Vlasic Pickle Anyone?

I have spent the last eleven months attempting to check off fifty things on several different lists. A silly feat I set myself on my forty ninth birthday so as to have something to occupy my time in the twelve months leading up to this momentous and somewhat depressing birthday.

As is evident from the lists, some things are easier to accomplish than others. I have been entering contests as I find them trying desperately to get to fifty. I initially included this category because I was interested to see if anyone actually ever wins one of these. I had always had a sneaking suspicion that I never won anything because I just wasn't diligent enough. So I figured that if I at least entered fifty of them, then I upped my chances somewhat. So far I still haven't won anything. Maybe I'd be better off buying a lottery ticket. Who knows?

I do rather have my hopes up today as I entered the Vlasic pickle contest. Now I know I might be spoiling my chances by talking about it before the deadline passes, but that's the kind of person I am. I love living on the edge.

Along with the pickle contest, I managed to check off a few more things today by going to the Chehalis garlic festival where I sampled garlic ice cream and garlic peanut brittle. Both of which were very tasty and not at all odd, surprisingly enough. All in all a successful day.

A View From the Clouds

I have always wanted to live the road less traveled kind of life, but have never really done it. Last night, however, I got a little closer. For my husband's fiftieth birthday I surprised him with a night in a treehouse. It was a taste of childhood magic, high up in a cedar tree. Our own eagle's aerie for a night. A trickling creek sung us to sleep and the foggy morning light coming in the skylight gently woke us up.

The man who built this treehouse and the even higher observation tower is truly living the road less traveled kind of life. He actually lived in the treehouse for a couple of years, and although he lives on the ground now, he has more treehouse projects underway. He explained some of the planned construction then guided us up and around the many stairs and across the bridge to heaven and finally into the tower. The only thing that gave me pause was a hint of motion sickness as you feel a definite swaying as a breeze hits.

I may usually travel the well beaten path of life, but every now and then I plan on veering off, because the thrill of the unknown cannot be beat.