Vine Pruning time in Vineyard

How is it?
Hot up north still.
Time to do a bit of Vineyard pruning. The Vines are really going for it at the moment. Can hardly walk down the rows. Diving the quad and trailer down, you can get lost!.
Will need to put the bird nets on soon.

 

How is it?

20th December 2014. Bottling time as it's raining outside.
Have a few test Demijohns of this years Merlot. So today is as good as time as possible to bottle one off. Got 6 newish bottles, washed and ready to go.
Racked into these a good looking Merlot 14.

Had a little taste with some of the remaining ... Nice.
Cant wait for next year.
Very nice with some stinky blue vein cheese on soft crackers.

Grafting day has arrived for Apples.
A wet weekend so have decided to do some grafting between the showers of heavy rain.

Got 15 root stock from the stool bed this year. The pine sawdust has done its job well.

 Northern Spy root stock

A close-up of the root system

Grafted onto these cuttings of some of my apple trees from the home orchard.

Pricilla (American)

Royal Gala

Monthys Surprise (Kiwi cancer fighter supreme)

Peas Good Non Such (Pommy)

Granny Smith (Ozzy)

Used some new grafting tape, white in colour. Seems to hold up OK. Will see how good it works on the grafts in a few months. Used a splice graft.

Spring 2014 in the Vineyard

September 21st 2014
 Spring is happening in the vineyard!
Merlot vines are starting to come to life.

The buds have turned into leaves and small bunches of yet to be grapes

 The day light hours are getting longer 

The spring rain is slow to drain away as the soil is very wet!

 The grass is starting to go into rapid growth mode.

Looking along the rows things are getting green. Come on summer.

Fish for lunch

How is it?

Put the net out today.
Only was after a couple for fresh fish for a lunch time meal.

Got a few more. Had the net out for only a few minutes. As I was bringing
it in a few more hit it and got caught.
Cat is my best friend!
Jazz also likes the fresh bits.

Fish for lunch

How is it?

Hey the tides coming in and I'm hungry.
Down to the beach, and bail out the Dory. A quick row out and drop the net into the water.
Jazz the wonder dog loves coming out with me. He shakes heaps as the weather is a bit cool at the moment.
After about half an hour of waiting, time to bring in the net and have a look at the catch.
Got seven in total, prepared two for smoking (lunch) and the rest scaled for bait, I feel a fish coming on very soon.
Up the path back to the house and set up the smoker.
40 minutes later, hot freshly smoked fish for lunch, yum, between two fresh bits of bread.
Jazz got the fish livers, he loves them.

Plums and Lemons

How is it?
The home orchard is starting to fire up.

 Also did some preserved lemons, great in Tagines

The Christmass plums are ready, too many at once. So have picked a few bucket fills and will be making a bit of wine. All good in a few years when ready to drink.