Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Beautiful Sunset

We recently had a pretty strong thunderstorm go north of us, and it made the sunset for us look so pretty!
I love thunderstorms anyway, so I'm always outside when I hear the first rumble of thunder. I know, probably not the safest thing, but I'm usually outside in all weather anyway!

I grabbed my camera, and snapped some pictures of how pretty the clouds looked.








Sometimes for me, I need to remember to slow down, and take a look at whats around me.
Just seeing the beautiful sky and clouds makes any day feel more relaxing!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Medals Arrived!

It's been just about a month since we entered our cheese in the World Jersey Cheese Awards, and the other day we went to the mailbox and there they were!

It's still feels really cool to think that our cheese competed against cheese makers from other countries!





They are made out of Jersey Pottery, so they are made right on the Island of Jersey.
I just need to see about getting a display case made for them, so I don't mess around and
break them!

I have a lot of catchng up to do, and I plan on doing that this week.
The month of July has been so busy and hectic!



Saturday, June 26, 2010

Update for the Week

A little this, and a lot of that. 

I think we've managed to do a little of everything this week. Accomplished some, still a lot left to do.

Al has managed to get 1st cutting of hay started. We are late this year. Thank goodness we have over 200 bales of hay left from last year, and in really good condition. Looks like it's just been baled.  My job while he is cutting, raking and baling hay is to make sure he has plenty of water.  It's been hot here in southeastern Ohio, and the humidity is miserable. Very important to keep him going! Emily thinks that driving in our hayfields with the truck is great. So does Annie, our beagle.  We had some hay cut and raked when a heavy, unpredicted, rain popped up. The rain was so heavy, that it flooded parts of our road, and the lane that our cows walk on to get to their paddocks.  So, Al went back and tedded the hay out, or spread it out so it would dry and not kill the grass growing underneath.  He'll be raking and baling tomorrow. Cutting more on Monday.  We have 2 more hayfields to go after this one. 


This is normally a small, quiet stream. A culvert pipe runs under the
lane, but after a heavy rain, it flooded our valley. Guess we had our own river!

Emily had a full week of VBS (Vacation Bible School). She loved it! The theme was Bar None Ranch, so there was a lot of little cowgirls and cowboys moseying around the church each evening.  Her first night, she won a HUGE cowboy hat. It looked so cute, but she didn't agree. I did manage to get a picture.  She also announced that she made a new friend on the second night. I asked what the little girls name was. She said "I don't know."  Hmm..we may have to work on remembering names when making friends!


The rain has done some good, even if it may be a bit much at once. My herbs are going crazy! I've snipped off a few and used in a couple of recipes. Very yummy! I've added 3 more herbs to my little collection. I found some pineapple mint, lemon thyme and lemon balm. I love the different fragrances they each have.  I'm having a lot of fun with these!



chocolate mint

lemon balm

pineapple mint

I made it to both farm markets this week. I enjoy visiting with everyone. I was able to take 3 varieties of cheese, Hill Folk Jersey, Boeren Kaas Gouda and Jersey Emment.  Looking forward to July, our Summer Swiss will be ready, and I'm anxious to sample it. It is our new cheese of the year. 

I think that I will take tomorrow to slow down a bit, catch up on laundry and dishes. It's amazing how that stuff can pile up in just 2 days of doing farm markets!

For tonight, I'm looking forward to opening up some windows and the back door in our living room, turn some fans on and sit back and watch some of the Barrett-Jackson car auction and Speed channel. I love seeing some of those old classic cars restored. It's amazing how much they can bring, too!


Friday, June 18, 2010

Takin' It Easy Friday!

It's Friday, already! Not sure where our week has gone, I know it's been a busy one.  I've decided to take today and tomorrow off from going to the farm markets. This is because we are low on cheese that is ready to sell, and I want to give the cheese that is just ready another week or so to age out some more. 

