Celebrating 13 at Timberline and the Silcox Hut Winemaker's Dinner

Our wedding day in the Raven's Nest at Timberline Lodge

The happy couple 13 years later!

 We were married at Timberline Lodge 13 years ago on a bright, sunny day in April.  Every year we celebrate that day by returning to the Lodge to spend the night and snowboard the following day.  Over the years, we have also combined it with David's birthday celebration and shared the weekend with him and some of his friends.  They got to stay in the dorm rooms on the first floor and we stayed up in our own room : )

This year it was just Mark and I and we timed our overnight stay with something new that Timberline Lodge started this year, the Winemaker's Dinner. www.timberlinelodge.com
 
We shared the unique and creative dinner paired with eight different wines with 20 other wine lovers  at 7,000 ft. at Silcox Hut.  The Silcox is an old historic hut that originally housed the chair lift at top of the original Magic Mile lift.  When the lift line was moved west to it's current position, the Hut fell into disrepair.  It was rescued by a group called The Friends of Silcox Hut, renovated, and listed on the National Historic Registry.  It was used as a warming hut for climbers for awhile, but as our host said "You can't make any money off of climbers".  Currently the Hut can be reserved for weddings, receptions, meetings, and overnight stays.  In fact, we celebrated Mark's 50th birthday there with 22 of our friends.  It is definitely a magical place.

The cat waits outside the Hut.

The evening began with a ride up to the Hut in a bright yellow snowcat.  It was stormy with white-out conditions, so there was no view. We arrived and mingled while tasting the first of eight featured wines by Chehalem Wines in Newberg. http://www.chehalemwines.com/

The first pairing was the 2009 Chehalem Wind Ridge Vineyard Gruner Veltliner.  It went perfectly with the Beet Juice Fed Kushi Oysters Raw on the Half Shell.  I am not a raw oyster fan, but I slurped one down, and it wasn't bad!   The wine was on the sweet side,  but yummy.

We took our seats at the long, rustic table in the main room of the Hut. Look at all the wine glasses! One of the best things about the dinner was meeting the others in the group.  There was a broad range of ages and backgrounds which made for interesting conversation.

The first course was Volcanic Salt Cured Oregon Rockfish.  It was served with the 2009 Chehalem Dry Riesling Reserve.  I'm not usually a big Riesling fan, but again, it tasted great with the food it was paired with.

 Second course was Torchon of Muscovy Duck Breast with Duck Gizzards Confit.  First, let me say I am not a Duck fan, (you know what I mean!), and most definitely, not a gizzards fan.  The way the Duck was presented was sausage-like and very tasty!  I was tricked into eating gizzard...I hadn't looked at the menu and I thought it was a mushroom.  It was delicious and buttery.  The two white wines served with this dish were the best yet.  2008 Chehalem INOX Chardonnay and the 2008 Chehalem Ian's Reserve Chardonnay (named after the winemaker's son who passed away).  The Reserve is one I will be looking for to buy for our wine rack.

 We sat across from the Wine Manager at Timberline Lodge, David.  The winery was represented by the owner, Harry Peterson-Nedry who has been making wine since the 1970's.  His winery was the first on the Ribbon Ridge.

 Next, we were served the main course, Applewood Bacon Wrapped Oregon Lamb Loin.  I usually avoid lamb on the menu, but gave this a try.  It was a little rare for me, but the bacon wrap gave it a good flavor.  My favorite part of the dish was the cute little Fava Bean Leek Croquette.  The winemaker paired this dish with two reds...2008 Chehalem Wind Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2008 Chehalem Stoller Vineyard Pinor Noir.  They were both excellent.  The side story here is that Timberline's Executive Chef, Jason Stoller Smith (who was preparing the dinner for us) is married to a Stoller daughter from the winemaking family.

 Then, of course, you have the cheese course!  Juniper Grove Creamery Tumalo Tomme with Landjaeger and Apple Salad.  So good with dried cherries and hazelnuts.  Served with another yummy pinot noir, the 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir.

 Finally, dessert!  Lemon Panna Cotta.  My favorite dish of the night!  Served with the 2010 Sext Riesling.  Perfect compliment to the soft lemon flavor of the dish.

