Tulare County, approximately the size of Connecticut, has two climates. One is mountainous – the Sierra Nevada, home of the Sequoia National Park. The other, home of over 400,000 cows, is a temperate, farming-friendly valley. Four days ago as I drove towards the largest town, Visalia, I passed two grape vineyards, one with yellow leaves, and one with bright red. The sun was just breaking through the clouds. It had rained the day before, and everything sparkled like animated ornaments on a Christmas tree. No camera! The cardinal sin of an amateur photographer.
Two days ago, after a minor rain shower, I took my camera and drove that road again, at the same time, hoping to recapture what I had missed. You can be the judge of that. Actually I’m just being polite – you can’t because you didn’t see the first sun-sprayed scene. I’m going to pawn these photos off on you hoping that you will PRESUME that they are as lovely as the first ones would have been if I hadn’t sinned.
This is my heart to y’all. If you see it from a distance, it sort of has that hearty look. The rest of these may all be too similar for you, but i just couldn’t leave any of them out. You know how they talk to you, and say, “Please don’t delete me. Pllllleeeeaaassseeeeee!”
I loved their colors, and the shadows, but I was convinced not to take any home to use for the fancy grape leaf dishes.
By the way, I started a public Facebook page yesterday. I need 30 likes to make it go. I have 27 likes so far. Just 3 more. What could I give as a prize for number 30? hmmmmm
Ah ha – a gold star and a home cooked meal, without grape leaves, next time you come to CA!
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
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