It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev’rywhere you go; There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well, The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow. This is a beautiful song-piece from the Christmas song, It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas. Although, it paints a New York-like Christmas picture, here in Madera County, it’s quite different. Our rendition would sing something like this; It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev’rywhere you go; There are leaves on the ground, not one or two, The wet and messy kind, it’s beautiful too. Leaves from our perennial crops including almond, pistachio, peach, walnut trees and all wine grape, table and other fruiting vines have since frozen and laid their final rest, on the ground. To me, it’s as beautiful of a picture as a snow day or the sight of bright lights on a Christmas tree. This time of year reminds us to reflect on our hard work and efforts required to get the fruit of our labor harvested and to market. Like the leaves that have fallen, we can also take this time to relax some, regroup and reflect on our successful year.
It’s time to pick-up that conversation again with family or friends that was cut prematurely, because of a harvest-related interruption. It’s time to call friends or family we put at bay during harvest, until we picked-up the last load of nuts or delivered the last load of grapes to the winery.
I wish all of you a beautiful time with your close family, friends, neighbors and even your not-so close family, friends and neighbors. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.
