Headed Home to Flatland...

We were sad.  And exhausted.  And a little happy to get home to oxygen.

What a wonderful trip.  What a wonderful birthday.  What a wonderful life.

Until 2019, and our next travels - be well, be safe, be happy, and be adventurous!! 

XOXO

Early Birthmas

So we did early Christmas and my birthday on Sunday. 

We are so lucky and blessed to have generous and fun and amazing friends.   And their kids. 

Em bought Chris and I Christmas presents just from her.  Every time I think about it I almost start crying.  Here is a gorgeous and fierce young woman, who is so so thoughtful that she cared enough to buy us gifts!  She got us Corksicles - one for wine and one for beer.  You can't say she doesn't know us.

In fact, they all know us so well it is scary.  You might see Chris in his new Vikings jersey (he was so excited), or you might be invited over for a drink in my new barware.   In fact, almost everything surrounded drinking.

See?  They know us.

For my birthday celebration, Nan bought me this BEAUTIFUL cake.  I almost didn't want to eat it, but I did. 

We then went outside to recreate a picture we took 6 years ago (see pic 1 below).  As you can see, I am now the shortest person in the group (see pic 2 below).  We did a "Modern Family" kind of picture - holding the old one.  (Notice Emma even has the same sweatshirt on!!  Hysterical.)

I am so lucky to be in the lives of these 4 amazing people - and they even more wonderful parents.

My mom used to say "You only need one friend.  That one person that knows you and loves you for life."   I'm actually lucky to have a few of those.  But Nancy is that person, and I'm so, so, privileged to have her - and her beautiful family.  XO

Godson lunch! Spa Day!

So I kind of never finished the blog. 

Saturday was WONDERFUL.  Not only did we get to have lunch with the godson, and hear all about college applications, and his amazing robotics stuff he is doing in school, but we just got to spend time with him.  He really is the greatest kid, and it's been amazing watching him grow up into a pretty cool human.

Nan then took me to a spa for a massage for my birthday.  HEAVENLY.   We hung out in the hot tub, then went to the "tepidarium," this little room that was room temp, but had these tile lounge chairs that were heated.  Sign.  Me.  Up.   It was so great for just the two of us to hang out and catch up.  Sometimes life gets too much in the way, but you know someone is your best friend when you can just pick up like you talked yesterday.  I ♡ her.

Then back home to a sushi dinner and sake.  Which I am going to admit I didn't love.   The sushi came in a big wooden boat, and it was enough for all 8 of us, but Nan, Emma, Chris and I did our best.

Sleigh Ride!

So we took a sleigh ride up to the restaurant on the top of the mountain - Beano's Cabin.

"Sleigh Ride" implied to me that there would be horses.  My god I'm dumb.  Our "sleigh" was this arctic cat thing that reminded me and Ethan of "The Shining" but it got the job done.

It's the only way to get up to the restaurant.  You get in, and they give you these big heavy coat/cape/blanket things. 

The good:  an absolutely gorgeous view, 10,000 feet up looking at the stars and the trees, and experiencing it with your friends.

The bad:  it was - let's just say - breezy.  And with lots of powder flying back at your face.  But Nan had a roady on the way up, so that was good.  Chris did his usual "take pictures randomly" thing, so you get those beauties of me.  And that big lump next to me is Ethan, who I was trying to keep warm.

Let me tell you - it's my favorite thing I've done here in all the times we've been.  I recommend it!

Then we had dinner - which was amazing.  Excellent service, food, drinks, and a little Happy Birthday for me!  (That is bacon on the right.)

Friday! And Animals.

So Friday was much like Thursday...got up, went to brunch (at Northside Kitchen - I love this place in Avon).   Got to have breakfast with Em too!  She stayed in town for the weekend!   ❤️❤️❤️

After brunch we just hung out at the house.  And I have to tell you, all of the animals love Chris.  They just gravitate to him although he is so allergic he can hardly breathe.

Let's run it down.  Top to bottom.  The animals and the nicknames I have for them.

• Ruby (no nickname, she is really so sweet I can hardly stand it) - she is about 10 maybe?  So sweet, an old dog who just hangs out and has bad breath.
• Coco (Nutball) - the puppy.  And she is definitely a puppy.
• Maxi (Maxipad) - Maxi is the quintessential old lady.  She only has about 4 teeth left, is old and crabby with knots in her hair, but still full of piss and vinegar and poise.  I imagine if she were a person, she would be that eccentric old lady who still puts her makeup on even though she ends up looking like Baby Jane, and throws on her fur coat and handbag and heads out to go shopping.
• Luna (Lunatic) - S's new cat.  She has crazy eyes and I think she might have been trying to kill me yesterday.  

Now, they all are cute, and all love Chris.  They just walk up to him, veer away from me and go to him, and check to see where he is.  It's sweet and hysterical.

Thursdays in the Mountains

On Thursday, we got up, and headed to lunch in Vail.  It's also funny that half of the places aren't yet open, even thought it is December.  I guess that what you call ski time. 

The views here are spectacular.  Just spectacular.  And we have had really great weather.  The altitude isn't great.  Like literally - there is no air here.  But we persevered and found drinks everywhere we went. 

Had an amazing lunch at Sweet Basil's, then drinks at Root and Flower, then a wonderful dinner at Juniper with N&J and all the kids. 

Really, such a fun and wonderful day.  We have amazing friends.

I have been remiss in posting!

That is a sign of a good and relaxing vacation.

Where to begin...Wednesday night.

