tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post4461628181964995496..comments2024-03-28T13:23:25.055-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Raising Cabernet and Merlot in TexasOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-75265533243977455362014-09-03T12:25:21.770-07:002014-09-03T12:25:21.770-07:00A good style to have.A good style to have.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88986184922832626072014-09-02T16:29:48.160-07:002014-09-02T16:29:48.160-07:00Nah, Gary Cooper is more my style. High Noon.Nah, Gary Cooper is more my style. High Noon.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-91816723200459878552014-09-02T16:27:16.683-07:002014-09-02T16:27:16.683-07:00Oh my word Murphy. I've told you before, don&#...Oh my word Murphy. I've told you before, don't encourage the lad.<br /><br />(Now in addition to being a fighter pilot, he's gonna think he's John Wayne!)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77672297799436281332014-09-02T08:55:03.634-07:002014-09-02T08:55:03.634-07:00Really? Did NOT know that.Really? Did NOT know that.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61631947323483367732014-09-02T06:35:49.143-07:002014-09-02T06:35:49.143-07:00Just remember that John Wayne didn't really ri...Just remember that John Wayne didn't really ride horses, either. You're in good company.Murphy's Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-33494412974239631492014-09-01T15:59:39.554-07:002014-09-01T15:59:39.554-07:00A good idea, business plan, and hard work begats s...A good idea, business plan, and hard work begats success; what a concept! Congrats on your foresight, diligence, and dedication Mr. and Mrs Juvat. Enjoy the "fruits" of your labor and, well done indeed, regards from the Bourbon capital of the world, AlemasterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-21694663074879796152014-09-01T15:45:56.514-07:002014-09-01T15:45:56.514-07:00Trust me a fresh out of college 2LT "knew&quo...Trust me a fresh out of college 2LT "knew" about Val Verde Winery! When we retired and moved here there were about 20 wineries in the state, now there are more than 200. My wife and I bought a Wine Store that sold exclusively Texas Wines when we first got here. Had it for about 9 years. Had always heard the Fairy Tale about someone walking in to a business and asking if it were for sale for $X. Actually had it happen. X was a very nice price, but, trying to keep my knees from shaking to badly, I said, "Not Really" He countered with a larger offer and two weeks later we were "Ex" Texas Wine sellers. While we had the store, we had also started a wine tour business. It was successful enough to keep me busy on weekends. We were the only one's doing them. Got an offer for it and took it. Now there have to be 20 or so tour companies in the area. Wine is a big business in Texas!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17180616881862662072014-09-01T14:38:26.479-07:002014-09-01T14:38:26.479-07:00Val Verde Winery in Del Rio did a good job with th...Val Verde Winery in Del Rio did a good job with their grapes although they said they had to buy/import a lot for their product. Mrs Alemaster and I used to like their wines when she was prosecuting/living in Del Rio. Most squadrons at Laughlin had their special wines from there but I'm sure you knew that. I kind of figured that growing grapes in TX would be somewhat of a challenge but a "Juvat Vintner" would have been pretty cool. Mrs Alemaster was a horsewoman when I met her in KSAT during my second tour at Randolph. I'm glad she's outgrown the horse hobby but we still enjoy the grape. regards, AlemasterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11025884432425040122014-09-01T13:54:26.474-07:002014-09-01T13:54:26.474-07:00Yeah probably, but as the saying goes. "I wa...Yeah probably, but as the saying goes. "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could. " In my case 3rd or 4th grade through College and Pilot Training, then a Government Mandated Hiatus, Retired on the 15th of July, left VA the next day and crossed the TX border at about 0600 on the 17th.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65145842739508680012014-09-01T12:52:00.364-07:002014-09-01T12:52:00.364-07:00When I was 14 or so my uncle thought I should take...When I was 14 or so my uncle thought I should take some riding lessons. He had a farm in WV. I had always heard that horses were pretty dumb but from what I experienced not so. <br /><br />Juvat if you live in TX aren't horses supposed to be in your genes? Bill Brandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296770640153629109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77932419943580727152014-09-01T11:39:17.747-07:002014-09-01T11:39:17.747-07:00Well, as I said, my sum experience with horses pri...Well, as I said, my sum experience with horses prior to this was watching them on TV. Realizing that had no bearing on reality, we hired a friend of my daughter who had been studying Equine Science but ran out of money and moved back home to help us. Learned a lot of very important "tells" on how the horse is thinking. That works for Grace and Merlot quite well, but Cab is so mercuric that the time from happy and frolicy to ears pinned back is way too fast to get out of the way. Fortunately, she's not a kicker, but she will try to take a nip at you. So yeah, I keep an eye on them and always try to have an escape avenue.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34755533903111993312014-09-01T10:47:57.031-07:002014-09-01T10:47:57.031-07:00Interesting! Horses and I do NOT get along; I'...Interesting! Horses and I do NOT get along; I've been thrown further than I've successfully ridden. So, given my unique capability to instantaneously grasp the obvious, I keep my distance... which might be described as "far, far away."Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319116022465066060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-31352077440411712372014-09-01T09:44:46.047-07:002014-09-01T09:44:46.047-07:00And I had intended the video to be a bit longer, b...And I had intended the video to be a bit longer, but with Cab coming up that close, I figured I'd better be looking at her with both eyes instead of through the view finder. She got a little rambunctious as we started walking to the barn.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-27731246607012984222014-09-01T09:39:33.176-07:002014-09-01T09:39:33.176-07:00They are an expensive hobby, but, as they say, &qu...They are an expensive hobby, but, as they say, "keeps me off the streets at night".juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-74508052616652102032014-09-01T09:38:16.909-07:002014-09-01T09:38:16.909-07:00I'll have to take pictures, but there are actu...I'll have to take pictures, but there are actually several grapevines on the property and very old, I can't get my hands around the main stem of them. Mustang grapes, so acidy that you have to pick them with gloves. Making wine requires LOTS of sugar, but the old German descendants around her can be seen along the highway picking the grapes as fast as they can.<br />Regarding Green Pasture. We had half an inch night before last, if we hadn't, distinguishing Grace from the pasture would have been difficult.<br />juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-34059746436629187062014-09-01T09:24:09.641-07:002014-09-01T09:24:09.641-07:00Horsies are one expensive hobby. The in-laws have ...Horsies are one expensive hobby. The in-laws have 3 which are either too old or too Ill-tempered to ride. So basically they have 3 pets they can look at and pay a ton to house, feed, and care for. Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2348178747976840422014-09-01T08:54:14.307-07:002014-09-01T08:54:14.307-07:00Once upon a time The Missus Herself planted a grap...Once upon a time <em>The Missus Herself</em> planted a grape vine out in the back yard. It did not thrive. It kind of sat there saying, "Run me over with the lawn mower, release me from my misery." I didn't.<br /><br />Eventually, when <em>The Missus Herself</em> realized that she would never see grape one based on the plant's location, she moved it to be right next to our deck.<br /><br />Well, the sumbitch took over at that point. We had grapevines all over and through the deck railings. As to grapes, quite a few. But these guys had a giant seed in the middle and not much meat to 'em. Still and all, it looked pretty cool.<br /><br />Eventually <em>The Missus Herself</em> tired of hacking back the vines every year and the grapevines were removed. She told me that she gave the plant to a farmer, where it could roam free with all the other grapevines.<br /><br />I do believe that I was duped.<br /><br />Oh yeah, excellent tale Juvat. Love the horses, love your ranch. The little video is what most New Englanders think of when you say "Texas."<br /><br />Wide open sky, a few picturesque trees, green pasture and horses galloping about.<br /><br />Loved it.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88658946093949024562014-09-01T08:22:02.093-07:002014-09-01T08:22:02.093-07:00You're definitely right about that, but there ...You're definitely right about that, but there is a bit of peacefulness sitting out on the back porch watching them run, or graze, while sipping a glass of Cabernet or Merlot.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-67216236842900596482014-09-01T08:15:31.773-07:002014-09-01T08:15:31.773-07:00The girls are going to keep you busy, but I suspec...The girls are going to keep you busy, but I suspect they are sweeter than wine.joehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08520161706680568508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-90406778574672522492014-09-01T06:25:00.603-07:002014-09-01T06:25:00.603-07:00Possibly about the scene from "A Walk in the ...Possibly about the scene from "A Walk in the Clouds" where the ladies in the gossamer negligees walked through the fields fanning the grapes? The movies have attributed a lot of Romance to growing grapes. Fortunately, the faculty at UC Davis and my friends with the winery knocked most of that nonsense out of me before I made a big mistake.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-18953872065965392352014-09-01T06:14:39.439-07:002014-09-01T06:14:39.439-07:00Thanks.Yeah, August in Flyover Country can be chal...Thanks.Yeah, August in Flyover Country can be challenging, and growing grapes is not for the faint of heart.juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1897887127581057262014-09-01T06:03:38.659-07:002014-09-01T06:03:38.659-07:00I almost planted some grapes here, once.
I don'...I almost planted some grapes here, once.<br />I don't know what I was thinking.(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65621160648396782442014-09-01T04:38:16.754-07:002014-09-01T04:38:16.754-07:00My men folk have talked of growing grapes, but for...My men folk have talked of growing grapes, but fortunately have not done so yet. So we live in the middle of a hay pasture that could use more rain.August in OK and TX is the pits. Our two old horses have not been ridden in years and the mini-horse that we are boarding is useless other than entertaining the grandkids. I enjoyed your story of your life in the Hill Country of TX - very like my life in the OKie hills. Bag Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01885412195900280096noreply@blogger.com