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

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

WOW!!!! Casa Somerset. It is not very far from being finished. Vineyard,Vino, Food, Friends. Let your mind wander about what you would like here..

The hardwood floors were installed last week. This week hopefully, they can dig the for the septic system. We also have the gutters left to be installed and the last of the electrical. There is also painting to be completed, but the(the I am suppose to say Veranda now, Christine's orders) is done and you will love it!! No more porch:):) Wait till you see the 2nd floor mantel. www.seldomfound.com

We have vines to plant this Sunday, anyone who would like to help us is welcome. We will have a lunch and some vino for all who help at noon or whenever the new vines are in. Only 108 this year to plant, but our friends will get together for a meal overlooking the vineyard. We will start planting at 10 am.

You have to come and see this, it is the vanishing town of Somerset,Kansas.

Cindy Reynolds of Somerset Winery said years ago ,we need to bring Somerset, KS. back. www.somersetridgewinery.com Stop there too. Dennis and Cindy are wonderful hosts.

Come out on Sunday to help us plant. Bring a bottle over to visit. Also, bring your gloves and wear gardening clothes.We will have some lunch and then you can stop by Somerset Ridge Winery and taste the vino.

We would love for you to see the house and help with our planting!!

Christine and Mike

Casa Somerset , February

I worked out at Casa Somerset today. I was cleaning things up. We are getting very anxious and happy. Ready to move in. Got permisson from the county to sheet rock, we passed inspection.

It is amazing how many decisions there are to make on a house. Every day we have multiple things to decide which will be permanent in the house. People say that if a couple can build a house together and still be happy and in love, they can survive.

We will do it! Just think of the parties we will have with friends. The future to us looks like all of our dreams.

We are going to plant another 300 vines this year. I would never have thought of owning my own vineyard.

It was a beautiful day, picked up the leftovers of winter. Oh please let spring come, we have so much to do. We will never in our lifetime get it all done.

(Christine) I talked to my friend Carmel today who lives in Oklahoma. She and I have decided that we will spend many days together as we get old, sitting on the deck looking over the lake, with a glass of wine. It is so peaceful out at the house. I love listening to the birds and watching the small animals.

What do you think about the color of the house? We would love to hear from you.

Mike and Christine

Casa Somerset

The house is coming along, just too slow for us. The stucco is on and will probably be painted this week weather permiting.

Christine and I did agree today on color, my arm is still in a sling so you can just imagine why...... :-)

We both want it to look like old European, old Italy, an Italian villa. Our stuccoing contractor is going to "help" the aging process along. He will add some instant age! Kevin is an artist!

We are hoping that we get an inspection by the end of the week. The plumber told me Sunday that he would be done this week.

The insulation should be installed, then the drywall. I am so-o-o-o-o ready to move in. I know at the beginning that I thought we would be in by January 1st. Christine says June. Hope she is not right this time. :-) (Christine has built a house before. She has a little more insight!)

I am looking forward to having friends over this Spring and Summer. We will be planting more vines this Spring. It will help to create the "look" of Italy, and also give us more wine. We have really gotten excited about having our own grapes and wine. Dennis and Cindy Reynolds are the best! Be sure to stop by their winery.

Mike and Christine

Casa Somerset Progress

Well it keeps moving along. It is now December 15th. It is cold today, no one worked because it was too cold.

We have 2 furnaces installed and most of the windows. (Three are on back-order.) We have many of the lights installed. We are purchasing the CFL floodlights for the canned lights.... Yikes! And we have a LOT of canned lights! Most of the arches are built, and we hope to begin the stuccoing soon. They have the scaffoldings set up for it as you can see in the pictures.

I am so anxious to move in for many reasons. Just for Christine and I to sit on the porch and share each other's time and thoughts, drinking some vino. Even better when we have our first glass of Norton Cabernet labeled Casa Somerset. We do enjoy our time together.

Louisburg Cidermill ,Cider Fest.

I have never seen so many people in Somerset. Thousands!!!!! I went there to take pictures and thought, "There is no need for economic stimulus." This is what we as a nation need; Americans thinking and creating local prosperity. You should go to the Louisburg Cidermill to see the pumpkin field and the Corn Maze. I was watching the small children with their families picking out pumpkins, and really enjoying the outdoors. Halloween is just around the corner, and each child wanted the spookiest pumpkin! This Ciderfest is a real family event. The bands were playing and the children singing, real family fun. It give me a good all over feeling.

Tom and Shelly Scheirman have brought this fun time to Miami County for over 30 years. My friend, Jim Howell, told me all about when the Cidermill started out really small, and now they are the icon of the county. Greg Bevelin from the Hillsdale Bank Bar-b-que said that the Ciderfest brought business to his restaurant in Hillsdale.

This is where you and your family need to be next weekend. Check out their website at

www.louisburgcidermill.com It will create family memories that will last a lifetime.

Mike