The outhouse. Enough said.
Wuv at first sight.
The majestic beauty of a maturing vineyard.
A vineyard, an antique tractor and 640 acres of magical land
Monday, January 30, 2012
Favorites from our first year
Our partners in viticulture crime.
The outhouse. Enough said.
Wuv at first sight.
The majestic beauty of a maturing vineyard.
The outhouse. Enough said.
Wuv at first sight.
The majestic beauty of a maturing vineyard.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Celebration
Last week we took a few days off to celebrate. Our Mother Ship beckoned.
If you know us well, you know we pilgrimage regularly. My whole side of the family does. But this trip was a solo mission for just Nathan and I. A celebratory marker of a new kind for us: a baby on the way.
It was also the first time since our wedding at Walt Disney World that we had the joy of seeing so many friends and family while we were there.
So. Much. Fun. We are completely honored to have spent a few moments with each of you. Thanks for making it possible.
After twelve hours of connecting flights, we're back now. Nathan is out checking on our cover crop. Heaping mounds of laundry await my attention. And the baby is kicking. Welcome home to our new normal.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A year
I'm reminded by the calendar we've been here almost a full year. Arrival day was January 31: in the wee hours of the morning after driving through an ice storm.
In some ways a year doesn't seem possible. In others, it feels more like three years have past.
This was our landscape early on in the process.
This is that same location today.
To say we've learned a lot in a year is an understatement.
We learned, for instance, that plants can actually live at 118 degrees . . . but it takes a heavy toll on their fruitfulness.
We learned this is West Texas, home to a slower-paced culture. Whatever it is, it's going to take longer than anticipated.
We learned that for this city girl to retain her sanity and her love for West Texas, I need to travel on a regular basis. But I will do so wearing my work boots because they're a part of who I am now.
We learned farmers do community like no one else, sharing expertise and equipment readily and without hesitation.
We learned Lubbock desperately needs a Panera Bread. Seriously folks.
We learned to always always have a back up plan on the vineyard because something will break.
We learned my sister should always be in charge of building the outhouse. The rest of us can't follow instructions properly.
And perhaps most poetically, we were reminded this year that no matter what bleak forecast is presented--say, the driest, hottest year on record--that there is always a way through.
Here's to year number two.
In some ways a year doesn't seem possible. In others, it feels more like three years have past.
This was our landscape early on in the process.
This is that same location today.
To say we've learned a lot in a year is an understatement.
We learned, for instance, that plants can actually live at 118 degrees . . . but it takes a heavy toll on their fruitfulness.
We learned this is West Texas, home to a slower-paced culture. Whatever it is, it's going to take longer than anticipated.
We learned that for this city girl to retain her sanity and her love for West Texas, I need to travel on a regular basis. But I will do so wearing my work boots because they're a part of who I am now.
We learned farmers do community like no one else, sharing expertise and equipment readily and without hesitation.
We learned Lubbock desperately needs a Panera Bread. Seriously folks.
We learned to always always have a back up plan on the vineyard because something will break.
We learned my sister should always be in charge of building the outhouse. The rest of us can't follow instructions properly.
And perhaps most poetically, we were reminded this year that no matter what bleak forecast is presented--say, the driest, hottest year on record--that there is always a way through.
Here's to year number two.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Round 3: BSV versus the deer
During exhaustive conversations about our grape-loving deer friends, a biologist relayed that once deer get a taste for grape leaves, they just keep coming back. Regardless of the 24-hour guards, regardless of the electric fence, regardless of the rye planted nearby to satiate their appetites.
Oh goodie.
So January sees construction begun on an eight foot high deer fence to surround the current and future vineyard.
No one ever said viticulture was dull.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Big John's New Year surprise
Nathan's been plotting all year to replace Big John's seals and muffler along with a deep, thorough cleaning. With the fields finally prepped for winter, perhaps a wee bit later than anticipated, it's finally time.
Oh how this man loves his maintenance.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
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