Welcome to our blog!

Hello dear friends and family! We've forced ourselves to make the leap into the blogosphere so we can easily communicate with all of you while we're here in Paderno del Grappa for this Fall term. In addition, we hope to continue with this site once we return home. Of course, that remains to be seen, as does our ability to keep it while here!

And now the hurdle that I face is where to start? Our August was so full of activity, starting with Farm Fest (I'm linking you to Patrick's great entries about FF- look carefully, there are two - because any photos I took remain in Cottage Grove on our other camera) and the accompanying visits from family, proceeding to Andrew and Erin's wedding,

The very lovely Grace



Grandpa did the ceremony.

Mother-of-the-groom, Linda, was happy. I can relate, Linda.

Many of our Corvallis buddies were there!

What's with the hats, one may well ask. It's a secret.

(for those who do not know Andrew and Erin, Andrew is the son of long-standing dear friend, Linda Fire. Andrew and sister Grace grew up coming to Farm Fests. When Andrew started bringing Erin along, we knew things were heating up), a visit with Brian and Krista:

Lunching at the Paradox Cafe

followed by a trip to Sun River to see those latter two characters again, along with my cousin's family:

Molly's cousin, Kari, her two daughters Brenna and Rachel, husband George Caldwell, and Mr Mike. All neatly arrayed, left to right. Post-Mexican dinner and bike ride, pre-ice cream at Goodies, SunRiver.

All of that wound up with about two weeks left before we headed off on our trip. But did we go directly to Italy? Oh, no, of course not. But this must wait until the next posting... or two. Until then, arrivederci!