Everything but the Earwigs – Making Wine on the Farmy.

Oh and we tried to take out the spiders too. No spiders were harmed in this post -or photographed – so it is safe to proceed.

Yesterday was cold all day. One of those cold days that has a proper serious chill carried by a mean little wind aimed at that one spot of bare on your neck. The cold that makes you hunch and shiver at the thought of what is to come. 

Big Dog brought out his blankie and watched the proceedings from his bed.  He really does drag his blankie around with him, he goes through three or four every winter because they catch and rip on sharp things as he runs dragging them along, flying behind him. They get stuck in the ice or get lost.  He is wrapped up in at least one every night in the barn. Yesterday was his first day of carrying his blankie around the yard, so I guess this means winter is coming after all.

Cats do not care about the cold. They were discussing secret cat things all day. 

WE spent all morning picking grapes for the Ice Wine.

They were as sweet as table grapes.

We ignored the bemused and confused peahens calling out “who has been eating my breakfast” in honk language.

The grapes were stripped from the stems, everything went into the pot. A  Stock Pot for the wino. The pigs and chickens fought over the skins and stalks after ..

..everything was crushed with potato mashers and freezing cold hands, left to wallow for a while and exchange flavours, then strained in the press. 

Twice.  Yes Roger you are right; the glass you see above you is from my first vintage.  Vintage is such a posh word.  Looks and big posh words can be deceiving.   And Jed just for you, even though I left in all the dried up exciting looking grapes, and the few sweet rotting ones, and even a few cobwebs, together with the pinky, plump and juicy ones, I did take out all the earwigs. 

The resulting cloudy, dirty looking, delicious smelling grape juice will settle overnight.  Then John will take over as the boss and proceed with the wine making process.  I take over again when it is drinking time.  This is a very long wait for me you understand. I will need a lot of support.

The Daily View was taken later in the afternoon yesterday. I know that the temperature gauge does not look as cold as it really was. But there was a chilly wind.  I am told that it is warming up again this week which will be very nice, thank you very much.

There is another Weblog presenting a daily picture. Over at My Little Corner of Rhode Island – where Angels have no fear treading- Marie takes a shot of her view every Four O’Clock.  We are enjoying the comparisons.

Have a lovely, lovely day. Celi.