TWO THINGS I WILL MISS NEXT WEEK!!!!!

We go back to NZ next week and I am really looking forward to getting back to the NZ spring and digging in the dirt, driving the tractor, and watching for coming bud burst of the emerging grape vines. Fall is in the air here in Nashville and that means springtime in NZ. My wife and I do miss certain things in Nashville but know we will be coming back in two months or so. Here are two things I do miss.

We have the cutest dog here in Nashville called Smudge. She is a terrier/railroad dog according to the rescue center vets where we got her four years ago. She loves to sleep on our bed and especially on my pillow as you can see in the photo. Yes, we do miss Smudge when we are gone but she has a second home down in Franklin with Janelle, Kevin, Mo, Massey, and MIA who also love her bunches when we are away. She is sort of a coop dog now and loves both lives it seems. (but dogs never do complain much anyway as we all know)

The other thing I miss in hanging out in some local bottle shops here in town just talking to folks coming in the stores to buy wine. Thanks to those stores that let me visit on occasion and "smooze" with the clientele. This second shot is of the infamous ED Frier who loves to talk wine with his customers in Green Hills at WI. He has a true love for the business of tasting wine and enjoying life to the fullest. Hey Ed???? Who is that lovely customer that you are "consulting with"in the photo.???????

So, my next post will be from down under in the GodZone. Have a good fall if you are stateside and we will start a new spring!!

Dr Jim

more botttle signing

WELL, I WENT TO THE WINE SHOPPE OF GREEN HILLS THIS LAST FRI AND "WORKED THE CROWD" A GOOD BIT SIGNING BOTTLES AND KISSING BABIES . I TOOK THIS ONE PHOTO WITH A LOVELY CUSTOMER ALONG WITH THE INFAMOUS MR. ERIC BIDELMAN.

I love Eric's hair style--just like mine. "God made a few perfect heads and the rest he put hair on" Anyway it was fun and I induced a good number of visitors to give Hawks Nest Orchard Block Red a try.

We leave for NZ in two weeks and I can't wait. Jeremy, our manager, says the weather has cleared and the vineyard is drying out and spring is in sight. Time to start the old packing routine.

More soon:

Dr JIm