Driving through Wine Country

Hm.  There's something about driving a low-to-the ground sports car through a practically empty and very curvy road that appeals to my masculine side. When the countryside is as stunning as it is here, in northern Cali and the sun is in the perfect spot, lighting up the grassy hills and newly budding trees, arching their branches over the road; when the ipod mix is just perfect and the stereo sound impeccable and all one has to do is drive -  it's pretty sweet.

Thank you Jonathan for the gift of luxury transportation while I'm here, and for this freeing and powerful experience.

I passed the Mondavi estate this day, plus dozens of other fabulous wineries, and also the Culinary Institute of America, housed in a gorgeous stone castle-like building.  Perhaps I got sprinkled on my way by with domestic goddess powder, because since I got here, all I can think of is food and cooking.  Okay and drinking and shopping.  It's all a mirage I know. The picturesque perfect little towns along highway 29 are too pretty to be real.  There's got to be a seedy side somewhere, but so far I haven't seen it, and I'm not going looking for it.

I woke up to bright warm sun today, thankfully.  I've been freezing here. There were white tailed deer laying in the grassy trees and under the big stand of oaks that I saw from the deck.  I ate my obscure French Camembert with my favourite tea while sitting there in the morning sun and thanked the gods.