First harvests and lightning strikes

Lots to share, lots has happened this year, we've been so busy I haven't had much chance to update our progress, but here are some highlights:

First HU peonies

AND

First Riesling harvest, and our first homemade young  Riesling wine, after first racking

First very small muscadine/scuppernong harvest, just enough for some jam

Our first commercial harvest was fantastic

Sauv Blanc

Chardonnay

Over a ton sold to Crowe Farm and Winery

Grew some sunflowers, yum!

And enjoyed the lavender blooms and harvest

However, we did have some unnecessary adventures in July when lightning blew a hole in the gable end wall, shooting through the roof, starting a flash fire, severing our satellite, burning out TV, computers, and solar panels.  We were very fortunate no one was hurt, as we were home at the time and in close proximity to the strike.   And, of course we had just finished pointing that wall (doing one wall a year).  We have just now completed almost all the repairs to the structure and systems.  It was a busy summer!

The amazing blackberries, seen here ripening, almost made up for the stress of the lightning strike.

Hope you are getting ready for the cold winter ahead.

Kate