So, now we have had wine poured into all eight of our wine glasses of all different shapes and sizes.  I paced myself and had just enough of each wine to get a good taste, yet still be able to stand at the end of dinner! The dinner was a great experience for me to try new tastes that I usually don't try.  And how can you beat the surroundings?

The amazing fireplace.

 The evening ended with a snowcat ride back down to Timberline Lodge where we had a room for the night.  The staff at Timberline always leaves us a small bottle of wine and shortbread cookies to share in honor of our anniversary.

 Morning dawned clear and blue with the new snow outside our window shimmering in the sunshine.

 We had brunch in the Cascade Dining Room at the Lodge.  I had great scrambled eggs, tasty potatoes, and always a must for me at brunch, BACON!

Mark headed out to snowboard with a couple we met at the dinner, and I rented snowshoes ( I left mine at the cabin).  The weather was absolutely perfect, just like the day after our wedding 13 years ago.  Look at how much more snow there is this year!

2011

1998

 Another great visit to Timberline.  Hopefully, they will have the Winemaker's Dinner Series next year and we can experience another great winery.

Green Light Means Go! Six Weeks Post Op...

Went to see Dr. Tatsumi for my six week post surgery appointment this past week.  One of the first things he asked me was "Do you have a blog?"  It seems that one of his patients had read my blog after a Google search and had told Dr. Tatsumi about it.  Wow.  He said that she wanted to make sure that when I came in again, that he told me how much she appreciated being able to read about someones experience with the Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery. 

We chatted about how I felt (which is pretty darn good), he tested my strength and feeling in my hands, and he showed me my X-rays.  I had had the X-rays taken right before this appointment. 

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The artificial disc is that bright white piece in the middle of my neck!

He said the device was sitting in the exact location it should be.  He assured me that it won't set off the airport metal detectors! He took his time with me and answered any questions I had.  I was given the green light to return to my normal activities.  I won't snowboard until next season, and I'll save my extreme downhill mountain biking for next summer, but other than that I'm going to back to my normal exercise routine.  This includes yoga, running and working out with a trainer once a week.  I know I'll be a little (or a lot) rusty, but am looking forward to using my muscles again!

I am feeling about 95% at this point.  Still have some muscle soreness and tightness in the left side of my neck and shoulder, but not as bad as pre-surgery.  This gets better as time goes by.  Also, I sometimes feel the burning in my left arm and hand that I had pre-surgery.  Again, this is SO much better than it was and is very infrequent.  I am taking an Aleve in the morning and nighttime to help with this soreness.  I did get a chair massage a week ago to help with some of the tightness in my neck and shoulders.  I have also scheduled an appointment with Tara Nikzi, Acupuncturist, http://www.therapiaclinic.com/practitioners.html, to help speed the muscle relaxation and promote the scar healing.

I have been prescribed six weeks of Physical Therapy, and I went to my first appointment the day after my appointment with Dr. Tatsumi.  I am seeing Matt Onderdonk, PT at OHSU Center for Health and Healing which is conveniently located two blocks from my condo. http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/providers/onderdom.cfm  He is being assisted by a PT intern named Laura.  They did an assessment and gave me some exercises to do a couple of times a day.
 
We were at the mountain this past weekend, and the snowboarding conditions were perfect.  Hated to miss out on a bluebird powder day on my board, but I strapped on the snowshoes and did a four mile snowshoe from Timberline Lodge to part of the Alpine Trail which leads down to Government Camp.  Coming uphill from the Alpine Trail at 5,500 ft. elevation was a good workout!

A gorgeous day for a snowshoe!

While I was waiting to meet up with Mark after my snowshoe, I chatted with Nick, the lift operator of the Mile Chair at Timberline.  We compared scars when I found out that he had a similar surgery a year or so ago.  His injury was much more exciting than mine though.  He was a Emergency Rescuer for the Army, and during a rescue, his rope snapped while he was dangling from a helicopter.  He dropped to the ground and broke his neck!  He is now retired and living the dream working at Timberline!

My next appointment with Dr. Tatsumi is in another six weeks.

