so many things to write about so little time!!

Truffle festival photos and stories will be the next post - I promise!!






But in the mean time here some beautiful shots of the dogs - We had a professional photographer out here at the farm scouting out place for a photo shoot for a catalog (can't tell which one till we get the gig - then you KNOW I will : ) the photographer had a really nice easy way about him and took beautiful photos! - he's got a very nice web site with more of his work check it out!

http://www.michaelfloydphoto.com

so much happening on the farm so little time to post!

First off thank you to all that have placed your orders for our fall wines! The 2010 wine release has been very successful and the wines have been very well received - If you haven't gotten yours yet drop us a line and we'll ship them off to you!







The garden has been great this year Brian has lead the charge with beautiful beans, winter greens, potatoes and root vegetables among other things... I grew the broccoli, tomatoes, onions and cabbage and herbs and a few other odds and ends...








The animals are all doing well on the fall pastures which are lush and green and full on a second crop of white clover... we have also integrated our goats in with the cows to create a 'flerd' (flock and heard) that cooperatively graze! : )

Brian smoked Don and man is he tasty ! all the fall pork and chicken is safely tucked in the freezer... which is COMPLETELY full so everything else that comes in needs to be dried or canned from here on out...





Hence lots of canning is happening... about 40 Quarts so far and still more tomatoes and apples to go! We're lucky in some ways the grape harvest is so late gives us a chance to fill the larder.








I picked up only a small portion of the apple harvest - more still to go it's a beautiful crop I'm hoping to can apple juice...





all the wood is all stacked!! which was done with a lot of help from Mila who is a lovely young German woman who is staying with us this fall she has been a HUGE help on the farm not to mention a real pleasure to share our days with...







finally some shots of Mr Levi who is growing up beautifully !!


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Till the next post happy fall!! cheers ...

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!!

thanks to my family

They farm sat for us !! sooo Brian and I got to get away for the weekend (it's been since around this time last year we were both off the farm together - it was a wine tasting event but it was off the farm and both of us at the same time and in a hotel room and two count 'em two nights out with just the two of us.. it was lovely! and much needed... in the mean time the pups and the farm were in the care of my sister in law brother and there two beautiful kids... I don't think anyone suffered lack of love...

Big Thank you!!!

Wowzers - what a weekend - puppies, pinot and pork... thank you one and all who came out and tasted and took home wine!!

The Riesling is all gone and folks put a sizable dent in the inventory of reds as well...

We are grateful and tired.. so without further ado I present the warm fuzzy puppies to help sooth you into your post thanksgiving week!

we got a light dusting of snow today

the farm was peaceful ... and the puppies snug by the fire and those cows are working the 'full fuzz'