“Do not shed tears when I have gone but smile instead because I have lived. Do not shut your eyes and pray to God that I’ll come back but open your eyes and see all that I have left behind. I know your heart will be empty because you cannot see me but still I want you to be full of the love we shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live only for yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of what happened between us yesterday. You can remember me and grieve that I have gone or you can cherish my memory and let it live on. You can cry and lose yourself, become distraught and turn your back on the world or you can do what I want – Smile, wipe away the tears, learn to love again and go on.”
The world (especially my world) will never be the same without these two characters in it, and it’s definitely a better world after they each made their own unique mark on it. For that, I will be forever grateful to have known them and loved them.
The Front Porch has really been collecting some dust!
I would’ve just let it stay that way without Russ pushing me to clean it up for some wine tasting. It wasn’t easy considering its basically farmland now…
But, let me back up a little.
Secretly, I ‘ve always wanted to be a farmer. But I’m a city girl so I didn’t even know where to start. I mean I’ve tried growing food in the past. It usually starts out fine -ish. Then it gets too hot outside and I give up. Just like a city girl would.
Then one day, for no particular reason, Russ takes me and Caliber Jack to the feed store to see the baby chicks. We pull up and he parks the car but doesn’t get out. He looks at me and announces: “We are only here to look. We are NOT getting chicks.”
I thought that was a weird announcement. Of course we’re not getting chicks. Not only do we live in suburbia, but we also have a tiny walkway-around-the-house yard. No space for farm animals. Silly man.
We go in and find the chicks; they are way in the back of the store. I could hear them chirping as we got closer. Like they were calling to me. They were separated by color in bins that were inside a giant baby chick jail that didn’t allow me to hold them. They were tiny and chirpy, and I wanted to hold as many as I could. At the same time. But the cage was locked.
Why would Russ bring me here to tease me with tiny cute farm animals that I can’t even cuddle?
I wandered away, moping around the store. Then, I remembered!
When Stefan lived in town he had chickens – the city allowed up to like four chickens I think, as long as you don’t get a rooster. (I think your neighbors turn on you when you get a rooster).
Well, this store had a three-chick limit and no roosters!
E.I.E.I.O! We ARE getting chicks!
I told Russ the good news and picked out my chicks. I held them all three while Russ unenthusiastically got a flatbed cart and loaded it with basically one of everything.
We brought them home, set up the temporary shelter and ordered a coop for the newly expanded Front Porch. We spent the rest of the evening getting to know them so we could name them.
Later, I googled ‘suburban farming’. I couldn’t believe what I found! Those people all had detailed lists of pros and cons – BEFORE they started. LOL
That’s not how we do things around here. Good thing I married a farm boy, stay tuned….
Time for some wine!
2020 Be Human Riesling $3.99 Manteca Grocery Outlet
88 points from WineEnthusiast.com: The aromas offer notes of flower, whole lime, citrus and herb. Off-dry, leaning sweeter citrus flavors follow. It’s a straightforward summer wine with a lot to like.
I usually would not choose a Reisling. I even started us off by telling everyone that we probably wouldn’t like this one. I expected it to be too sweet. But this light Columbia Valley wine surprised us all.
Becky said it was not overly sweet, it was on the drier side. Joe thought it tasted apple-y and pear-y. Larry thought it was too sweet on the first taste but said it was not too bad on the second. Terry: Oh! I like this, it’s sweet and nice. Like me, Leela was surprised she liked it. She said she would’ve passed it up in the store too, thinking it would be too sweet. Arvin said it was nice, he liked it. Sidenote: Halfway through wine tasting, Joe went back for more of this Reisling. He said to cleanse his pallet, lol.
4/5 stars from Vivino.com: Medium bodied – crisp and butter. Would purchase again.
Terry started us off with this California Chardonnay, she called it ‘sparkly’ and Leela agreed. Larry tasted grape (palm to face), then changed his answer. He described it as ‘crispy’ and Becky agreed. Connie gave it a 10+ and said it should be called Naughty. Arvin said it had a bit of a bite to it. I thought it was more like a sauvignon blanc than a chardonnay. It would be nice to sip while doing some pool floating.
4.4/5 stars from Vivino.com: Very nice wine, smooth, rich, buttery, taste, strong in fruits very nice to drink alone or with fish will definitely purchase again Reminds me a little bit of Cakebread Chardonnay, great value
Becky thought this Chardonnay from Sonoma County was nice. She said it was not aged in a barrel but still had some oak notes. Joe called it earthy. Leela like this one and also found it to be a nice, easy drinking wine. Arvin said it’s alright, I like the other one better. Lol.
2018 Be Human Red Blend$4.99 Manteca Grocery Outlet
89 points from WineEnthusiast.com: This vintage offers a bounty of fruit, and this wine is a great example of it. Aromas of light toasty oak meld with plum, leading to bountiful black currant and raspberry flavors. There’s pleasing balance throughout
Right off the bat, Joe tasted licorice and anise. Becky said it tasted like candy – plum and blackberry. Leela tasted Cabernet notes in this blend, lots of berries. Terry was excited that we got the reds and downed the last sip of white in her glass. Red Blend is her favorite. Larry called it easy drinking.
2021 River & Vine Cabernet Sauvignon $7.99 Manteca Grocery Outlet
4/5 stars on Vivino.com: A decent wine with hints of blueberry and oaky tastes. It’s not as flavorful as other Cabernets that I have had but it will make a nice wine for dinner.
Larry commented on the nice aroma. Becky tasted tobacco and Larry agreed. Leela thought it was ‘thin’ and Joe agreed, calling it light. We all agreed that this is a wine that should be laid down for a season or two to really get to the description on the label.
2020 Tenet Syrah The Pundit $6.99 Manteca Grocery Outlet
4.1/5 stars from Vivino.com: Whenever I see this label I am keen to try it & once again I’m impressed. Deep ruby. Ripe & fruity w. fresh black cherry, pure blackberry, blackcurrant & blackcurrant leaf. A slightly leafy note w. leather & tobacco. Developing. Dry. Ripe, rich & creamy w. soft blackberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, raspberry & plum. Grippy m+ tannins, m+ alc, m+ acid & med body w. good gloss to the fruit on the m+ finish. Good focus & purity w. lovely freshness on the palate.
Arvin liked this Columbia Valley “Expert” Syrah right away. Terry commented on the beautiful garnet color and Larry noticed it’s long legs. Joe said he really liked it, it’s strong and dry. Arvin added that it was smokey and very good. Leela called it peppery. Unfortunately, I can’t publish the rest of the comments as this was our sixth wine of the evening and they became NSFW.
Front Porch Wine Tasting 