they'll be working for straight kibble commission on sales, with long term affection insurance and snack benefits. There will be no employment contract as there loyalty in with out question.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
two new employees of Big Table Farm
remember that post about our fabulous friends the Abneys in Atlanta.. well I'd like to introduce you to Big Table Farm's first full time sales staff in the south!! ... Ellie and Daisy
they'll be working for straight kibble commission on sales, with long term affection insurance and snack benefits. There will be no employment contract as there loyalty in with out question.
they'll be working for straight kibble commission on sales, with long term affection insurance and snack benefits. There will be no employment contract as there loyalty in with out question.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
bees and butter
Had to show you the color of the butter I made from my raw milk farmers grass fed cows -- who's milk and cream I LOVE!!! ... : )
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
it's feeling like spring
we are starting to see some very sunny days and the other day I went out side at lunch time and every one soaking in spring...
eggs are in PLENTY!!
the broilers are chirping away - come July there gonna be YUMMY!!
all the pasture is looking the best it's ever looked - so exciting to see it getting better each year!
I'm still waiting for the fruit trees any minute now they will be exploding...
the bees are flying and collecting pollen as fast as they can...
and mr. big paws is growing up fast and bigger than his mom already...
happy spring!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Blissed out
I'm pretty blissed out this morning -- the boys and I and my big old family of friends and fellow horse farmers were all out yesterday in McMinnville together it was such a great day... The event it's self was very successful we had about 1500 visitors come and watch the plowing competition and enjoy this day of celebrating old time farming! Big Thanks to the McMinnville News register article and the video and article by they both really helped promote the event!!
In gratitude and memory -
So there was a moment during the event when I was just standing there letting the horses rest and I looked around me. Friends standing in witness grinning and sharing... and standing next to me was Laura, Julia and Sarah -- these women have all been part of this journey each in her own way. I looked down the long row of horse farmers who I now know and call friends with their teams all at different stages of plowing there plots ... it was a stunning site all those gorgeous animals working - time literally did stand still. In the distance at the other end of the field was Duane my mentor and adopted family - he was working his team expertly down the row I was so grateful and proud of all the work and growth that he has walked with me through.This is 3 years ago at this same place - to my right was Lisa Hube a horse farmer who is now a friend she is a woman I would like to emulate in so many ways - she was helping one of her 'students' plow and was there if I needed her... but for reasons I won't take any credit for... all she did all day was look over at me ans smile broadly! My day was also punctuated by several old timers, who were not plowing, coming over to give me pearls of wisdom... subtleties of finishing your rows, turning your plow and fine adjustments all helping me to take this to the next level of art - It was a truly special day - yesterday as I worked with my horses we were a team there was one mind working between the three of us.... so many times that day I caught a gimps of what can be - not one of us broke a sweat and all three of us finished the day happy. So after a long journey of heart break, hard work, ER visits, casts, and literally being dragged through the mud I felt like it was all completely worth it and I felt so honored to be knitted into this community -- I truly felt like I was not me alone accomplishing a 'thing' It was all of us together weaving a living story.
In gratitude and memory -
So there was a moment during the event when I was just standing there letting the horses rest and I looked around me. Friends standing in witness grinning and sharing... and standing next to me was Laura, Julia and Sarah -- these women have all been part of this journey each in her own way. I looked down the long row of horse farmers who I now know and call friends with their teams all at different stages of plowing there plots ... it was a stunning site all those gorgeous animals working - time literally did stand still. In the distance at the other end of the field was Duane my mentor and adopted family - he was working his team expertly down the row I was so grateful and proud of all the work and growth that he has walked with me through.This is 3 years ago at this same place - to my right was Lisa Hube a horse farmer who is now a friend she is a woman I would like to emulate in so many ways - she was helping one of her 'students' plow and was there if I needed her... but for reasons I won't take any credit for... all she did all day was look over at me ans smile broadly! My day was also punctuated by several old timers, who were not plowing, coming over to give me pearls of wisdom... subtleties of finishing your rows, turning your plow and fine adjustments all helping me to take this to the next level of art - It was a truly special day - yesterday as I worked with my horses we were a team there was one mind working between the three of us.... so many times that day I caught a gimps of what can be - not one of us broke a sweat and all three of us finished the day happy. So after a long journey of heart break, hard work, ER visits, casts, and literally being dragged through the mud I felt like it was all completely worth it and I felt so honored to be knitted into this community -- I truly felt like I was not me alone accomplishing a 'thing' It was all of us together weaving a living story.
Monday, April 4, 2011
This coming weekend!
(Duane and his beautiful team - photo thanks to jess)
This Saturday come see some horse plowing in McMinnville!
