The Great Northwest: family

 

My nephew Jefff and Lizzie’s wedding is what brought all of us to Portland, Oregon.  They held it in a lovely canyon called Horning’s Hideout, along a creek.  They wrote their own vows—touching and personal-- and created a wonderful celebration for everyone to share.  There were wine and beer, Asian and Mexican food trucks, and dancing under the trees.

 

Amy (my niece, sister of the groom) Lizzie and Jefff, Grandma (my mom) and Carol (my sister, mother of the groom)

The whole Kohls family mostly from Wisconsin:  Don, me, my nephw Bill, his wife Krista, my niece Amy, my sister Carol, Lizzie and Jefff, my mom Elaine, our son Troy, my brother Chuck, his wife Tami, my nephew Ben, his wife Sarah.

We and many others camped out there rather than leave.  The road back out—steep gravel switchbacks had me worried.  First gear and floored had me barely moving, but we made it without a tow truck.  Then the newlyweds had an open house at their charming home in Portland.  They have an amazing container garden with bumper crops ready to eat.

 We moved the condo-on-wheels to my sister’s Carol’s home in Elmira where I had the adventure of attending the Oregon Country Fair.  It was not exactly a country fair—more of a hippie fair, but great fun.  We dressed in costume, ate scrumptious food and saw unusual performances—music, dance, creative bubble blowing, parade, too much to take in really.

Me, my sister Carol, my cousin Diane, my niece Amy, Diane's husband Stephen.

 

 

 On our way out of Oregon we stopped for a delicious lunch and wonderful visit with my cousin Ruth.  Time with family seems to fly too fast and come too infrequently.