A New Article

In an effort to become a more well-rounded writer, I am trying to focus on subjects that are less travel-related. This is an article I wrote last week. I didn't have any particular destination in mind for the finished product, but I posted it on Associated Content because I published there when I started out and they pay you pretty quickly.


Wine-Making at Castle Bridge Winery in Kent, Washington
Castle Bridge Winery is unique from other Washington wineries because they will help you make your own wine using a 3-step process. The result is 30 bottles of wine that has been made, bottled and custom labeled by you.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1850741/winemaking_at_castle_bridge_winery.html

2 hours

I decided to take Reece for a walk after lunch. I probably put her leash on a minute or two too early, because she was getting antsy and jumping on the door, such was her desire to be outside.

So I quickly grabbed everything I needed for a half hour or so out of the house: cell phone, doggie waste bag, key.

Only...it was the wrong key.

And I didn't realize that until the door locked behind me. I took the key out of my pocket to lock the deadbolt, and noticed it wasn't the key that I wanted.

I did not panic. I calmly grabbed my cell and texted Lance, explaining the situation. I waited a few minutes...nothing.

So I took Reece for a walk. We came back and I spread my sweatshirt out under a tree in the front yard (couldn't get into the backyard because the gates are too high for me to reach the latch). I called my Mom to pass the time. We talked for 20 minutes or so and then she had to go because dinner was ready. So I took Reece for another walk, because Reece was getting antsy. And because I was tired of getting weird looks from people for sitting in my front yard (perhaps it would've been less odd if I had gone to the park and just sat at a picnic table).

I saw a snake on the sidewalk during that second walk. It was right next to the wooded area in our subdivision, and it heard me coming and slithered back into the woods. It was black with a silvery-gray stripe on each side, but I have no idea what kind of snake it was. Probably just a common garter snake, but I didn't get a really good look at it.

Lance called me while I was on the 2nd walk. He was in a meeting, so he had just gotten my texts. He would be home in 30-45 minutes. We finished our walk, reached the driveway, and then the downpour started.

We have an eave over our front door, so I took shelter under it. Reece apparently didn't care so much about getting wet. We only stood there about 10 minutes or so before Lance pulled into the driveway.

So...thankfully the situation wasn't worse. I mean, Lance could've been out of town or something, and then it would've been disaster. And it's still early enough that I can do what still needs to be done today.

Off to vacuum!

(no subject)

Just went out on a shopping trip. Had to pick up stuff for the potluck tomorrow.

I went to Grocery Outlet because I usually have good luck with finding interesting cheeses there. And they had some: Danish bleu and goat cheese. Not quite what I was looking for. And probably not made with pasteurized cheese.

I finally just got a block of high quality sharp cheddar, some pepper jack, Alouette spinach & artichoke spread, crackers, roasted eggplant hummus, and assorted marinated olives. That, along with the spicy Indian party mix that I already had here at home, should make a pretty decent spread tomorrow.

So...not quite what I had in mind, but you know, I saved a lot more money by shopping there than I would've if I had gone somewhere else. The price of groceries here is insane, and I know I said that before. Grocery Outlet is amazing and you get all this brand name stuff there, as well as some gourmet foods and some off brand stuff, and it's all very inexpensive.

I picked up a couple pints of Ben & Jerry's while I was there too.

So...I'm all set for tomorrow. I already sliced up the cheese and packed up everything except what needs to be refrigerated. So I have all day tomorrow to hang out here and work before I have to head out.