a little trip down memory lane on a horse...

I was rooting though some old boxes I found some early pictures of my horse addiction... 

 

annie belle and a shirtless me ~ age 6 I think... 

 

This was Leo - he was a very special horse who totally stole my heart !!! he and I were peas and carrots... ; ) I think I'm 12 or 13 here... although the first  love of my driving life was stardust no photo of her sadly but this is about what she and I looked like all summer long... hours of fun!!! she was a miniature donkey!! and the most strong willed animal I ever drove! : ) she was AWESOME! and more of a show off than me! and that's somethin'

after this there was a Morgan called Donagan.. a cart in the summer and a toboggan in the winter months ~ wish I had a photo of him...
 this early hobby turned into a way to make money in college... 

I wish I had a photo from my old carriage driving days in Philly but this is what my young 20's  looked like most nights weekends and summers ... I drove for '76 carriage Co in Philadelphia..



I did find my 'carriage permit' : ) 

then oregon ...
 there was chief (ahh the bumpy road he was)



 and now the boys...  (along with a few other borrowed horses along the way)
it's been a fun journey and so many great horses!

 

and the journey continues -- thanks to all my horsey friends who have been on the journey with me... special thanks to Duane, Sara and Laura  - here's to the great memories!! 

and here's to the amazing horses!

The bees are thriving!!

 

Ryan and Damian of Bee Local came out to the farm today to check the new bee hives and add boxes... I had the honor of 'helping' out as they worked with the bees.. it was incredibly peaceful and totally fun...

and I got a sneak taste of the honey today it was pretty sublime...

 

 

 and just a gratuitous beauty shot of mr huston enjoying all the grass : )

Memorial weekend is coming up!!

mark your calendars!!

memorial-weekend-in-the-wine-country -- 

check out http://willamettewines.com/ for all the places to visit!!

May 23-25th  Big Table Farm will be open all three days 11-4pm!

as many of you know big table farm is by appointment only so this is your chance to come out and taste our spring wines and take some home with you.

We are excited to introduce you to our newly released wines. The Laughing Pig rosé is back along with the 2013 Chardonnay and the two spring release pinots!

If you haven't been out before please see our website for directions.

hope to see you !! cheers! Clare and Brian

Home at last

After NY I came home for just a few days then off to seattle for a really great winemaker dinner at matt's in the market!! Thank you to all that came out!! and then off to california - where I got to spend some qailty time with the slanted door staff and was hosted to an epic dinner there -- then off to a very special girls weekend and a day with my younger brother was the final icing on the cake... then home to the farm. I have to say while the travel was super fun it's GREAT to be home. The farm is thriving and we are enjoying the amazing weather! 

 

 

a beautiful dinner at the girls weekend to celebrate my bff's birthday  

 

my teriffic brother! 

 

 

got my paints from gamblin!! super excited to get into the studio!! 

 

and 130 native plants for our headgerow! 

for inquiring minds this is the list : ) 

Bigleaf Maple
Birch-leaved Spirea
Bleeding Heart
Blue Elderberry
Blue Eyed Grass
Camas - Blue
Douglas Aster
Fernleaf Biscuitroot
Hookers Fairybell
Mock Orange
Mules Ear
Narrowleaf Onion
Nodding Onion
Nootka Rose
Oceanspray
Oregon Grape
Oregon Iris
Oregon Sunshine
Oregon White Oak
Pacific Dogwood
Red Columbine
Red Elderberry
Red Flowering Currant
Red Osier Dogwood
Showy Milkweed
Snowberry
Spirea
Tiger Lily
Yarrow
White Brodiaea
 

 

the cows are loving the pasture !

 

collected nettles for soup, tea and bio-dynamic compost preps  

and last but not least the bees!! 

one of my hives swarmed and I was able to catch it and started a new hive 

and Bee Local - brought 34 of their hives out to the farm to live - this means there will be big table farm honey on a much larger scale coming in the future!! super exciting : )