Life comes at you fast in the vineyard
5/24/2009- Taking a Fall
Life really does come at you fast at the vineyard. Last Sunday, after a great Saturday of visiting and pouring at the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival in Elkin, I was working on a laddar in the tasting room, trying to dislodge a robin's nest from the ceiling eaves. The 14-foot ladder suddenly backed up on its feet and started to skid backwards. The whole thing, with me aboard, crashed to the concrete floor.
There was a symphony of scrapes, sprains, bruises and a badly injured right forearm. Eventually, I was able to roll off the ladder and find my cell phone. I called my wife, who called the neighbors, who called 911. (Why didn't I think of that?) I don't remember a lot, except a heap of pain and lots of bodies (EMS people) seemed to appear from nowhere. The ambulance took me to Baptist Hospital where a lot started happening fast. It turned out to be a compound fracture, and the docs were fearful of bone infection, so in went the antibotics by the truckload.
Sometime much later on (I had no reckoning of time) they wheeled me to the OR, screwed a high-tech composit plate onto the bone and packed me off to a room.
Two surgeries and a week later, I'm back home and getting around surprisingly well. Many of you have called, left messages, visited--and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I never knew I had so many fabulous friends.
Bloom
Probably the most spectacular time in the vineyard's spring development is bloom: when each individual grape produces a small flower that opens up and lets the grape pollinate itself. That starts the race to harvest--about 100 days away.
It accelerates now with more vine positioning, leaf thinning to allow more sunlight and breeze within the canopy, hedging the vines (the vineyard "haircut"), netting to keep out the robins. And of course the unending mowing and spraying.
The growth spurts forward, while I'm moving at a snail's pace. There is a story that during WW2, the French army tanks were 14-speed vehicles: 1 forward and 13 reverse. Whatever the case, they didn't stop the Germans.
So as a result of last Sunday, I'm the French tank chugging along while the growth season races toward me at full speed!
Tasting Room: Finally!
In the last few weeks, the remaining bits and pieces went into place: a central chandelier, cobblestone walkways, rain "chains" that deposit the rain into small cisterns, landscaping. We're waiting for the grass to sprout.
We plan the soft opening about June 13, then a big deal later (probably early July). Mark your calendars and watch the website.
Things I've Learned
As I lay in a hospital bed, I had a lot of time to think. I couldn't believe how much I missed the vineyard. This was the week for a critical spray and thanks to many of you, we (you) got it done.
So I've learned:
• I have a lot of special people around me.
• Avoid hospitals
• Hospital is to food what capitol is to punishment
• Don't fight with ladders.
Remember, drink more wine!