First Freeze!!!!! Oct 19, 2011

Happens every Autumn: the growing season must reach its inevitable conclusion.

I am in St Louis right now but am told that Columbia, Missouri will hit freezing temps between 1AM and 9 AM.

Brief update. Lots going on in other areas of life, but all of the vines for this endeavor are prepared for the winter. Will be setting up endposts in the next two weeks - a warming trend is coming in these next few days after the frost.

Testing new iPod app to blog with

Trying a new thing here.

Man from Chicago sets sail for a different pasture - Columbia, Missouri

I moved from Southeast Logan Square last week. Actually I will be moving my headquarters to Missouri for the next few years. I am not there yet, but I will be in Missouri by the beginning of August 2011. Hopefully I will have my vines in the ground some time soon after.  It is funny, since I am not intending to harvest, crush, press, or ferment with any of my own grapes yet, I am still finding myself worried about getting the young vines in the ground and nearly established before the autumn weather arrives.  And it is only July 9th!!!!!  I worry too much about this.  It's crazy.

Where the dream of growing grapes grew.  Birthed in St. Louis, Missouri.
Developed the idea while living in Chicago, Illinois.

The bridge to the south.  Southeast Logan Square (Chicago, Illinois)

I spent 8 1/2 years in this apartment.  I lived for one year prior in the western suburb of La Grange Park, Illinois before moving to Southeast Logan Square.  Chicago was a fun place to live during this era.  I was involved in many great endeavors and look forward to furthering some of them and starting others as well.
The neighbor to the east of Illinois, the lovely state of Michigan, is now being referred to as the 'Napa Valley of the Midwest'.  To leave is very difficult, as I am only getting started.  But I depart from this region for good reasons.

Can a city boy make a go at this?  Will he spend 2 million to make a million?  Will he be able to fight off the pesky Japanese Beetle?  Is it possible to stop and change the course of one's career (in the mid-30's) and pull off a miracle? Find out......in 12 years!!!  Stay tuned to this channel (it may change because Google recently indicated they won't be involved with Blogger much longer) and also to the Conejo Loco Vineyards Tumblr website for further exciting and mundane news, media, updates, and otherwise poorly written English expression (most often manifest as a run-on sentence).

Now I better log off and begin learning about how the Germans settled in Missouri and quickly began setting up their vineyards in the 19th Century.

Remember, friends, the first occasion to buy wine will probably be around October 2018 (the 2017 vintage). It will undoubtedly be a small batch, but I expect it will amount to more than just 5 gallons of wine.  It's coming along.  Inertia.  Movement.  Things are rolling along.

Now if anyone wants to donate one acre of sloping land that is southern-facing, please contact me at the e-mail address listed on this blog.  I promise that we could come to agree to a case of wine a year or something on that order/or anything manageable, for the exchange.  Two adults can figure out an arrangement, undoubtedly, I am sure.

Until you can buy wine from me, I recommend the following places to consider:

Sleepy Creek Vineyards (Fairmount, Illinois)
One Acre Wine (Napa Valley, California)  
Domaine Berrien Cellars and Winery (Berrien Springs, MI)
Emeritus Vineyards (Sebastopol, California)

It takes a family to raise Robin chicks

Short on sleep, this is what I have to post for tonight.  This shot, which was a gift from the avian creature, was taken a few days ago - probably Wed May 11, 2011.  I thought there was only the mama hanging around and running the show, but she does have help from another bird.  I am assuming it is a male of the species.  Pretty cool.  They bark quite loud when myself and my roommate, and building mates walk out the door.  They only fly 10 feet away, but they definitely don't feel safe with a walking human nearby.  They abandon shop immediately and then proceed to screech at us in their own birdspeak.

Also, do yourself a favor and watch the documentary 'Merlove', if you are American.  It'll provide a little needed corrective to the lens that pop culture has thrust upon us.  The Europeans seem to be immune to the malady discussed in the documentary.  As well, there seems to be a movie coming out called 'Que Syrah Shiraz'.  I'll try to track some more info down on this one. 



-    Out!!!

Das Wetter

The Chicagoland area had a little thunderstorm roll on through today.  Some areas received upwards of 4 inches of rain!  Yowsers! 

