while I'm away on maternity leave....
to you & people just joining, a few asks from me
Hi everyone!
As I mentioned in my last post, I have started my maternity leave.
Before going on leave, I was attempting to get as much material done as possible so I wouldn’t feel “behind” on writing my newsletter, but have since realized that was an unrealistic expectation, especially since I’m so close to my due date (which is tomorrow, by the way, if I haven’t had the baby already by the time you read this. Problems with writing posts in advance— you’re not sure what is going to happen in the weeks between).
So, unless I find some time in the middle of caring for a newborn, which seems unlikely based upon what every mother I know has been telling me, this will be my last post of 2024.
I do, however, have a few favors to ask that I believe will make Wines & Woofs 2025 more engaging.
I want to know about your dogs! Write to me about their personalities and what they are like! Send me photos! I would love to find a wine to pair with them and feature them on the newsletter.
Do you have any burning questions about wine? Or about art? Or is there anything else? Let me know what you’re interested in reading. Here are some running titles and topics I’m currently preparing for 2025:
How I Studied for WSET Level 3 and Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Exam
Non-Alcoholic Wine & Tequila Recommendations (because this is what I lived on during my pregnancy)
Ancient Wines: Turkey
Ancient Wines: Greece (there will be several posts, including travel recommendations, because I’m going to Greece in 2025!)
Places to Drink Wine with Your Dog - Park City & Salt Lake City, Utah
Are you also a wine professional with a love for dogs? Or do you know someone with an epic wine story? I’m looking for people to interview for a new segment starting next year!
Let me know if you have any additionally feedback on Wines & Woofs, too!
If you’re interested in connecting with me during my maternity leave, please email me at winesandwoofs@gmail.com. I will be periodically checking that email starting in September.
Until then, I hope the second half of the year is excellent, filled with amazing wine to drink and lovely dogs to pet.
i’ll drink to that
I’m limiting my time spent online to focus on my new baby. That means, I’m completely off social (everything has been either deactivated or logged off to curb temptation) and will only be periodically checking email. Also, if I magically find the time, I’m going to spend that reading, writing, drawing, and painting. Maybe I’ll watch TV. Here are some reading recommendations before I leave you…
Books:
American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee (nonfiction)
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson (nonfiction)
The Collapsing Empire series by John Scalzi (science fiction)
The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells (science fiction and I’m obsessed!)
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (spicy fantasy romance— a genre that I believe could be the cure for depression in young adult women)
Fame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh (fantasy and pretty much if Mulan was Japanese story— very fun)
As always, I love book or film recommendations— I’m down for all genres.
Have a good 2024!
~Kir
*Featured artwork is by me. If you would like to support me and my art, please subscribe!
~Kir