It’s Tuesday, so that means it’s time to Talk to Us and Rock the Random Rebellion.  If I had an extra $11,790 laying around begging to be spent, I’d totally get this:

It’s a Vinotheque Bay Window with N’FINITY Cooling Unit. For wine, naturally. It holds 279 bottles of wine.

I’d be all set.

I finally got around to making my newest batch of Kahlua last week – now it’s in the process of ‘aging’ in a cool, dark place to really let the flavor become sublime.  It’s drinkable right away but if you let it age, it becomes even more heavenly.  I still have bottles saved from the batches I made from 2007 to 2011 – one of these days I’m going to do a comparison test over the years – anyone want to join me?

Several people have asked for the recipe for my homemade Kahlua – here you go (thanks for the nudge, Vandy) – just click on the image and it will take you to the PDF file:

I did a post a long time ago with the step-by-step instructions how to make Kahlua, in case you wanted to check that out as well.  I’d love to hear if any of you make this.

A few months ago I mentioned that I entered the 2012 International Winemaker’s Competition, since I had been thrilled to win a Silver Medal for one of my wines when I entered the competition for the first time last year.

The Results Are In…

4,318 total entries, 50 American states, 8 Canadian provinces and 7 Countries. I entered 3 wines this year, and won a Gold Medal for one and a Silver Medal for another.

I’d put an exclamation point at the end of that last sentence, but my chosen font makes it look like an ‘!’.  So you can just picture it in your head.  Ironically, the wine that won the Silver Medal this year is the same wine I entered last year – that didn’t place at all.  Apparently letting it age a year did the trick.

What I love about this competition is that they will send you all the vintner’s notes on the wines you submitted – even the ones that don’t place – so you can find out why it didn’t place in order to make adjustments and try again.

One of my newest batches won the Gold Medal – so you can bet I’ll be making that again.  And I’ll be making another batch of the Silver Medal winner to see if I can turn it into gold.  I honestly can’t even remember what the third submission was – I’ll have to wait for the vintner’s notes to find out which one needs some more work.

Meanwhile, I’m definitely doing a Happy Dance.  I went for gold and actually got it.  It gives me validation for my passion of winemaking, that’s for sure.

Speaking of a Happy Dance…

I was perusing YouTube as I’m wont to do, and ran across this video from Britain’s Got Talent 2012 Live Semi-Final in the U.K. – I promise, it’s worth watching:

The cross-country road trip vacation planning is still in motion – good thing we decided on a road trip instead of flying, since our vacation has been postponed not once, but twice.  So now we’re heading off to the Wild Wild West at the end of this month. But the way time is flying by, it’ll be here before we know it. 

Since we plan on staying with my parents when we’re there for the week it ends up being, I might be a little scarce because they haven’t moved into the 21st Century and are still on the archaic dial-up.  I’d prefer not to subject myself to the frustration of using their outdated computer on their dinosaur dial-up, so I’ll have to see if they have a cafe or something in the area that will enable me to connect.  Not to worry, I plan on pre-scheduling some posts so my blog isn’t a total blank for two weeks, and definitely will have Random Tuesday Thoughts Rebel linky ready to rock’n’roll.  Anyone want to volunteer for some guest posts?

That’s a wrap for this week – feel free to link up and hop around to all the other awesome randomizers – they’re always so entertaining. Talk To Me Tuesday friends, you’re welcome to link up, too – that way I’ll be sure not to forget to stop by and scope you out. You know what I mean.

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Keeping the random alive in Keely’s stead – feel free to snag a badge and play along – one for my wino friends:

Stacy

And one for my non-wino friends:

Stacy

 

Once again I’m hopping aboard this fun friendly train – if you’re traveling on the train, be sure to leave your link so I can follow you back!

TuesdayTrain

 

I’m also linking up with two stellar ladies, Shawn and Impulsive, the lovely hosts of Talk To Us Tuesday. There are no rules so link away.

Seriously Shawn
 

More Tuesday hops – if you’re stopping by here from there, please do me a favor and follow via LinkyFollowers – since I was robbed of my GFC followers when the cads at Goggle decided to boycott non-Blogger blogs.


