The last week of September, I traveled with Len and my brother and his wife to the Okanagan to do a little wine tasting. This was after a few days at our daughter's home, so we were on the road for about 10 days. This is the first time that I felt truly "Retired" and on no one's schedule but my own. Have to say I loved it!
Although we only had 4 days of wine tasting, sandwiched between a day on each end to travel there, it was really fun. The weather was marginal, but the company was warm and we tasted some lovely wines. We spent two days on the Naramata bench by Penticton and two more days in the Oliver/Osoyoos area. We stayed at an astronomy-themed B&B in Osoyoos, but alas the sky was completely overcast and we were unable to visit the stars via the large telescope the host has. Nonetheless, he showed us some lovely photos and spoke at length about his adventures as an amateur astronomer (although he runs in very professional circles!)
Our favourite wineries were the small, more family-style ones, although the larger, more well-known ones were also fun to visit. We had an especially knowledgable and friendly chat at the Joie winery on the Naramata bench - also the Elephant Island winery in the same area was quite unique and enjoyable. We came home with 30 or so bottles, including one Port and one Cassis among mostly reds and enough whites to keep Len happy.
It was good to get out in the car and just go! Len found pickleball in a few of our stops too, so he was happy. While he pickleballed, I shopped and actually got some early Christmas shopping done.
By the time we got home, fall was truly in the air. We had a killing frost, so my squash vines were very black and dead. The kale fared well as it always does - can't easily kill kale! A good friend came by and picked our corn so we have quite a few smallish cobs to enjoy this Thanksgiving.
I honestly love fall - the crisp air, the smell of fallen leaves and the sort of "enjoy these last days" sort of mentality that comes with the move closer and closer to winter. The quality of light is softer too, although the summer never got as hot and harsh as usual this year. The aspen and birch and poplar trees are turning yellow and soon will be bare. Such is the circle of life which we are privileged to witness every year with the changing of the seasons. I feel a little sorry for those who live in a climate that never changes, or changes very little. However, talk to me in February when I am dreaming of being ANYWHERE warm!
With fall also comes a return to routines - Tai Chi, choir, hospice work and getting together to play classical music with a friend (I play cello, she plays violin). We have also started a trio playing viola da gambas - a bass (me), tenor and treble. These mental and physical challenges are meant to keep me going through the long winter.
Time to get the wood in!
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