Thursday morning sunrise

I used my phone to take some pictures in the vineyard yesterday. I'm not happy with the result, so I'll probably take the DSLR out in the next day or two. This sunrise photo came out ok, so here it is.

Looking northeasterly toward our hamlet at sunrise on Thursday.

We're having a relative warm spell. It got up to just over 20ºC (about 68F) yesterday and we're expecting the same through the weekend. I'm thinking of power-washing the deck and getting the bbq grill up and running for the season. But there's no lack of chores to choose from. We'll see how it goes.

The parcel of grape vines shown below was re-planted two seasons ago. This will be its third year. The vines resemble little sticks at this point. Yesterday, one of the vineyard workers used a plow to turn over the soil on either side of each vine row. I'm guessing that's intended to help keep the weeds down while the vines mature.

Mediocre photo of the replanted vineyard parcel behind our hamlet.

I also noticed that the pliage is under way in neighboring parcels. Several workers walked through the pruned rows "folding" each remaining cane to the horizontal and attaching it to a guide wire. The buds are thus well-spaced when they sprout rather than all bunched up. I'll try to get some photos. A picture is worth a thousand words. At least it was before the tariffs.

Whole lotta prunin' goin' on.

Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid. Little by little, the bird builds its nest. An expression that applies to the annual grape vine pruning here (and everywhere, I expect). It's a job done by hand (except that the pruning shears are battery powered): last year's growth is cut off the main trunk, except for one cane. The pruners have an eye for which cane should stay.

Do plum trees get pruned?

Yesterday, in a burst of productivity, I got our US tax return done and sent it off via the internet. A message came back soon after saying that the IRS received and accepted the return. We're expecting a small refund. Yay! Now its on to the French tax return.

Killing me softly

Since Round Up was taken off the market, I've been trying (with little enthusiasm and less success) different ways to control weeds in our gravel paths and driveway. One way is not to bother. I'm not sure I like that method. Ken did some internet research and found lots of mention of using vinegar, and one that combines strong household vinegar with salt to kill weeds. I decided to try.

I don't know what this is.

So, yesterday I mixed up the "recipe" which also called for a measure of liquid dish soap. That, supposedly, helps the vinegar/salt solution to stick to the weeds' leaves. Once mixed, I sprayed the solution on everything green in the garden path before I ran out. I'll see this morning if the weeds show signs of kicking the bucket. If so, I'll mix up some more for the north side and the driveway.

p.s. I just realized what day this is and I want to let you know that this is not an April fool!

So long, March

It hasn't been a lovely winter. Overcast, rainy, and cold most of the time. And both of us were sick for about two months. Nearly everyone we talk to says they had this virus, whatever it was. Our doctor told us it was "something going around." I'll be happy to see March go.

Tree trunks.

At the risk of jinxing spring, we are enjoying more sunny days. It's still not very warm, but the sunshine helps it not to feel too cold. I'm hopeful that we have more and more sunny days as April arrives.

Springing forward

The vineyards around us are looking very spring-like. No leaves, yet, but there are buds forming on the vines. Pruning continues and the vines are looking quite neat and tidy. Some parcels that are normally pruned by now are not, making me wonder if they're scheduled to be ripped out. Time will tell.

Some parcels are getting sprayed for weeds. I thought that herbicides were no longer used out there. Is a puzzlement.

I'm getting a few more things done in the yard while the weather is decent. I ripped out an overgrown sage plant on Friday. It was way past its prime and we hardly ever harvested its leaves. I wonder if it's like our oregano that doesn't have much flavor unless it's dried? Oh well, it's too late now.

Sunny daze

We enjoyed a mostly sunny day on Friday, with another expected today. Of course, cloudless days are often chilly. I ended up putting a fire in the wood burner in the afternoon to take the chill off and to give the central heating a rest. 

This shadow happens in the spring and in the fall.

When the sun does shine in this time of year, it casts shadows around the rooms. This is a corner of the dining area with the Eiffel Tower and its shadow. Our friend Cheryl gave us the tower. It came from Pottery Barn, if memory serves, back in San Francisco. Back in the olden days. The little wiry figure (sold separately) has magnetic feet.