As I write this, the air feels more like spring than fall, yet, when I look out at my orchard I see that the leaves from the peach tree have gathered at her feet like the skirts of a demure maiden ready for a nap. The moon is full and on those nights when we sit on our deck and look over the Anderson Valley, the air is sweet with silence and the occasional owl call. But the signs are there: in the slant of the light through the redwoods and the color of the sunsets. Winter is waiting.

Along the Coast, the ocean is wild. It charges toward the shore in big, foamy fists, grabbing at the rocks, running out of steam then building up to do it all over again. In an oceanside meadow, a kite does arabesques high above the grasses and poises -- hovering -- before plunging toward the earth and a meal.

2001 has been a very good year. Young families, grateful retirees and hopeful entrepreneurs have flocked here looking for a new life. For those of us living on the North Coast, the seasons come and go and very little of the world-at-large intrudes on our tranquility. Most disruptions are merely inconveniences of our own creation. This year is the exception, of course. We all feel a little more fragile.

Despite the shift in the universe, I think 2002 will be even better. We have been given an extraordinary wake-up call. What we have in this country -- no matter where we live -- is so special and there is so very much to be grateful for that I, for one, have decided to take stock of the good things life brings and stop whining about the minutia.

I take joy in seeing American flags dotting the landscape as I drive through Mendocino County. In Fort Bragg a homeowner has painted the garage door in "the colors." In Yorkville a weathered barn is sporting a big, bold version of old glory: a timeless image, a stirring sight. I've noticed that people are eating with more gusto; laughing with more feeling; turning a gentle eye toward one another more frequently.

Our real estate market is good. Land with views -- valley or ocean -- is scarce. Homes in the mid-ranges are selling well and the upper-end market shows promise of being strong in the spring. Remember: I firmly believe that there is a perfect spot here for anyone who desires it -- no matter what the price range -- if they truly are ready to make the move to this part of Northern California.

Soon the holidays will be here. The lights will go up and the parties will begin. Family will gather and all will seem right again. I want to say thanks, as always, to those loyal customers and friends who make my job so much fun. And thanks to all of you who have, over the years, accessed my website and shared your dreams and desires with me and allowed me to help make them come true.

May God bless us all in this sacred season. And may God Bless America.

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