I love this little pumpkin headed doll. In fact if she is still for sale at Vintage Roost tomorrow, I'm going to bring her home!Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love it because it's the first signal that the summer heat is coming to an end and the cool weather will soon take over our days. I was born and raised in SoCal and it really gets hot there in the summer. I used to feel cheated when we had to spend Thanksgiving with the air conditioning on. It just didn't seem fair!
We love living in Oregon and we are ending our third year here. And, we have owned our inn for almost 5 years. I remember the night when Ray got drunk and told me to fly to Oregon and buy the house if I liked it. No, he doesn't get drunk very often. In fact I think that was the last time. Maybe he learned his lesson. One month later I was putting an offer in and a month after that we were signing papers and became the proud owner of 5,600 sq. ft. very robust Craftsman Bungalow...my dream home!
So, needless to say, we love it here. I love everything about this place and this time of year. Anticipating the holidays by watching our surroundings turn yellow, orange and then fire red is pretty great. When I hear people say they wanna live where there are seasons, I always think to myself, "wow...that's where I live!"
We have experienced so much this year so far that I can hardly wait to write my Christmas letter. I just hope I can remember it all. We have spent this year playing catch up too. From the first time I looked at this house I made mental honey-do lists and have completed most of those items. They ranged from cleaning out an old ash drawer from one of three chimney's the house has to re-doing our private bathroom. That turned out great by the way. I love having my own bathtub and now I don't have to freak out our guests when they come back from a nice dinner downtown and find me soaking in bubbles in their tub.
My very most favorite part about this time of year is the food. It's Oregon Bounty time you know. I just love those those two words together too. Just the word, "Oregon" alone depicts it's own label. Think green, forests, water...lots of water, vineyards, hiking, snowy mountains, beer, hops, adventure, wilderness and so much more. Well then you gotta throw in the "Bounty" part of this combo and of course that word means plenty, a lot, plethora and over filling. Kind of funny but that is how I feel about being here...in Oregon. So, those words together are a perfect description for a place that is what it says it is.
Of course "Oregon Bounty" mostly is saved for use of describing food and drink here in Oregon. Of that, we have plenty or a plethora of delightful food and drink experiences. Our gardens are filled with end of summer veggies, red tomatoes and sweet onions that go great with that local cheese and Pinot Noir we just picked up while horseback riding through wine country last week. Oh yes...it's all that! And our local chef's absolutely adore this time of year. Filling their smokers and traegers with duck and pork and roasting them all day for dinner at their restaurants at night. Foraging for mushrooms, choosing the right wine pairings and deciding on which dessert goes best with the meal of Salmon Cheeks they just served to their guests gives them a thrill and fills our bellies till we're fat and sassy.
Yes...this is why I love Autumn and love it even more in Oregon. It's a great place to be and a great place to love all the bounty this time of year!
Growing up around horses didn't prepare me for this ride! Wanting to find something fun to do in the Willamette Valley that involved wine tasting, a horse and a beautiful ride through those gorgeous vineyards led me to discover "
Pinot Noir grapes that just happened to be surrounding us throughout our entire ride, you can find the most perfect setting for that getaway, that rest and all the best places to wine taste.
Whether you want to get in the saddle or enjoy the wine ride in the horse drawn carriage, check out "Equestrian Wine Tours!" Remember there is plenty of room in those saddle bags, the pours are generous and the ride...sweet!
Mary from 
This is my kitchen!
loved it! I always wondered what I should do with all those Cinnamon Crepes I had rolled up and froze in the freezer. Now I know and so will you! Enjoy making this very easy and very delicious recipe! And Nellie...thanks for the idea and thanks for staying with us at The 
you enjoy an outdoor lunch at Cappies Brew Pub, Clemenza's or Albany's newest burger joint, 
Monday, October 25th, 
been open about six weeks and I was a bit frazzled, really pooped and overwhelmed with the quick success of our business. When I looked at her, I just wanted to say, "no way!" But, I thought for a moment and from her standpoint, it must have looked romantic. Sleeping in every day till dawn, fetching eggs from beneath resting hens each morning, clipping fresh basil and plump ripe sweet tomatoes from the garden as I prepared our breakfast...um no...I must have been dreaming and quickly informed our darling guest that it was not as romantic as it looked but it was just as fulfilling as it seems. And that was the truth! However, as fulfilled as it may be, we need to getaway sometimes too! 
So, we hope you "lady innkeepers" can join us on Monday, Oct. 25th and Tuesday, Oct. 26th for our version of a "getaway!" What's on the agenda??? Well, it's not set in stone and we can change it up however we wish.