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?

Friday Wine Day Agenda

9:30 - Brick House
10:30 - Beaux Freres
11:15 - Red Hills Market
Noon - Dominio IV
1:00 - Patricia Green
3:00 - Soter

Happy Anniversary!!  ❤️❤️❤️

Rupert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG there is a house cat here.  Rupert. 

The guest instruction list says this:

• Hip Cat - Rupert is super friendly and quite intelligent!  He will want to hang out with you, so feel free to love him back.  Please do't let him on the beds or sofa as some lodgers are allergic to cats.  He goes on his way if gently encouraged to.

WHA???  Who would encourage this adorbs little guy to go away?? 

He.  Was.  So.  Cute.   He was just there, looking in the patio door.  So we hung out.  I hope he comes back tomorrow...

Nice, relaxing day...

Today was a great day for doing not much.  It was a beautiful day - mid 60s - and sunny.  

Started the day with breakfast at Tasty & Sons.  Chilaquiles and Shakshuka!  I loved them both.  And of course...a cold press.  The only thing missing were my coffee friends.

We then hit the grocery store, hung out a bit at the house, and then walked to Apex for beers and cards.  It's Fresh Hop weekend.  Yay.  😐  Fresh hopped beers aren't my favorite and Chris loathes them.  He says they taste like cut grass.  I might not go that far.  Clearly, because I had two.

After Apex we walked to Lardo for sandwiches.  Man this place is out of this world.  I had the Pork Bahn Mi and Chris had the Smokestack.  Both were awesome.  We also got chicharrones - basically deep fried pork fat that is salted with enough salt to kill you.  But man-o-Manischewitz, they were good. 

Then?  Nap time.  Now?  Doing nothing, ate some cheese and crackers, watching terrible TV and getting ready for bed.

Gotta prepare for wine day tomorrow!!  ❤️🍷

And we're back!

And just like that, we're back in PDX.

Quick trip for our anniversary, and, well, why not?  Staying in a lovely little AirBNB and everything is either tile or pressed cement.  It's really cool, but my old back isn't going to be happy.

And this morning, I came downstairs, and READ A BOOK.  I haven't really done that in a long time...trying to avoid my phone and use my brain more.

Beer today, wine tomorrow for our anniversary, maybe the Rose Garden and Pittock Mansion too today or Saturday.

Having not much of an agenda is kind of nice right now.  Maybe I'll even finish a book.  😊😊