Wine Rack Store Blog

My younger sister is a senior in high school and has been applying to all the colleges within the state. She’s has really good grades so she has been accepted just about everywhere. She heard from my alma mater, Washington State University. I was looking forward to counseling her on what dormitories to get into and which streets to avoid at night. This all changed this past week when she received her acceptance letter from the University of Washington.

Now if you haven’t heard, WSU and UW are the big state rivals in Washington. I have definitely given some Huskies my share of harassment. I don’t like football but I will always watch the Apple Cup because of the rivalry. I actually even attended one a few years ago.

I keep joking to my sister she is going to cause a rift in the family. Too bad we can’t repair it over a bottle of wine off the wine rack because she’s only 18.

Labels: education, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

Even though we have less than a week until spring, old man winter is playing with us again. I woke up to over an inch of snow on the ground. It is still coming down right now. They warned us about it on the news last night but I scoffed at it thinking we were done with the white stuff. I was wrong again.

I may hate surprise snow storms but I love a good thunderstorm. You don’t see too many of these in western Washington. We seldom see more than two or three a year. Before moving here I remember a few good ones in California. I even recall seeing a lightening bolt strike in a neighbors horse field.

The best storms I ever saw were in the Midwest. Mother Nature knows how to give a good show in Minnesota. They’d thunder in, scare everyone into shelter, and thunder out.

I am looking forward to experiencing some good storms on the east coast. I’ll just turn off the lights, enjoy some wine off my make-shift wine rack, and watch the storm roll through.

Labels: snowing, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

Spring must be close because the local grocery stores are starting to carry cut daffodils and tulips. Today I was able to purchase a 10-stem bunch of daffodils for only $0.99. That’s a heck of a deal for fresh flowers. I picked up two bunches to decorate my kitchen table with.

I assume we have such a lovely selection here in Washington because Skagit Valley, located up north, is famous for it’s flowers. I’ve traveled up there a few times in the spring and the view is incredible. The fields are just carpeted in all types of purples, reds, yellows, and oranges. The daffodil fields are so bright they are almost blinding.

It is definitely worth the drive up there is you have a free weekend and can tear yourself away from your wine rack. You need to be prepared for wet weather and mud though if you plan on walking in the fields. Also be ready to fill your car full of flowers or bulbs because it’s hard to leave without at least buying some bulbs for your yard.

Labels: flowers, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

The county I live in is full of well maintained parks and recreation areas. After running some errands (we picked up some bottles of wine for our nearly empty wine rack) in town, we stopped at a local lake. Well, I’d call it a glorified pond because it isn’t very large. There is a nice dock we were able to sun ourselves on to try to regain some vitamin D lost over these last dark months.

In the summer, the dock is where I like to swim from. I prefer swimming in the deeper water away from the beaches and reeds because that is where the dreaded "swimmers itch" lurks. Also there are fewer people and loud children in that part of the lake. I like to put on goggles and try to find things people have dropped in on accident. We have found dog toys, an office chair, playground equipment, cell phones, jewelry, and lots of fishing gear.

I am a pretty hardcore swimmer. My first swim in that lake last year was in May and my last was in September. Both were chilly but fun. I can’t wait till it warms up cause I am want to go swimming so badly.

Labels: swimming, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

Port Townsend, Washington is a beautiful place to visit year round. We usually try to visit there during the summer but we had the opportunity to go out there this weekend. It is only about an hour drive but it feels worlds away when you have been cooped up inside all winter. I also noticed for the first time signs for a few wineries on the way. I made a mental note to come back and do some tasting to see if I can find some bottles to add to my wine rack.

The downtown is full of specialty stores and is very picturesque. It contains a nice little wine shop. There is also a pizza joint called Waterfront Pizza that serves some of the best pizza I have ever had.

The real hidden gem in Port Townsend is Fort Worden State Park. The state park has many activities for everyone. There is a sandy beach which is great for summer time recreation such as sandcastle building and if you are not afraid of the cold, swimming. There is also a rocky beach which provides tidal pools which can be explored. There is a light house located in the park and is occasionally open for tours. Since this was the gate way to the Hood Canal and Puget Sound a large military base was constructed here before World War I. All that is left are large cement structures which are fun to explore.

So if you are suffering from some cabin fever and maybe want to stop to fill up your wine rack on the way, Port Townsend is a great place to visit.

Labels: Port Townsend, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

After reviewing the trail map of my local Green Mountain, I realized we had not explored nearly as much ground as first thought. We decided to try to make it to the mythic vista mentioned on the map again. This time we brought my mother along because she enjoys hiking as well.

The weather was great. On the drive to the trail head we saw the Cascades to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. We chose to try this other trail head because it was closer to the vista. We examined the sun-bleached map at the base of the mountain and then took off.

After the first 2 miles we started to wonder if we were on the right path. We were supposed to make a 1000 ft elevation gain and so far we hadn’t gain any vertical footage. I brushed it off thinking we might just gain it all really fast at the end. At 4.5 miles and no sign of the vista we had to turn back because we needed enough day light to go back. I left the mountain feeling defeated again and exhausted from an unplanned 9 mile trek. I was also sorely disappointed that I didn’t get to the see the amazing view I am sure the vista was harboring.

I came home and headed to the wine rack to check for some champagne to help the aching in my feet. I was defeated by the wine rack as well because I had forgotten that I had finished off the last champagne bottle during the weekend.

Labels: hiking, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store

The sun finally peaked out of the clouds for nearly a full day today. We were able to visit a local beach without being rained on for the first time in months. Sadly, the usually lovely view of the Olympic Mountains was still blocked by clouds.

Because of the sun and the relative warmth of the day we were motivated to get some yard work done. The house I am living in had a much neglected yard when we moved in so the yard has mostly been an uphill battle. The grass is more moss than grass, rotting leafs and vegetation is everywhere, and there are not many ascetically pleasing plants left alive. So today we raked and I purchased some inexpensive pretty primroses to plant around.

We also started a fire so we could burn up some of the fallen limbs and other debris. I got a chance to relax in front of it and enjoy one of my favorite wines off of my wine rack. I needed that little bit of relaxation because I will be out there again tomorrow.

Labels: mountains, Washington State, wine rack, wine rack store