Washington Wine Country: Better than the $5.00 price tag would lead you to believe

"I want to live where soul meets body/ and let the sun wrap its arms around me/ and bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing/ and feel what it's like to be new"



Just as a heads up, my camera is working again...so be prepared for a photosplosion.

For those of you not meticulously charting the unseasonably cold weather patterns of the Northwest this month (I know your obsessive tendencies, Eva), it's been pretty frakkin cold. And depressing.

A rare moment of sunshine on the Seattle waterfront:



So this weekend, the b/f surprised me with a trip to sunny Yakima in central Washington, which is about 2-3 hours from Seattle and one of Washington's agricultural centers. I was initially prepared to look a gift horse in the mouth, as it were, due to the high probability of a vacation interfering with obsessively watching the World Cup, but once the key enabler in my life conceded that yes, we could spend as much time as I wanted in bars watching matches (including pre- and post-coverage), I was ready for sun and soccer and spirits. You know that scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta stabs Uma Thurman in the heart with a shot of adrenaline? This weekend was pretty much my boyfriend stabbing me in the heart...with a shot of Vitamin D! (This is what love looks like.)

The weekend turned out to be quite beautiful. My mood changed immediately upon crossing the mountains and entering the sunny foothills of the Cascades:



After driving in on Friday night and checking into the Cedar Inn & Suites (be sure to check out the prime stock images of tablecloths, grapes and wine of indeterminate quality in the photo gallery), we got some great Mexican food (apparently you can find awesome Mexican food in a town full of migrant workers -- who knew?).

Eating on a patio...unheard of in cold, rainy Seattle throughout the preceding month:



After watching the US national team get spanked by Ghana (like I said...no aggression in the first half), we drowned our deflated patriotism in lovely domestic wines. This vineyard had an excellent Malbec (I'm a total snob for most things Argentine).









We had a wine and fresh cherry picnic outside on the gorgeous grounds, where we met some ducks and a dog that Kevin was totally convinced was in love with him...until he ran out of food.





At the next winery, we may or may not have purchased a case of wine. Don't judge me.

Here's a picture of the Enabler-in-Chief carrying off the weekend's trophy of imbibery. And looking both ways to cross the street. Wouldn't want anyone running over the wine.


Sunday was equally fantastic. We went back to the Mexican restaurant and drank fresh fruit margaritas while watching the Argentina v. Mexico game on Univision with the entire Mexican waitstaff and a more than slightly hammered English dude pissed off about his country's loss to Germany that morning. Considering the limey was probably still carrying a grudge over the Falklands War, I was definitely the only one cheering for Argentina, but tried not to gloat too much when Mexico went down like a sorority girl at a Cinco de Mayo party.

On the way home, we stopped at this place that had captured my eye on our first drive up to Seattle in January. In the winter, the giant sign said "FRUIT ANTIQUES". I guess in the summer, the FRUIT becomes a better selling point.











Yes, we did buy three kinds of honey. In case you want any for your tea.


"No thanks, Turkish. I'm sweet enough."

Product placement of the day: ROGUE SPRUCE GIN You'll love it, or you'll give me whatever you don't finish.

And with that, I'm just about done. We're making, or should I say "Grill Master K" is making, buffalo burgers and a refreshing spruce gin & tonic for dinner. All in all, it's been a good week.