McMinnville, Oregon: The #1 reason for this trip to Oregon, and our long stay in Oregon Wine Country, was to attend our goddaughter's wedding! We have been enjoying time with the family and - of course - The Big Day. Natalie and Jake were married Labor Day weekend at the Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard, a gorgeous Italian-inspired villa in the hills above Dundee, Oregon.
Looks like Italy - including paparazzi!
Beautiful Natalie, after the wedding, with her favorite godfather.
Such an elegant bride (and handsome 6'7" groom), beautiful dress, beautiful train, beautiful white flowers everywhere, beautiful setting, and wonderful food at the dinner. 50 guests, so extremely personal. The wedding feast was served family-style on long tables outside (perfect weather as well) - two wonderful salads, grilled beef, roasted salmon, and baby potatoes. Everything was just perfect, and the bubbly was flowing (we hired a car service round-trip!). The cake must have been made of butter, raspberry filling, and little else - so luscious. Natalie and Jake planned for a wonderful wedding, and are now off on their honeymoon and starting their new life together. We were so honored to have been included. It pays to be the godparents!
Besides the wedding festivities and dinners leading up to the wedding, we have also played more golf, visited Mary and Steve, seen Kathy and Woody, Lisa's godmother Nancy, Marie and Matt, and Shirley & Martin's eldest daughter, Emma. Emma and her husband, Matthew, live in Portland with their two grandchildren. Due to the pandemic, Shirley and Martin (they live in England) have not seen their grandchildren for nearly two years!
Dave, Lucy, Thomas, and me 
Lucy, Emma, and Thomas
Lucy (they have a Lucy too!) and Thomas start school on September 9th. Emma and Lisa became good friends (Kindergarten) while we lived in Taipei and the two families are still close. Never become friends with us - it's a life-long commitment.
We are going to take it easy for a few days, then think about heading back to La Quinta. Apparently we have a house there... that was some-how turned into a free Airbnb over the Labor Day weekend by our family:
Rina, Kevin, Lisa, Leo, and Lucy 
Happy Birthday Everybody But Lenny & Mike
Since their kids were in nursery school together, Lisa and Lenny have spent Labor Day weekend in the Palm Springs area with Mike & Kevin, and their daughter, in a rental house of some sort (Airbnb). They call this adventure BABYCHELLA. Five of the seven in this group celebrate August birthdays - with Lisa and Rina celebrating on the SAME DAY! The two non-August birthday boys went to a grocery store bakery and had this sentiment (above) scrolled on a cake. What a hoot! Mike sent me a text proclaiming our house was the best house they had enjoyed in all the years of BABYCHELLA - and that made Dave and I so very happy.
Lenny sent a funny phone photo complaining the bar ice bucket was not being filled at 5p (my usual job).
We miss them all so much! Happy Birthday to all the Leo's!
Until my next update, I remain, your high-heel-wearing correspondent.
A little off the subject of weddings, although your god daughter’s was gorgeous!! What do you serve with your Santa Fe chowder? Doing lunch for my sweet aunt & uncle & wanted your take on it. Thanks so much!
MoHo Princess: the soup is a bit wintry, but I like to serve it with flour tortillas sprinkled with cheddar/Mexican mix cheese, rolled up, warmed wrapped in foil. A great salad/starter would be an orange and avocado salad dressed in lemon and olive oil. Some garnish, naturally!
Thank you, great ideas! Cooling off into the mid 70’s this week in Sherwood. Not wintery, but fall! Safe travels…