PAM Dirac
@pam-dirac.bsky.social
PhD chemist retired after 40+ years in cancer research. Spend my time now doing astronomy, growing grapes, and making wine. Occasionally hang out at Balloon Juice.
Waving Free Vineyard
https://wavingfree.smugmug.com/Vineyard/2019/Overview2019/n-wbgjbw
Waving Free Vineyard
https://wavingfree.smugmug.com/Vineyard/2019/Overview2019/n-wbgjbw
Adoption Day 1: If everyone is really quiet, I'll hide within 20 feet of your chair
Adoption Day 27: If your meal preparation is good enough I will let you sit on the empty half of MY chair.
#cats
Adoption Day 27: If your meal preparation is good enough I will let you sit on the empty half of MY chair.
#cats
December 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Adoption Day 1: If everyone is really quiet, I'll hide within 20 feet of your chair
Adoption Day 27: If your meal preparation is good enough I will let you sit on the empty half of MY chair.
#cats
Adoption Day 27: If your meal preparation is good enough I will let you sit on the empty half of MY chair.
#cats
New addition to our household; Mr. Ives, aka "Chuck".
November 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New addition to our household; Mr. Ives, aka "Chuck".
Getting ready for the no Kings rally in Frederick, MD. Yard sign is up.
October 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Getting ready for the no Kings rally in Frederick, MD. Yard sign is up.
Reposted by PAM Dirac
EVEN IF THEY WERE CHARGED, the fact that a guy wearing official CBP kit was filming them like this would be a privacy violation.
October 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
EVEN IF THEY WERE CHARGED, the fact that a guy wearing official CBP kit was filming them like this would be a privacy violation.
Great Frederick Fair #wine judging results for Waving Free 2023 wine:
Syrah - 2nd in Dry Red. The first time since 2016 that one of my reds has gotten any ribbon.
Backyard White - 1st in Dry White, Silver medal (4th in show)
Viognier - 1st Grapes Grown in Frederick, Frederick Fair Cup (best in show)
Syrah - 2nd in Dry Red. The first time since 2016 that one of my reds has gotten any ribbon.
Backyard White - 1st in Dry White, Silver medal (4th in show)
Viognier - 1st Grapes Grown in Frederick, Frederick Fair Cup (best in show)
September 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Great Frederick Fair #wine judging results for Waving Free 2023 wine:
Syrah - 2nd in Dry Red. The first time since 2016 that one of my reds has gotten any ribbon.
Backyard White - 1st in Dry White, Silver medal (4th in show)
Viognier - 1st Grapes Grown in Frederick, Frederick Fair Cup (best in show)
Syrah - 2nd in Dry Red. The first time since 2016 that one of my reds has gotten any ribbon.
Backyard White - 1st in Dry White, Silver medal (4th in show)
Viognier - 1st Grapes Grown in Frederick, Frederick Fair Cup (best in show)
Wine Dinner 08-24-2025
#wine: 2021 Teroldego, Catoctin Breeze, MD
main course: spaghetti with tomato sauce
Shows what a little extra care in preparation and a nice bottle of wine can do for a simple meal. The tomato sauce was made from tomatoes from the farmer's market and basil from the garden...
#wine: 2021 Teroldego, Catoctin Breeze, MD
main course: spaghetti with tomato sauce
Shows what a little extra care in preparation and a nice bottle of wine can do for a simple meal. The tomato sauce was made from tomatoes from the farmer's market and basil from the garden...
September 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Wine Dinner 08-24-2025
#wine: 2021 Teroldego, Catoctin Breeze, MD
main course: spaghetti with tomato sauce
Shows what a little extra care in preparation and a nice bottle of wine can do for a simple meal. The tomato sauce was made from tomatoes from the farmer's market and basil from the garden...
#wine: 2021 Teroldego, Catoctin Breeze, MD
main course: spaghetti with tomato sauce
Shows what a little extra care in preparation and a nice bottle of wine can do for a simple meal. The tomato sauce was made from tomatoes from the farmer's market and basil from the garden...