Saturday, April 9, at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center - from 10:30am – 3:00 pm, with a parade of teams at 2:00 pm. Cost is $3 per person, free for kids 12 and under. 11275 SW Durham Ln., (corner of Hwy 18 and Durham Ln.), just west of McMinnville. www.yamhillcountyhistory.org Bring the family and come on out!
(thanks for the photo jess)
So Saturday I took my boys over to duane's house to get ready for this coming weekend and try out my new plow - and let's just say I felt far less than ready for lots of reasons that would take way to long to explain here ... but we'll just have a go at it and just have fun -- so this coming Saturday I'll be at the Yamhill County History Museum with about 18 other teams in a plowing competition. In addition to watching the draft horses work the ground, there will be sawmill, blacksmith and horseshoeing demonstrations, pioneer kids’ activities, music, food and lots of old tractors on display... should be a very fun day
in the mean time around the farm it sure is looking like spring.. the grass is going bananas! Freddie is doing well and the daffodils are out in full force - which is so very nice...
Last but not least my washer stopped working last week right after we got home (when of course I had lots of laundry to do) and my handy husband took a look at it for me and found the culprit all these things where lodged int he drain... uhhh mummm -- well ... I guess I need to be better about emptying pockets before i chuck things in..
thankfully it's back up and running... so most items where easily identified but there was one that was a bit of a mystery I'm pretty sure I figured out what it is and I even think I know who owns it ...
but I'd like to make a bit of a game out of it with the winner getting a bottle of Big Table Farm wine - so your job is to identify the object below in the comments ...
(hint --you can see the scale of it above it's in the upper top left side of the plate)
Friday, April 1, 2011
look over there >>>
see there on the right and down a bit -- in that little flicker slide show I FINALLY updated the current paintigns I have available in my studio - and took down the ones that are sold ... wow almost on top of things -- cheers and thanks for looking...
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Spring Release Letter just went out!!
If you didn't get Brian's release letter I don't have your e-mail just drop me a note clare at bigtablefarm in the mean time we have just released two new wines - Thanks for all the support and enthusiasm... Cheers - Clare
The Wines!
2009 Willamette Valley Pinot noir. Like a shy child this wine is peeking its head around the corner and is ready to be introduced. The fruit is mostly from the Johan Vineyard about 20 minutes south of McMinnville. It was the last pinot we picked at the end of October - it is a cool site and was relatively unaffected by the warm spell in September. Yields were carefully managed by friend Dan Rinke to just 1.4 tons to the acre. The wine was fermented with native yeast, about 75 percent whole cluster, aged in french oak for ten months with one new barrel, and two used. The whole cluster aspect of the wine is prominent in the spicy aromatics of wet brush and smoky mole, with cherry fruit underneath. The palate is balanced between a core of umami and dark fruit and tannins that cleanse and compliment food in a hand in glove sort of way. Pumpkin the pig graces the label. Unfortunately we just have 92 cases of this wine. 38 dollars, let us know if we can send you some!
2008 Syrah – White Hawk Vineyard - 2008 was a warmer year with lower yields in California, creating an opulent wine that is drinking well now! Clare and I opened a bottle the other night to make notes and before we knew it the wine was gone and we hadn't even eaten yet (or made any notes) - slightly dangerous. All natural ferments with 50% whole cluster, 40% New French oak and after an elevage of 14 months, it was ready to bottle. The label has returned to a calamitous set of knives, forks and spoons. I hope you find this wine as delightful as we do. 168 cases produced, 48 dollars.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
home from Atlanta
Brian and I went to Atlanta for a wine auction last week - it was to benefit the High art museum in Atlanta and it's one of the top wine auctions in the country and now I know why! (btw way my photos of the trip didn't happen due to camera failure so you'll just have to imagine most of it)
We were hosted by our friends in Atlanta the Abney's who as I kept saying treated us like rock stars from the minute we touched down... it's kind of a blur at this point but we arrived Wednesday evening to a driver that picked us up form the airport and brought us to our host's home a beautiful house in a very old neighborhood in mid town Atlanta. Let's just say we hit the ground running as that night they hosted a small 'informal' dinner party for close friends to meet their guests - brick oven pizzas and lamb! it was gorgeous and there place happens to be on the cover of this months food and wine!- pretty snazzy!
this is Kristie making pizzas there on the spot for her guests she's a superstar! (my photos are pretty bad I'm sorry!)
Charles Abney - just a doll! love the crushed up beer can next to the fancy decanter : )
This is not the Abney's home but this is another one form the 'hood' it was so beautiful and the weather was full on spring time! Some happy guests
Day two was an industry tasting during the day and a winemaker dinner that evening with one of Atlanta's top chefs (Anne Quatrano) again hosted by the Abney's! crazy and beautiful and soo yummy ...
