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Shortly after harvest, the leaves of the grapevines begin to change color.

From that point it’s never long until the first big storms of the season blow in–and blow the leaves down.

Below is a view, on this grey and drizzly day, of the vineyards along Madrona Avenue on the western side of Saint Helena.

So I am a bit behind my vineyard update posting schedule; I just haven’t been able to make it over to the vineyard in Oakville I’ve been featuring this season.

But as I was driving home, I stopped at this vineyard in Saint Helena so that I could share a bit of what’s going on here in the Napa Valley with you.

According to my winemaker friends, the season is a “bit of a nail biter” but has great potential.
And now that the unusually cool summer has give way to an unusually hot fall, things are getting interesting fast.

Stay tuned–I will get to that Oakville vineyard this week and we’ll get back on track.

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It’s hard to believe that another Fourth of July weekend is winding down. Has an entire year really gone by?

This year, with Samantha going on five, has been much different than last.
Last year she was still more of a toddler; this year, she is surely a little girl.
She has opinions on what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.

So this year, we started with bocce on Thursday night.
There were friendly conversations, high fives, and fireworks on the courts.

This year, we went to the farmers market.
There were beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

This year, we went swimming with friends.
There were girly giggles, squabbles, and hugs.

This year, we went to Cheers! St Helena.
There were ladybug bracelets, music, and wine.

This year, we relaxed and we did chores.
We shopped and we napped.
We made ribs, corn on the cob, and salad.

This year, we went to the parade in Calistoga.
There were horses with flags…

dancing horses…

…even a unicorn.

There were patriotic headbands.

There were firetrucks.
Old-fashioned…

and new.

There were dancing ladies.

There were antique cars…

and modern motorcycles.

And of course, there was the high school band…

and ice cream.

Through it all, we’ve remembered that the Fourth of July is not only about pool parties, BBQs, and days off work.

It’s about independence, freedom, and gratitude for all those who have fought and are fighting to make our country the best in the world.

We hope you had a happy Fourth of July too.

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Last year, a friend of ours started this little thing called Cheers! St Helena.

He calls it a “Friendship Celebration” and a “Main Street Toast to Friends & Wine.” I can’t even imagine all the work he’s put into it, and all of the hoops he’s had to jump through.

See, our little wine country town is very, well, careful. And I am glad it is so.

And Cheers! St Helena, what with the 100+ fabulous wineries pouring their wine in all the wonderful establishments downtown, the live music, the street closures, the street performers, the face-painting, the sidewalk food vendors–and, of course, the Wine Train actually (gasp!) letting off passengers–is rather revolutionary. In a good way. In the best way.

Did I mention you get to walk around town sipping fabulous wines from premier Napa Valley wineries (out of another friend’s govino glasses no less)?

But more importantly you get to really, truly experience our town.

I’d never been in most of our shops and boutiques until Cheers! St Helena. And I most certainly didn’t spend much money in these shops; I always thought we were priced out. But, I’ve found that the prices aren’t really all that much more than elsewhere. Plus, it makes me happy to be spending money–even if it is more–locally and supporting our community.

By the way, Tom bought me the most beautiful locket at Daisy.

Driving down valley today, we noticed the first of the mustard has just started to bloom.

The mustard season is one of the most striking, as the vineyards are blanketed in billowing blooms of tiny yellow flowers.

It seems to me that this year the mustard is early. I’m not sure if that’s because we haven’t had that much rain yet, it hasn’t been that cold yet, or that I am just not remembering right.

Anyway, this was taken in the vineyard across from Crane Park. You can see more of this same vineyard during the past year here and here and here.

Bocce season has started up again; last Thursday was the first week.

But with starting the new job, I decided that I just couldn’t commit this season. My focus right now is work and family.

Tom is playing though, so we all still go. It’s so nice to hang out at the park and spend time with that group of friends.

And of course, eat and drink wine.