Doesn’t feel right jumping into November with all it’s autumn glory without at least acknowledging October, which is historically one of my favorite months. The weather usually shifts right about now, despite our California sunshine refusing to take a break this season, and leaves start their journey from lush green to lifeless brown. Best of all, boots and scarves are back in season. This October reined in no less important than it’s predecessors as it hosted one of Ryan’s greatest accomplishments. October 2014 will forever be known as the month that Ryan passed his Business Research and Statistics MBA course, sans tutor. I make a point to note that the accomplishment was completed solo because at one point we actually hired a tutor who backed out of the job after just one study session due to it’s level of difficulty. The best part of October was the light at the end of the tunnel for both Ryan’s sanity and our normality. We have a shred of our life back. Yay!
I think my love for the fall to winter transition is partially credited to the holiday line up that takes us right into the birth of a new year. Halloween, as a child, was a yearly highlight. My mother always handmade my costume and whatever my request was she delivered. (Editor ‘s Note: No matter what anyone says, the year that I was Christine at the Masquerade Ball from Phantom of the Opera and everyone thought I was a fancy owl had nothing to do with my mother’s capability to deliver. As a 6th grader I should have selected a costume more relatable to my peers. I have always had an underlying shadow of weirdness which I would later recognize as “being cultured”.)
In the midst of surviving statistics, we managed to squeeze in some of our traditional October obligations. Sister Steph’s birthday getaway to the coast house, this year with an appropriate masquerade theme, the family trip to Punky’s Pumpkin Patch for the niece to hand select the perfect pumpkin and trick-or-treating with the most fashionable little witch I have ever seen rounded out or festivities this year.
On our only free weekend, we slipped in a quick trip to Chico to visit Grandma. The adjustment of having her so far away, in a town that still feels unknown, is taking just as much time as I expected. However, anytime spent is worth the drive. This trip included a photo walk around downtown, discovering a group of people standing on crates with pumpkins on their heads and a Giants World Series game 4 win. Chico is growing on me.
A personal pick for “best moment of the month”, other than the Giants winning yet another World Series, would easily be our evening spent at J Vineyards & Winery for the Fall Chef Cooking Series. As we dined in the Bubble Room, we took in a live cooking lesson from Erik Johnson, J’s Executive Chef, while he prepared, poached, braised and, at times, even sipped with us. Being two of a couple dozen guests, the relaxed and intimate atmosphere allowed for open q&a during the demonstration, a ton of cooking tips taught and swapped and, naturally, a ton of food and drink. From the moment we arrived we were handed a glass that we were sworn would never go empty, it didn’t, and bite sized appetizers to keep us happy until dinner, they did. Dinner, in contrast to the normal pairings we are used to, was served in generous portions. The menu included turkey leg confit salad with poached egg, paired with a 2012 STRATA Chardonnay, slow roasted lamb rack with mashed seasonal root vegetables, pairs with a 2012 Freestone Hill Pinot Noir, followed with chocolate cremeux for dessert, paired with a 2008 Vintage Brut. We left full and extremely grateful for our ride home.
In a classic totally me moment, I ended the evening unexpectedly picking up a pair of gorgeous gold drop earrings. Leave it to us to be members of a winery that sells jewelry just as well as they sell sparkling wine. I’ll shop anywhere. I was already stoked to be able to finally wear my Altuzarra lace up booties, compliments of his recent partnership with Target, and my zipper lipped clutch from Aldo, found online on major clearance of course. The earrings were simply icing on the houndstooth.
November is already a week and a half deep and retailers have already begun their Christmas displays. I can’t keep up with how fast October passed and I am not ready to already wonder where November has gone. Someone once told me that once you pass the age of twenty-five time will begin to feel like it is going by faster and faster every day. They were right. This month we celebrate our five year of togetherness mark and prepare for the busiest time of the year, even more of a reminder of time ripping away. On top of everything on our holiday to do list, I will be desperately trying to drain every second and milk every moment. I don’t want to miss a memory.