new painting

 I just finished a painting I've wanted to do for a long time : ) ... the title is 'ones mans dream, another's lifes work' it's for the carlton together cares auction and will be available at the auction on Sat March 2nd

ready for spring

 

the finished hive... : )  thank you laura!!

bitter - sweet

Two of my three hives seems to have been vacated this winter.. it's hard to know what happened - seems that I still have one of the three - but only time will tell there was certainly buzzing in the third hive this morning.

So I decided to bring in the honey from one of the hives and leave some honey for the neighbor as well as the wild bees. I observed the wild bees yesterday steeling honey and I followed there trial and found there hive it's a few hundred yards away in an old apple tree. They were making a bee-line to the vacated hives steeling honey to get them through the next month or so till the April blooms start. So I took one box for me and left two for any bees who might need it.

I also have put a new roof on the hive Laura gave me and gave it a paint job. I think I'll put this near the wild swarm as that's more than likely a swarm from one of my hives and they seem to like that spot. So I'll put this box near by that way when the spring swarm happens they have a 'bee approved' spot. We'll see I just keep trying to learn from these guys.

it must be spring

the girls are getting going... spring feels very close...

pearls before swine

I just got back from a very glamourous multi-day wine event in North Carolina - it was a wine auction called the triangle wine experience. Let me just say I was treated to some pretty amazing southern hospitality as well as some wines that were far outta my league hence the title of this blog post!! ... boy do those folks know how to throw a party - I was invited by Rock Star Chef Ashley Christensen and she hosted my winemaker diner at Poole's - she totally knocked it out of the park with the pairings... I'm sorry I have NO photos!! so lame given all the beauty that was around me...

so just three exaples of things I ate and drank that should set the stage for how things rolled over the last 5 days --

Pulled pork and '96 Margaux

Fried Chicken and '03 Dom Perignon

Mac, Cheese topped with Shaved Perigord Truffle and '88 Krug

I got to Raleigh wed in the evening and just got home and I pretty much ate and drank the entire time.. I did sneak in two work outs and tried not to eat too much... but I'm definitely back on the wagon now that I'm home!!

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these people don't mess around!  there was a party hosted at a private home  the sushi that was being made there in front of us didn't stop all night! and these were just some of wines from friday night -- I was WAY out of my league but trying to not drink too much and pay attntion to all thee amazing once in a life time wines and learn as much as I could!! I had so much fun with these super nice folks and was honored to be included.

2011 Julian Haart Oghlisberg Riesling (I was VERY inspired by this wine)
2000 Pavie
2001 Torbreck Runrig (1.5L)
1995 Pegau CR (6L)
1994 Chapoutier Pavillon Hermitage (6L)
1990 Latour
1900 Joseph Roty Charmes Chambertin
2001 Usseglio Cuvee de Mon Aieul

staying warm and enjoying the quiet

 

It's a mellow time of year - I've welcomed to cold days to do some catchin' up in the office (got 2012 taxes done!!) and sharpening our pencils for spring and summer projects here at the farm in the mean time the dogs wait for us to do something exciting... as you can see the karl the cat has become fully indoctrinated (clementine finally decided he was ok)

 

I've been making some Formage Blanc - from some of my raw milk from champoeg creamery  when it doesn't all get drunk in a week it's a great use for the extra (thank you Charlotte)  I have to keep up with brian with his sourkrout and salami making.. he's getting a little outta control with all his fermenting in the kitchen - eshh you'd think he get's enough at the winery! of course I'm just makin' noise everything he's made is super tasty : )   

the beautiful milk and my awaiting coffee : ) 

 

the left over whey has been thoroughly enjoyed by the chickens 

 

Brian's second batch of salami is even prettier! and he's refining the spices!

speaking of brian - as many of you know he barely tolerates the horses and wouldn't be caught dead on one (I have never in our almost 14 years together been able to get him to go on a ride with me till today!) amazing : )  I'm afraid this may be a rare sight but it was fun non the less .. he said I should NOT take his photo as I would ruin his reputation...  : ) too late...

 

hummer took good care of him : ) 

 

till next time - cheers : ) 

Big Table Farm and Simpatica !!

