Portland summer

Summer in Portland (well, Ridgefield, Washington in this case) cannot be beat. We drove north across the Columbia River to share a potluck with good friends Pete and Roseann Thomsen, Patsy Verhooven, Carolyn Martin, Susan Coulson and Tim Morris. Pete and Roseann have a small spread, part of an old homestead on rolling hills west of the Cascades. The view of four peaks (St. Helen's, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson), the menagerie of goats, chickens, cats, a dog and pony (er...horse), and ambling tortoise make for an idyllic place.

The tortoise tries to escape.

Foolish tortoise.


p.s. many thanks to Patsy for the photo!

Megan and Malcolm's Wedding

Malcolm and Megan at Mill Creek Gardens, Mill Creek bordered with wildflowers in the background.


Weddings in general are happy events. Megan and Malcolm's July 1st-4th wedding was spectacular! The "wedding" took place on July 3rd, but the celebrating went on for days! Guests started arriving Thursday July 1st, settling in and enjoying the ambiance of rural, stately Walla Walla, Washington, where wheat fields, wineries and Whitman College are standout attractions. Thursday and Friday were days of preparation: getting flowers, making pies, pruning and trimming lawns, even deciding what to wear to the big event!

There were lots of children and young families.

A few handstands from the Lincoln High School and Carleton College contingent.

A good deal of hugging went on.


As well as lots and lots of eating, talking, nodding off, laughing, and more eating. Did I mention eating?

The pies were a big hit...as someone said, serving up their third piece, "No one ever goes back for wedding cake!"



Formal thanks from the bride and groom to all who attended...and warm thoughts for those who couldn't make it but were there in spirit.