(See for yourself) 

I really like that website.  But seriously, as Phil Collins was fond of saying, the gardens needed the rain.  Even my transplant strawberries were getting affected.  In their first few weeks in the new location that I have them in, it is clear that they communicate with droopiness when things aren't right.  Despite a very wet April, this past week with the warmer temperatures has really dried some of the areas out.

Paying attention to Tom Skilling's Twitter feed was pretty cool today.  He is a modern marvel with his interest in weather.  The man gets excited about the weather, Cantore is pretty awesome as well.

Breaking temperature records in Chicago...

(The legendary Dandelions of Grayslake, Illinois - Sunday May 8, 2011. Had to lie down on the grass(er, Dandelions) to take this photo of the Dandelions)

This is going to be a bit of a housekeeping entry.

- Bird thought to be injured
- Moon over Chicagoland
- Nest came after the bird
- Video of possibly eery night sky
- Dandelions
- Temperatures in Chicagoland

(I was catching up with the neighbor downstairs the other week and there was this Robin sitting on my front porch. To my eye, the bird looked like it was staring down the last few hours of its life. Why I interrupted the event as such, I have no explanation. Anyway, press the right-facing triangle and notice the bird's nest atop one of the pillars of my front porch. I think it is safe to assume that mama bird's water was about to break. Anyway, every time we come home or leave the apartment, we are greeting with a fleeing bird. She essentially flees the nest because we seem a potential harm to her egg. The bird, despite being with egg, really worked quickly to get that nest put together, and it is amazing engineering. Czech the photo below to bear witness. I haven't heard the sounds of a little baby chick just as yet. Photo taken Thursday April 7 2011.)

And, the bird nest:

(I just took this photo on Wed May 11, 2011. Just as I opened the exterior door to the apartment, the mama Robin immediately flew out of the nest and started chirping at me from a tree branch only 10 feet away. Very cute how dedicated she is. But the photo showcases her craftsmanship on that nest. Wow! The bird has a skill set if I have ever seen one. Just needs a resume and a cover letter.)

Greetings. I realized today, don't know why I would forget this, that I actually have 6 viable grape vines growing in Southeast Logan Square Chicago, Illinois. The varietals are, once again:

-  Mars Seedless
-  Syrah (not supposed to be growing here with temperatures like we get in the winter)
-  Cabernet Sauvignon (not supposed to be growing here either)

Two of these varietals I bought by listening to my heart and not my head (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon). The Mars Seedless I bought at Lowe's Hardware because it was already a developed vine, unbeknownst to me that it was an inter-specific hybrid brought about in 1986 by the lovely folks at the University of Arkansas (Ar-Kansas as the folk musicians say).

And about that moon...

(Photo taken April 17, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

(Photo taken April 17, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

Today Tuesday May 10, 2011 in Chicago, the temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit at O'Hare International airport. Talk about craziness, but it was a lovely day. I even gave some of the plants outside a little drink from the garden hose. This temperature apparently broke a record for April 17, which has not been breached since 1896. Big deal, for sure.

(Mas Dandelions! Sunday May 8, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

(Many, many, many Dandelions in Grayslake Illinois Sunday May 8 2011)

As I sign off right now at this ripe hour of dawn, the current temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The world is alive here in Southeast Logan Square. Birds even like it here at the apartment. The next blogulation is going to involve the most recent photos of the vines on-site here at this urban appellation.

At the Southeast Logan Square appellation.....updates on vines.

I am back at the apartment and the past day's temperatures, while raining alot, reminded me of the negative 12 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures from a few months back in Glen Ellyn (vines that I need to visit and see how the buds are), it was the contrast in temperatures that struck me most. I think I have really great news for the vines here in Southeast Logan Square, though, to report.

I recently transplanted beer hops (called Humulus Lupulus Mysterialis - varietal unkown) at the Grayslake vine and hops nursery (the hops were inherited from a brother-in-law who recently moved to another part of the world with my sister - the renters aren't gardeners). Loads of rains and just worried the temps would be too cold. Actually, the temps climbed all night long. Very interesting.

