Failed Grape Crop-climate change?

After some serious pruning last fall, this year's Concord Grape crop seemed full of promise. All summer, we watched them grow and flourish. It really seemed as if we would have a bumper crop. Way more grapes than I could possibly turn into jam in the autumn. But the summer was short, and not that warm.

And then one day it was Autumn. Rain began. It got cooler. Usually the grapes ripen by the end of September or beginning of October. This year a few of them turned purple, but the rest remained green. Now the leaves are dying and the grapes have a white powdering of mold. Darn it! My wonder-crop has failed and we won't have grape jam this year!

Happy Birthday Daddy

You know that book that I wanted to send to you for Father's Day? Well, it would have made a great birthday present too. It's also an Audiobook, so you could have just listened to it on the computer.

I hope you are happy in heaven. I hope they have fish, deer, streams, mountains, and dogs. I hope Sugar, Spice, Bandit, Schatzi, Smokey Joe, Barney, and all your dogs over the years are playing with you. And accompanying you as you fish and hunt. Don't forget to rest. Eat right. There's no need to worry about anything. We're all ok here. Well, as ok as one can be without you.

Momma said that you came to her a couple weeks ago. You were sleeping next to her and she was afraid. XXXXXXX said you visited her as a monster. I recognized the daschunds you sent to my door a couple Saturdays ago. Actually, I didn't even know they lived in the neighborhood. When they showed up at my door at midnight it was quite a surprise. I was really glad we could find their owner. Then a little while later it came to me that you might have sent them to me. I won't pretend to imagine what it could mean. But maybe you just meant to say, "hi, I'm not completely gone, don't worry."

I'll never stop missing you.

your daughter, Miki.

Note: post edited 1/21/08 to remove mention of my sister who disapproved.