Wine Dinner 08-24-2025
#wine: 2017 Esprit de Tablas, Tablas Creek
main course: leg of lamb
The best wine and meal in this series. The wine is the mourvedre dominated Rhone red blend that is well known from the sister winery, Chateau Beaucastel. It is outstanding on its own, but the lamb helped...
#wine: 2017 Esprit de Tablas, Tablas Creek
main course: leg of lamb
The best wine and meal in this series. The wine is the mourvedre dominated Rhone red blend that is well known from the sister winery, Chateau Beaucastel. It is outstanding on its own, but the lamb helped...
September 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Wine Dinner 08-24-2025
#wine: 2017 Esprit de Tablas, Tablas Creek
main course: leg of lamb
The best wine and meal in this series. The wine is the mourvedre dominated Rhone red blend that is well known from the sister winery, Chateau Beaucastel. It is outstanding on its own, but the lamb helped...
#wine: 2017 Esprit de Tablas, Tablas Creek
main course: leg of lamb
The best wine and meal in this series. The wine is the mourvedre dominated Rhone red blend that is well known from the sister winery, Chateau Beaucastel. It is outstanding on its own, but the lamb helped...
Wine Dinner 08-17-2025
#wine: 2024 Lignée de Tablas Fenaughty Blanc, Tablas Creek
main course: pork loin
A fabulous wine that did more to make the pork better than vice versa. Lush with nice round fruit flavors. Another wine that showed very nicely on its own. A blend of 4 Rhone whites. (See alt)
#wine: 2024 Lignée de Tablas Fenaughty Blanc, Tablas Creek
main course: pork loin
A fabulous wine that did more to make the pork better than vice versa. Lush with nice round fruit flavors. Another wine that showed very nicely on its own. A blend of 4 Rhone whites. (See alt)
September 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Wine Dinner 08-17-2025
#wine: 2024 Lignée de Tablas Fenaughty Blanc, Tablas Creek
main course: pork loin
A fabulous wine that did more to make the pork better than vice versa. Lush with nice round fruit flavors. Another wine that showed very nicely on its own. A blend of 4 Rhone whites. (See alt)
#wine: 2024 Lignée de Tablas Fenaughty Blanc, Tablas Creek
main course: pork loin
A fabulous wine that did more to make the pork better than vice versa. Lush with nice round fruit flavors. Another wine that showed very nicely on its own. A blend of 4 Rhone whites. (See alt)
Wine Dinner 08-10-2025
#wine: Limestone 2024, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: grilled chicken
Limestone is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Riesling and is quite an interesting wine. Different sips seem to have different proportions of each. Went well with the chicken, but also very nice on its own.
#wine: Limestone 2024, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: grilled chicken
Limestone is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Riesling and is quite an interesting wine. Different sips seem to have different proportions of each. Went well with the chicken, but also very nice on its own.
September 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Wine Dinner 08-10-2025
#wine: Limestone 2024, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: grilled chicken
Limestone is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Riesling and is quite an interesting wine. Different sips seem to have different proportions of each. Went well with the chicken, but also very nice on its own.
#wine: Limestone 2024, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: grilled chicken
Limestone is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Riesling and is quite an interesting wine. Different sips seem to have different proportions of each. Went well with the chicken, but also very nice on its own.
Bonus wine review: 2021 Viognier Waving Free Vineyard (MD)
grapes are 76% viognier, 21% rkatsiteli, 3% Niagara
This wine has aged beautifully. The viognier melon fruit is very evident and the boldness of the Niagara has mellowed as has the acidity. Definitely will let more of the '23 age.
#wine
grapes are 76% viognier, 21% rkatsiteli, 3% Niagara
This wine has aged beautifully. The viognier melon fruit is very evident and the boldness of the Niagara has mellowed as has the acidity. Definitely will let more of the '23 age.
