Taste of Autumn in a Bottle from Leelanau Cellars

 On a fine fall day, join me on the deck and sit spell. I'll pop open a bottle of Leelanau Cellars Harvest Spice Apple wine and we'll make a toast to a lovely day.

I love the flavors of the season and picked up a bottle to try then fell in love. The warm golden color is appealing to the eye as the flavor is to the taste buds. I prefer this wine at room temperature but some have said it's good warmed up and garnished with a cinnamon stick.

I enjoyed this wine so much I drank half the first bottle the night I opened it. Yes, folks... I even place it above my beloved Witches' Brew. Oh, I tried the Witches Brew Spiced Apple. Coffee Club gals went ga-ga over it too. But I'm still putting the Harvest Spice Apple above the Witches Brew Apple. 

The Witches Brew Spiced Apple flavor is much like early harvest apples; crisp, with cinnamon and brown sugar. Mom's apple pie.

The Harvest Spiced Apple flavor is richer such as that with late harvest apples, more sweet than tart  a with a hit of oak. Imagine Grandma's apple pie. You know how everything of Gram's tastes better.

The original Witches Brew of red wine and spices is kept on the wine rack all fall and winter. I enjoy it warm with a slice or orange and a cinnamon stick. (Perfect to warm up after a hay ride or day in the snow.)

Altogether, I believe Leelanau Cellars has HANDS DOWN mastered capturing the flavor of Autumn in Michigan.  

I picked up my bottles at my local market. They are also available at Meijer.

A Spooky Cabin in the Woods

I wasn't feeling Halloween this year, but teen son decided the house needed some Halloween decorations. 

A log home in the woods is easy to decorate for any season and any holiday.

When youngest was little, his big brothers were very much into the scary part of Halloween. I was worried about him being afraid of...well...everything. I took the him to a local craft store to buy stuff and over a weekend we built "Scary Guy". He was proud of his creation and is displayed every year. 

Every year Scary Guy holds something in his boney hands. This year I selected a wine glass, of course. 

The mantle is always fun to put together. It's a focal point seen from the front door.

This year's "theme" bordered on a voo doo witch doctor thing with a few zombies tossed in for good measure.

Lots of skulls and bones. Oh, with handsome crows scattered about.

Can't forget a few pumpkins!

I think we did a spook-tacular job decorating. How did you decorate this year?

Awesome Autumn

The morning temperatures have been a little too cool for me to comfortably do yoga outdoors. Instead I unroll my mat in front of the deck door. I focus on an object in outside while doing certain poses. 

My senior dog enjoys the cooler days and is begging for longer walks.

As I walk through my neighborhood, I see folks prepping their yards for winter, smell bonfires and grills, and run into friends to discuss the latest fall flavors. 

What are you seeing in your neighborhood these days?

Bitch Boss Shoes

Just finished a meeting and wearing my bitch boss shoes. Feeling accomplished and powerful.

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes that give you super powers?

#Thursday13 - Last Boat Ride

 Our last boat ride down the Saginaw River made for a lovely time. Flyboy and I grew up in Saginaw and the river holds many memories. When we dated, mornings were spent waterskiing before work. Then we  witnessed the exciting revival of the waterfront district. Time spent on the river and dallying out on the Bay is time well spent.

I selected thirteen photos I took before we tucked our boat away for winter. 

Flyboy, Flyboy Jr, Youngest, and Me

Some areas are still flooded from when the dams in Midland broke.

Seeing the bridges raise for a sailboat was always
a highlight when we were kids.

A tall ship at dock near an outdoor event center and waterfront apartments.
We could see lots of people and hear music.

I didn't realized the river still had a light house.

Flyboy and his first mate.

This was Youngest's first time seeing the Saginaw Bay.

Two river boats at dock.
They are normally on the river with dinner & dancing cruises,
but haven't seen any work due to Covid.

The cutest tugboat!!!

Flyboy Jr took the helm for a bit then let Youngest drive.
What a treat to let Mom & Dad sit & enjoy the ride!

For more Thursday 13 lists by some super amazing people 

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