Via Chicago

I know, I know, I need to go on and on about our first few weeks in Oregon. And I will. I promise. But today is not the day.

I am currently sitting in the Computer Commons of the Chicago Public Library. Beautiful building in downtown Chicago, not to far from our hotel. Why am I in Chicago? Well, my dear friend Carrie lives here and the American Cheese Society Conference has landed in this fair city this year.

I love Chicago. It has some magnificent museums, great public transit, and some of the best pizzas on the planet. And if you like hot dogs, this place is heaven. I went to the Vienna Beef factory once and got to eat a dog in their "outlet." I eat in the finest establishments when I travel.

The conference starts tomorrow. Jim and I are taking a long bus ride to the Roth Kase factory in Wisconsin. We'll tour the plant with other cheese conference attendees. Thursday is the beginning of the panels and and meetings. Saturday is the big event, the Festival of Cheese. Imagine a ballroom filled with over 1000 cheeses, butter, yogurt, spreads, as well as beer, wine and water. Insert thousands of cheese lovers into the ballroom and watch the fun. This conference is one of the highlights of my year.

I'm sure I'll have lots of photos over the next few days, so I'll try to upload some of the highlights next week.

And then there's all of our goings-on in Dundee. Slowfood Yamhill County potlucks, u-pick cherries, u-pick lamb, farmers markets galore, seeking other cheesemakers, Turkey-rama, and trying to track down some friendly dairy folks who want to sell me their milk. Life has been interesting as we find ourselves settling into our new home.