Jerusalem artichokes

I'm sure it's because of all the rain we've had that the Jerusalem artichokes are doing very well this year, especially those on the west side of the garden shed (to the left in the photo). In dry years, I don't water over there very much and the plants produce many fewer flowers. This year, you can see the difference that water makes.

Once the cracks are patched, I should probably consider a paint job.

The cracks on either side of the door are supposed to be patched as part of our deck renovation work, if that ever starts. We had the door replaced in 2003 when we moved in. The previous door was just crumbling, and it didn't lock. At some point I plan to do something about those shutters (they're crumbling, too) but we've got other priorities in the meantime.

Chenin

A small plot of chenin grapes grows along the vineyard road that we often take on walks with the dogs (past and present). The vast majority of the white grapes grown around us are sauvignon, but other varieties grow here and there, like the parcel of chardonnay near our house. These chenin grapes, the grower once told me, are used for his sweet "late harvest" wine.

Chenin grapes in a small parcel out back.

Chenin is the only* grape used in the Vouvray and Montlouis appellations up on the Loire (near Tours) for their wines, be they sweet, dry, or bubbly. But it's also used in other areas of the Touraine region, either for sweeter wines or for blending in sparkling wines.

*Wikipedia says that another grape, orbois, is authorized for blending in the Vouvray appellation, but that it's rarely used these days.

Autumn leaves as autumn settles in

It's been fall for a week now. Many of the fall colors we get around here are found in the vineyards. I'm looking forward to the bright yellows and golds of the sauvignon and the deep reds and scarlets of gamay and cabernet. It's starting now, even while the harvest continues.

A very autumnal scene.

Most of the trees in the woods around us go yellow in the fall. There are exceptions, especially in gardens where people have planted trees that reveal other colors this time of year. In our yard, the tilleul (linden) drops golden leaves. The prunus turns bright orange before its leaves fall. In another month or so our trees will be nearly bare.

Camping among the redwoods

During our last summer in San Francisco, I went camping with my friend S. in Butano State Park near the coast just south of the city. Ken and I had been camping a few times in the adjacent Big Basin Redwoods State Park, but there was a twist at Butano. The sites where we camped were walk-in sites. No cars allowed. We parked on a paved road not too far from the sites and carried all our gear in, then took the car to a parking lot for the duration.

That's my tent on the right, S.'s tent is partially hidden by a redwood tree on the left.

Butano State Park, California, August 2002.

It was pretty cool to be in a redwood forest without the sight or sound of cars all around. The drive-in sites on the other side of the campground were much more occupied with campers and RVs, but the walk-in sites were virtually empty. It felt like we had the place to ourselves.

Ken and I did a lot of camping in California (and a little in Nevada and Utah) during our time in San Francisco thanks to our friend S. We saw a lot of places we might never have seen otherwise. I miss those trips. Sleeping on the ground, not so much.

Me and Diana Ross

We both love mussels. What's that you say? That song wasn't about seafood? Oh well. Diana's loss. We enjoyed mussels for lunch on Saturday. Ken got two kilos (that's a lot for two people) because the vendor had a special. Two kilos cost less than one and a half.

Freshly steamed mussels, open and ready for garnish.

We rinsed the mussels in fresh water then began the process of removing the beards while looking for broken shells or mussels that wouldn't close. There were maybe ten like that and they got discarded. The rest went into a sauce made with white wine, chopped onion, and some garlic, to steam. After they opened, they got sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Mussels topped with chopped parsley waiting for the cream sauce.

To finish them off, Ken added cream to the sauce making our classic moules marinière into moules à la crème. They were delicious served with frites (French fries), as is the custom. We drank a chardonnay from Mâcon (in Burgundy) along side.

Frites !

Monk see, monk do

This is a blast from the past. Back in September of 2002, my friend S. and I were visiting some wineries in the Sierra foothills around where she lives. I've forgotten the name of this place, and my photos don't have many clues in them. It may be Sierra Starr Vineyards in Grass Valley, but I'm not sure. At any rate, there was a little pond with a deck and this fellow holding an empty bottle as if to say, "Can I have another one?"

That faded label may say "Sierra Starr." Starr is the name of the family that owns and runs the vineyard and winery.

I finished cutting the grass on Friday! A good job, if I do say so myself. Ken decided he would go to the market this morning to get some mussels for lunch. This could be our last warm day for a while. We're expecting rain showers later in the day.

The artichokes are done

I'll cut these down soon and add them to the yard waste pile. But I'm enjoying their "last stand." They look like medieval torture instruments. Or triffids.

Not long ago, these were bright green with deep blue flowers.

Thursday turned out to be another very nice day (after a chilly morning) and I got the west forty mowed. All that's left is the north forty and I'm planning to do that today. The weather is expected to change over the weekend so, at least for now, the grass will be cut. It could be the last cut of the season depending on October's weather. We'll see.