October sunshine

OK, I know we're having a drought here on the east coast, but it's been the most gorgeous October - warm weather in the 70s constantly and golden days with clear blue skies. The last 2 weekends have been spent visiting Virginia wineries near Leesburg and out by Front Royal. The latter group have the best views of the Shenandoah Valley and lots of gorgeous blue ridges parading off into the horizon. Probably the best was Fox Meadow Winery in Linden where I met a couple and their mom on the deck outside the tasting room. Their 20-month-old took up with Veeka and they invited me to sit at their table and down some white wine while the kids played, leaving us in peace for a few blessed moments as the sun slowly set, turning the landscape golden.
Virginia, for those of you who do not know, is the nation's fifth largest winery state after California, Washington, Oregon and New York. Who knew?
When not downing Merlot or Chardonnay, I am swamped with 2 book deadlines. Friday is the deadline for a chapter I am contributing to a book on Iraqi Kurdistan. And then there's four more chapters I am slaving away at for my leaving church book, all due before Nov. 15. It's a ton of work, while at the same time working full-time and also looking after The Moppet.
Speaking of which, she is fine. A speech therapist meets with her weekly but progress is slow. Did you realize you cannot *make* a 2-year-old say anything? The photo is her with John Yates, one of the pastors at Shrinemont, who could not resist putting our little bundle onto his lap.