Oviparous Valentine

There are things from all our childhood kitchens that bring back sweet memories... for me it's my mom's blue dutch oven, the mix-master, her joy of cooking cook book (which I'm lucky enough to now own) and this little gem below!



I was musing with one of my brothers the other day about this cooker saying how it was the greatest totally gratuitous kitchen gadget ever but oh how I loved it - and if I ever saw one again I would totally buy it - not because I need an egg poacher in any way but just 'because' it's such a sweet little gadget and reminds me of my dad so much - street car hash, poached eggs on toast you name it he LOVED this gadget too!!! it made eggs perfectly every time...

So what does my ever so thoughtful brother (Joseph) do he finds me one and has it shipped to me for valentines day!!! I was so excited I poached an egg immediately!!




this ones for you dad! xo clare

Happy New year!!

Hi All I've been way behind the 8-ball with posting I'm sorry I'll get that camera in my pocket again and get you some nice farm photos and more news of what's going on at big table! - I've been catching up big time on all kind of things. Brian and I had a VERY quiet holiday which was sooo welcome - 2011 was a good year looking back but whew it was full... here's snap shot ...



I've also been in the studio here's a new painting just finished tonight the photo could be better it's a bigger painting on canvas and is for a show I'm doing in a few short weeks as part of the Oregon Truffle Festival - I'm the featured artist - Which is VERY nice : ) thanks OTF!!



In Farm news my niece Eliza is visiting which has been lovely she's been working on her art and helping around the farm as well.



And just when I was running low on chicken food - we received a wonderful farm gift from our friends at Ayers Creek of about 700lbs of organic squash which are being enjoyed by the chickens and some as a treat for the cows!! yup who knew?! cows LOVE squash...


(just some of the loot)



and thanks to a very dry winter to date - the boys are still working there way around the lower pasture.. which normally this time of year is far too wet for use - it's quite a luxury to not have to slog up that hill quite yet .... So all in all things are rolling along - I'll be posting more info on the truffle festival in a few days I'm just getting my web site up to date with all the new paintings and then will be doing an official show announcement : ) - in the mean time hope you day hold some peaceful moments - cheers! Clare



I leave you with a photo of curley the bull who had his sex-cation at big table farm this summer/fall - we are crossing our fingers that he got all four girls knocked up for the up coming spring calving season... : ) which will bring our heard up to 12 bovine!!

hunkering down and being still

As the shadows get longer and the days shorter we head quickly to the longest night... - The mist was heavy of the farm yesterday which happily means the week or so of very cold 'hose freezing' weather is breaking for a while at least. We sit by the fire with the dogs a lot these days it's really nice to rest. To celebrate the light we cut two trees and filled them with lights to make up for the lack of it in the sky... One for the front of the house and one for the inside : ) when trees are plentiful you can be decedent with them ! Happy Solstice week - May you find a peaceful slowness...





the goat likes this idea...

gotta love a man that gives you a rifle for your birthday~

Thanks baby : ) - 'the wife'

Back home

Thank you to everyone who has sent there thoughts and prayers this past week. The sadness of my dad's passing last week was sweetened by the amazing family time that came as a result - I haven't felt this close to my siblings and mom in years. Brian took care of the farm while I was gone with the help of Milena a young woman from Germany who is staying with us for a bit.

On a farm note I did slaughter the pigs last week before I left and will be announcing the results to the "who's the bigger pig contest" tomorrow!! : ) Check out my good friend Kathleen's blog story 'roger and me' she documented her journey through buying a pig from me getting to know it and butchering it herself - pretty cool she also involved me in the butchering part so I got to butcher my own as well. It was a great process that I will now be able to offer to next years pork buyers - more on that in the next pig blog post!

So it's back into farm life for me the pace of the farm, animals and daily chores brings my heart so much peace.

