Weddings and Expansion

Domaine Meriwether Champaigne from Oregon's Willamette Valley, for a Honeymoon Send-Off Toast

This past weekend I was expanded, in the familial way. My Baby's oldest son was married to a most wonderful and vibrant young woman. The wedding was one you'd find in a magazine... The location was charming, the bride was an angelic vision, the bridesmaids and flower girls were fresh and pretty. The flowers were local and colorful, the ceremony sweet and touching. The food was delicious, the music was just right, the cake was divine. The toasts were eloquent and heartfelt, and the dancing was fun. It was a destination wedding for most of the people in attendance, including the bride and groom, but not for us. Mark and Michelle are living in Florida and wanted to be married here in Oregon where they met, where he grew up, and where nature provides beautiful backdrop. We enjoyed the company of an array of family and old and new friends. GranEbba's Shoes and Hat

The three-day party started on Friday night with a rehearsal night dinner at the home of the groom's mom. It was a great time of coming together and getting to know one another.

A Refreshing Cocktail Hour

This marriage not only expands our family in size, but in other ways, too. The Thesaurus declares that expansion can also mean to intensify, magnify, amplify and to add detail. Our new Michelle is Cuban-American and from a close-knit family. Adding a new cultural dimension to our already diverse family composition offers us a beautiful, new, exciting and welcome facet.



My Baby and I had the joy of hosting a post-wedding brunch on Sunday. Here's the menu:


A chard and proscuitto quiche; a scallop-artichoke quiche; a black-bean and mexican vegatable ricotta cheesecake.

Mango chicken sausage and garlic-herb chicken sausage, with grainy mustard.


A fresh fruit platter and a bowl of peeled clementines.


A potato-tomato gratin scented with thyme.

A cinnamon-walnut cake and a blueberry-vanilla bean cake.

It's a little challenging to take photos while entertaining 30 people, so these may not do it justice. I missed taking a photo of our huge pineapple punchbowl I lugged home from Mexico as a retirement gift for My Baby soon after we first met. We filled it with pineapple-orange juice for this event. I think it added a charming welcome.

The coffee we served was a blend of Cuban coffee and some from our local roaster. Just like our family... a terrific, interesting blend!