To the California gardener, autumn means topiary lasts longer because shrubs begin to behave. To the retired gardener, it means excellent Cabernet from Lodi --25 miles from here-- to be opened in the afternoon as October fills the kitchen window. The photo below shows a specimen doing just that. It is a bit blurry because he doesn't have his glasses on.
Our specimen will take his glass of wine and repair to the back porch.
And there, he will listen to one of his favorite vocalists, a polyglot who sings to a world, she who does not hold back while light rusts and tide rushes in. She is the voice of autumn who sings from the heart (and who, despite rumor, does not gargle with Dutch Cleanser). And yes, mais oui, in the back porch he will doodle!
I love your big windows, Geo, and that California sun shinning through. A glass of fine wine, the voice of a singer who can belt that music out and a seat on the back porch to watch the seasons change sounds perfect to me.
Nice song, more Janice Joplin than Edith P. singing Non, Je ne regrette rien. I think of autumn in other terms, the frost that prepares one for the long cold, but leavened with the occasional warm days that are somehow insincere. But those days don't try to hide their intentions, they are just reminding us to enjoy it while we are able. My upcoming voyage is in that vein. I'd caution those young ones awakening the dragon. Those beasts still are in abundance in that land we can't access.....the one that has kept growing, the more we've 'discovered'....remember the old maps of the 1400's....the ones that had at the borders 'unknown', and 'there be dragons here'? We've 'disproved' them, so they've had to move elsewhere, along with the flora and fauna that populate them. Cheers, Mike
Norma raised our kids listening to the wonderful Piaf, Mike. Glad you mentioned her. As to dragons --especially fire-breathing ones-- it's best to stand behind them when they laugh. That's all I know --so they must exist or I would know nothing.
Gargle? With Dutch Cleanser?? I love it (or rather the humorous concept of it) . I also love Bonnie Tyler.
And I always loved California in the autumn. Especially with a good glass of wine, while listening to special music......and the intoxicating magic of those rejuvenating Santa Ana winds....... My youthful heart is still there. Thanks for inducing fond memories, Geo.
Jon, you know California autumns are calibrated to the heart's memory. They fill us with a lovely yellow light under resting trees and never leave us, not ever.
Ah autumn, when the dreaded Midwestern humidity clears and one can move and breathe again... I revert to my 'nesty', 'harvesty' self and wink at the dragon hiding at the edge of the woods.
Hi Geo - the Californian Fall looks rather good - knowing that my south of England will sink slowly into frost, cold and probably wet of some description .. before the snowdrops push their way through next year. I might come visiting for some Lodi - and a doodle on the back porch ... just enjoy life and you are .. cheers Hilary
I love autumn but we have no sleeping dino's here....and if we did they certainly wouldn't awaken at this time of year.. We are approaching the season of hibernation. There was frost on the roof tops this morning. For those of you from warmer climes, frost is like that stuff you scrape out of your freezer occasionally.
Great to see and hear Bonnie Tyler again. What a nice ritual to greet the new season. We may do something like that here, though will likely open a Paso Robles vintage. Cheers to you and the turn of seasons.
I see the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has a busy entertainment calendar. One of my sons is a musician and has been likewise busy in Sonoma. This is a great state for wine and music lovers!
I could use your gardening help on this coast! Yes, autumn is coming but down here in the land of live oaks and magnolias that doesn't mean the same as it did up north
Ah Sage, I am only a consulting gardener now. I have nearly forgotten how work in climates that have any water in them, but I can wish you a pleasant autumn!
Doggone it! Make this the third time I'm gonna try to leave a comment here. (And my difficulties have nothing... NOTHING, I tell you!... to do with the fact that Smarticus and I have a shot of apple liqueur every time the Falcons score...)
How is it you can make me feel nostalgic for a place I've never been, dude? Then again, the earthy colors and smells of fall, the cooler evenings, a good glass of wine and the sound of good music are all universal pleasures. And football! Autumn weather means football! (Go, Falcons!)
Sorry you had trouble commenting, Susan. I've made no changes in format and can't explain it --however, it sometimes happens to me too. Nostalgia for a place you've never been is also familiar to me --my roots are Portuguese and your question describes 'Saudade'. I raise my glass. Vitória Falcons!
Bonnie Tyler, awakening dinosaurs, good wine and a good view? A happy autumn indeed :-) We were blessed with first frost today, although my fingertips weren't as impressed as my eyes. Apologies for my inattentiveness of late - combination of garden exertions and fabulous writing projects. xx
Ahhh. A good Cabernet. Actually having weather that resembled fall is reason to have a lot of cabernet. If possible, send some cooler weather to the Southern part of CA. Although if El Nino does indeed exist, I may take that back in a month. Cheers Geo!
Tesha! You return! Autumn is INDEED a season of magic. You have been preoccupied with beautiful twins and doubtless their sister and you are quite busy. I have thought of your family often and will visit your site immediately. Thank you for revisiting mine.
I love your big windows, Geo, and that California sun shinning through. A glass of fine wine, the voice of a singer who can belt that music out and a seat on the back porch to watch the seasons change sounds perfect to me.
ReplyDeleteKind Arleen, I am pleased to share this enjoyable season with you online--but be careful waking the dinosaurs; they like to give hugs.
DeleteAutumn at its rich, colourful, flavour laden best.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
I hope to enjoy it very much, EC, as I hope you are enjoying springtime in your hemisphere.
