Where I come from (Wisconsin)

Brent and I took a trip back to the Midwest. One whole week of vacation. Our adventures started in Des Moines, Iowa to meet his family (the whole extended family showed up) followed by a roadtrip to Wisconsin to see my family and then back to Des Moines, Iowa to end our trip.

The trip to Wisconsin was delightful because where I come from we don't get cell phone service, we ride tractors and gators around, we gift pistols instead of diamonds for 25th wedding anniversaries, relatives live close (grandpa with us and grandma next door) and we end the night with a bottle or two of wine while watching the sunset over the valley.

Yep. My family is something else. For entertainment we passed my mother's camera around the table and took self portraits. See below for a few examples.

Aunt Jen (She started it.)

Grandma Lee



Nikki and Nick

Cool weather takes toll on Oregon vineyards

Autumn Lee

On Sunday, my friend and coworker Autumn Lee was whitewater rafting with her family on the McKenzie River when her raft overturned. She became trapped under a log. She was finally set free and brought to shore by her 2 siblings, where CPR was administered until emergency crews arrived. Autumn, a mother of 6, was transported to the nearest hospital. She is in critical condition and on life support.

Autumn Lee has worked for Willamette Valley Vineyards for 11 years. She is passionate about everything she does. I admire her in so many ways and miss her. We are all praying for her and her family. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

When two become one

Six months ago I met the most wonderful man at Spoon's in Salem, Oregon. Who knew that one simple lunch date would change my life so much.

This weekend we combine two apartments, two pets, two wine collections two lives and two dreams into one. Goodbye Tualatin-Sherwood Road...I will definitely not miss you.

Thank you Bacchus fine wines and Willamette Valley Vineyards for loaning me a sprinter van which I so proudly used to pack all of my belongings in. I kind of viewed it as gorilla marketing campaign.

The future looks good. There are a few bumps in the road that lie ahead, but I think that I am too stubborn to let anything get in my way. All I can say is that seize each and every opportunity that comes your way. Don't save nice jewelry, expensive or special bottles of wine and/or new clothes for a special occasion...each day is a special occasion. Celebrate life.