We arrived on Thursday and hopped in the car service.  It's always kind of funny to me that it takes about 90 minutes to fly to Denver and then another two hours to Vail.  Chris talked to our driver for 2 hours (I mean, he hasn't said that many words in his whole life - WTF?), while I took a nap.  There was some snow and not so great driving through the pass, and I was thankful someone else was driving.

Arrived and N&J were already at the hotel, and they had stopped to get beer, cheese, and booze.  I mean, that is the mark of a true friend.  AND.  Pliny the Elder.  Which I haven't had in probably 3 years.  And you know what?  It is still good.

We then headed to bed for a Thursday of nothing important and everything relaxing.

And...we're (almost) off!!

Packing for a trip to Vail in winter is a little different.  Boots, coats, hats.  I mean, I have enough trouble packing in summer, but we had to add a third suitcase for winter gear and Christmas gifts.

Can't wait to see the Tellor's.  It's been a year and a half!

I hope my liver is up to the task...

Pre beers at airport now...if the Blogger app wasn't a complete piece of shit. I could show you the beer.

Ah PDX...

This is such an easy trip for us.  And relaxing.  We know where to go, where we don't want to go, and always find some new gem that we will revisit.

Our anniversary/wine day was wonderful - perfect coincidence and timing.  And the rest of the weekend was equally as lovely.

Not sure when our next trip is - maybe in a year for our 23rd.  Wonder what day of the week that is?

We ❤️❤️❤️ you Portland.  XOXO

Aw...Rupert

Look who came by last night to say goodnight and goodbye!  Seriously, I could take this cat home.

Saturday. And more food. And beer.

Got up late on Saturday, had breakfast, then headed to the Portland Saturday Market to nose around.

We found a wonderful artist who painted tiles (acrylic on wood).  Picked some up, which will look lovely in the living room.

After that we walked over to Bailey's Tap Room - an oldie but a goodie - and had a few beers and played some cards. 

Lunch was Bistro Alice.  Holy amazing.  This is really one of the top 10 meals of my life.  Chicken liver mousse, heirloom tomato salad, burger, salade Lyonnaise, and vanilla rice pudding with shaved almonds.  Seriously, EAT AT THIS PLACE if you are here!!  Look how beautiful it all is!!  And seriously they have a whole Absinthe menu.

After Bistro Alice, we headed over to Little Beast - they do sour beers and they were really yummy.  I was kind of in a food coma after that lunch, so we hung out there for about an hour, then headed home to rest a bit...before dinner.

Dinner was Apizza Scholls - we've been here before and I'm so glad we came back!  We have a half of a pizza and I'm not sure how we are going to get it home, and I don't care.  We are bringing this mother home.  It will be a good dinner tonight.  😉

La Moule

Who says we are creatures of habit?!?  WHO?!?

Well, if you do, you are right.  Not having a solid dinner plan, and with me coming back to the house and passing out for two hours, we realized, once again, that we are not really spontaneous.

So we did what anyone would do - looked on Open Table for reservations somewhere.

And...la Moule.  We love it here.  And, weird, we get the exact same thing every time.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.   Chicken liver mouse...mussels...and frites.  And this time, a Belgian waffle for dessert.

Happy Anniversary!! 

Friday/Wine Day/Anniversary/Happy

What a day!!  To celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary, we booked this trip.  It went like this:

• Where should we go in October?
• I don't know, where should we go? 
• I don't know, should we go anywhere - maybe we shouldn't spend the money?
• I don't know.
• .
• .
• .
• (a week later)
• Should we just go to Portland for our anniversary?
• Yes.

Then I happily realized that wine day would be on our anniversary - a great gift after 22 years.

So here is what we did...

9:30 am - Brick House

We had, as usual, a lovely morning with Steve.  In addition to all of the new vintages, he broke out a 2013 Evelyn's pinot that they had found 14 cases of.  Well that was a helluva find, I can tell you.  

I think we now have more Brick House than any other wine - which makes sense because in addition to being amazing, we just love spending time here.

11:00 am - Red Hills Market

I'm telling you - if you are ever in the Willamette Valley - EAT HERE.  I know, I know...we get the same thing pretty much every time.  Who cares.  It's good and I'm still thinking about it the next day.

Noon - Dominio IV

This was our new winery today.  Cute little place, interesting wine list.  Got a few bottles of he Viognier and the Grenache/Syrah blend.  Kind of out of the ordinary for us.  But a good little stop after lunch.

1:00 pm - Patricia Green

We had a lovely wine tasting with two other couples from Washington.  It wasn't at the winery - they are building the new tasting house, which is going to be amazing.  

And Caroline always comes through.   As we walked in she was graciously happy to see us.  And during our tasting, she snuck over and poured Chris and I some wine that will come in our wine club shipment next week.  She is a keeper.

3:00 pm - Soter/North Valley Vineyards

Well by this time I was pretty hammered, but it was a fun tasting.  They have really good wines, and we did the tasting with a couple who weren't a couple.  She was a dentist, and he was an anesthesiologist, and it took me an hour to figure out they weren't married...to each other.  She has chickens, I asked alot about those chickens, and I literally have no idea what the hell she said.  I'm fairly certain that I talked alot about the chickens across the street, and WOW, I wish I had that on tape.  

It was a nice way to end my day, but not sure I'll keep this one on the list.  I'm getting kind of picky in my old age...I kind of want to be wowed.  Brick House and Patricia Green do that for me.

So it was an excellent anniversary wine day.   The calendar randomly worked out, the weather was rainy and cool, and my fearless driver, Chris's, blue teeth made me happy.  

Ain't love grand?