Clouds, rain, clouds, rain, etc.

This is one of those weeks. Successive weather systems are keeping us mostly gray and wet. The weather is not severe, just alternating rain and drizzle. Oh well. This, too, shall pass. I'm anxious to get the lettuces and radishes planted but will have to wait for the ground to dry out a little.

The rolling slopes of the vineyard provide the drainage that is important to vine health.

Here's another picture from the vineyard. That yellow shrub in the middle is an osier. It's a variety of willow that has many uses. The withies, or canes, are harvested and used in the vineyard to tie up bundles of vine prunings. Osier is more commonly used in basket weaving (think wicker), but there are other varieties of the plant and I don't know if the one in the picture is one that would be used for that purpose.

So, while the weather sorts itself out, it's housework, cooking, and trudging through the mud with Callie. On Wednesday we made a delicious dish of fish and chips for lunch. We didn't batter the fish, but coated it lightly with flour, egg, and cornmeal. Ken made a tarter sauce that was very good. He took some pictures that may or may not show up on his blog.