Under a blazing late September sun, five years to the day I did the same, Ben and Emily said ‘I do’ under a canopy of trees on the family farm.  It was a uniquely beautiful wedding that drew on the many talents of family + friends.  Emily’s mom designed the flowers.  Her sister Amanda put together an incredible collection of mini bundt cakes, all displayed on a fabulous desert candelabra built by Ben’s brother.  Ben’s sister Kathryn cooked up a host of fabulous appetizers. And friends pitched in with their music talents, roasting skills, as well as some tasty home brew dedicated to the bride + groom.

What a wonderful way to begin the rest of your life.  What an honor to share an anniversary with two incredible people.

Catering: Cook With What You Have + Loustic Catering Cakes: Robots Love Cupcakes

this guy shows up.

This is for all of you out there who have the sun and the moon and the stars to thank for their girlfriends and how much they keep us sane and real and grateful for this life we’ve been given. They’ve seen you at your rockstar-status best and absolute puddle-on-the-floor worst and still love you all the more for it.

I am so very fortunate to have this in my life.

And with 10+ years of friendship behind them, Katherine + Susan share this gratitude for each other as well.  Thank you both so much for allowing me in.

Ok. If you haven’t had any K + M Alchemy Vineyard Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, I won’t hold it against you. Yet. Their vines are over 30 years old but they’ve only been on the market for a year.

However.

If say, I find out six months from now that you have yet to taste the sweet nectar from their vines, I will find you and make you take a moment to share a bottle or two. Or three. With me.

They’re located on the sunny side of Chehalem Mountain, a short drive south from Portland. And I spent Monday afternoon making pictures at their Labor Day tasting. Lucky lucky me.

Bert + Ernie mugging for the camera.

Ziggy supplied the appetizers.

We just spent the last two weeks traveling to the Greater Metropolitan of Minneapolis, a most fabulous city…in August. And in addition to the family farm in Earlham, Iowa, just west of Des Moines. My husband’s grandparents were celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary with a weekend of weenie roasts and ice cream socials with 250+ of their closest family + friends. For the entirety of their 70 years together, they’ve lived on and worked the same farm his grandfather grew up on. Pretty remarkable feat considering I’ve changed addresses 9 TIMES since my move to Portland in 1996.

I can’t imagine 70 years of my own company, let alone alongside the company of another.  When Grandma Avis was asked what it takes to keep a love and marriage going, I overheard her response  ”Well, sometimes one person has to give more than 50% and sometimes the other one has to give more.  And that’s just how it goes.”

I hope I don’t have to wait another 65 years to get all the people I love into one room.  I also hope I have the fortune of finding my own answers to life + love in one simple sentiment.

Thank you so much Grandma Avis + Grandpa Beryl for showing us how it’s done.

And now for my very first slideshow featuring a few of my favorites.  Apologies for the load time.

Beryl + Avis