pdx

Egads! What a weekend.

After making it into Portland on Wednesday night around midnight, the nonstop activities began. On Thursday I met up with my mom for coffee and shopping while Chris spent the day at the lake wakeboarding with his dad. We met up with old high school friends over McMenamins brews, enjoyed a BBQ dinner with my dad and stepmom, and ran errands around town for wedding necessities. Then the wedding activities ensued - lunch with the bridesmaids, nails, wine, rehearsal, wine, rehearsal dinner, wine. You get the idea. The wedding was a blast. I don't have any pictures to share just yet (it's hard to tote a camera when you have official bridesmaid duties - this one's from Facebook), but the day was beautiful and the party was rockin.

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Field Trip

There's a mummy exhibit at the VMFA with a 3D movie and amazing 3D glasses. Need I say more?

Roller Derby

Ever since Ellen Page starred in Whip It I've wanted to see a local roller derby bout. Last week a Groupon popped up for the River City Rollergirls' season opener at the Richmond Convention Center. We decided to get a refresher on roller derby rules by watching Whip It again (because movies translate directly to reality, right?) but it actually helped a lot in figuring out how to identify the blockers/ pivots/ jammers, exactly what a jam is, and ways teams can score points. (You can read about it here.)

Poe's Punishers (one of the Richmond teams) slammed the Charlottesville Derby Dames with a final score of 186-100. Even though Ellen Page and Kristen Wiig weren't on the track, it was still really exciting the see the heavily tattooed gals in fishnets ramming into each other on old school roller skates. They even have clever don't-mess-with-me names like Traumagotchi, KGBeast, and Rude McSlamahan.

Fall, Come Quick!

Fujis and Staymans galore at Carter Mountain in Charlottesville, VA. It was a hot day -- I could barely tolerate that pumpkin colored scarf, but it's one of my little ways of urging autumn into existence.

Popcorn

During a weekly farmer's market trip, my friend and I came across what looked like decorative corn cobs at our favorite produce booth. Turns out these little cobs are for making popcorn, and per the friendly gal's directions it was quite a success! All I had to do was place the corn cob in a medium sized paper bag (think Chipotle to-go size), roll up to the top, put it in the microwave on the popcorn setting, and voila! All natural popcorn. Shake in a few seasonings and you've just impressed the visiting out-of-state in-laws.

Have Funn, Go Nuts!*

I was so excited last week I could hardly stand it. My mom came into town over Labor Day weekend -- she hadn't been out to the East Coast since we got married and moved out here. We drank yummy Lamplighter coffee, explored the city on foot, and lounged on the balcony with glasses of wine and homemade dinners. We boosted the economy with a trip to the Williamsburg outlet stores, dined across the street at the VMFA, and took in the last Flying Squirrels game of the season. (Sorry to say the Squirrels lost terribly, but the fireworks were spectacular and we got hugs with Nutsy THREE TIMES!!!) It was a most fantastic weekend.

*The official slogan of the Squirrels. "Funn" must be more fun than "fun" I guess!

Manakintowne

A friend of mine works at a little farm about 40 minutes from where we live and kindly took a group of us on a tour of the greenhouses and fields. We tried tiny microgreens that packed as much flavor as a fully grown veggie, spicy peppers, and fragrant herbs. After we had seen everything in season, we set our blankets out under a shady apple tree and picnicked on goat cheese, Billy bread, homemade jam, and more. It was a top notch Saturday.

P is for Peachy

On our way back to Richmond from our weekend away, we stopped by Chiles Orchard for some down home Southern peach pickin'. You could just smell the peachy deliciousness as you walked under the green canopies dotted with bright orange fuzzy fruits. Mmmmm.....

Staunton Grocery

On Saturday evening we drove about 20 minutes to the little town of Staunton (pronounced STANton not STAUNTon...I tell ya, these Virginians....). The historic downtown is only about five blocks long, but the real surprise and gem was Staunton Grocery. At the recommendation of our innkeepers, we were excited to try out this farm-to-table restaurant -- something I would hardly expect in a small town like this one. 

Our kind innkeeper had told the restaurant we were celebrating our anniversary, and we were met with a yummy amuse-bouche (thanks for the fancy knowledge, Top Chef) and glasses of complimentary sparkling wine to start us off. I ordered the pork loin on a bed of turnips and trumpet mushrooms topped with bacon-maple jam. Yes folks, bacon. maple. jam. I can imagine Paula Deen drooling at the thought of it, as she should, because it was sensational. Chris ordered Maine rockfish on a pea purée (another thing we heard about on Top Chef) and we enjoyed our locally sourced meals with glasses of summer berry sangria. To finish off the night, we ordered brown butter peaches with whipped caramel that tasted like a perfectly toasted marshmallow.

Bravo, Staunton! We were thoroughly impressed, and stuffed. As long as you keep delivering delicious local meals like this, I'm willing to look the other way on this ridiculous name pronunciation thing.

Blue Ridge Parkway

On Saturday morning we hopped in the car and drove about three miles to get to where the Blue Ridge Parkway begins. Six miles down the BRP is the trailhead for a short hike -- an unexpectedly steep hike -- to Humpback Rocks. The views were incredible. When the trail ends at the top you are able to see the valley between the jutting rocks, and you can climb with steady feet to the top of the rocks for a 360 view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Amazing views followed by two wine tastings at nearby vineyards -- my kind of morning.

The Iris Inn

We had a lovely weekend, in part thanks to the kind hospitality of Heidi and David at the Iris Inn. The cozy porch swing just outside our spacious room was the perfect place to relax -- in the morning after a delicious home cooked breakfast or in the evening after a few wine tastings.

Weekend Away

We spent a three day weekend near Waynesboro, VA (about a half hour outside of Charlottesville) to celebrate our two year anniversary. Above: I-64, a country road, Barboursville Winery property, and rows of vines (Can you even believe those blue skies?)

Seeing Multiples

Last Friday we drove up to DC for the day to see some family visiting from San Diego. We spent the day with my grandpa, aunt, and triplet 13-year-old cousins (yes, triplets! TALL triplets). The entire day was a blast -- just hoping it's not another 6-7 years before we see these cousins again!