Sunday Morning

I went to church this morning
I put on my Sunday best and laced up my shoes
I walked down the sloping hill to the entrance
As my feet hit the soft earth the rhythm of my prayer began
My first intentions of love and gratitude went to my community
Fellow farmers, winemakers, chefs, eaters, artists and lovers
As this community surrounded me, the rain started in a chorus of affirmation
The soft road curled in front of me, my steady breath grounded me in the gratitude for my own farm
The cows quiet company, the horses patiently and intensely sharing and giving
the chickens in there daily symphony and gifts, and those raucous pigs.
I turned half way and headed back like mass this was a duration that seemed to match stamina
Heading back to home I think of family of my father in mexico fighting cancer
I think of my community of siblings all of us holding him close.
All I have pours out back up the driveway like the last hymn at the recessional when you dig deep and belt out the final chorus
The finish is here on my porch where I can sit and enjoy this Sunday morning with deep peace and gratitude watching the soft rain

The final calf of spring !! and She's perfect

Josephine had her calf today and it's a little heifer and she is perfect, healthy and beautiful - we are thrilled to have a heifer and most especially by our favorite cow both for her confirmation and her fabulous disposition. Still working on her name it's gonna have to be a good one!! It's a good day!








Also my nephew Zander is out working with us on the farm for a bit. He's a great guy! : ) and the garden is finally gonna get in .. today was the spreading the last of the compost! yippie!!






Jesse, Haley's bull calf born just before memorial day, is doing great! more photos of him coming too!!

a little help from friends!

So last week was a rough week I got very sick with the flu and felt like my world was crashing in around me between the puppies that have taken over my life and the farm chores that weren't getting done. Like animals needing fresh pasture and things being generally muddy and gray...

I started feeling better Friday afternoon and it was none to soon for brian ...
Then Saturday the sun came out like I haven't seen it in a long while !! it was fabulous !! So friday I was able to get my ponies in a new pasture although it did take about 6x's as long as it should have with still being a bit sick... then sat we got the chickens moved and the first pup (Rudy) went to his new home (a great home at that) so at this point things were definitely getting better!!!






Then sunday some friends show up and help us get the goats to a new pasture with lots of their favorite food blackberry! man are they happy now!! It's so nice to have new fresh enthusiastic help on the farm makes it not seem like such drudgery! so now all the animals are on new fresh pasture and we have one less puppy I'd say a great weekend!





I even got to work the boys with christina who helped my move the goats! Thanks guys! and here's to what looks like will be a dry week!! yippie... now to get the dude and lilli into good homes spread the word if you know of one!!

VERY happy me

Saturday was my birthday- I write this not to solicit Happy Birthday wishes but to share and thank my very sweet friends for the fabulous day... the day was PERFECT!! it started with chores and a leisurely morning then friends started arriving mid morning and the bloody Marys started flowing.. then there was a hike up to the woods while me and a few girl friends played with horses... then we went in side where there was egg nog made my the lovley laura with BTF eggs and fablouse raw milk from charlotte! ... dinner was chicken and pork from Big Table and veggies from square peg farm... and all prepped by many hands but masterminded and chefed (if that's a word) by Mr Padberg of Park Kitchen ... It was an amazing meal and a very special evening of treasured friends, great food and puppies!...

























we were not short of drink...



a thank you also goes out to Duane and Diane who collaborated on this super thoughtful gift -- if you look closely between my two horses there's a leather harness keeper that is festooned with our logo made from some vintage flatware Diane found which I'm sure took some doing as it had to be child size to fit the heart ... thank you two... totally wonderful!



Here's a close up : )



till next year ...

family and more pups

I know you will be totally sick of puppy pictures after about a month so I will try not to post too many ... this pile was hard to resist...



My cousin peter and his lovely wife Jerrilyn and some very good friends of thier's came out last weekend for a lovey visit!! Miss Clementine who was days away from giving birth was a saint I think she was practicing being a patient mom with these sweet babies!!


Clementine --- "ummm Jer PLEEZE DON'T move your leg "
Jack "I like this guy we could get into some real trouble together!!"


Jack "humm how can I get my mom to get me a dog"
Clementine --- " oh man how many pups I'm gonna have to give birth to... sigh"


Jack "oh what pretty ears you have -- what happens when I pull on it"
Clementine --- "those pups are going to be way worse at least he's pulling my ear they will be pulling my tits"



Jack "ummm soft dog soft mom this life is pretty nice"
Clementine --- " how can I work her so I can just stay on this couch all weekend"
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We took a short walk around the farm and despite the wet weather ....



Kaoru - being very brave for having never been around a cow came into the pasture and gave the bull a pat :)