The tables before the wine maker dinner - the after shot was blurry : )
Friday it just kept going and I'm not going to boar you with every last detail but sufficed to say we ate and drank a lot and just had an amazing time. Thanks to our new distributors in Atlanta got introduced to some of the best restaurants in town that all picked up our wine which really was amazing again I'm grateful.
for those of you that live in Atlanta you can find our wines at ~ Bacchanalia, Miller Union, Cakes & Ale, Rathburn Steak and Five & Ten
Saturday afternoon was the actual wine auction which was attended by some pretty darn serious wine and art lovers. It was an amazing party we donated and were lucky enough to be in the live auction with our lot of 12 mags and painting and brunch at the farm for 6 people.. and to my utter awe was auctioned off for $10,000 yup not a typo... it was kind of nuts and totally flattering... crazy - so then yet another dinner for our last night... Sunday a sleep in and gorgeous brunch again thanks to our hosts and they took us to the airport Sunday afternoon ...wowzers... it was quite a whirl wind and other worldly --
the tasting before the auction
Miller - Union great meal there sat night!
but now I'm back on the farm and fully grounded again as I'm back in the spring rain, doing chores and picking up all those spring eggs and working on our web site updates for the spring release letter - ahh reality...
special thanks also goes out to our friends Julia and Michael who watched the farm for 5 days while we were off partying in Atlanta.
Well I'm back to being just me in my drafty farm house and dirty chores - but man it was fun to live a super glamorous life for 5 days!
We were hosted by our friends in Atlanta the Abney's who as I kept saying treated us like rock stars from the minute we touched down... it's kind of a blur at this point but we arrived Wednesday evening to a driver that picked us up form the airport and brought us to our host's home a beautiful house in a very old neighborhood in mid town Atlanta. Let's just say we hit the ground running as that night they hosted a small 'informal' dinner party for close friends to meet their guests - brick oven pizzas and lamb! it was gorgeous and there place happens to be on the cover of this months food and wine!- pretty snazzy!
this is Kristie making pizzas there on the spot for her guests she's a superstar! (my photos are pretty bad I'm sorry!)
Charles Abney - just a doll! love the crushed up beer can next to the fancy decanter : )
This is not the Abney's home but this is another one form the 'hood' it was so beautiful and the weather was full on spring time! Some happy guests
Day two was an industry tasting during the day and a winemaker dinner that evening with one of Atlanta's top chefs (Anne Quatrano) again hosted by the Abney's! crazy and beautiful and soo yummy ...
The tables before the wine maker dinner - the after shot was blurry : )
Friday it just kept going and I'm not going to boar you with every last detail but sufficed to say we ate and drank a lot and just had an amazing time. Thanks to our new distributors in Atlanta got introduced to some of the best restaurants in town that all picked up our wine which really was amazing again I'm grateful.
for those of you that live in Atlanta you can find our wines at ~ Bacchanalia, Miller Union, Cakes & Ale, Rathburn Steak and Five & Ten
Saturday afternoon was the actual wine auction which was attended by some pretty darn serious wine and art lovers. It was an amazing party we donated and were lucky enough to be in the live auction with our lot of 12 mags and painting and brunch at the farm for 6 people.. and to my utter awe was auctioned off for $10,000 yup not a typo... it was kind of nuts and totally flattering... crazy - so then yet another dinner for our last night... Sunday a sleep in and gorgeous brunch again thanks to our hosts and they took us to the airport Sunday afternoon ...wowzers... it was quite a whirl wind and other worldly --
the tasting before the auction
Miller - Union great meal there sat night!
but now I'm back on the farm and fully grounded again as I'm back in the spring rain, doing chores and picking up all those spring eggs and working on our web site updates for the spring release letter - ahh reality...
special thanks also goes out to our friends Julia and Michael who watched the farm for 5 days while we were off partying in Atlanta.
Well I'm back to being just me in my drafty farm house and dirty chores - but man it was fun to live a super glamorous life for 5 days!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Mark you calander!! July 2nd 2011
Coming this summer!! ...
Outstanding in the field will be at Big Table Farm!!
The super fabulous chef and good friend Jason French of Nud Lud will be cooking the meal - we will be featuring our wine, products from our farm as well a few of our other farmer friends including our very good friends Chris and Amy of Square Peg Farm - This will be a meal to remember and the event of the summer here at the Farm!
Jason has graced our farm several times before cooking meals and he has the lay of the land and I know will really make it special!!
I'm sure the smoker will be enlisted in some way...
Details: Outstanding in the Field dinner at Big Table Farm. Saturday, July 2, 4 pm; $180 per person. Tickets go on sale Mar. 20 on the Outstanding in the Field website.
I wonder which field will sport the big table... humm
a glass of wine and a farm tour - what could be better?!
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