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Beautiful Fall Days

I have been feeling guilty for not going outside much during the day.The weather has been delightful and I am inside painting rocks... just because.

Perhaps I am isolating, but it has to be said that I do treasure my privacy and have been enjoying this retirement thing immensely.Next month I will head north to Portland to visit my sister, Tara. She has been my mentor since I was first learning how to draw.We are big admirers of each others work. She draws and paints the most beautiful fish, butterflys, dragonflys, cats and florals I have ever seen. I have always said that she can finesse an image so that it jumps right off the page at you. She also has a signature style that is unmistakeable. Currently I am lifting some of her fish motifs to use on my rock paintings (Notice the flowing fish below). I don't think she minds, in fact I think she would be flattered.

The other day I drove to St. Helena on my bike for exercise.It was a long ride for me, but it really felt pretty good. The vines are beginning to turn red and orange after the final bins of grapes have been picked.These days and early Spring are my favorite times of the year.

Extra Extra, Read all about it !

Now that I have your attention, let me think about what I'm going to write.For starters, I am grateful to my friend Eric who reminds me when I've been slacking off and not posting anything new.Perhaps it is because at times,it feels like "Groundhog Day" all over again, but we both know that isn't true.Like Helen Keller once said,"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all." My life has fallen into the latter category,but that is just fine with me.I have developed a great appreciation for mid-afternoon naps and frequent visits to the refrigerator if only to say hello to the Hebrew National all beef Hot Dogs.

Today, I went for a semi-regular hike up to Coyote Peak with my friend,Jim. The State Park is now being bankrolled by the county so we are not affected by the Government shutdown that is currently taking place.Elsewhere (in National Parks for instance)I heard that people can still drive through Yosemite, but are not allowed to camp, hike, eat or use the restrooms. Our government is still collecting taxes however, to pay for the shenanigans that are affecting us all.Not a good scene to be sure.

My rock business is doing fairly well, and I have picked up a few extra venues to sell my rocks as the Summer season ends.The weather remains pleasant here in the Napa Valley as the vines begin to turn red and orange.The Crush is all but over,except for a few late harvest grapes that require a little more "Hang time". Makes them sound like Michael Jordan before dunking a basketball, huh? The Poster below is one of my recent rock assortments.