\u00a0 I see you brought your Finomencia!\u00a0 Splendid!!”\u00a0 Then he paused, “But where is Ivory Snow?”<\/p>\n

“Gweeto, I think she maybe late for the tasting…”<\/p>\n

Ivory’s absence was noted; but we proceeded with the matter at hand and tasted thru the wines… and my… the wines were all marvelous… and all were agreed that we had\u00a0the finest selection ever assembled for the Harvest Grandee.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

I will admit that a melancholy has returned once again to Venderbee as it did when the equally charming Lady Wisteria was lost in the supposed<\/em> Ridged Zelbax attack.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

And sometime later, on an evening when Larb and Mave Fabish came over to share in a cup or two of Finomencia, Mave commented, “You are a true artisan Santie, maybe<\/em> the best in all of Venderbee… I can remember the time, just before Wisteria’s untimely passing, when she had advised Gweeto to\u00a0appoint Lahka Feis\u00a0Master Carver…\u00a0 And now, another time of sadness for Gweeto\u00a0— Ivory Snow, gone.\u00a0 What a coincidence…”<\/p>\n

“Yes Mave… that is quite a coincidence.\u00a0 Can I pour you some more of my Finomencia?\u00a0 I think\u00a0it’s my finest vintage…”\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our ancestors would say that the\u00a0“time before time, vines covered the land for as far as the eye could see.\u00a0 From The Great Sea to The Far Great Sea“.\u00a0 And then came the Time of Troubles\u2026we can leave that story … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-venderbee-tapestry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}