Also, Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, California recently updated their blog to report how the vineyards are recovering from frost damage to the early buds. Their blog is top notch and also a very intelligently and well-written piece, full of wonderful detail about the operations out there on the Left Coast.

I have been a bit worried because my vines here have not been indicating too much growth, but, it is the Third Coast, after all. What do I expect, right?! So, with a little reality check in place, I feel comfortable knowing that it is only late April and there are still many warm days coming. Many cold days coming, too. I am particularly interested in seeing if the pruning of the Mars Seedless grape vine hurt the vine or not. Same with the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines - both of the Vinifera thread. It is true, when I started in this hobby, I planted with my heart: I planted varieties that I like to drink best. This is not always recommended when planting in the Chicagoland area, regardless of whether it is the Grayslake appellation, the Glen Ellyn appellation, or the Southeast Logan Square appellation. And so it is the case that this spring is very important to me on these few levels, including, that I transplanted my Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Southeast Logan Square soil after starting them from cuttings some 13-14 months ago in flower pots inside my tiny little apartment.

I am very interested in seeing leaves, seeing some breakage of the buds. The Cabernet definitely seem to be pushing through quite nicely. I am a little reserved about any excitement regarding my strong Syrah grape vines. The Syrah vine by the front of the apartment seems to have more protruding buds at the current. Part of me just thinks that I have to trust that the roots will pull through. Then again, winter damage is a reality in this hobby. Time will tell. Hopefully these pictures indicate some good things, or at least predict a very exciting next 2-4 weeks here at the nursery/appellation. Mars Seedless definitely seems the favored vine for breakage next week.

Mars Seedless grape vine

(This image is terrible and has zero sharpness, but it communicates the message. After a rough summer with rat poison and an early March pruning, this vine is looking incredibly healthy. Taken Thurs May 5, 2011)

Syrah grape vines

(This is a snap of Syrah 01-2009 Chicago. It is pulling out of winter AND its 1st pruning!!!! Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011. Nice feature to have a fingertip in the photo, yeah? That's a new technique they are teaching the kids at schools of Journalism these days. Everything cycles, kind of like fashion.)

(This is Syrah 02-2009 Chicago. This also is pulling through winter AND its 1st pruning!!!! Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011)

Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines

(Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted these in early July, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011)

(Cabernet Sauvignon 02-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted these in early July, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011 - I copied all of the redundant text. Fancy, eh?)

(Cabernet Sauvignon 0e-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted this in early August, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011 - I copied all of the redundant text. Super fancy, shuh-uh?)

Willamette Beer Hops

(It's a mad world over at Conejo Loco's Urban Southeast Logan Square Chicagoland Vineyards when I glance at these hops. Could they be any healthier? I even cut out about 9-10 rhizomes to pass along to other rascals and this is still what comes up after a cursory shearing. Godspeed. That is all I can say. Godspeed.)

It has been a bit of a nail biter awaiting the arrival of the broken buds, but I think I can exhale now. Feeling like a success on these Southeast Logan Square urban vines. The only thing that remains, I guess, is a little decorative graffiti along the walls of the apartment or the backyard's wooden fence.

Photos-A-Plenty

Been a big bounce in my steps for the past 38 hours or so, let me tell ya'all. I really have to get some sleep, tomorrow is ramping up to being a very busy day on many fronts, personally and professionally. But, if I don't get these photos up, they just get backlogged. And that gets all too gnarley to deal with. So, let's roll.

Photo Set from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(The ever-popular Senor Rhubarbsky.)

(Photo indicating tremendous growth of the Willamette Beer Hops.)

(Second photo of Willamette Beer Hops.)

(The original Mars Seedless grape vine planted in September of 2009. The buds are ready to burst, they look so pregnant. Just had to snap a photo. This is also my first year pruning this particular vine. I will be very enthused if this one pulls through the winter with green leaves and shoots. After a summer of Rat poison, if this one reports a healthy condition and indicates vigor, a bottle of sparkling wine needs to be released.)

Photo Set #2 from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(One of the best pieces of evidence/news to come upon in the past 38 hours: developing roots.)

