The casual oberserver may be thinking to themselves, "Seriously, you cannot still be picking lavender."  Sadly, the answer is yes, the rancho is currently picking lavender.  In fact, a lavender grower recently visited the ranch and said it was the darnedest thing ever seen.  It never stops growing.

Fortunately, though, for these ranchers, other things have stopped growing and given them the much needed year-end break, and they've  caught their breath, gotten a little rest (which has made a small dent in the crabbiness factor), and reached a previously sought-after equillibrium, in which the work at the ranch is being accomplished more quickly and proficiently, leaving the ranchers time to actually get out and enjoy some of the things their guests rave about, but which the ranchers never have time to experience, because they've always been entertaining and racing to get the ranch work done once the guests have departed.

Consequently, all vines have now been pruned and retied -- and this time, with agri-lock, so that the vine ties will not break midseason, requiring more tying.  All wines have been tested by our chemist extraordinaire.  The Petite Sirah has completed MLF.  The Zin is nearly done.  We'll give it until March.  The Cab probably won't get busy until it warms up in spring.  It's MLF didn't have a chance to begin before the serious cold set in.   This tasting, the Zin's star is shining.  It was petulant and difficult all through fermentation, so it was a pleasant surprise that it didn't rise up to smack one in the face while tasting.  The Petite Sirah continues to be good, but there is a suspicion that improvement could be achieved with a bit of adjustment.  The Cab, flat out, needs MLF and an adjustment and aging.  A refinement of the number at which the grapes will be picked next year has also been accomplished.  

All olives have been rebrined; and incredibly, the herbs that have been hanging to dry have now been destemmed and chopped, and finally, the little herb jars which have been sitting on top of the dryer for months have now been moved and fresh herbs have been placed in them.    All weeds have been sprayed.  The garage is being cleaned out, and slowly, but surely, items are being given to the thrift shop or taken to the trash.  The tots' toys have again been sanitized and organized.  Plans for an additional equipment shed are in the offing, so all tools and equipment from the garage will be placed there.  The bikes and golf clubs will eventually be hung on walls.  The window company has been out to diagnose the problem with the fairly new picture window in the kitchen.  The news is as expected, it has failed and needs to be replaced, but thankfully, it will be covered under warranty. 

All this has been accomplished, and yet, two rounds of golf were squeezed in by one of the ranchers and two 13-mile bike rides were squeezed in by the other, as well as an afternoon of championship-level loping, and some great glasses of wine by the fire.  The lesson that is emerging is that this is what had been envisioned all along, a place to which one could escape to get off the merry-go-round, work with the vines, the olives, the land, but yet, have some time to rest, engage in favorite recreational activities, and return home with batteries charged. 

And so it is with renewed energy that all calendars have been reviewed and business trips placed on the calendar, all vacations and traditional yearly get-togethers have been placed on the calendar, all ranch work that is time sensitive has been placed on the calendar, harvest season has been blocked off, and essentially, our 2012 is planned up to and including January 1, 2013, and we are adamant that we will not overschedule, because we enjoy having the time to catch our breath and enjoy life a little, just like everyone else. 

So it is with a renewed sense of optimism that we sign off with the words of T. S. Eliot:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."