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.
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “Everything but the Earwigs – Making Wine on the Farmy.”
It’s cold! I’m constantly amazed by the rapid changing of the seasons. It seems just a few posts ago that you were sweltering. Now the wind is getting the back of your neck. Unbelievable. I would love to go grape picking. My parents grew grapes and I would love to pick them – with scissors, and carefully lay them in a basket xx
Sorry to interrupt but I cannot seem to access your blog – my computer maybe?
Hope it is all better now? c
So cute, that Big Dog !!
Darn, my comment vanished into the cosmos somewhere when my internet decided to play havoc AGAIN!
Fear not dear C, we are all here to support you in the long wait for the wine!
I love how big dog has to drag his blankie around with him and would you look at those 2 naughty kitty-cats – whispering in company is very rude you know.
We are supposed to be enjoying beautiful summer weather but alas we are still stuck in winter! Seems this global warming thing is a bit more severe than I thought.
🙂 Mandy xo
maybe it is global cooling!! c
A little wine for the bottles…a little wine for the makers 😉
The birds and other critters beat us every single season. At least the grapes went to some life form that enjoyed them.
I love the thought of Big Dog dragging his blankie around — such a cozy image! Stay warm…
Your place looks a lot like ours but you are producing more!
I love the dog and his blankie…. reminds me of mine… the wine looks good, the wait is the problem… but the anticipation makes it so much better when tasting at last…
That’s a very sensible Big Dog. Today’s view is lovely – looks very summery, until I spied the thermometer beside it: Brrrrrrr! I hope you are wearing a scarf and hat. It is horribly dreary-wet here today and certainly not warm.
Big Dog is a sweetie, and is that a yellow fire hydrant in your garden?
48 and windy at mid-afternoon is cold, nasty weather, even with the sunshine! Smart Boy, that Big Dog, taking his blankie with him!
Thanks for the shout-out. Linda Brown (Life on a Colorado Farm) may join our little project. She’s trying to choose her view… I’m thinking about getting a big dial thermometer like yours to add to the shot…Much easier to photograph than Hubby’s indoor digital version! 🙂
Oh yes and maybe you could get one of these Min and Max ones too.. Mine is on order.. though i do like the big fat images we are getting from the old fashioned version! Now I am going to pop over to Linda to encourage her to join the Daily View Club!
i wish i could be there for the uncorking!
I’ve never seen a dog wrapping himself in a blanket before – that’s so sweet. My newf and chesapeake would just eat it.
he drags it about and i do the wrapping.. sweet and very clever dog.c
Oooh the amber-golden color of that ice wine certainly looks good. Every season is so busy!!! And beautiful.
Interesting. I wish I could have a taste of that ice wine! I’m loving the daily view photo. I can already see a difference in the light, and the foliage on the little tree in the foreground is changing almost daily. Beautiful!