Sipping on Saturday

Song - Little 'Ol Wine Drinker, Me by Dean Martin

My friend Jill brought me up to Calistoga for my Christmas gift yesterday.  We had a beautiful drive up there, the weather was gorgeous and then we ate lunch at a yummy Thai restaurant downtown.  After lunch we went into some of the shops along main street.  And you won't believe it but they have a real live bookstore that's still in business!

We headed on down the Silverado Trail to visit one of my favorite wineries - Frank Family!

It's a tad expensive but when I want to splurge on occasion - this my go to wine! The guy (Saul) who was pouring our tastings said that I looked familiar.  We finally figured out that he worked at Chimney Rock Winery when my artist friends from BASA and I had a nine month show up there!

It was a beautiful day in the country with my beautiful friend!  

Thanks Jill.  

We need to celebrate Christmas more often!!!

"Each friend represents a world in us, 

a world not born until they arrive, 

and it is only by this meeting 

that a new world is born." 

-- Anais Nin

Listen

Song - Rain by The Beatles

Six days into the new year and I hope you have had time to curl up by a fire 

and read a good book after all of the busyness of the holidays! Sigh....

It's finally raining in California!  It was so wonderful to hear mother nature's "pitter-patter" on the rooftop. There was a certain amount of calmness about it but then we had an earthquake later that night that jolted most people awake, so that was the end of "calm" for awhile!

My Sweet Peas have begun to bloom - they were just a little 

confused by the warm, dry winter weather.

The Daffodils have begun to emerge from the ground.

And the Snowdrops have begun to show their little white bells.

The birds began coming to the feeders a little more often as if in anticipation of the rain.  Above is a female Nuttall's Woodpecker who seems to have made herself quite at home in the bowl of seed!

 And the hawks have been calling to each other in the early morning sky.

 My roses are about done for the year but it's fun to catch one blooming in January! 

I think I will wait a few more weeks before pruning them back for the winter.

What do you hear in your garden?
Have you been listening?

PLUVIOPHILE 

(n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy 

and peace of mind during rainy days

Twenty-eighteen

Song - Don't Panic by The Hot Club of San Francisco

Best wishes for a great new year!

"Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath."

--Mark Twain