Vines of Fall

Fall was showing off a few weeks ago...or perhaps it was its last hurrah. We have snowflakes dotting the sky this morning, but my mind is wishing we could have sunny {warm-ish} days full of light and bright colors. 

It was the last summer farmers' market at Newport Vineyards several Saturdays ago, and it was the perfect day to end the "warm" months before the winter market begins. After shopping around the market, wandering through the vineyard seemed like a good choice for this gorgeous day.

I never realized how brilliantly colored vine leaves become! The gold and yellow of some of the vines was dazzling! I wish I knew more about grapes so I could impress you with that particular variety's name, but alas, all I know is some leaves were still green and some were still gold. Perhaps I will go back one weekend and ask for a lesson in viticulture :)

Also, my friend introduced me to this scratch and sniff wine book over the weekend. Personally, I think this might be the best book ever written about wine. Especially for a wine expert like myself who judges wine by drinkable vs. undrinkable. For the record, there have only been two wines in the undrinkable category in my life. Wine snob, I am not.

Happy Tuesday!

Makes Me Want to Take a Back Road

I made an impromptu visit to my parents' this past weekend. Just because I missed being home. I had told myself that I was tired of all the traveling I've done in the last two months, which meant I was going to stay put in Newport this weekend. But sometimes a gal wants to see her mom and dad {and puppy}. 

 When I'm at home, my mother and I often take long walks around the backroads surrounding our house. It's a time for us to catch up, talk about life, and laugh all while climbing the hills and dodging speeding cars out for an early morning drive. Pepper has started joining us for girl-time walks {I never knew our bow-legged puppy was such a little athlete}.These little adventures are one of my favorite things about being home.

The beautiful foliage this time of year doesn't hurt either.

New England, I love you.

A Neighborhood Stroll

We have been blessed with absolutely gorgeous fall weather in Newport. 

Absolute perfection. 

After nearly two solid months of only being in Rhode Island during part of the work week and a few hours here and there on weekend, I was so thankful to spend last weekend at my home here. Newport is full of so much beauty, and I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of it all. 

Last Sunday turned into a stunning autumn afternoon - so full of color and sunlight. I spent a few hours wandering around my neighborhood and exploring little side streets that oftentimes led me in circles or nowhere at all. It was one of those days where the only thought that occupies your mind is how blessed you are to be alive and enjoying such dreamy day. 

If only I could freeze time and live most of my life in sunny, autumn days.

Here's to hoping this weekend will allow for some more adventuring and sunshine. Happy Friday!

{Nearly} New Englnd

 

A few weeks ago, I spent a few quality days in New Jersey visiting a dear friend. These days consisted of many a bottle of vino, mexican food, and a glorious afternoon of apple picking. We headed to Riamede Farm in Chester, NJ - and oh! - what a gorgeous setting. This farm is the quintessential New England setting, although technically not in New England. It took me several hours to remember I was at the Appalachian foothills and not lost in western Massachusetts.

 These pictures are probably incriminating because only after I hopped up on the branch of a tree did I see the sign saying not to climb. Whoops. Personally, I think climbing trees in an orchard is a perfectly natural way to spend a lovely autumn afternoon.