We have a WInner

I just wanted to show everyone the growth we have had at JMJ Vineyards. As you know in the end of May we had some damage to all our plants from Thrip bugs that looked like this:



In June the Vineyard looked like this:





Today it looks like this:



The Winner is one particular plant that has grown so well that it has reached the 51" wire and is now growing along it to its right. I know this sounds confusing, but each plant needs to get to the 51" wire for optimum fruit growth and this plant has already done this in just under 3 months, and I am as proud as a new born baby's daddy. Well not really, but you understand.

Hope you enjoy these.

Chicago Update

Wow what a difference 990 miles makes.... Low 60's at night, and highs in the low 80's. No air conditioning and fun by Mom and Dad's pool. Marijon arrived on July 10th and we have had a great time visiting our Illinois friends. We have had a great time visiting with the Janeks, Swaffords including baby Eli who is awesome, LaMores, and visiting our old Church River Valley Christian Fellowship. Life has been good. Mike Janek and I have had a great time riding bikes until he was forced into a crash last Saturday and here is a picture of that result.


He actually was very lucky for someone who crashed a road bike at 20 miles an hour because the guy in front of him got caught up in a set of railroad tracks they were crossing. He gets his stitches out Tuesday and we are going to ride again before I leave to come home to Texas.
We have had some fun in the pool. Shown here...

The dogs wanted in the pool really bad, but my mom was very against that.

Then my dad secretly made a plan to get them in the pool and we were successful, and my mom was very upset. This is Zoey swimming. Both our labs love to swim.





And here are a few vineyard pictures from late June when my parents, Ed and Arlene, were in Childress. I put them to work in the vineyard and they did great.



Me and my Momma in JMJ Vineyards getting rid of weeds, fun right?

In Chicago

Well after a very long drive I made it to Chicago, my parents house, yesterday at around 1:30 in the afternoon. The 4th was great. My sister and her entire neighborhood was busted by the cops for illegal fireworks last year so they moved the celebration to my parents house this year. They live in an area that would ensure no police interruption. It rained most of the day but around 6:30 pm it stopped and we had a great fireworks show after dark. Immediately after the show I got a very good nights sleep. Today was very nice, a day by the pool, and hanging two ceiling fans for my momma.

MJ has been in Santa Fe all weekend and seen a spectacle called the Wine Festival. MJ and her mom, Marilyn traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico and have been going non-stop all weekend. They have seen some great art, a lot of different Wine Tastings and good food. MJ tells me she had the best guacamole ever, they made it right in front of her at the restaurant.

Well I will be in Chicago for a while with the rents, I miss my wife and Childress already, but I am looking forward to visiting with old friends and time with mom and dad. Until next time.....Have fun in the heat, in Chicago I can sit outside and not sweat, who would have thunk?