Memories of Last Fall

We've had snow on the ground - the first snowfall of 2012 - for nearly a week now, with a strong bise (north wind) blowing most of last week.   Although the bise has since left us, it has left grim, if beautiful, reminders that winter is still here and the temperatures are firmly established in ranges -0 C.

Brrr!  Apparently Punxatawney Phil, the ground hog in Punxatawney, PA who is generally considered the weather guru on Ground Hog's Day (2 Feb), got it right.  According to his handlers, he saw his shadow and we can thus expect six more weeks of winter.  Of course, not all ground hogs were in agreement and even when Phil doesn't see his shadow, we are usually in for six more weeks of winter.  But it's a fun tradition after all.

To deflect my thoughts from the cold and because I managed to take some photos of our glorious late fall foliage but never managed to post them here, I'll share a couple now so that they will help me to remember my biking routes from last fall.  Even though the bise has died down, the temperatures are still not conducive to biking outdoors.

Nor are these peaceful paths bike-user friendly right now,

and the vineyards have since been pruned back in readiness for the new growing season.

There were still a few late grapes deliberately left on the vines, not to be harvested until after the first frost, from which the sweet dessert wines, collectively known as ice wine, are made.

For the end-of year holidays, many prefer these dessert wines as an alternative to champagne to accompany the delicious - if politically incorrect - foie gras that is a staple of holiday gatherings.