Mouse Mansion

There's a mouse who lives in my valve control box. His pad must be the envy of the colony - high ceilings, running water. He's even drug in a cigarette butt from somewhere (not mine of course), for that special touch.

The property has just one tiny little drawback. Every once in a while a great monster suddenly lifts the roof and scares the bejeezus out of poor mr. mouse.

Well, no place is perfect. They have earthquakes in California...

Cody Spraying Weeds

Tumbleweeds, mostly (although I think this one happens to be a knapweed). The tumbleweed is an awesome botanical survival machine.

Screw Anchors

Spent two tough days putting in the aptly-named screw anchors. Have to auger them in (much of it by hand) because the ground is so rocky. They won't have any weight on them til next summer, though, and they should set up like concrete over the winter.

I figured this would be the toughest part of the whole project, and it didn't disappoint. Feel like we crested the mountain though - the tasks will gradually get easier from here.

I decided when this project is done I will never dig another hole in my life.

Too Big for His Britches

The Greening of the Vineyard

The Chardonnay are well up over the top of the 30" grow tubes, and the Cab Franc aren't far behind.

I'm amazed at how little water they require. It's 95 degrees, I'm down to one soak per week, and they're absolutely thriving. I'm going to keep cutting back and see how low I can go before they begin to stress.

Closing the Loop

Finished off the last of the end posts. (You may recall there was a gap in the line on the north end of the vineyard, where we had recently cleared and leveled additional space.) There are 110 of these altogether, one on each end of 55 rows. This week we'll put screw anchors into the ground behind each end post.

Cody Takes a Dirt Bath

Time to put in the last of the end posts and begin putting in the screw anchors. The soil up on top is brutal - I tried three holes by hand - it was like trying to shovel a sidewalk. Decided to rent a Bobcat with an auger. Only slightly easier. The rocks up there are like interlocking pavers. Just got to fight it from all different angles til it gives a little.

Got 'em done though.