Fall is coming!!  The other morning took my coffee on the deck in a sweatshirt!!  It was GREAT!!  The grapes are done for the year and I'm going to start cutting vines for wreaths! 

The goats are being bred by this beautiful spotted billy that I sold a friend last year.  I hope I get a spotted billy this year.  It looks like we should start kidding in January. 

Rocky is a year old and has turned out  to be a great little farm dog.  He goes with me to feed everyday.  He loves to chase grasshoppers and butterflies.  I was worried at first because he liked to chase the goats but they turned on him and he ran the other way.  Thunder the horse wasn't sure what Rocky was and when he went to look Rocky was pretty sure he didn't want any part of that.  So I don't have to worry about Rocky getting under Thunders feet.  It's not fair for Woobie.  He has a tail and Rocky grabs him and pulls him around by the tail.  Only unfair because Rocky doesn't have a tail. 

Things are looking good for cooking classes.  I should have the kitchen in the cabin done soon.  Have been canning alot this summer.  Put up 14 pints of pears last week.  Going to be putting up  some more this week. 

    The growning season is over!!  I'm soooo happy.  It has been a very interesting year.  Cool and rainy fhe first part of the season and hot and dry the last part of season.  The grapes are done and we have put up gallons of juice for drinking and jelly making. 

We are going to sell five rows of vines as soon as they go to sleep for the winter.  That will leave us five rows of grapes for us and friends.  We will also be able to have a Festival if we chose. 

We have made an addition to the cabin.  Now we have a bedroom/bathroom, utility, livingroom and kitchen.  It is a great guest cabin!!  It should be ready for company in a few weeks. 

The cool weather is coming and I can't wait.  We had a garage sale at Mothers house this weekend.  She should be moving to the  Demi Rosa  very soon. 

Learning to use the GOOD days to  full advantage.  Last year at this time felt REALLY bad.  Wasn't sure what was wrong just couldn't move, breath and sometimes even function.  Now having more good days and using them to achive as much as I can.  This year has been the year of extreme!!!  Snow, Ice, Tornado, Flood and Harvest have been most uncommon. 

Last year, at this time,  went to several things, Wanette Flag Day and Purcell Loose Caboose and even our own Grape Harvest Festival.  Didn't know for sure, how I was going to get through any of it,  thankgoodness, I was able to get it done.  It is one of those things I just can't do alone again.  I did have help from Dawn and Emily at Flag Day.  They have no idea that I just couldn't have done it without them.  The weekend of the Loose Caboose Festival was one of my good days, Thankgoodness!!!!!  The Grape harvest  festival was not a good day but did have friends that helped. 

Pat decided he did not want to work on the Demi Rosa Ranch and Vineyard and I  couldn't do it on my own.  So I liquidated everything.   I only had one horse, Thunder and one sheep Pickles.  Well, I just couldn't live with that for long.  I talked to my goat people and found three goats.  One is in milk and the other two are babies. 

With the milk from my goat I made homemade manicotta last night, with homemade ricotta and mozzarella cheese.  I used the herbs I have been growing on my deck, boy was it good. 

One of the advantages of extreme is harvest.  A friend does the picking and I do the jelly making.  I have made Cherry Jelly, Blackberry Jelly, Blueberry Jelly and Sand Plum Jelly.   The tomatoes are coming on and the cumbers are looking good. 

I have written a manual on canning.  I am going to start doing classes on food storage.  There is so much that can be done and if you have a clue you will need to get things ready for the future.  I bought alot of meat, in the sale bin at my small grocery store today.  I have already canned three quarts of chuck roast.  I have arm roast and rump roast to can tomorrow.     I really enjoy canning and it makes cooking so easy when you forget to take something out of the freezer. 

Summer is here and the snakes are also here.  I have run into a garter snake and a pgmy rattler so far.  We usually have cooperhead snakes.  Pat has killed two cooperheads  at the front gate but so far not  at the house.   I'm thinking about getting more cats!!!  

Time to get dinner ready or maybe time to hit the pool!!!!   

