Autumn Bliss

We've had an amazing Indian Summer up here.  The vineyards have changed color already -- a little early.  Gorgeous to view miles and miles of colorful vineyards.  As I drive around the Sonoma and Napa vallies, I can smell the rain-soaked leaves and pomace (remnants of crush -- skins and seeds -- that are spread out in the vineyards after the juice is extracted).  It's a heady scent -- fermenting wine and the end of autumn all wrapped together.  

Over the course of the season that fragrance will change to one of earthy decomposition.  Toward the end of winter, the tang of burning grapevine canes will permeate the air following vine trimming.  Many of the vineyards burn the canes while others mulch them.  The distant sound of the mulching machines chewing up the canes typically precedes the aircraft-like sound of the wind turbines, which help to head off frost damage as the tender shoots begin to emerge on the trimmed vines.   

I've had my first few fires in the fireplace, accompanied by jazz on the Bose and cups of steaming hot chocolate.  I use the rich drinking chocolate these days -- melted chocolate shavings mixed with rich WHOLE milk.  Why waste the calories and carbs on the cheap stuff? 

Fall and winter are times for turning inward, sharing my cozy warmth with my two purr machines -- one on my shoulder with the other on my lap.  What bliss!  The wind whipped at the window and rain pummeled my patio this weekend.  I smiled; my sweetie was next to me -- he reading his book while I read mine.  Winter is coming.  I purr, too.