Breakfast

The morning after The Wedding we were invited to a brunch. 

We aren’t big breakfast foodies but…. after all we’d experienced the past 2 days, I needed to see what Day 3 was all about. 

It was held in downtown Park City, 5 minutes from where we were staying. 

It was in a restaurant inside a beautiful hotel…probably the nicest one in town. 

The restaurant was Ruths Chris. 

I don’t know if they’re usually open for Brunch but they were this Sunday morning and again, for wedding guests only. 

We were met by a host the moment we walked into the hotel and escorted down the amazingly beautiful hallway connecting to the restaurant. 

One foot in the door and we were cheerfully greeted by 2 lovely, young smiling faces offering Bloody Mary’s. 

It was a beautiful morning, sun-shiny and warm and most everyone was sitting on the outside patio surrounded by the mountains, Aspen trees and huge baskets of hanging flowers everywhere. 

The crowd had dwindled in size compared to the past 2 days but still lots of happy faces laughing and talking. 

Our friends who we’d spent most of the past 2 days with (you know…the guy who was there for the cake, garter and bouquet but the Scotch stole his memory? that guy and his fun, adorable wife) were sitting at a table with 2 chairs waiting for us. 

We klinked our Bloody Mary glasses and toasted another day. 

Just inside from the patio was a looooong table, once again loaded with every kind of imaginable food. 

It wasn’t just there in big heated chafing dishes, it was all artfully displayed making someone like me who rarely eats in the morning, hungry. (Bloody Mary’s…YES, food…not so often.) 

I just went to look, honest! 

The bowl of berries looked like they’d all been given steroids to reach maximum plumpness and each one then hand polished to a shine. 

How could I resist? 

The breakfast potatoes (me turn down potatoes? never), fresh thick sliced ham, and bacon….(was that bacon? It resembled bacon but so much meatier and thicker), all found a spot on the plate of the person who doesn’t eat breakfast…me! 

Lobo had stayed on the patio and wandered over to an area where omlettes were being made specifically to your liking, you name it, they made it! 

Another work of food-art on a plate. 

As beautiful as it all was, it tasted that good and better. 

The bacon? Heaven!! 

I’d heard of Pork Belly, heard it tastes like the BEST BACON imaginable…I wondered if that was what was making my eyes roll backwards as I munched? 

The Bloody Mary’s had a long, thick piece of that bacon in them also along with a stick of celery then the usual plastic pick loaded with olives, onions, asparagus and whatever else I forgot. 

I couldn’t finish the drink but…I savored that strip of bacon! 

We chatted about the past 2 days with our friends, realizing that was a once-in-a-life-timer…..a teeny glimpse into how some live. 

We decided if after we leave this planet, we’re recycled and end back here……we’re goin’ for Almond farming!!! 

On leaving, we stopped to wish the bride and groom well and thanked both sets of parents…… thanks for an experience of a lifetime! 

Did I mention that the”compound atop the mountain” is just kinda like their once-in-a-whiler? 

Like if we were lucky enough to maybe have a teeny get-away cabin in the woods somewhere? 

Well….that was theirs! 

And the honeymoon? 

Of all the places on earth these two young lovers could go…..guess where they went? (I’ll bet Lynn Shoenut Yaney would know!) 

But of course, where else? 

PARIS!

Onward…..

We said good bye to the magical 3 days and headed home, the long way…..the Oregon and California Coast all the way to San Diego.

Right off the bat, a sad happening.  

First night’s stop was Boisie, Idaho.    

Mr Lincoln, our Wire Hair Fox Terrier, took a flyin’ leap off the bed and misjudged his landing.

He hit the dresser and fell to the floor with a thump and a very sad whimper….a sound that never comes out of him.  

The sound alone was enough to let us know something was wrong.  

Within minutes my sweet boy was cradled in my arms and we were headed for an emergency Vet.  

First an exam, next an xray and then the diagnosis…..torn ACL.

He was given an injection for pain, a prescription for pain medication and the Vet said he’d probably need surgery but nothing more could be done at that time.  

He encouraged us to continue on with our trip sure that Mr Lincoln would master three-legged walking and then once we were home, and time had reduced the swelling, we could consider surgery.  

We were told by the very first Vet that ever examined Linkie when we brought him home as a puppy that he was a “tank.”  

He was tough, could eat gravel and survive! 

Over the years, that Vets words proved to be true.  

Our hearts were broken but we decided to take the emergency Vets advice and continue on with our trip.  

We gave Linkie his pain medication when he looked like he was hurting but in no time that little “tank” was hopping around like…..who needs four legs?

From Boisie we headed to Oregon.  

We spent the night near Boardman and stayed in an adorable place right smack on the Columbia River. 

While we were eating dinner, I looked out and I swear I saw Lewis, Clark and Sakawagea paddling downstream!!!

We followed the Columbia River Gorge all the way to Portland. 

The next day was Cannon Beach then Newport both as beautiful as we remembered from previous visits; great shops, beaches and seafood restaurants.

We spent two nights in Florence, Oregon in a completely round house.

It was just one big open room inside but adorable and round.  

The yard was fenced in and beautiful allowing Linkie & LooLoo to roam.

One night in Gold Beach at a rustic but charming lodge.

A beautiful part of the Ocean was a 2 minute walk from our cabin.

We wrote in the sand and watched the waves roll up and take our messages away with them.

The next night we were in California where it always feels like HOME.

Past Eureka but before Mendocino is the Avenue of the Giants, the mind blowing Redwoods.

Here, Linkie on 3 legs managed to lean up against a Redwood and pee.

To pee on a Redwood? 

It was on his bucket list! 

Two nights in Pacific Grove to remember the seven awesome years we lived there and take our favorite Pizza from Monterey down to the waters edge and watch the waves hit and explode.

And then Ojai.

Ojai was magical. 

It was our first time there and we were pretty much blown away.

Way up high in the mountains surrounded by ranches and a well-known celebrity get-away.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex In The City) had signed the guest book in our cottage…..she’d been there the night before we arrived.

We spent two awesome nights there and promised to return. 

And then, Carlsbad near San Diego and HOME! 

Linkie was seen by his Vet the next day, surgery was scheduled and tank that he was, he recovered quickly and was back on his furry four legs like nothing had ever happened.

It began as a real fairy tale wedding and ended with successful surgery. 

Three amazing (almost perfect) weeks I hope we’ll never forget.