March Madness!
Another childhood memory popped into my head the other day. Since it’s March madness time, of course it has to do with basketball. When I was nine years old, I was obsessed with the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the spring of 1977 and the team, coached by the legendary Jack Ramsey, included Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas, Bob Gross, Lionel Hollins and Dave Twardzik. They were on the way to winning their first (and, sadly only) World Championship. My mom took me to my very first Blazer game for my ninth birthday in April. I was hooked. I became a lifelong basketball fan and it became my favorite sport to play growing up. I played from fifth grade all the way through my junior year in high school. Though I wasn’t tall or particularly athletic, I learned valuable lessons playing basketball. Being a part of a team taught me that you can accomplish a lot more through teamwork than you can alone. I also learned what dedication and hard work can accomplish. I spent countless hours shooting free throws on the small slab of concrete in front of my handmade plywood backboard. Setting the team record for consecutive free throws at 25 was my reward. I then had the incredible honor of coaching my children for 11 years of CYO basketball. Those years were some of the most fun and most rewarding times of my life. I bestowed this basketball fanaticism on my children as well. Following many home Blazer games with my children and countless hours playing basketball together, my daughter decided to attend Gonzaga University, in large part because of their basketball prowess. It has been so much fun cheering on my adopted alma mater. This afternoon, I will get the privilege of watching them live during the second round of March Madness at the Moda Center here in Portland! Go Zags! Let’s make the Sweet 16, yet again!
What’s happening in the vineyard?
- MORE WINE TASTING! We continue to have an absolute blast hosting people in our home for wine tasting. It is such a privilege to get to know our club members better and to get to meet new people that become members as well. Today is a particularly beautiful day and our club members are soaking it up. Don’t forget to come out and spend some time with us. Just go online and click the visit us tab to make your reservation now by clicking VISIT US above!
-DINNER WITH FRIENDS! Our wine makers and good friends, Bree and Chad Stock, joined us last night for an incredible Moroccan themed dinner that included a cod tagine, orange and Romaine salad and Moroccan mint tea with chocolates. Not only are Bree and Chad, incredible wine makers, but they are some of the finest people you will ever meet. We feel so honored that they want to be part of our journey. We are incredibly excited to share some of their new creations with you starting with the spring Wine Club release.
-TRACTOR WORK! The ground dried up just enough this week that I could get back on my tractor. You all know that this is my happy place. There’s nothing like tending to the Earth that will produce wine grapes that someday fills the glass. this week involved grinding up last year‘s pruning’s to be composted into the Earth. The buds on the canes are starting to swell and I suspect Bud break will happen in the next couple of weeks.
