~Apple Cider Century 2008~

So this is my 3rd year doing the Apple Cider and I did it, 50 miles!!!
I have to say I really enjoy doing it, it was a beautiful Autumn day. This year Heather and Jamie did their first cider and they loved it , I think they may be back next year! We watched the sun come up over a vineyard, how beautiful. The grapes were sparkling in the early morning dew and the smell was intoxicating, the grapes were just asking to be harvested! Now I can't say that this joyous event was not without a little sweat and tearing of a few muscles! let's just say I am a little sore and tired today, but I will be back next year to do it again.

~Fall Inspirations~

Too adorable ... I think I have to do this one, for this template and more really cute ones go to Southern Living

well fall is upon us so why not embrace it by making a wreath inspired by nature, the possibilities are endless...

Why not finish your day of fun fall decorating with a bowl of home made pumpkin soup.
get the recipe here at southern living magazine

Simply stunning, what a way to greet your friends!

Tiny Carved Pumpkins at the Front Door how adorable!

~Thought of the day ~

You'll never know what you can do until you try.
Author: Unknown

~Art Anyone ? ~

So I love to tinker in my yard and pond and I have been tinkering all day. So I felt like doing something fun and creative. Now mind you I love wine so what a great way to recycle those wine bottles !

~Autumn Jewels~

~Dream~

Every season hath its pleasures;
Spring may boast her flowery prime,
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasures
Brighten Autumn's sob'rer time.
Thomas Moore

~Explore~

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. John Muir

~Fall Equinox Traditions~

"The month of September also marks the 'Wine Moon,' the lunar cycle when grapes are harvested from the arbors, pressed and put away to become wine...The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is known as the 'Harvest Moon,' since farmers would also harvest their crops during the night with the light of the full moon to aid them.

~Welcome Fall~

Well it's official , Fall is here ... If someone were to ask me what I like about
fall I would have to say sipping wine by the fire while dreaming of summer. Fall is not my favorite season but fall and I manage to get along because we have too!

Ok there are a few things that I can admit to liking about fall, but there are not many. I enjoy carving pumpkins around the campfire while sipping wine, fall hikes and fall photography, making pumpkin walnut bread and sitting by the fire with a good book. I guess that's more than a few things...

But truest to my heart is summer on the ocean, it's where I am most happy.
I love swaying in the hammock for hours with a good book at Edisto while watching pelicans glide over, just being free to dream. Edisto is a place that you can do just that, no one has a care in the world there and no one seems to be in a hurry for that matter either. The locals like to call Edisto "Edislow" that pretty much sums it up. There is nothing better than waking up to the ocean and watching the sun come up with a cup of coffee up on the beach.
What a fantastic way to start your day.

~Pandora~

So as I am sitting here blogging this morning while listening to Pandora radio and I think oh wow I need to share this link with everyone. This is a really cool free internet radio station.It's super easy, you search an artist you like and then Pandora finds it and also searches music in that genre, super cool! You can actually create your own personal stations.


So next time you are surfing the web check out. http://www.pandora.com

~Chicory Cafe~

So I am all about networking....
If you love coffee you have to check out my friends cafe just click on this link and check it out http://www.chicorycafe.net

~Today is a new Day~

Sorry it's been a couple of days since I have put my thoughts out there...life can get crazy and I have to remind myself to slow down and really sit and reflect on those things that make me most happy. I have to say I love this blogging thing it . I have always loved to read and even write when I was younger and I feel that blogging gives me that creative outlet I have been longing for. I have to say by setting up this blog all by myself it has given me more confidence to write which I have always had a passion for.

I think sometimes you feel like something is missing in your life but you just can't figure out what that is, then a light bulb goes on and you find yourself sitting at your computer bearing your soul to anyone who stumbles upon your blog. I have always had a love affair with writing, it started when I was a child, I just wish I would have pursued it more, I guess today is a new day.

Maybe all this deep reflecting comes with age, funny how that happens.
So next time you feel like something is missing in your life stop and think about what truly makes you happy it is probably staring you right in the face.
"If you don't follow your heart your dreams will never come true".This was so eloquently said by my 4 year old nephew. Wow is he wise !

So get out there and enjoy life and buy the ticket and take the ride.

~Thought of the day ~

Life is short , break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly,
love truly, laugh uncontrollably, And NEVER regret anything that made you smile!

~Baby Redwoods ~

I can only dream of how majestic their larger siblings are !

~Russian River Valley ~

Winding Russian River that flows into the Pacific

California cows

Forgotten barn

Happy little flower

Old fence row

Spring wildflowers

~Sonoma coast highway 1~

Big Rocks

~Tidal pool starfish ~

We had so much fun scouting around all the little tide pools. We discovered so many little tiny creatures

~Sonoma Coast~

~Sonoma Coast State Park~

Another amazing view along Sonoma coast State Park

~California Coast ~

Breathtaking view along Highway 1

~Ehlers Organic Vineyard~

Very cool place a lot of the proceeds go to heart research another reason to drink wine!

Secret Vineyards

~Robert Mondavi Winery ~

Another gorgeous winery ,very peaceful and serene

~Robert Mondavi Winery ~

Wow , what a beautiful place

~Pasta Bella ~

The most romantic little Bistro!

~NAPA/ SONOMA MAY 2008~

So here are some pics of our trip to Napa/Sonoma
We started off in a really cool town called Sebastopol very "Granola" as the locals say. The town was great they had a Whole Foods ,a Farmers Market lots of locally grown food, very unique little boutiques.The town was also very bicycle & environmentally friendly... our kind of town! The place we stayed even had a hitching post for your electric car !

We had the most amazing food at Pasta Bella. The food was wonderful, the wine was great, all of this under the most adorable arbor in the garden complete with little twinkly white lights.

So the next morning we were off to visit as many winerys that Napa & Sonoma had to offer our anticipating little taste buds. The views were amazing, the air was unique , the place had a mystical feel to it. With each corner we turned our eyes feasted on grapes for as far as we could see sparkling in the California sun.... As I sit and reflect on our wine country adventure I long to be driving through those rolling vineyards without a care in the world just being free spirited ! Only stopping along the way to appeciate all those little things that seem to be forgotten. So I ask you to do what brings true happiness to your soul and just "be as you are "
Salut~

~St Francis Winery California ~

This was a beautiful winery that we visited this summer while visiting Napa and Sonoma. There were many more beautiful winerys,... actually they were all beautiful ! So if you love wine than what are you waiting for go to NAPA!!!

~Thought of the day~

"simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance." Coco Chanel

Isle Royale

Ok...
the rain can stop any time now!
It has rained all weekend, everything is water logged.Mushrooms decided to show their little heads in our front yard, the seemed rather pleased with themselves. On my travels today I saw ducks on the side of the road just floating in a temporary pond from all the rain, at least they were having a good time.


I have to say I am going a little stir crazy from being shut in. I think my winter blues are already starting and that is not good considering we have a long way to go before we see nice warm weather again, so......... since I am feeling sad because of the weather I decided to post some pics of our recent backpack trip to Isle Royale, maybe this will cheer me up.

Enjoy!~