Ripe Grapes 2025-08-24

Update 2025-09-01: Picked grapes 2025-08-25.

Thanks to the late Barney Ray for these Scuppernong grapes, which came from his arbor. Now they’re growing on ours, which we call woodhenge.

[Ripe grapes on the vine]
Ripe grapes on the vine

Very tasty.

Scuppernongs are a variety of Muscadine grapes. They are native here.

Gretchen says these are champaign scuppernongs, because of their color.

-jsq

Toad in the Hole 2025-08-18

Gretchen baked this tasty dish.

Think pizza with no cheese or tomatoes.

Or pastry with beef and not sweet.

If that doesn’t help, you’ll just have to try it.

[Toad in the Hole]
Toad in the Hole

She loosely followed a recipe by Max Miller on Tasting History.

It’s basically flour and eggs with a bit of salt with meat baked in an oven.

-jsq

Skeeter hawk bath 2025-07-21

This dragonfly repeatedly swooped down to the dog bath water and up.

[Movie: Dragonfly drinking (34M)]
Movie: Dragonfly drinking (34M)

I’m guessing it was drinking.

Maybe this is how they lay eggs? If so, it will be disappointed, since we do change the dog bath water from time to time.

It’s much easier to see the insect in the video:
https://youtu.be/zqUusDsAhpA Continue reading →