Picked grapes 2025-08-25

Update 2025-09-02: Grapes smelling like wine 2025-08-26.

Many gallons of grapes picked; still more on the vine.

[Picked scuppernongs]
Picked scuppernongs

These are scuppernongs, a variety of muscadine, Vitis rotundifloia.

They came from the late Barney Ray’s arbor; now they grow on ours.

Many wild ones grow in the woods, but mostly the critters get them.

These we’ve let grow up in pine and sweetgum trees on the arbor, so most land-bound animals can’t get to them.

-jsq

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 →