Powers Family Almanac

Our Weekend in Pacific City, Oregon Coast!

Don Powers — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:32:09 +0000

So, a week or so ago Theo dropped the hint that it might be nice to spend a weekend at the coast sometime during my Spring break. Conveniently she pulled up the web page for the Inn at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City which just happened to have a special doggie deal that would allow Zoie to enjoy a little pampering as well. After 32+ years of marriage I have learned that the proper response to such suggestions is “book it sweetie!”

Theo and Zoie sitting on the beach at Pacific City!

Theo’s week of anticipation began with me coming down with the flu last Monday afternoon. I was pretty much housebound all week and when Friday, our departure day, rolled around I was praying for enough endurance to make the drive to the coast. I actually started to shed that dreaded flu by Friday afternoon and to my surprise made the drive Friday evening without issue in spite of the driving rain we encountered while traveling over the coast range. We managed to make to the Inn in Pacific City at about 9:30 pm.

Theo enjoying the beach at Pacific City with Zoie!

I was not expecting much out of the weekend as we were at the end of the wettest March on recorded for the state of Oregon (7.75 inches of rain total) and the heavens appeared to be trying to not only exceed the record by beat it into submission. My thoughts turned to what I might do with my 4.5 year-old labrador retriever that would be pent up in a motel room for the weekend. If you have ever owned a labrador retreater you know exactly what I mean! However, Saturday turned out to be a very useable day in which we managed two lengthy beach walks (the afternoon walk was actually delightful and sometimes sunny) which seemed to empty the labrador fuel cells. With our intent to relax we packed some food to make our own lunches (Theo made a wonder tuna salad spread) and were satisfied with pizza in our room for dinner (the pizza actually supplied dinner, and for me breakfast and lunch on Sunday).

Storm clouds approaching Pacific City!

Sunday was not so pleasant as winds sometimes reached gale force and it rained, rained, rained, hailed, rained, rained, and for good measure rained some more. Needless to say we just hung out in our room until checkout time at noon. Theo seemed quite content to just lay around and enjoy doing nothing…something she does not get to do often….and had to be prodded a bit to get ready to leave. When we finally checked out we drove across the street to the beach to let Zoie stretch her legs one last time before the drive home. Theo sat in the car while I bundled up to go out and let Zoie run. I started laughing when after about 5 minutes Zoie had had enough of the rain and wind and let me know clearly that it was time to get back in the van. So, Zoie and I both climbed into the back seat of the van to get out of the rain and after changing my shoes decided to climb over into the drivers seat so I would not have to go back outside. In doing so my head hit the rear-view mirror and knocked it off the windshield. So instead of going home from Pacific City we had to make a side trip to Tillamook (where they have a Fred Meyer) to by a kit to repair the mirror before our trip home.

One final note. Before we left Pacific City on Sunday we stopped and did a wine tasting at the Twist Wine Company. The only other winery that Theo and I had every visited on the coast was the Nehalem Winery which as an absolute disaster. Needless to say we were not expecting much. To our surprise we were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed their wines. Their wines are easy drinking, drink now sorts of wines but they are very reasonably priced (most expensive is $25) and you would not be afraid to put them on your table. Nice interesting everyday drinking wines.

Below are a few photos from our weekend. If you want to see the entire Flickr album click on this link.

Pacific City 3-2012 2nd Beach Walk

View from our room

Pacific City 3/2012

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Walk

Don Powers — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:55:31 +0000

On Saturday October 15 we (Don and Theo……oh yes, and Zoie) participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) walk inPortland, OR in honor of Theo’s cousin Liz. This was Don’s (and Zoie’s) second year participating in the AFSP walk as part of the Wine-by-Joe (last year Theo was still in school and in Bellingham, WA for labs and exams). We are proud of the fact that over our two years of participation we have raised more than $500 for this very worthy cause.

The Wine-by-Joe team is sponsored by the Wine-by-Joe/Dobbes Family Estate Winery and its owner/winemaker Joe Dobbes. Joe has been personally touched during his life by suicide and is a generous supporter of AFSP. Last years team, which included many Dobbes employees was huge (see bottom photo on the right). This year the grape harvest in the Willamette Valley was a month late and first fruit arrived at the Dobbes winery on the day of the walk. This is something that can’t be controlled and prevented all the winery employees, including Joe, from participating. Theo, Zoie, and I were pleased to represent team Wine-by-Joe! Below are some selected photos we took during the walk.