(Amazing roommate helping me with transplanting the Russian Mammoth Sunflower seedlings to larger containers. The Russian Mammoth Sunflowers have already outgrown their container that I planted the seeds in only 14-16 days ago. Had to be done. Whipped up a concoction of Barbeque pit ashes, Top Soil, Potting Soil, and Compost. Blended it all together in 5-Gallon buckets and troweled the product into new containers for the sunflowers and the developing grapevine cuttings.)

(Image of growth on cuttings.)

(And, another shot of the growth.)

(More evidence of growth on a few cuttings.)

Photo Set #3 from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(Developing roots on a grapevine cutting.)

(Another shot of developing roots from a grapevine cutting.)

(This little photo reveals how roots developed early on with this particular cutting. Indicates considerable vigor already.)

(Workstation photo #1)

(Workstation photo #2)

The temps reached 41 degrees as an average from many locations. There was also a significant wind to consider, so I decided to transplant on the landing inside the back porch of my apartment. It was warmer for me. I made the soil mixtures in the backyard. Myself and my roommate were pretty bundled up to thwart the cool air.

Photo Set from Grayslake Illinois Grapevine Nursery

(Photo from Grayslake, Illinois grapevine nursery on Monday A.M. April 18, 2011. Received 2 inches of snow overnight. Words taste chewy from previous blog posting. Chew, chew, chew.)

(A shot taken from car eastbound on Hwy 120/Belvidere Road indicating snow cover in Grayslake, Illinois/Wildwood, Illinois.)

I think the message is that April is not entirely safe in this region of the world for transplanting.

(Idea for a cheap planting container. Resourceful and re-useable product. Doesn't impinge on the 'Broke-Ass' wallet. Note the polka-dot material in the right-back of the photo. This is one of the markers being used to distinguish one varietal of grapevine from another. Picked up from the local feedstore in downtown Grayslake Illinois. Brilliant idea on part of partner-in-crime, Lisa.)

(Bottom end of cheap planting container coupled with reusing a salad or mushroom container. The mushroom container's bottom-half becomes the 'Catch Pan, or Saucer'. Nothing is left to waste.)

(Product of brainstorming for ways to come up with cheap planting containers. There are many possibilities in this world.)

(Again, another option for planting a cutting, or anything else. Plant can be easily extracted if the mouthpiece/spout is cut off initially before putting soil in device.)

More to tell from the Grayslake Grapevine Nursery, but I need more time and I need sleep.

What a difference 43 days can make............

Alright. Greetings.

So I keep late hours simply because I have a job that doesn't conclude until after 11pm each night I work from the employment schedule. Which leads me to report that i am still awake at 4:04AM Monday April 18, 2011. I 'just' got off of work. Right.

Crazy how I was just transplanting young grape vines today outside in the backyard of the Grayslake appellation and now 18-20 hours later, there is a layer of snow on the ground. Just remarkable. The words of a previous blog posting are pretty tasty, let me tell you.

Also, the Concords were planted around March 4, 2011. They were transplanted today and the roots were enormous, already. Huge bounce in my steps. Huge.

Gotta go sleep like normal people do. Out.

Ah, flurries fell today.

A snapshot of the sky in Waukegan, Illinois today Saturday April 16, 2011.


It is a cold, dreary day and at one point flurries fell for an extended period of time. I have a few photos of the clouds to communicate a small slice of today. The temps are at 38 degrees Fahrenheit at the moment in Waukegan, Illinois, the lows will be at 32-33 tonight. Chilly Willy, for sure. The past two days have been nothing but rain, which is great for the local water table. I used to think that it was great for the vines, but I am hearing more from sources that the vines that have to struggle to find groundwater are usually the vines that produce the best fruit. Hence, you get these outfits seeking volcanic soils, etc., and selling out of wines that they are producing, in no time.

This is the year of the Next Generation. It is apparent that successes and lessons from this year will provide the bedrock for how to proceed in the coming years. Whatever varietals take best this summer will more than likely be the predominant wine varietals that I'll be fermenting in the coming 6-9 years. Brilliant!

