Finding Fall

I know there are people in the world who would love to live in California for the weather. In this respect I have to admit I'm more East Coast than West Coast. Blame it on my New England family roots. I love the seasons. I need the change of weather. In an effort to bloom where I am currently planted, however, I decided to look for signs of Fall here in Napa and embrace every lovely second of it.
The mornings and evenings come around to the idea first. Fall mornings in Napa are sometimes cold and foggy. (I do love that) or cool and crisp, which brings out the hot air balloons. (I love that too). The vineyards turn yellow and red (so pretty!) and the rainy season begins (such a relief!). I try hard to forgive the 85 degree afternoons that stick around until the end of October, but maybe come January I'll learn to appreciate them.

In my quest for Fall, I convinced Mark to go to Apple Hill, a place my family visited when I was a kid. Mark, bless his patient and willing heart, took a day off of work so we could drive 2 hours northeast to the foothills. Apple Hill is a group of 50+ orchards that you can visit to pick apples and eat yummy apple-y treats. Each orchard offers something different but my favorite is still High Hill. Gone are the days of the apple cider press that you can watch squeeze the juice from the apples or the mine that you can walk down into to get a cold cup of cider. Still, the air smells sooooo good--like a giant apple fritter.

Mark and Isabella in the orchards.

Another Apple Hill convert

Mark tempting Isabella with a fritter.

The apples!

The gourds!

The flowers!

The second orchard we visited. Much smaller, but it had a museum
and their renowned apple turnovers, of which we partook.

Fall found.