Thomas has arrived at Casa Somerset

Thomas arrived last Saturday for Christmas this year. Our first Christmas with our youngest grandchild, and our first Christmas at Casa Somerset! Thomas is a very busy 18 month old. As I am writing this he knows I have pretzels at my desk, I have to stop and give him a treat. He knows a softie when he sees one!!

He has been trying to catch Raphael and Figero since his arrival a week ago. They don't appreciate him as we do. I would put in a picture of them with him, but they will have no part of it. It might have to do with the squeals he lets out every time he spots them!!

He has really made this a great Christmas. He is a bundle of energy. He is so well behaved for his age. He eats well and is our pride and joy. Thomas, and his mommy and daddy, Beatriz and Joe, live in Rapid City, South Dakota, a long way off. We are so glad they all came for Christmas.

Love and Happiness is in the air at Casa Somerset.

Raphael and Figero

Christine and I couldn't wait any longer for the twins to come. I happen to stop by Mitch and Kathy's house Friday. I saw the love of our lives. I had to bring Christine back for a surprise adoption. We talked about getting two mousers sometime. I had a cat before named Sammy, he looked Siamese, but was just a fat lovable cat. Veronica, my daughter, loved him. It has been at least 17 years ago.

Christine didn't want children, so now we have twins. :-) In the spring (or while Christine is at work) we will probably get two puppies too. We want two big, happy, floppy dogs. Mixed breeds, probably. Two local vets stopped by a couple of weeks ago and said we might be happiest with mixed breeds.

The kittens are taking over the house now. They are always fighting, biting each other, and wrestling. Christine likes Figero best. She says he is the calmest. Raphael is the adventurer.

I see changes coming in our life. This will change Casa Somerset Vineyard.

Somerset, Kansas...This is where it is this weekend.

WOW!!!!! This last weekend I thought everyone had arrived in Somerset. The Louisburg Cidermill Festival entertained a packed crowd. Everyone brought their kids or grandkids, there was so much fun for all. Record crowds. After a fun time at the Cidermill, go a half mile west on 68, turn left and go two miles to Somerset Ridge Winery. People are telling their friends about this hidden treasure to visit. It all happens again this next weekend. If you are not planning to visit Miami County, KS this weekend, you are going to be in the wrong place. So much is FREE, no charge for admittance.

On your way to see Somersert Ridge Winery, check out the 120 Longhorn steers that are grazing in a field. They are just around the turn from Casa Somerset. This is Slowfood country. In addition to the longhorns, we have an EMU ranch one mile away. The 4D Acres is west on 287th. We also have Free Range chickens one mile away.

This weekend Casa Somerset Vineyard will have Applecello cake, with applecello sauce. This is from the Louisburg Cidermill cider. Come by and enjoy. This recipe is from Jasper's restaurant in KC. We are only 20 miles south of Kansas City, 4 miles west of Louisburg.

There will be alpacas at the Somerset Ridge Winery. There is an alpaca ranch nearby. Free wine tasting. A great place to spend a slow afternoon. Be sure to tell them that you heard about it on the Casa Somerset Vineyard website.

The Dream is getting bettter

We are working every day with many great things happening. When I think that just two years ago, there was a house that needed to be pushed over. Now the vineyard is a reality. There are seven vineyards in the area. Check out Somerset Ridge Winery. The Louisburg Cidermill, which is just up the road from us, will hold their Ciderfest next weekend. The Ciderfest is a huge event, with a pumpkin patch, craft booths, food booths, and the wonderful cider that Tom and Shelly Schierman make.

We have a Paola address officially, but we consider ourselves to be in Somerset, Kansas. It is hard to believe that this was a vanishing town, it even lost it's Post Office years ago. Now, there is so much going on here. There is even the 4D acres Emu ranch just down the road.

Every day here is a new adventure. I am so glad I retired:):)

Now I only report to Christine:):)

Come and visit soon, we have friends come by daily.

Mike and Christine

It is Labor Day weekend and we were are at the Somerset Ridge Winery for a lunch overlooking their lake on Sunday. Afterwards we went back to Casa Somerset Vineyard and our friends start coming over. We talked about small growers and local producers. This was a Slowfood weekend.

Wow, I thought summer was over, but not if you visit the Wrischnik's, their yard is what Slowfood is all about! We had dinner with our friends Steve and Brenda who have an amazing garden. If everyone in America gardened like this we would be the healthiest nation on Earth. Carlo Petrini, when he started Slowfood, had a vision of people gardening like this.