DeleteNice song, more Janice Joplin than Edith P. singing Non, Je ne regrette rien. I think of autumn in other terms, the frost that prepares one for the long cold, but leavened with the occasional warm days that are somehow insincere. But those days don't try to hide their intentions, they are just reminding us to enjoy it while we are able. My upcoming voyage is in that vein.
ReplyDeleteI'd caution those young ones awakening the dragon. Those beasts still are in abundance in that land we can't access.....the one that has kept growing, the more we've 'discovered'....remember the old maps of the 1400's....the ones that had at the borders 'unknown', and 'there be dragons here'? We've 'disproved' them, so they've had to move elsewhere, along with the flora and fauna that populate them.
Cheers,
Mike
Norma raised our kids listening to the wonderful Piaf, Mike. Glad you mentioned her. As to dragons --especially fire-breathing ones-- it's best to stand behind them when they laugh. That's all I know --so they must exist or I would know nothing.
DeleteGargle? With Dutch Cleanser?? I love it (or rather the humorous concept of it)
ReplyDelete. I also love Bonnie Tyler.
And I always loved California in the autumn. Especially with a good glass of wine, while listening to special music......and the intoxicating magic of those rejuvenating Santa Ana winds.......
My youthful heart is still there. Thanks for inducing fond memories, Geo.
Jon, you know California autumns are calibrated to the heart's memory. They fill us with a lovely yellow light under resting trees and never leave us, not ever.
DeleteGeo., I so enjoy your whimsy, your art, and the wonderful Normaphotos. Revel and luxuriate in autumn. It is one of my favourite times, too.
ReplyDeleteKind Jenny, thank you. I'll relay your compliment to Norma. Indeed, autumn is a calm, magical time. I perceive you treasure it as I do.
DeleteAh autumn, when the dreaded Midwestern humidity clears and one can move and breathe again... I revert to my 'nesty', 'harvesty' self and wink at the dragon hiding at the edge of the woods.
ReplyDeleteThere is something in dragons and humans that wake to this season together.
DeleteHi Geo - the Californian Fall looks rather good - knowing that my south of England will sink slowly into frost, cold and probably wet of some description .. before the snowdrops push their way through next year. I might come visiting for some Lodi - and a doodle on the back porch ... just enjoy life and you are .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI am certainly enjoying life more now as the weather cools. Glad you are too!
DeleteAnd here, it's spring...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sensations!
Beautiful indeed! We chose our hemispheres wisely.
DeleteI love autumn but we have no sleeping dino's here....and if we did they certainly wouldn't awaken at this time of year.. We are approaching the season of hibernation. There was frost on the roof tops this morning. For those of you from warmer climes, frost is like that stuff you scrape out of your freezer occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see frost again. Last year we only got it in its gaseous state --fog.
DeleteAh yes! Cabernet, particularly of the Sauvignon variety!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, hailing a cab has double meaning in wine regions.
DeleteGreat to see and hear Bonnie Tyler again. What a nice ritual to greet the new season.
ReplyDeleteWe may do something like that here, though will likely open a Paso Robles vintage.
Cheers to you and the turn of seasons.
I see the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has a busy entertainment calendar. One of my sons is a musician and has been likewise busy in Sonoma. This is a great state for wine and music lovers!
DeleteYou painted such a lovely picture in my mind. Fall is a magical time. Is Bonnie Tyler still performing? She has a great voice.
ReplyDeleteA remarkable voice, indeed. A year ago she was recording in Italy. This past summer she performed on German television.
DeleteI could use your gardening help on this coast! Yes, autumn is coming but down here in the land of live oaks and magnolias that doesn't mean the same as it did up north
ReplyDeleteAh Sage, I am only a consulting gardener now. I have nearly forgotten how work in climates that have any water in them, but I can wish you a pleasant autumn!
DeleteTo the Pennsylvania homeowner, autumn means, "Eff! I'm gonna have to rake that crap up."
ReplyDeleteThen the original meaning endures. Autumn comes from the Latin autumnus, meaning, fall of the leaf or "Eff! I'm gonna have to rake that crap up."
DeleteDoggone it! Make this the third time I'm gonna try to leave a comment here. (And my difficulties have nothing... NOTHING, I tell you!... to do with the fact that Smarticus and I have a shot of apple liqueur every time the Falcons score...)
ReplyDeleteHow is it you can make me feel nostalgic for a place I've never been, dude? Then again, the earthy colors and smells of fall, the cooler evenings, a good glass of wine and the sound of good music are all universal pleasures. And football! Autumn weather means football! (Go, Falcons!)
DeleteSorry you had trouble commenting, Susan. I've made no changes in format and can't explain it --however, it sometimes happens to me too. Nostalgia for a place you've never been is also familiar to me --my roots are Portuguese and your question describes 'Saudade'. I raise my glass. Vitória Falcons!
Bonnie Tyler, awakening dinosaurs, good wine and a good view? A happy autumn indeed :-) We were blessed with first frost today, although my fingertips weren't as impressed as my eyes. Apologies for my inattentiveness of late - combination of garden exertions and fabulous writing projects. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Lisa. It would be delightful for this old dinosaur to to wake up to frost --also a good test of the polytunnel.
DeleteAhhh. A good Cabernet. Actually having weather that resembled fall is reason to have a lot of cabernet. If possible, send some cooler weather to the Southern part of CA. Although if El Nino does indeed exist, I may take that back in a month. Cheers Geo!
ReplyDeleteTesha! You return! Autumn is INDEED a season of magic. You have been preoccupied with beautiful twins and doubtless their sister and you are quite busy. I have thought of your family often and will visit your site immediately. Thank you for revisiting mine.
Delete