First, I need to provide some background to set the stage. Above our house near the garden, there are a set of cliffs about 20-30 feet tall. They are just below where we harvest chanterelle mushrooms, and the area is covered largely with shagbark hickory. On these cliffs, there is a completely flat rock shelf about 3' deep by 10' wide, backed by a sheer rock wall about 6' tall. It faces eastwards and thus is sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds, which can be particularly brutal in autumn and winter. It is a wonderful place to sit and look out and downwards into the forest. It is quiet, easily accessible, and just the right size to seat a couple of people on portable chairs. In fact, it is the absolutely perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine. Since discovering this place last winter, we have occasionally packed up a bottle of white wine, some glasses, and various antipasti, and along with a couple of folding chairs, headed up to the shelf to relax at the end of the day.
