Mr. Pencil and I spent a long weekend in Ashland, Oregon, to pre-celebrate our second anniversary. We have a wedding the weekend of our true one (this coming weekend), so had to adjust.

We did the usual Pencil activities.

Lush dining: Amuse in downtown Ashland served up a fire-grilled extra-rare pork chop that Mr. Pencil claimed is the best pork he’s ever had. Cheese tasting at the Rogue Creamery.

Adventure driving and exploring: to the peak of Mt. Ashland, over the Greyback divide to Oregon Caves National Monument. Lots of deer and the occasional wild turkey.

Wine: we shared a bottle of 1995 Brunello di Montalcino that David had brought back from Italy, and we visited the requisite local wineries.

Entertainment: Taming of the Shrew at Ashland’s Shakespeare Festival.

Photo: David on top of Mt. Ashland. The cloud that looks like a mauve pancake in the background is smoke from a forest fire.