I finished reading a novel today and found myself with thoughts I wanted to share.

Reader, I also found myself with a bottle of wine and a desire to create an autumn Sangria recipe, Midwest meets Barcelona with white wine and apple cider. 

Guess which I went for? (Shared, I promise. And there are leftovers.)

Autumn Nights Sangria (Drema style)

Add to a pitcher:

• A bottle of your favorite white wine, best a little on the sweet side

• Two cups of fresh apple cider (plenty of orchards around, no excuses)

• A cup of fresh or frozen peaches (they double as ice cubes without watering things down) in large pieces (This is not baking — eyeball however damn many you want; I am not your mamma!)

• Half a cup of chopped apple, any variety that is not too tart

• Sparkling water to top until it fizzes like a good mood

Pour into pretty glasses. Sip. Beware: it’s sweet.

Singing may follow.

Then step onto the porch and let Barcelona memories float back.

Years ago I went with my grad school group to an energetic, colorful Flamenco show in Barcelona where potent ruby red sangria made the rounds from hand to hand.

While I could not immediately find a photo from that night, I uncovered this unfortunately shadowed picture of me in front of Gaudí’s Casa Milà, also called La Pedrera, a wavy stone dream on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia.

The building looks alive, balconies curling like sea foam. Word Raccoon is still miffed she did not tag along to prowl those rooftop chimneys and eavesdrop on the ironwork. I can almost hear her squeaky protest: How dare you go without me. But that day it was just me, a bright Catalan sky, and Gaudí’s living sculpture.

Word Raccoon, you would have loved Park Güell, another Gaudí creation.

Now are we going to write, WR, or refill our glasses?

I vote for writing. I’ve had enough to drink for now.