Can you believe a bay leaf tree in Kansas?? Steve and Brenda have so many herbs in their yard you could not use them all. They have been supplying us with produce all summer. They gave us the golden eggplant, and they have beautiful heirloom tomatoes. Their garden is still like a jungle of fresh produce, they garden with so much love.

Our dinner was great, we ate with with their daughter Regan, her friend James, and Steve and Brenda. Brenda served pickled green beans which were the best ever, but when things are so fresh they have to be good!!

It has been a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends.

I am telling you the Slowfood Movement is in Somerset Kansas and Miami County.

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The Louisburg Cidermill Festival starts September 19th. What a wonderful family outing, just 20 minutes out of Kansas CIty.

Mike and Christine

An evening at Jasper's

What an evening!!! Jasper didn't know we were coming, but the evening was our first out in many months. Christine said we needed a time away from Casa Somerset Vineyard.

When we arrived we went to the kitchen, where Jasper was preparing the evening's feast for his guests. He took time to seat us in the dining room. Jasper stayed and talked about food and Italy. Our good friend Hilary arrived, and Jasper picked a great wine for all of us. It was wonderful seeing Hilary, and the wine was magnifico!

Jasper told about his new fresh mozzarella tableside appetizer. He said it was quite a hit, and then he jumped up, got a demo table, and started making fresh mozzerella at our table. He brought a bowl of salted cheese curds and a pitcher of boiling water. Also on the cart were some beautiful heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, and some balsamic glaze.

First, the water was poured over the curds and the mozzarella began to form. Jasper mixed it with his hands (in heavy gloves) and then began to work the protein in the cheese by kneading and pulling the cheese. He formed two round balls of fresh cheese. He poured balsamic on the tomatoes and added the fragrant basil. After that, he sliced the fresh made mozzarella and put it on top of the basil and tomatoes. He added more balsamic glaze to top it off.

After J made our appetizer, it seemed like everyone wanted to have the treat at their table Jasper III made the rounds taking the demo table to those tables preparing this treat! We had a great time watching a young man, Mac, there with his friend at the table next to us that was fasinated with the cheese being made at his table.

James Mirabile arrived for dinner with his wife Vickie and Miss Kansas and Miss Missouri . Jasper himself prepared the mozzarella appetizer at their table.

Jasper is the Cheese Ambassador for Wisconsin.

We ate all of the wonderful mozzarella and then our dinner, dessert, and a shot of Lemoncello.

Jasper III is going to share his Applecello recipe with me , Applecello cake coming upfor the fall season!!!

Golden Eggplant

We were having a dinner party on Friday at Casa Somerset Vineyard, and I was in the need of fresh produce. My call went out to our good friends, Brenda and Steve. They REALLY know how to garden. On Thursday Steve picked a golden Eggplant for me. I had never seen one before. Steve gave me other items he was picking as we arrived. The produce would be wonderful for our dinner on Friday.

We were on our way to see the movie "Fresh". We had been invited to the Coffee Bean in Paola for the showing. Vickie Scruggs was the one that arranged for the movie and invited us. It was on fresh, substainable food. The movie was all about the Slow Food principles that Christine and I love! We try to use the freshest product when we have friends over for dinner.

I love going to the farmers market in Overland Park and Springhill (when I can't veggies for free from Steve :-)))) Hopefully we will get a large Farmers Market in Miami County.

Cooking with produce from small growers is what is important, if we don't support them we will only be eating produce from 1,000 miles away.

Has anyone else ever seen a golden eggplant? If so, let me know about it.

Mike

Casa Somerset Vineyard is HERE!!!!!!

WOW!!!!! We really live here. We each have our own kitchen, Christine is a bully in the kitchen. We are busy setting up all of the rooms. Christine and I have a lot of furniture. Believe me, I know. My sons and I have moved TONS of furniture over the past month!!! We have 10 acres of land and a 6 acre lake. Right now, the lake has some algae, but we are working to get it cleared out. We will have 4 paddle boats for our friends to float on, in the evenings with a bottle of vino from Somerset Ridge Winery.

You have to come by and visit.......really!

We got married here last November, who will be next?????

Each day we have many Kodak moments.

Look, a new batch of Lemoncello, just like Jasper III taught me. We could sip this together.

Think...weddings, Girls night out, anniversary dinners, etc.

We have planted 500 Cabernet Sauvignon vines, with that many more to come. There are at least 7 Vineyards and 2 tasting rooms within a couple of miles, and with more to come . We are the wine capital of Kansas. The Napa Valley of Kansas and Somerset. The fastest growing wine region of Kansas. We are located between Louisburg and Paola. Mile and half from Louisburg Cidermill, don't forget cidermill donuts

Happy Residents of Somerset

Mike and Christine Hursey