I Love Bend, Oregon!

Mark and I made the trip to Bend (one of our favorite places!) to pick up David's bed and check on our rental.  Everytime we go we have a great time and this time was no exception.  We stayed at McMenamin's Old St. Francis hotel in downtown.  It is so warm and cozy, all done in beautiful warm wood and earth tones.  Of course, the artwork is fun and original.

 

We stayed in the Klondike Kate room.  Each room is named for either a student of the Old St. Francis Catholic school, or some colorful Bend character.  Kate was a former dance hall girl that moved to Bend and made a great impression on the locals!

Klondike Kate and LaMonkey.

The thing I like about this McMenamin's is that it has so many things to do right on the premises.  You can see a movie, soak in the soaking pool, have a cigar and whiskey at O'Kane's whiskey bar, have a beer (or two) at either of the two bars and restaurant.  They also deliver the local paper to your door in the morning along with a packet of their fresh ground coffee of your choice.  Unfortunately, this trip we were so busy we didn't make it to the movie or the pool.  Next time!  

Friday night, we had a great dinner in the restaurant and took a couple of baked goodies back to the room to enjoy.

Saturday, Mark had planned to snowboard at Mt. Bachelor, but it was raining and windy. We were woken up at 5 a.m. when a transformer blew outside and the electricity went out.  It came back on about 7:30, in time to make the coffee.  So, we just had a leisurely breakfast at Cafe Sintra downtown (excellent asparagus and goat cheese omelet!), then headed out for a walk.

One of the things I love about Bend is that it has the sophisticated, uniqueness of a big city, but still retains the charm of a small town.  Here a few things I found that make it what it is!

Bike rack with knitted cozies on the wheels!

On the Deschutes Trail, a sewer vent disguised as a colorful 

candy cane!

Drinking fountain on the trail which, of course, had a fountain for the dogs!

We parked our car at the First Street Falls Park and headed out on the Deschutes River Trail north along the river. 

Trailhead at First Street Rapids.

It's a great path that meanders along the river, a golf course, and by beautiful houses. Just as we started we spotted a kayaking class practicing in the rapids.

Kayakers practicing on the rapids on the Deschutes River at First Street Rapids.

The trail right by where I found a geocache.

I was pleased to see lots of birds!  Ducks, geese, Stellar Jays, and others singing in the trees. I also managed to snag two geocaches along the way.  I picked up a travel bug, Fat Guy, in one of them.  More on him later.  The weather was mostly sunny, but as we finished our 4.8 miles, it started to sprinkle on us.  Next time, we will take our bikes and go further on the trail.

We went back into town and had lunch at El Jimador (Mexican).  I had the best and chunkiest tortilla soup I have ever had.  I loved their tri-color chips too.  We took Mr. Fat Guy along.  Some travel bugs have special requests attached to them.  His was to have his picture taken with food.  I will post that picture on the Geocaching.com website so his owner can see : )

Fat Guy enjoys chips, salsa, a Margarita and Negra Modelo.

I had seen on the In Bend Facebook page that there was to be a comedy show at 10 Below at the Oxford Hotel downtown, on Saturday night.  It showcased local Central Oregon comedians.  A few were not so funny, there were a couple that kept me laughing non-stop.  Jacob Woodmansee was my favorite.  I also liked the guy that sang his jokes while playing the guitar.  They are doing a series of ComedyCore Underground shows in Bend throughout the summer.

Sunday was devoted to the rental.  Mark installed a Carbon Monoxide detector which is now the law in Oregon as of April 1.  I was pleased to see that the daffodils and other bulbs that Jenna had planted were coming up!  

Daffodils in bloom at the rental.

Then it was off to rent the UHaul and pick up David's bed to store for Amina to use when she moves here.  The final stop was the Olive Garden to visit with the Swaney family. 

Sarah and her beautiful daughters pose in front of the UHaul with me!

Sarah is a Tri-Delt sorority sister from the University of Oregon.  Soup, salad and breadsticks!

The drive home was so nice because it was sunny, warmer than it has been, and DRY!  We'll be back in the summer to enjoy some biking, hiking and paddle boarding!