#wine
July 17, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Bonus wine review: 2021 Viognier Waving Free Vineyard (MD)
grapes are 76% viognier, 21% rkatsiteli, 3% Niagara
This wine has aged beautifully. The viognier melon fruit is very evident and the boldness of the Niagara has mellowed as has the acidity. Definitely will let more of the '23 age.
#wine
grapes are 76% viognier, 21% rkatsiteli, 3% Niagara
This wine has aged beautifully. The viognier melon fruit is very evident and the boldness of the Niagara has mellowed as has the acidity. Definitely will let more of the '23 age.
#wine
Wine Dinner 07-13-2025
wine: Tapestry 7th Edition, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: classic beef stew
I chose the wine because it was 65% Bordeaux grapes and 35% syrah (see note). I expected the Bordeaux component to compliment the beef and the syrah to move things away from the usual.
wine: Tapestry 7th Edition, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: classic beef stew
I chose the wine because it was 65% Bordeaux grapes and 35% syrah (see note). I expected the Bordeaux component to compliment the beef and the syrah to move things away from the usual.
July 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Wine Dinner 07-13-2025
wine: Tapestry 7th Edition, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: classic beef stew
I chose the wine because it was 65% Bordeaux grapes and 35% syrah (see note). I expected the Bordeaux component to compliment the beef and the syrah to move things away from the usual.
wine: Tapestry 7th Edition, Old Westminster Winery, MD
main course: classic beef stew
I chose the wine because it was 65% Bordeaux grapes and 35% syrah (see note). I expected the Bordeaux component to compliment the beef and the syrah to move things away from the usual.
Wine Dinner 07-06-2025
wine: 2021 Waving Free Backyard White
main course: grilled swordfish with lime/basil marinade
The wine was a nice mature white with expected notes of a 4 year old riesling mixed with vidal blanc
The swordfish turned out very well and went extremely well with the wine. #wine
wine: 2021 Waving Free Backyard White
main course: grilled swordfish with lime/basil marinade
The wine was a nice mature white with expected notes of a 4 year old riesling mixed with vidal blanc
The swordfish turned out very well and went extremely well with the wine. #wine
July 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Wine Dinner 07-06-2025
wine: 2021 Waving Free Backyard White
main course: grilled swordfish with lime/basil marinade
The wine was a nice mature white with expected notes of a 4 year old riesling mixed with vidal blanc
The swordfish turned out very well and went extremely well with the wine. #wine
wine: 2021 Waving Free Backyard White
main course: grilled swordfish with lime/basil marinade
The wine was a nice mature white with expected notes of a 4 year old riesling mixed with vidal blanc
The swordfish turned out very well and went extremely well with the wine. #wine
Sign in our yard for No Kings day
June 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Sign in our yard for No Kings day
At the NO Kings rally in Frederick, MD
June 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
At the NO Kings rally in Frederick, MD
Front porch is now fully renovated with new concrete, new furniture and new lights.
May 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Front porch is now fully renovated with new concrete, new furniture and new lights.
Concrete poured and smoothed for the front porch renovation.
April 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Concrete poured and smoothed for the front porch renovation.
Ennis visiting with her granddaughter, Velma.
April 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Ennis visiting with her granddaughter, Velma.
At the Frederick, MD Hands Off rally. Well attended despite the dreary weather.
April 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
At the Frederick, MD Hands Off rally. Well attended despite the dreary weather.
