Do you remember our discussion about grapes and wine, from exactly two years ago? I’m guessing most of you don’t. It began here. If you follow the link, be sure to click on “Prev” at the bottom of the post to get the second part of the discussion. Or just click here. I know it’s confusing; it really should be the “Next” link, but that’s the way my WordPress template is set up. Maybe one of these days I’ll get around to chasing down the code and correcting that. Please, though, let’s get back to grapes and wine and the current situation. My vines are entering their third full year of growth, and I’m expecting enough grapes in late summer to begin experimentation. There will be challenges. Or challengers, I could say.  Last year, the vines produced a respectable crop of small, sweet grapes, and the mockingbirds loved them! When the grapes ripened, the mockers stripped the vines within days. Actually, the grapes matured early last year, because spring began sometime in January. This year has been a completely different story, and the grape vines are a few weeks late leafing out, like most things. I want to take this moment to say that this has all gone beyound ridiculous. I truly feel for those of you in the midwest who are enduring endless snow and cold. It’s not funny anymore!