2018 Is Here!

My new year doesn't start on January 1st. It starts after I take down my Christmas tree. So 2018 started for me on the 4th this year. We spent the holidays here in Portland then headed north to Vancouver, Canada for New Year’s Eve.

Getting to Seattle from Portland usually takes two and half hours; but the Friday after Christmas, it took us over four hours to crawl up the I-5. We pretty much hit every rush hour from Portland out. It didn’t help that it was pouring rain that afternoon and into the night.

Though at the end of the road, we were rewarded with a bit of a getaway to our favorite hotel, The Sorrento. It’s a small boutique hotel built in 1909; it has a great vibe that the newly built ones just can't replicate.

The morning after our stay, we started our trip onto Vancouver. With all the other holiday travelers on the road, we were slowed to a stop at the Canadian Border. It took us a nearly two hours to cross that day!

Once in Vancouver, it was great to see all my friends and to celebrate with them over food, drink, and laughs.

A Hometown Visit

Last week was busy full of travel for me.

It started with an overnight trip to my hometown of Spokane, Washington with my daughter, Jo. We went up to attend to my aunt's memorial and got to say hi to a couple of old friends along the way. The trip from Portland to Spokane takes about six hours. When we crossed into the state of Washington, we decided to take the back roads to enjoy the scenery of eastern Washington; which in my daughter's view, was... Bo-ring! At least I can take a decent selfie. We took a detour to stop at Palouse Falls - lots of water this year.

I enjoyed the company. It was nice to be able just to have some one-on-one time with my favorite daughter. Okay, she's my only daughter. But still... We ate junk food, went for ice cream, and had a great big greasy Denny's breakfast.

It was a fun couple days of travel, connecting with with my relatives, and enjoying the beauty of the state of Washington.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend.

Happy Holidays

Here's a little Christmas cheer from our house to yours in the form of a photo collage. We baked to our hearts' content. I roasted a 5-boned, nearly 15-pound prime rib and served it with garden-grown horseradish. We paired that with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes from my folks' property and Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley. Leftovers transformed into steak and eggs for breakfast the next day and today, we're enjoying it as an overnight, slow-cooked beef and barley stew!

I hope you and your loved ones are having a safe and very happy holidays! Wishing you all the best of health and happiness for the coming year. See you soon.

Gobble Gobble

Wow. Can you believe it's that time of the year again? Turkey time!

We're all ready for company. Shopping is done. Pies are baking. House is tidy. Tables are clothed. I would have to say Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the tradition and the meaning. It's all about getting the family together and celebrating for what we are grateful with food and wine. And there really is so much to be grateful for in our lives.

We always do a big bird with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce. The vegetables may vary from year to year. The sweet Hawaiian rolls never do. We always have pie - lots and lots of pie. There are five kinds on the menu this year. This year we're also having Oregon roses from Bergstrom and Winderlea with our meal. It'll be the last of the bottles that we brought back from the Willamette Valley, when we were there earlier this fall.

So whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate with your families, I hope that you enjoy happiness and good health this holiday season. Safe travels and full stomachs to all! Gobble gobble!

Like father, like son

My son Spencer has worked by my side for many years now. He helps me out a great deal, mainly at fundraisers, and my auction team loves having him around. It's great that he'll put on a suit and hang out with his dad! I have watched him mature and learn a bit about the business world, sharpen his social and life skills, as well as build his confidence. It's hard for me to believe that he'll be graduating from high school next year. Where does the time go?

I'm lucky that we have the chance to work together and that he actually enjoys it. It gives us an opportunity to spend more time together since fundraising events are often on weekends. That way, we don't feel like we're missing out too much on our family time. We probably have as much fun as the guests at these fundraising auctions. The energetic and exciting atmosphere of an auction can't be beat. Especially if the alternative is having my son sit in front of a television or computer screen for the night. Plus it's extra rewarding to be able to feel like you're contributing to a worthy cause; whether it be for bettering the greater good of the community, improving a kid's educational experience or raising funds and awareness towards battling a life-altering disease.

Thanks Spence! I'm so proud of you.

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