Fall.

Over the past couple of weeks the vines in front of our home have changed drastically. 

The grapes have been picked just in time, because as soon they were gone the weather got cold.
So cold that we have had fires in our stove almost every day now, so cold that the leaves on the vines have turned brown. They will fall off soon.

Autumn rains have begun, making the grass green again.

The contrast between the orange red of the vines leaves and the bright green of the grass is incredible (to see the opposite, visit here).

Fall has arrived.

On October 23rd:

On November 2nd:

On November 4th:

On November 8th:

PS. Happy 11.11.11, Corduroy Day!

Impending Harvest.

Lately there has been an increasingly louder buzz around Wine Country about the impending grape harvest. 

Apparently the first grapes are already being harvested in Carneros and Healdsburg.

The ones in our back yard look pretty close. 

Can you see the little green grapes? That is called "chicks and hens", an uneven growth of the cluster caused by cool and wet weather while the vines bloomed. The uneven ripening is an issue, since they will have to separate and toss away the green grapes so the resulting wine is just right.

On a different note, last night we went out to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The weather was incredible. We ended the night playing Bocce ball and had a great time even though we had no clue of the rules.

Walking around our new neighborhood.

The vines are beginning to  "bloom". How can such an anti-climatic flower bring such joy?

The Wave.

Hokusai's "The Great Wave of Kanawaga".

Remember those doors I mentioned before?

They are life changing experiences that leave you wondering what is waiting for you on the other side. Usually, what awaits you is not what you thought, and I strongly believe everything (good or bad) happens for a reason.

When I began this blog I was facing the unknown (more than usual, that is), and that was a major factor in my deciding to write my daily rants. I have not been explicit about this, but last December I was laid off from my job. It was scary and uncertainty was eating me away. 

Since then life has not been easy, and J and I have been through a lot.

Our lives have been a roller coaster. 

What seemed to be the worst experiences (losing my job, not finding another one straight away, stress and uncertainty) have all lined up to set up what is the most exciting thing that has happened to us in a long, long time.

J has found the P E R F E C T job. He is so excited! People at his new workplace are very happy about him joining their team, he will use his skills in a very cool project (he will start from zero an organic edible garden and a small farm for a winery) while he will learn tons of new things about vine cultivation and wine making.

It was him -who was not really looking- and not I who found a new job, and because I have not found one yet it is easy for us to relocate. We have found a lovely new home and cannot wait to explore the beautiful area we are moving to.

Life has a funny sense of humor, and it loves to play with your head. 

I see it as a huge wave that tumbles me around at its will and have learnt to trust it because, 

in the end, everything works out just fine.

Bicycle ride (with a twist).

I wonder if it could hold a bottle of wine.
If so, I will need this in my next life.

This holder can be yours from Walnut Studiolo at Etsy

5/5  Update! 

Look what I found! 

Buy it from Oopsmark (via a cup of Jo).