Simpatica and Big Table Farm are teaming up for a special evening 

'winemaker dinner and spring release celebration'

This will be a multi-course dinner with big table farm wines paired with each course - we will be featuring our spring release wines as well as some extra special bottles -- Brian and I will be bringing some old vintages and big bottles... sold out things things not in bottles yet - you name it ... it will be a super fun evening with good friends and wines... we are still making fine adjustments to the menu but it will be local, seasonal and fabulous - I know for sure one of the courses will feature my farm eggs : ) 

When - Saturday March 16th 2013 @ 7pm

Where - 828 SE ASH ST. PORTLAND, OR 97214 

 $65 per person

call simpatica to reserve your seat (don't delay they will go quickly!)- 503.235.1600

 

(as of 2/24 18 seats left - don't miss out I want everyone that wants a seat to get one!!)

it's very cold outside

'karl' has been having some fire time in the house and although clementine has written him off - levi seems to be succumbing to karls powers of purrsuasion --

 

Karl - "I'd sure like to be a bit closer to that fire"

 

Karl -"you just sleeeep little doggie"

 

 

Karl - "that's it don't mind little old me"

  

Levi - "I'm not sure about this"

Karl - "you don't see me levi - I'm not even here"

 

Levi - "He 'thinks' he's so damn clever... "

 

Levi - "mom how long do I have to put up with him"

 

Levi - "....sigh.... oh well I guess he's ok..."

my back is tired but I am VERY happy!

not all the photos on the blog can be of cute farm animals --

We completed a HUGE clean up project this weekend!! That 20 cubic yard dumpster I talked about -- it is FULL - and not a single stick of what's in there could have been used, reused, recycled, or salvaged any further than it was... we combed over every stitch of what we put in there any salvageable lumber bits of anything metal, aluminum you name it... it all got sorted, saved, piled, and gone over ...... whew!!

The biggest part of the project was getting rid of the last of the dairy panels. If you've ever visited our farm you have seen them - either in a pile or in the form of a make shift shed - they are there  6" - 7" deep and on average 3 x 8 foot -  they are filled with foam insulation and wood and covered with sheets of galvanized steel that is formed and stapled all along each edge -- they are heavy (about 120lbs each) cumbersom and all needed to be torn apart and the steel salvaged with each and every staple removed... it was not a small task... these panels were 'kindly' left here by the previous owners and we've been slowly but surely getting rid of them and salvaging the steel over the last 6 years ... (the galvanized has proven useful as all of our animals houses are made of the up-cycled dairy panel 'skins')

 

So we have put them to good use -- but I'm so excited to report that now 6 years later every last one is gone!!  yippie!

In addition to that - we got all the scrap metal we salvaged along with the stuff that's been piling up loaded and ready to go to the recycle place in the morning.  Then we moved all brian's 'bits' --the things he will most likely use at some point - treasures, tools, raw materials, useful bits of steel, the galvanized panel skins - etc etc. He's amazing at re-using and up-cycling and for all the rough time I give him he is pretty darn resourceful and never wastes a thing. - my compulsive side actually enjoyed organizing them into little groups of pretty rusty things...  (as I have no clue what 90% of them are for)

 

 

Brian, recognizing that his wife also has need for order came up with the idea to use some of the lumber we salvaged to make into a 'screen'... what a gem he is...  ; ) I'd say every one is happy!!

I even got up to the barn and garden did some major clean up there too - put away things sorted hoses... hell I even oiled the handels of our tools... I dont' think we've been this productive in a weekend in quite a while.. must be the new year!! here's to 2013 and all the promise she holds.. my she pay back hard work with reward!!

Did a painting right before christmas that I couldn't share as it was a gift  -- the person who bought it gave to his lovely wife but now that she has seen it I can post : ) - I have been getting back in the studio -- spent the new year break cleaning and purging ... I have started a silver point project I will be sharing soon!!  it's new work you haven't seen before - I'm excited to share but want to get a few more done first as it's a series...

 

My hens have started laying a bit more now that we are on the other side of to winter solstice.. it's a hopeful feeling to see more eggs coming on... : ) 

And for the fist time this year the elk heard paid us a visit... it's VERY unusual to have not seen them till now - there has been a lot of timber cutting in the canyon and surrounding ares and I think it really effected the patterns... but it was magical to see them a few days ago...