“Hello there. It's me, Maggie.

After 7 years, I finally returned to McMinnville, Oregon, a place that holds sweet memories of hazelnut harvests, super fresh produce and downtown strolls filled with twinkly lights.

I arrived at Olive & Vine in total darkness after a 45-min drive from Portland Airport. And, gosh, when I woke in the morning, I was gifted with some sun light and this view of the guest house.

Vintage and modern at once, Olive & Vine had everything I needed for my arrival, including a hot bath in a clawfoot tub, local (decaf) coffee, and sourdough toast with marionberry jam - because mornings are just better with those things, right?

I wasn't sure what I would do on my first day, besides adjust to the time change, but friends whisked me away to @macmkt for more coffee (🙏) and we had an early chili dinner before I sunk into my bed back at the guest house.

Almost too at home in the silky sheets, I forgot where I was when I woke the next morning. But once I remembered that I was on the left coast (the best coast?!), all felt right with the world. I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Over this series of posts, I'll share stories and messages that helped me remember that this trip was perfectly orchestrated for my unfolding purpose and joy.”

“While I generally ate breakfast in the Olive & Vine guest house kitchen, mainly because it was so well equipped (hello, baking drawers!?) and had such great light. My soft-boiled eggs never looked so good.

However, I did walk just a few blocks to downtown for breakfast a couple times and twice (yes, twice!), I had breakfast at @communityplate - a restaurant that has graced downtown McMinnville with all-day breakfast for 12 years.

My butternut squash sandwich was perfect, tender, savory and candy-like. Can more chefs please put squash in sandwiches, pretty please?!

However, the other star of this plate was the huge pile of greens. I've eaten from farms all over the world but greens in Oregon just hit different; they're sweet and crisp and taste like a spring garden (even in the fall). This pile was no exception.

Alas, say it ain't so, Joe, but @communityplate is closing this month after serving this community with wholesome food for more than a decade.

Given this news, I was so glad to enjoy two breakfasts there. It's like my soul knew I needed to soak it all up before the end as well as return home with a desire to stick tender squash slices in all my dishes.”

“I'm not gonna lie to you. It rained a lot while I was in Oregon. The rainy season had just begun so I was prepared, with layers and weather-proof hiking boots. And despite the rain, I ventured outside frequently!

Oh sure, there were moments when the sun presented itself and, gosh, you treasure those moments. In fact, one day, a friend and I visited @durant_oregon (a wine tasting room, olive mill & nursery in the Dundee Hills) while it was raining.

The rain didn't cramp our olive oil and wine time. We sipped and chatted and created some lovely new memories. And as soon as we drove down the mountain, the skies opened up to offer patches of blue sky and this perfect glimpse of sunshine.

I'm not sure how I captured it on camera but I welcomed it as a little blessing on our time together and how we were exactly where we were meant to be, then and always.

I'm not going to lie to you about this other thing, too: I bought A LOT of olive oil!

Sure, it was very good olive oil but/and/also I wanted to relive the memory over and over again once back home.”