Grape harvest update

Sorry for missing the last Trope Tuesday post.  We’re in the tail end of the grape harvest here in Georgia, so I’ve been spending a lot of time helping out with that.  The next trope post is going to be a big one, so rather than trying to pound it out in the village (where most internet sessions are cut short by a power outage), I figured I’d just wait until next week.

In any case, here are some pictures from the harvest that you might find interesting.  Georgia is pretty famous for its wine and grapes–there are over 500 different varieties in the country, many of them indigenous to the Caucasus region.  Almost everyone in the village has their own vineyard, so most of the stuff you buy in the market is locally grown and locally produced.  Let me tell you, there are few things more awesome than being able to get freshly picked fruit right in your own backyard.

Picking grapes. A bunch of the neighbors came out and helped, in exchange for a basketful of grapes and a nice dinner.
Grapes, fresh on the vine.
It takes a little more infrastructure to grow them this way, but the end result is much better.
The best part of picking grapes is being able to snack while you pick them. 🙂

In terms of writing, I’m making fairly decent progress on my next novel.  It’s a fantasy story, so it’s a pretty big shift from all the space opera stuff I’ve done over the last few years.  At least, that’s what it feels like.  I’m trying not to worry about how much it sucks right now, but if it’s anything like all my other books, it will turn out a lot better than I think it will.

That’s about all for now.  I’ll leave you with this hilarious youtube clip of a bunch of Koreans going ape over a Georgian dance troop.  The Georgians are awesome, but it’s worth watching for the Koreans’ reactions alone.  Seriously, best thing I’ve seen in a long time.

See you around!

By Joe Vasicek

Joe Vasicek is the author of more than twenty science fiction books, including the Star Wanderers and Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus. He claims Utah as his home.

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