While I have learned that many of the vineyards in California have experienced bud break, I don't think too many in the central states/Midwest area have been able to report such good news, at least not just as yet. Not surprising considering the differences in climate between the two general areas mentioned. I remember one time talking to an old south side Chicago cop and he said that it is usually safe once you come upon thee first moon in May, that is, to transplant seedlings, etc. I do think his advice is pretty spot on. And that is part of the appeal of spring: it teases us with a few warm days, but its function primarily rests in providing transition to the world. I'll sit tight and be patient.

How about a diversion?

I always look forward to the time when I find Blood Oranges in the supermarket.

Blood Oranges a second time. Lovely tasting, aren't they?

It certainly hasn't been as cold as Duluth, Minnesota, but it is quite chilly. Ken Newhams is the guy behind the always wonderful Duluth Shipping News website. Always a fun one to review.

For the love of Cava!!!

A couple of pieces coming your way.

Things are generally growing, or coming out of the winter's dormancy. It is getting safer to grow. Fear of falling snow has now passed. Thunderstorms are frequenting us more in the land of the Chicago. I almost ran over a large rat as I rode my broken down ten speed bicycle, vintage early 70's. I was coming back from saying hello to Adam Faucett and William Blackart at the Double Door. The rat came out from under a car to my right. It was wishing to cross eastbound to the other side of my street, but once I came into its purview, it decided to return to the safety of the little Japanese-made vehicular device. Just like a squirrel when life and limb are at risk. Those rats have long tails, don't they?

The moon is coming around. I have a few shots to share.

Also, as I try more and more to keep abreast on the how's, the why's and the news of other more established operations, I am discovering that many of them already have been able to tell the good news: that bud break has arrived. I have such news as well, but only to report from my cuttings in-house(apt). I have yet to see growth on the outside vines. But all of the buds that I see as I walk past the gardens tell me that there are very good buds that are found on the vines. Many seem to have survived the winter.

This is also a nerve-wracking time for me as I have pruned these Chicago vines for the first time ever. As a result, these next 3-4 weeks are going to be nail-biting. What happens in the coming month is all going into the memory bank for the moment when I get my first 3 acres, whenever that will be. It'll be grueling, but brilliant. I need a success in this area to get under my belt.

The apartment is functioning as a greenhouse, essentially. Currently I have Mars Seedless(University of Arkansas hybrid) growing in pots, from cuttings, and Syrah vines, from cuttings. I hope maybe another round of Cabernet Sauvignon will come up, it looks like such a miracle may occur. Outside, the vines have not come to present the first leaf. Chicago can be a cold place. So I take this as a lesson for choosing the best vines for whatever locale I end up in, those that are best suited for the climate.

On Sunday last, the temperatures hit 82 degrees Fahrenheit - that is incredible!! As a result, the Lillies, Clematis, Willamette Hops, Hostas, Purple Coneflower, Joe Pye Weed have all begun to sprout. As well, I transplanted some Strawberries I have had for nearly 4 years. They were just simply being overrun by the beer hops and so I decided to give them a bit more room to breathe. Already, they are taking to their new home quite nicely. The Hops grew about 3 - 4 solid inches over the weekend. Out of control!!!

And, what is a summer without the Russian Mammoth Sunflower? Well, I suggest just grabbing a few seeds (the pack I bought was $1.00 flat) and grab a little soil and just push the seed into the soil. Water daily, and when the top of the soil appears dry. The sunflowers do the rest. They lean early.

The nose on this Cava, 1 + 1 = 3, I am indulging in is absolutely lovely. The flavor took a bit for me to come to, but the nose immediately befriended me upon my first sip.

Also, why not a shot of the boys? I couldn't get a photo of the rat quick enough, I apologize. It would've also required a third hand to ride the bike then also pull out the Sony and get it on the digital filmulation. Maybe another time, no?

Feeling a bit like a circus juggler these days

(One of the most popular plants on the block: Rhubarbsky)

Many, many things rolling here in the Logan Square neighborhood. Highlight of the week comes from the returning Rhubarb that I planted last year. Actually, this is a significant moment to celebrate because it is my second attempt at trying to bring Rhubarb through a winter here in Chicago. I suspect it might have been poor planting and care on my part as being the reason for the failure of the initial attempt. Regardless, this Rhubarb started to dance about 10 to 12 - 14 days ago and it prompted a mini-fist pump like Tiger Woods usually does on the golf course after an excellent shot. Now that I have it coming up (and believe me, it was deceptively nice on Tuesday of this week - I was freezing outside as I worked painting a wrought-ironed fence), I can look forward to a repeat of summer pies from this lovely plant.

