Good wine, great friends

I'm still recovering...

Our friends from Eagle Lake on Orcas Island came down to visit this past weekend. Carl and Juliana were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and, to our great honor, decided to include us in the festivities. In short, the four of us spent the weekend eating and drinking.

Consider:

Tasty tapas at Toro Bravo, capped by their heavenly paella.
Coffee, mochas and breakfast sandwiches at Jim & Patty's.
A tour of five wineries, starting with Ponzi and concluding with Willakenzie Estates , below. (Check out the guide to Willamette Valley wineries here.)
Lunch at The Dundee Bistro.
A fabulous Italian dinner at Iorio.
A box full o' treats from Voodoo Doughnut, including the signature bacon maple bar. Yum!



We had a great time -- lots of calories, lots of laughs, lots of passing plates around the table. It felt good to show off our neighborhood and the surrounding area, and better still to enjoy each other's company with no pressure, no pretenses.

We've known Carl and Juliana for only four years, but it feels like a lot more. We're fortunate to have them as our friends...