Oregon Wedding Venue- Vernonia Springs

Oregon Wedding Venue, Vernonia Springs 

A few weeks ago I got to attend a wedding styled shoot in a town I'd never been too. I've lived in Oregon all my life but I've never been to Vernonia.  Even though it's only about 40 mins from my house I've never been because there's just never been a reason to.  Going to this styled shoot was spur of the moment and I'm glad I went.  The drive out was beautiful.  Tree lined windy country roads took me into the small town and on to my destination of Vernonia Springs.   As soon as I stepped out of the car, crickets.  No really, I heard nothing but crickets.  It was fabulous.  So peaceful. I just wanted to stay there all day and soak up the sounds of nature. 

Ceremony site 

There are several spots you could choose for your wedding site. The pergola area is a great quiet little spot.  There is SO much you could do with that pergola.  You could decorate it with a few flowers to keep it simple and let all the trees surrounding it do all the talking.  Or you could bloom it out with flowers hanging from the top and climbing up the sides.  You could drape it in fabric.  Add some twinkling lights for an evening wedding. Oh the possibilities. 

Inside the lodge is comfy couches and chairs and a big space for hosting your reception if the weather isn't great for an outdoor reception.  

Summer Wine Tasting

Summer Wine Tasting 

This summer the Portland Blogger and Creatives group got together for a little wine tasting at Stoller Winery. Summer is a great time for wine tasting with friends.  Especially if you rent a limo or other car service so everyone can enjoy tasting. 

I just love the wide open spaces around wineries as you drive up to them.  This lone white farm house caught my eye and as I stopped to capture the shot I day dreamed about living on acreage. But than I thought about how many times a week I make craft store runs. 😜

One of the things I really like about Stoller is that they kept Oak trees among their vines.  White oak's to be exact.  White oak numbers have decreased dramatically and Stoller is helping to preserve the species.  Plus just look at that view! I like the variation the oaks and pine trees bring to the view of the vineyard. It's such a relaxing view. 

Not only is Stoller helping preserve white oaks, their tasting room is solar. Way to go Stoller. Those Adirondack chairs were calling my name but I had to meet up with the rest of the blogger group. Plus I would have FRIED in minutes under the hot summer sun. 

Enjoying the first tasting in our flight.  This was a chardonnay. Normally I do not like chardonnays. I'm all about the reds.  But this one was surprisingly good. Our sommelier informed us that this chardonnay was from a stainless steel barrel not an oak barrel.  That must be why I like it.  Along with the flight we were also served a charcuterie board.  

Now this is my kind of wine, red. Do you prefer white or red?  Let me know in the comments. 

As the event wined down and we all started to head out I caught Mt. Hood in the distance as I made my way to my car. 

Of course Mt. Hood was so much clearer in person.  I can never capture it in a photo the way it looks in person. 

Have you enjoyed any outings with friends this summer?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.

Woo Hoo!! Wednesday

This Woo Hoo!! Wednesday is a special one for me. My family celebrated Easter the Saturday before so that all 45 could get together.  That's Aunts, uncles, cousins and  my cousins kids. I come from a large family and I love it.  Most of us live in Oregon but there's a few in Washington and Wisconsin and they were able to make it this year, Woo Hoo!!

Since there were so many of us this year we rented a place.  My aunt did a great job of springing up the place with bright table clothes and a simple center piece.

My mom Easter'd up the wood stove .

We all contributed with food. My mom getting into the Easter spirit and making colourful deviled eggs. How fun do those look laying on a bed of green coconut grass.

No family get together would be complete without dessert! 

I made, what else...Cupcakes! I loved the look of the tie dye cupcakes and the easiness of the recipe on Delightfully Dowling. 
I changed up the frosting though and used chocolate marshmallow Duncan Hines Frosting Creations and topped them with Cadbury Mini Eggs . 

This was truly a Woo Hoo!! Easter for my family. 

Party Break

I took a party break to visit a crafty friend of mine who moved to Florence, Montana. You may know my friend's work, she runs Bubble Off Plumb on Etsy and has a fun blog about a city girls adventures of moving to the wilds of Montana, Suddenly Surrounded by Taxidermy. It's a fun little blog and I can't wait to hear more of her adventures.

Multnomah Falls on my way out of Oregon.  This is a great hike if you ever visit Oregon.  The Multnomah Falls Lodge has a great blackberry cocktail in the summer.

On the road.  Just me and my friends china in the back there.  While I was there she busted the china out of their box's and we had Okonomiyaki on it.  It's a Japanese dish and her china was made in Japan. We thought it was fitting.

We took a short hike out their backyard which butts up against the forest. At the end of the hike we were greeted with the sounds of Sweeny Creek.

This is UNHEARD of in Portland which I live near.  Not even 45 degrees and all I'm wearing is a long sleeve tech shirt.  And I'm NOT freezing!!! Was it chilly, sure. But I could have stood out there all day with no coat and no gloves.  You've all heard of dry heat, well there's dry cold too.  And I'm proof of it.

Living the dream. My friends yard. Look at that view. After visiting my friend I am even more invigorated to pursue my man and I's dream.

Hope you enjoyed the mini vacation. Back to parties on Wednesday!!