Also, today as I walked out my front door to move my car (a preventative measure so that I don't need to, once again, donate to the City of Chicago's Department of Revenue), I was greeted by a lovely, lovely sound made by a woodpecker in the tree immediately in front of my apartment. I could actually hear it inside my apartment. Having grown up in St. Louis, we really didn't get too many woodpeckers taking up shop in the area. Once I began to learn the sound of the woodpecker (not a difficult task in the least), whenever I hear a similar sound my memory brings up the file and I have to go out to the place where the sound is being crafted, that's just something I love. I couldn't believe how long this one treated me to the sound. It was amazing. I remained in my apartment for the next few hours (nursing a chest-cold/bronchial something) and later came out to learn that the woodpecker was still in the tree. I took a recording on the trusty old iPod. I'll try to post it on the blogulation when I figure how to do such a thing.

I have encountered a couple of very encouraging pieces in the media as of recent. They are listed below:

Mike Steinberger (Slate.com) recently wrote a great piece about Rhys Vineyards out of California. Part of the writing is chronology and history. It was actually those components that helped a little upstart like what this is make me feel very encouraged.

Click the hyperlink to read said article on slate.com:



Also, learning a bit more about the development of Cadeceus Vineyards out of Arizona. Very exciting and encouraging news out of there as well.

Loads of intense weather coming in tonight. Heavy Storms.

Just finished pruning lessons with a vineyard down south/downstate.  Very cool people at that place.  It was really great to get away from the urban complex known as Southeast Logan Square (Chicago, Illinois) and get into a field and feel the winds.  The winds actually started coming from the East, but by day's end the prevailing winds took over from the West.  The temperature was brilliant.  The staff members really got sunburned yesterday when pruning and there was nothing but cloud cover yesterday.  Very wild.  Now I know why I see so many vineyard personnel wearing the long-sleeves and the large-brimmed hats.  I'll have some photos in the coming entries.  Just getting a few things together since arriving back at home.

Noticed the Rhubarb are popping out of the ground yesterday.  My roommate and I are thrilled beyond belief.  I hope it is a good year for that plant because I need some pie.  My roommate is viewing it as a culinary challenge.  She'll do great, always does with the kitchen throwdowns.   Add that word to your Urban Dictionary, y'all.

- Out!

Housekeeping.....Next Year's Crop....2012

Just jotting down bulletpoints (first draft of this blog started on March 5):

Sensei comments
Snow in Chicagoland
Fritz Westover
Pruning Cabernet Sauvignon St. Louis 01-2008
Concord Grapes 01-2011, 02-2011, 03-2011
Photographs
Tim Mondavi, Carissa Mondavi, and Gary Vaynerchuk

A couple of things to mention...

Spring is coming no matter if it snowed today or not in the Chicagoland area. Dave Mustaine revealed in an interview recently that his sensei taught him, "You get knocked down 7 times, you get up 8.". The temps are warmer than they were 45 days ago. The last 36 hours have been a wild ride with respect to the weather. Torrents of rain followed temperatures peaking at 59 degrees Fahrenheit, all of which was followed by a think blanket of snow cover (not even more than an inch on the soil - couldn't stick to the concrete). The temps are now at 27 degrees.

I am hopping a train tomorrow night to meet up with a buddy of mine so we can drive to St. Louis by Monday morning where our families are. St. Louis is where my family resides and it'll be great to see them again. I know they also desperately want me to trim up the Cabernet Sauvignon vine. I hope to absorb as much Fritz Westover teaching as possible before I unfasten the safety on the pruners come Monday. 2012's crop depends on it.

One of my partners in crime planted some Concord Grape cuttings today, starting them inside the house and in pots, in Grayslake, Illinois. The pot technique has produced about a 58 % success rate for me when starting cuttings in them in a structure with four walls and heating through April of any year. (That percentage is completely arbitrary, by the by, but probably not too far off in all actuality.)