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Theo and Zoie walking along the east side of the Willamette River

Looking back at the Steel Bridge from the east side of the Willamette River

Looking back at Riverfront Park from the Steel Bridge

Theo and Zoie going over the Steel Bridge

Walkers going over the Hawthorne Bridge

Theo and Zoie entering Riverfront Park

Lead walkers at Riverfront Park

Walking across the Hawthorne Bridge

The walk begins!

Senator Ron Wyden addressing the crowd

Walkers listing to AFSP organizers before the walk

Walkers listening to AFSP organizers before the walk

Posters honoring loved ones

Walkers gathering near the AFSP registration area

Theo & Zoie getting ready for the AFSP walk

AFSP registration desk

An Enjoyable Day at the Dobbes Family Estate Picnic!

Don Powers — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:40:40 +0000

Theo with friends Dean, Satin, Terrie, and Joe at the picnic

Today Theo and I spent the afternoon at the third-annual Dobbes Family Estate picnic held at their Larkins Estate Vineyard. I’ve been to two of the three vineyard picnics and the weather at both were hot. Not sure what the temperature was today but I know I shed a lot of sweat. These events are always fun in that we get to eat some good food (the sandwiches, although simple in appearance were absolutely amazing), spend time with good friends, and chat with Joe Dobbes and the rest of the winery staff. Below is a slideshow of photos I shot today (in spite of my camera’s dying battery). If you want to see them via Flickr click here.

Joe Dobbes getting ready to boogie.

Charles trying to decide how best to explain the hand prints on his pants.

Charles trying to decide what he thinks of Joe´s hat.

Charles not finding his boots decided to eat.

Charles looking for his cowboy boots.

Theo just had a thought for her Wiki page.

Terrie wondering what the heck Dean is doing?

Joe and contentment

The wine must have said something Dean didn´t like.

Dean had a funny thought and Satin is focused on her wine.

Loading plates with wonderful food at the Dobbes picnic.

Larkins Estate Vineyard

The Dobbes picnic crowd on a vineyard tour.

Joe Dobbes talking grapes intensely!

Joe Dobbes talking grapes.

Joe Dobbes giving a vineyard tour.

Joe Dobbes giving a political speech.

Dobbes picnic under the big top!

Dean, Satin, Terrie, Joe, and Theo cooking up something devious.

Yakima Valley Vacation!!!

Don Powers — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:25:15 +0000

For the first time in three years we took a family vacation. Well, not quite a family vacation since Sean and Carlie could not join us (both are in school). On the surface the Yakima Valley does not sound like a vacation paradise. However some fine wines are produce in the valley and many wineries in the northwest source grapes from the valley. We had never visited this wine region so thought it would be fun to explore it for a few days. If any of you are interested in specifics regarding wineries we visited we would be glad to share (don’t want to make this post too long). One of the fun things we did on the trip was to stay in teepees (see photos)! In reality they were fancy yurts. Even so the beds were comfy and they contained all the necessities required for a relaxing time. The only downside was that we picked the one really hot week to take our trip and the teepees were not air conditioned. Theo had planned to just hang around the teepees and read for a few days but that didn’t work out. When we came back from our daily excursions we were provided a BBQ which we used to cook some wonderful evening meals. Each morning we were pampered with an elegant breakfast provided by the owners which did nothing less than underscore our enjoyment of the trip. Below are some photos we took on the trip for your enjoyment. If you would like to see the our entire Yakima photo album go toYakima 2011.

Cherry Wood main house

Horses at Cherry Wood

Cherry Wood open-air shower

Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast, and Barn

Col Solare Tasting Room

Ryan and Theo at Col Solare

Col Solare

View from Col Solare

Powers Family at Col Solare

Ryan and Theo on Col Solare Tour

Cabernet Sauvengion grapes

(Untitled)

TielTap Winery

View from Teiltap

Theo and Ryan at TeilTap

Teiltap Wine Dog

Don and Zoie

Theo

Ryan´s Teepee

Zoie