Got my first shipment from the Paradise Found Wine Club at
Popelouchum Vineyard; 3 bottles each of the 2023 Blanc and the 2023 Blanc. One word review: Intriguing! More details in comments. #wine
Popelouchum Vineyard; 3 bottles each of the 2023 Blanc and the 2023 Blanc. One word review: Intriguing! More details in comments. #wine
March 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Got my first shipment from the Paradise Found Wine Club at
Popelouchum Vineyard; 3 bottles each of the 2023 Blanc and the 2023 Blanc. One word review: Intriguing! More details in comments. #wine
Popelouchum Vineyard; 3 bottles each of the 2023 Blanc and the 2023 Blanc. One word review: Intriguing! More details in comments. #wine
Time for me to come out of hibernation before the vines do. Luckily I only have 180 vines so I can start well into March and still comfortably finish before bud break, which is usually about the last week in April in this location. These are Vidal blanc. #grapegrowing #wine
March 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Time for me to come out of hibernation before the vines do. Luckily I only have 180 vines so I can start well into March and still comfortably finish before bud break, which is usually about the last week in April in this location. These are Vidal blanc. #grapegrowing #wine
star photometry report 01/12/2025
telescope network: iTelescope
telescope: T05
project: SNEWS Campaign
stars: TYC 4051-1269-1, V0809 Cas, NSV 15324, V0595 Cas
V0398 Cas, V0774 Cas
Went past 10,000 observations credited to me in the AAVSO database! #astronomy #photometry
telescope network: iTelescope
telescope: T05
project: SNEWS Campaign
stars: TYC 4051-1269-1, V0809 Cas, NSV 15324, V0595 Cas
V0398 Cas, V0774 Cas
Went past 10,000 observations credited to me in the AAVSO database! #astronomy #photometry
February 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
star photometry report 01/12/2025
telescope network: iTelescope
telescope: T05
project: SNEWS Campaign
stars: TYC 4051-1269-1, V0809 Cas, NSV 15324, V0595 Cas
V0398 Cas, V0774 Cas
Went past 10,000 observations credited to me in the AAVSO database! #astronomy #photometry
telescope network: iTelescope
telescope: T05
project: SNEWS Campaign
stars: TYC 4051-1269-1, V0809 Cas, NSV 15324, V0595 Cas
V0398 Cas, V0774 Cas
Went past 10,000 observations credited to me in the AAVSO database! #astronomy #photometry
Final day of bottling for the Waving Free 2023 reds. Today was the S&M; 68% mourvedre, 31% syrah, and 1% viognier. I suspect this is going to turn out to be the best wine in the vintage. Right now it has nice fruit with some complexity and a little bit of the syrah punch. #wine #winemaking
February 24, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Final day of bottling for the Waving Free 2023 reds. Today was the S&M; 68% mourvedre, 31% syrah, and 1% viognier. I suspect this is going to turn out to be the best wine in the vintage. Right now it has nice fruit with some complexity and a little bit of the syrah punch. #wine #winemaking
Bottling Day #3 for the Waving Free 2023 reds. Today is Syrah (97% syrah, 3% viognier). Got 28 bottles. It is already a very nice syrah, dense and rich. I suspect it will get a bit better. Have to hold on to them to see. #winemaking #wine
February 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Bottling Day #3 for the Waving Free 2023 reds. Today is Syrah (97% syrah, 3% viognier). Got 28 bottles. It is already a very nice syrah, dense and rich. I suspect it will get a bit better. Have to hold on to them to see. #winemaking #wine
Bottling Day #2 for the 2023 Waving Free reds. Today was the Rocky Springs Red; 53% lemberger and 47% Cab Franc. Got 20 bottles (there were some losses for QA 😀). Going into the bottle it has a rich, long finish with a bit of CF pepper. Very much looking forward to see how this develops. #winemaking
February 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Bottling Day #2 for the 2023 Waving Free reds. Today was the Rocky Springs Red; 53% lemberger and 47% Cab Franc. Got 20 bottles (there were some losses for QA 😀). Going into the bottle it has a rich, long finish with a bit of CF pepper. Very much looking forward to see how this develops. #winemaking
Bottling day at Waving Free. This is the 2023 Norton grape/Buckwheat honey pyment. Got 16 bottles out of 28 lbs of Norton and 6 lbs of honey. Pretty nice right now (especially if you are a Norton lover) but I think it will get better over the next year or two. #winemaking
February 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Bottling day at Waving Free. This is the 2023 Norton grape/Buckwheat honey pyment. Got 16 bottles out of 28 lbs of Norton and 6 lbs of honey. Pretty nice right now (especially if you are a Norton lover) but I think it will get better over the next year or two. #winemaking