In addition, my friend also wrapped up the Vitis Riparia to get them ready for a brief period of stasis and eventual planting. That entire question has not even been explored. Again, the madness piece comes into play, but it is loads of fun to consider the possibilities of seeing how Vitis Riparia reacts and responds to care and structure as opposed to wanton living on the frontier appellation of Belvidere Road and McAree in Waukegan, Illinois, Lake County, Illinois.

I also am well aware that Gary Vaynerchuk is ramping up to produce his 1000th show in a matter of days. Today I visited his site at www.winelibrary.tv and realized he just posted a lovely two-part interview with Tim Mondavi and his daughter Carissa Mondavi, both hailing from Continuum Estates in the Napa Valley. I don't know a thing about Tim Mondavi - the name obviously triggers an association with Robert Mondavi, but I thought it was a decent interview. There was mention of the famed Judgment of Paris, something I know little about other than a Stag's Leap reference, and also Tim Mondavi spoke of the importance of the 60 Minutes televised broadcast of 'The French Paradox' from Nov 17 1991. By the way, that article on The Judgment is by Mike Steinberger, longtime wine columnist for Slate Magazine. Mr. Steinberger also visited Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Library TV in recent years.

--------------------------------------------

..........Finishing this a million years too late. Anyway, www.winelibrary.tv has now been reconfigured and maybe could be considered as at the tail end of matriculating to www.dailygrape.com. Pretty interesting advances.

Also, just watched 'Bottleshock' with a friend the other day and that had some remarkable cinematography. Jeez Louise it was good viewing. It was a movie, but pretty damned cool overall.

Gotta publish this now because loads of cuttings are already growing and it is dy-no-mite all over the place. Major thunderstorms today, as well in the Chicagoland area and region. Super, fast, funky.

Out!!!!! Current temperature on first day of spring is 54 degrees Fahrenheit folks. (finally published on March 21 2011 Sunday morning, wee hours. Birds singing loudly, etc. 2:36AM, if you know what I mean.)

The Catch-All Blog Posting

(cuttings from the Mars Seedless vine. I decided to prune it back to experiment, in all honesty. After the rat poison incident of early summer 2010, the vine struggled and I am just hoping to give it another lease on life in the big city, The Second City actually. We'll see how it develops. Photo taken March 3 2011 Thursday)

(This photo is just for the sake of indicating the green Xylem inside the vine, even after a harsh Chicago winter. This is the first year I have begun to take notice of such physiological characteristics. I am encouraged. Again, these are the few Mars Seedless cuttings I was able to extract. Rolling dice here by trying to get cuttings off these plants in Chicago. Photo taken Thursday March 3 2011)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings. I am a little worried about how the vine wintered. I realize the vine is not matched well with the climate, but I worry a bit about the color that the vine took. My question is whether or not the Periderm actually developed properly. We'll see. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings just a little bit closer in scope. Note the green of the Xylem. Seeing the green took me by surprise. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday.)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings. Another close-up of the vine's Xylem after wintering in Chicago, Illinois. This region has seen harsher winters. Seeing the green on this Vinifera planted is a considerable surprise. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. This was a very cold day. On March 2nd, I was in Bloomington, Indiana and the weather was very agreeable. The very next day in Chicago on the 3rd I had been smacked in the face by the winds coming off Lake Michigan as I waited for a bus (downtown Waukegan, IL) after my transmission blew on the blue 1996 Toyota Camry - I had to get to work somehow, right? The result was windburned cheeks, but the experience made me grateful. These Hops still keep growing despite the chilly temps. I am watching these to see what they are capable of. They look like fighters to me.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. Look on the right half of the photography to note the faint green in catching a glimpse of this Hops growth.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. Again, look for the green in the photo.)


Plenty of photos to catch up on. The weather today reached 59 degrees by 1PM in Chicago. Currently it is 34 degrees Fahrenheit and has been raining quite extensively for well over 8 hours. This storm is massive in its expanse.

How about a photo of the car? Whaddya say? We all need a good laugh after all, right?

(Nothing but a day in the life.......Coaching myself, "Chin Up! Chin Up!!!!!")