Rogue Creamery

We had a fun visit to the Rogue Creamery where they make wonderful cheese and have their own dairy in Grants Pass and age their cheeses in local natural caves.  They are just down the road a little ways for us but this is our first visit.  We got to sample some different kinds of cheese.  They are famous for their Blue Cheese and have won some national awards for it.  They also make cheddar and parmesan/romano cheese.  They had video showing them making the cheese.  Rich got to talk to the owners about his experience with making cheese and they shared about their business.  This has been a creamery since 1933, in the very same building.  We bought some blue cheese to make some dressing for our Sunday dinner and also some parmesan/romano to grate on our homemade pizzas  So yummy!

Out front

 

 

Mary and Rich watching the cheese making video.  So cute as their hands are in the same position.

 

 

The cheddar cheese room

 

 

 

All the blue ribbons for their cheese awards.

 

 

So many wonderful cheddar cheeses to choose from.

 

 

Another pic with the Big Cheese

 

 

 

Mary grated the parmesean/romano on top of our pizza.  Mmmmmm!

Christmas Slide Show

Well, with these snowy days after Christmas, it has given me a chance to go through all our pictures and make a 2016 slide show of our fun during the holidays.  It just gives you a  little picture into our world.  Enjoy!

 

Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/JgGfiGhVJ2Y

Most Snow in a 100 Years

Yes, we got in the national news of the town that got the most snow in 24 hours in a 100 years for around here.  What started out as a light skiff of snow turned into a big mother load.  One day it snowed all day long and we got 8 inches. 

 

Then the last few days have been really super cold. This morning the thermometer read 12 degrees!  Our poor little dog is bewildered to have to deal with all the snow when he goes outside to do his business.  Fortunately there is a spot under a big bush that is free of snow right by the front door. 

 

Mary had fun making a couple of snow men.   This is the most she can remember ever.  It has been about 3 years since the last snow, so that is an eon ago for a 10 year old.  I crocheted her a messy bun hat and she loves it.  I think I will make her a red one too.  It has been several days since the big snow and we are tired of it now.  I guess we are supposed to have rain this weekend and wash it all away.

 

Elf on the Self

Here are the fun things Mary found her little elf friend doing the 12 mornings before Christmas.

 

Mary has had so much fun waking up each morning and finding out what the little elf has done in the night.  She knows I do it, but she still gets a kick out of it.  This may be her last year as she is growing up.  We will see. 

Happy New Year

What an amazing year it has been!  We have had so many fun adventures with Mary!  She is growing up so quickly.  At times it is so hard to believe she is 10 years old and we are celebrating 14 years of marriage.  We look forward to this coming year with great anticipation.  We hope you have a blessed New Year!

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas, Mary and I make a cake for to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  This year we made a chocolate cake with Andes Mint chips in it.  Mary helped me frost it and decorate it.

We always make a homemade pizza on Saturday nights.  Since Christmas Eve was on a Saturday this year I made Christmas tree shaped pizzas.  It was so fun and we had my sister over for dinner.  I think we will make it a Christmas Eve tradition to have tree shaped pizzas along with our Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

The gifts are all ready for the morning, even little Mackie gets a surprise gift of a covered bed.  We will see how he likes it in the morning!

Hanukkah

We found out this year that the first day of Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev, fell on Christmas this year.  Since the Jewish Day starts at night fall, Christmas Eve was the beginning.  So we bought a Hanukkah  menorah and we are lighting a candle each night.  We read the historical events surrounding the Feast of Dedication and the miracle of the oil of one days supply lasting 8 days until new oil could be prepared for the menorah in the temple.

 

 I put together a video of day 1-4.  It starts with a video then several still shots and then a final video.  Mary has enjoyed it very much.

 

 

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/Z3M1t6Y9qnU

Christmas Baking

Mary and I have been baking up a storm this last week.  We started with fruit and nut bread.  We used all real dried fruit and not the candied fruit you buy in the store.  I was so pleased to find real dried Kiwi, pineapple, apple, peach, pear and apricots. 

The next afternoon we did these 4 things.  The cream cheese was for a Cream Cheese icing for the fruit cake.

 

I added white chocolate and peppermint chips to the top of the fudge.

 

Today we decorate about 40 Christmas cookies we baked last night.  It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining in through the windows.  Mary had so much fun decorating them with the different colors of icing and sprinkles.

 

 

We made up several plates for neighbors and for people at Rich's work.

 

We wish you all a Merry Christmas!