Winding Roads, a Wedding, and Wine

The wedding of the year took place last weekend and I'm not just saying that because I've known the bride for 21 years (although she is one of my oldest and dearest friends.) It was the wedding of the year because I could not be happier for my friend, KS and her husband RJ (oh, and the celebration lasted 4 days and included lots of old and new friends!) We were there for 2 of the days since it occurred on the heels of my conference in Boise and included a trip to Crater Lake, OR, down the California coast to Mendocino, a couple days in Napa, and more Redwood trees than I care to see for a long while. It was a wonderful time and I will remember it always.

DAY 1

We missed this.....

EC took this beautiful photo from the cocktail party hosted by SM on his rooftop deck in San Fran. The first of many celebrations in honor of KS and RJ. (I heard we missed a fantastic time and I don't doubt it.)

Photo courtesy of EC.

Because alas we were doing this.....

Driving to Crater Lake, OR

Looking for a spot of blue water in the midst of all the smoke.... finally found one!

Enjoying the California coast.

Admiring the Redwoods at Redwood National and State Park.

Which were WAY bigger than I expected! (Although I should have used JSM's tattoo as a guide.) I loved how the sun shone through  the stands of trees into the dark forest. So beautiful!

While the party was raging (or so I hear) in San Fran we were busy winding our way through the 30 miles of switchbacks over the mountains that dropped us into Mendocino. That was a nail-biter and I wasn't even driving (thank God!) I felt terrible for JSM as 10 pm. isn't the ideal time to tackle that terrain. But he's awesome and we made it safely into town, if not a little late for a sunset. So, instead we slept with the door open, feeling the cool breeze (59 degrees in August!) and listening to the sound of the waves rolling in. It was bliss.....I kind of wanted to move into the hotel, but we had other places to be!

We woke up to this off our patio! I'll take it any day over a sunset, but I might think twice about driving the switchbacks while missing a cocktail party ;) 

DAY 2 

We rolled into Napa 45 minutes late, but not too late to enjoy plenty of bubbly and snacks (OK, more bubbly than snacks.) Anyway, I was so busy catching up with KS's family and drinking I forgot to take photos...oops!! Hopefully, we'll go back soon. Domaine Chandon is a lovely place to drink away the day....

The only proof we were actually there.

DAY 3

This was the most amazing day! Seriously, who wouldn't enjoy wine, art, and music all in one place? Layla Fanucci hosted us at Charter Oak Winery, home to her art studio and her husband's wine cellar. 

It's an old house! The original home the grandfather made wine in....(I had the wrong lens on my camera and didn't get the whole thing, but you get the idea!)

The art and vignettes (how apropos!) started before we even got inside....

Kristy's dad playing the piano for us.....one of my favorite parts of the day! I loved going to Kristy's house as a teenager because of course, she was great, but also because her dad played such beautiful music!

The couple of the hour(s)

Beautiful art (by Layla Fanucci)

In the cellar......the original keys

More vignettes (see the roof) and the only manually operated grape crusher in the Napa valley (I think....I was busy taking photos!)

DAY 3.......LATER

The wedding dinner at Bouchon. Fantastic! Bouchon is in Yountville, CA, a charming, manicured town in the heart of the Napa Valley. This was my first trip to Napa and it certainly won't be my last. Before we left I didn't think much about what it might look like. I'd been to the Willamette Valley in Oregon which is beautiful and serene and lovely in its own organic, natural way with rolling hills and wineries tucked away off the beaten path. But Yountville is charming and lovely in a Palm Beach sort of way with manicured lawns, small buildings, and postage stamp signage. I LOVE manicured! And beautiful! And Yountville! We stayed in a hotel that was made up of converted train cars  that was super charming. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Before the after-party and the adorable hotel stay there was the dinner:

Yountville, CA

21 years.....and counting! So excited she's in Seattle now!

Lively dinner table conversation :) 

The morning after....

Our hotel...so cute!

On our way back to our other hotel! Good thing we double booked (unintentionally!), picked up our key at the after party and walked 2 doors to our room. 

Thank you, KS and RJ for a lovely weekend with fabulous friends! KS and RJ made their way to Seattle where they now live. I can't believe after all these years, KS and I are living in the same state! I am thrilled - 2 hours is nothing compared to the thousands of miles we've been apart all these years. In fact, I'll see her next weekend (no winding roads necessary coming from Seattle, but there will be plenty of wine!) And I hope I will see all of their wonderful friends and family very soon.  

xoxo