Celebrating the Harvest - Celtic Winter

Here in Oregon the seasons are very similar to those of the Celtic year.  We had our first frost last week and it was very cold last night.   The days are considerably shorter and the chickens have slowed down in egg production.  Parts of the country have had there first snow storm.  Despite what the Gregorian calendar tells us it feels like winter is upon us.  In fact, November 1 is the first day of Celtic winter.

I like to mark the changing of the seasons with little rituals.  For instance, I remove the screen door on Samhain and replace it on Beltane. Flannel sheets are put on the bed Winter Solstice and come off Spring Equinox.  Today, I will put the barbecue under shelter for the winter months and fill the porch with firewood.

Samhain is about celebrating the last of the harvest and we will spend the next few days here at  Borgo Pass picking the cabernet wine grapes.  The winter squash has been put into cold storage and the apples are soon  to be picked.  According to the weather forecast, we have two nice days before the rains set in.

The daylight will continue to shorten until the solstice when we gather to celebrate the rebirth of the sun.  In this time of darkness we are invited to explore the depths of the inner self.   I look forward to slowing down the pace, clearing away the cobwebs, and searching my soul.

I would love to hear how you mark the turning of the year.

Wine Grape Lovers Come One and All

Pinot Noir Wine Grapes

These look good enough to eat

For the past month here at Borgo Pass Vineyards, we have been watching the grapes slowly ripen.  Humans are not the only ones who are interested in the sugar content of grapes it seems.  My husband often says there is no reason to take the brix just watch the birds.  You can see that the Cedar wax wing is keeping a good eye on that sugar content for us.  Just waiting for us to leave so he can devour that bunch of pinot noir.
     This year the yellow jackets have also been problematic which is a new one on us.  I guess with the cool spring and late summer they are desperate to fill up before they hibernate for the winter.  We have killed a number of nests we have found in the ground, but the yellow jackets just seem to keep coming.  The cool nights have finally slowed them down some which is great because it can be both literally and figuratively a pain to try to pick the grapes which are covered with starving  yellow jackets. 

Thanksgiving Dinner?

My favorite is the wild turkeys.  Someone years ago decided it would be a good idea to release turkeys for the hunters.  The turkeys are thriving and reproducing like mad with the great food supplies here in South Benton County.  (ie: vineyards, wheat fields, berries and orchards).  This flock of about 11 likes to come in and eat all the grapes they can find close to the woods.  Last year a similar flock ate about 500 pounds of grapes before we finally got serious about chasing them off. 

So Come One, Come All.  Grape Harvest is Upon Us.