Another first at the Demi Rosa!!    I looked out the kitchen window and saw that some of our turkeys were out of the pen.  Then I realized that there were to many turkeys!!!  Four or Five Tom Turkeys were at the fence talking to my Tom Turkey!!  My poor little guy who is young was protecting his girls.  The wild Toms were older and really giving him a hard time.  One of the wild Turkeys was in the vineyard and couldn't find his way out.  Boy was he upset to miss out of the fun.  I got some pictures but I couldn't get close enough to really see them.  I counted and there were 10 Toms. 

I had always hoped that my turkeys would bring up the wild ones.  It was really great and I hope they come up more often. 

We are in the freezer, our low tonight is 7 and the wind chill is going to be -20.  Our high today is 15.  So far the animals are okay.  I have gotten heat lamps for everyone.  Going to have to break ice several times today. 

I did get the forum up on the web site. You are invited to start a discussion. 

I had a wonderful thank you this morning!!  One of the Elders at the Church I attend has cancer.  He has been such a blessing and a true Christian example.  His treatment has caused his skin to become dry and flaky.  His wife is the teacher of my Sunday School Class.  She said she would be interested in trying the Goat Milk Soap to see if it would help.    This morning after Church he came to me to let me know that he hasn't had a problem since he has been using the Goat Milk Soap.  I am so excited that I was able, in a very small way,  make him more comfortable.

We are in for a COLD front that will put our highs in the teens!  That awful Global Warming!!!!  There is so much to do to get ready in the barn.  Straw for beds to sleep under the heat lamps and plastic over the cracks and doors, so much to do! 

Have to go to town tomorrow to get straw and feed.  That will really put a dent in my time to work on the barn.  Oh well,  I have to do what I have to do!!!   

New Year's Day Tradition!!  Blackeyed Peas is a must but hard to get the family to eat them.  About 10 years ago we found a Blackeyed Pea Soup that everyone loved, even the kids!!!  I have to make a double batch now so we will have enough.    It's rich and creamy.  Hard to find the blackeyed peas!!!  If your interested I can put the recipe on line just leave me a comment. 

Sold two does yesterday.  I only have Tilly my 4 year old doe that should kid the middle of January, Carmel and her baby.  Carmel is giving about 1/2 gallon of milk in the morning and I leave the rest for Pearl.  When Tilly is in milk she is a real cow!!  She gives over a gallon a day.  I think the little girls went to a real nice home.   I also talked to a really sweet women that may buy Tilly's kids when they hit the ground.  She may also be my Oklahoma Grown Blackberry source.  Boy do we love that Blackberry Jam!!!!  I would love to get Blackberry Jam in my product line. 

Who knew!!  I haven't ever tried Orange Marmalade.  It just never sounded good.  Well let me tell you it is VERY good!!!  I made 8 8oz jars and Mother has already eaten one jar.  It was really messy putting into my jars but worth the trouble.  This could be another Demi Rosa Gourmet Jam.

Time to get the New Years Day Blackeyed Pea Soup ready for tomorrow!!  May cheat and have some today.  It's really cold with a touch of snow in the air, the perfect soup day.

I had some cherries in the pantry that I had canned last year.  I decided to try and make jelly with them.  I think it came out pretty good.  Mother thought it was great but it is food, she thinks ALL food is great!!  I have some blueberries in the pantry, hum, I wonder if they would make a good jelly?

Cold, snow, mud and slush!!  Can't really do anything outside so I've been spending time in the kitchen.  Today I'm making orange marmalade!!  It's a 24 hour process so I  won't know the results until tomorrow but it sure does smell good.  If it turns out good I may add it to my jelly and jams in the store.  This evening for dessert I'm going to make an apple crisp.  I can't decided if I want to make a soup or beans for dinner. 

I'm going to make a batch or two of grape jelly today.  I may experiment with using the pulp in the bottom of the jar to see what it does to the flavor and consistency. I'll let you know. 

I've updated the web site with pictures of the Blizzard, cabin and of course the puppies!!   I also think I added a fourm.  If I have please fell free to chat.

The snow is melting but I understand we are expecting more snow next week.  We'll see.