Vegetarian Minestrone for Summer Days

It's a rainy summer day, and even in the summer, there is nothing better than the smell of homemade soup on the stove.  So, as a tribute to Fall coming so soon, here is my recipe for Vegetarian Minestrone.  It is great for fall and winter weather, but still light enough to eat in the summer.
Because this is my recipe, there aren't really an measurements to follow exactly.  So, you will have to follow this with an open mind and make changes according to your own tastes.  Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Vegetable stock
White wine (optional)
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large zucchini, chopped
1 large can diced tomatoes
Dried thyme, rosemary, basil and oregano
2 bay leaves
A little bit of crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper

Directions:
*Coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and heat on medium high.  Add the onions, carrots and celery and saute until soft.  Add salt and pepper at this time. 
*Add the garlic and zucchini and a little white wine.  (Adding wine is optional, but does result in a better flavor).  Let the wine cook down until it is almost gone then add the herbs.  I just sprinkle a little of each in then taste it later to see if I need more.  Add the bay leaves and crushed red pepper.
*Add in the diced tomatoes and vegetable stock.  You will have to use your best judgement on how much veggie stock to use.  I just add it until I have a soupy consistency.  It will cook down a little so you might want to add a little more than you think.
*Stir everything together and bring to a simmer.  Once it is simmering, turn it down to low and cover with a lid.
*I like to cook mine all day on low, but it is perfectly fine to eat after cooking for an hour or 2. 
*A little bit before you are going to eat, add in the white beans.  I don't add them in before because they tend to thicken the soup and I like to have a nice light soup.

Well, I hope that this turns out as good for you as it does for me.  I will certainly enjoy smelling this all day and listening to the rain fall....