This morning has been slightly slower than usual, and it feels good! I like to take some time once in awhile to catch my breath.  We had planned on making another batch of cheese tomorrow, but since the weather is going to be nice and no rain in sight for a few days, Al will be heading to the hayfield starting today, and won't take a break from making hay until Wednesday, which is our next planned cheese make, and it's supposed to rain.

My work, for the weekend since I won't be going to farm markets will be playing catch up on things. I have about 5 batches of cheese that will be waxed this weekend. We use plastic mats that put under the cheese as it ages in the cooler. This helps let air flow under the wheels.  We use the same plastic mats under the cheese when the wheels are coated, so that means some of the coating gets on the mats. I have a stack of mats that will be washed up and sanitized today.  I also want to wipe the shelves down in aging area, I do this about every month or two.  Wiping the shelves with vinegar and salt prevents any unwanted mold from growing. 
I also have 6 wheels of cheese to pack up and get ready to ship on Tuesday, it's going to Jungle Jim's.
So, even though I am taking a weekend off from markets, I still have a very long list of things to do! But, I will admit, I'm moving at a slower pace. ;-)

To go along with the "takin' it easy" part of the day, I've fixed a very easy and quick lunch. It's very yummy too!

Texas Tortilla Soup

26-oz. can chicken and rice soup
10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies
15-oz. can black beans
11-oz. can corn
Garnish: shredded Cheddar, crushed tortilla chips

Combine soup and undrained vegetables in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until heated through. Ladle into soup bowls; top with cheese and tortilla chips.  Serves 4.



Hope that everyone has a chance to enjoy the weekend!



Sunday, June 13, 2010

World Jersey Cheese Awards 2010

On June 1st we shipped some of our cheese to New York, from there it was sent to the Island of Jersey in the UK. This was for an "invite" only awards.

We were very anxious this past week, knowing that the judging would be on Friday, the 11th. Yesterday morning we received the results to the judging. There were 102 cheese entries submitted from 10 different countries, only 38 awards were given.

Our Boeren Kaas Gouda placed Silver.

Our Jersey Emment and Hill Folk Jersey both placed Bronze.

We are very excited! Being our first time entering our cheese in a world competition, we were not sure how we would do against other cheesemakers from around the world.

We're so thankful for a lot of our family and friends who encouraged us to go for it and do this!
We've been informed of another competition held in Europe this fall. We just may consider doing this! :)

We've been able to stay busy making plenty of cheese, and we'll continue to make through October, possibly November. Our goal for the year, to have at least 400 wheels of cheese in our cooler before we take the winter off!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Congratulations to Our Winner!

We have a winner in our cheese giveaway!!
Our winner is Mandie! She left a great comment to our featured Friday post, and that put her in the drawing!

She has a great blog! You should stop by and visit! Whispering Dreams

Mandie, if you can, just email me the address you would like your cheese to be shipped, and I will get it out on Monday! You can email me at renae-s@sbcglobal.net

Congratulations!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Gooseberry Patch Featured Friday Blog!!


How exciting for us to have our blog chosen for the Gooseberry Patch Featured Friday Blog!!

Stop by their blog at the following link to read about us!!

http://gooseberrypatch.typepad.com/blog/2010/06/ff-down-on-the-farm.html

You can also stop by our website at http://www.buckeyegrovefarm.com/ or http://www.buckeyegrovefarmcheese.com/  to read more about our farm and cheese!

We would also like to give someone 1 lb. of our very own Hill Folk Jersey, this is our own recipe, created by my mother-in-law!

All you have to do is leave a comment here, become a follower on Facebook at the following link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beallsville-OH/Buckeye-Grove-Farm-Cheese-LLC/122474122100, or become a follower of our blog!

Those who are already followers of our Facebook page and of our blog will already be eligible, but we love more comments! ;-)

The giveaway will be open all week, we'll have the drawing on June 11 at noon! Good Luck!!! 
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