Browsing Tag

Olive oil

D’Oliva Just Won It’s Most Prestigious Award To Date!!!

A very special surprise arrived in the mail this week. To our delight, D’Oliva Olive Oil was awarded a GOLD medal from the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition!

When we planted the trees in 2009, D’Aun dreamed of winning a gold medal at this competition. And this week it actually happened! She could not be happier. The Los Angeles competition is one of the top events in the world (they claim to be one of the top five), so we’re really humbled and honored to be recognized on an international level.

We knew we had a great …

Family, Sabbatical,

Sabbatical Revisited

A year I did something entirely new for me: I took the month of October off work. No email, no facebook, no business phone calls, no meetings, no ministry work, no board meetings, no lots of things. I checked out and focused on God, me, and D’Aun (pretty much in that order, though I admit I’m fallible).

The month was split in three main sections. First came a “chop wood, carry water” time when I helped D’Aun at the D’Oliva Olive Oil grove. Then came some time alone to think, write, and pray. Finally came a vacation to Italy …

Book Reviews, D'Oliva Olive Oil, Family, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized,

Family, Blogging, and Links

I have several links for you to click today…trust me, you’ll have fun with this…

A lot of people who read this blog were supporters of my son when he went to Thailand last year. Jedd was there to create a video for The SOLD Project, which combats child prostitution in that country. Well, here’s the awesome news: Jedd was given the Volunteer Service Award by the Bay Area Professional Videographers Association!

What this means is that his work was so good it deserved recognition. And it means that those of you supported him are seeing great dividends because …

D'Oliva Olive Oil, Sabbatical, Uncategorized,

Italy Photos

We made it home! Now that I have a real computer in front of me, here are a few photos from the trip. D’Aun will post more on her Facebook page when she gets a chance.

Here are some of my favorites … mostly non-tourist shots because you’ve seen the Coliseum a million times.

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The night before the trip, Sadie knew we were leaving and jumped into the suitcase as we packed.

Our first morning in Rome, so I tried a cappuccino at (reputedly) the best coffee place in city. I was hooked for the rest of the trip.…

D'Oliva Olive Oil,

D’Oliva Planting Day

Yesterday was the D’Oliva Planting day. Another 125 trees were added to the orchard by twenty-seven volunteers who came out to support D’Aun’s new venture. It was a fun day of hard, dusty work on a beautiful Fall day. After all the trees were planted, watered, staked and mulched, we celebrated with a wonderful dinner in the D’Oliva shed. It was the kind of day with kids, mud, sore backs, dogs, friends, laughter, dirt, “oh dang the water line broke” moments, blisters, sunscreen, “shoot, I forgot my gloves/shoes/hat” realizations upon arrival, wind, impromptu whiffle ball games, great food, wonderful …

Random Thoughts,

A day in the life…

An eclectic day. I spent an hour on the phone with a former runway model, who is starting a ministry and needed advice. I so wanted her to be the blonde airhead, but she was smart and witty. So much for stereotypes.

Then had a meeting with my maintenance crew, which is about as far from the fashion runway as you can get! Too many of my guys use to work in the junkyard. I love ’em.

Followed by a slew of silly emails and facebook postings about names for D’Aun’s olive oil business. A lot of really BAD ideas, …