Last October the Oregon weather was sunny and warm.  Not so this year.  Just a few sunny days mixed with clouds and rain.   October weather is always a toss up, sometimes nice, sometimes not.

My mother’s geraniums.

But my one day of wine tasting in the Willamette Valley happened to be a good one.  We hit some favorite spots:  Arterberry Maresh, Domaine Serene, and Elizabeth Chambers.

The Red Barn tasting room at Arterberry Maresh.

One of my favorite Oregon Pinots.

View of the Dundee Hills from the Red Barn.

The view looking the other way, Mt. Hood in the distance.

Domaine Serene.

Evidence of the harvest season.

The tasting room patio at Elizabeth Chambers in McMinnville.

We also got lucky with a mostly sunny day at the beach.  For locals, the beach to go to is Manzanita.  It is much less crowded than the very popular Cannon Beach.  Oregon beaches are friendly places that welcome dogs, and nearly everyone at the beach will be accompanied by one, or two.  Oregon beaches also allow fires and alcohol.  Can’t beat that.  This time of year beach attire is jeans, sweaters and wind breakers, but it is still a great day at the beach.

Manzanita Beach.

Girls and dogs on the beach.

Happy beach dogs.