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37 Comments

  1. I agree it looks nice but I think you would get sick of your wine new “wine rack” pretty quick, its a real dust gatherer but I suppose people who can pay upwards of 10k for a rack would have some cleaning resource available!
    Brown would like you to read ..Cheap Dog insuranceMy Profile

  3. As soon as you mentioned your kahlua, I thought “I wish she’d give us that recipe” and then you did! Remind me to make this for Christmas presents! CONGRATULATIONS on the winning wines! I am SO dying to try your wine. SO intrigued. You should be really, really proud!
    Gretchen would like you to read ..RTT: Waddle, Suri and Flying Dead CatMy Profile

  5. I love the Kaluha label… the princess is so pretty! Isn’t strange when you visit someone / someplace that doesn’t have all the technology you are used to? Dial up… UGH.. But, in a lot of ways it is good. Gives you a forced break (which I don’t know about you but I soooo need)
    Hilary would like you to read ..3rd time is a charm….My Profile

  14. I’d love to do a taste test on the Kahlua, but distance is an issue.

    Good luck on the road trip–I will be on the lookout for suggestions and tips for our road trip later this summer.

    Congrats on winning both a gold and silver–hopefully you can improve the underachiever and win three medals next year.

  15. I couldn’t tell you if sip of wine is good or bad since I don’t drink, but I am totally impressed with your ability to concot a winning label. You totally rock, girl!

    If I were to be away from home 2-weeks then connecting to the virtual world would be the last things on my agenda. It’s not that I don’t miss folks in Blogville, it’s just I’d rather spend time vacationing or visiting family. My hat is off to you for beings a dedicated blogger!

    Thanks for hosting RTT!

  17. As the winner of some of your wines I can safely say; You deserved the gold! That wine rack would be handy at my house too.

    I’m still bummed that our road trips to the great Pacific Northwest won’t coincide with each others. That would have been fun.
    Michele would like you to read ..RTT – roaches & squirrelMy Profile

  23. OMG! Congrats on the big wins! I bet the third wine was just an oversight. Enter it again next year! This makes me so giddy for you! Does one of the winners happen to be one of the wines I have here at MY HOUSE which will be tasted in my 3rd trimester?? I sure hope so.

    I love that you make your own kahlua! I’ll be trying that AFTER giving birth. I love me some kahlua.

    Cross country driving? Ew. I HATE driving. HATE IT. But have fun and if you see Oklahoma along the way, wave! =)
    Impulsive Addict would like you to read ..I’m Getting Intimate for TTUTMy Profile

  24. A mere 12 grand? Surely you can dig that out of the couch cushions…

    And congrats on the medals..I know we are supposed to teach kids that winning isn’t everything, but doesn’t it feel good?

  25. Homemake Kahlua? I need to look into that, well maybe I shouldn’t since I drink it with cream and my ass is already having a hard time fitting into my shorts!

    Congratulations on the wine awards, that huge! I really do need to send you my address so I can try it out.

    Driving makes me tired so unless I’m the passenger I must fly! Bummer right?

    Thanks for joining the party!

  31. First off CONGRATS on the Gold and Silver that is Awesome!!! You are going to in such demand!

    Thank you so much for posting that link I’ve been dying to make some. I pinned it so I can remember to do it soon!
    Alexis AKA MOM would like you to read ..When it rains it pours …My Profile

  32. Congratulations on winning a gold and a silver medal for your wine! That is incredible and quite an accomplishment. I look forward to meeting you and sipping a glass some day.

    That dancing dog was amazing!

    Let me know if you need a guest post while on your trip to the Wild, Wild West with dial-up. I’d love to help.
    Run DMT would like you to read ..Random Tuesday Thoughts about The Last Day of School, Start of Summer, a Sunrise for Juneathon Day 5 and Track TuesdayMy Profile

  37. This is perfect for my grandfather since he loves to collect some wine and keep it for years. Some gave him wine from different countries and places that have been his long time collection since he got married and get interested on it.

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