Oklahoma events and family travel blog. Resources for wine tasting, RV sites, Oklahoma outdoors, river camping, grape growing, winery tours and promotional events in Oklahoma.
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BROWN, Mary Ellen / (405)-945-3358
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GeorgiaLabels: Grapevine
Cynthiana Grapes produce a rich, full-bodied red wine with a dry character similar in style to Cabernet Sauvignon but with more spice.
In fact, it has been called 'The Cabernet of the
Ozarks'.
Excellent resistance to most diseases that affect leaves
and fruit. Vigorous plants bear small, flavorful grapes.
Ripens in late August to early September, makes deeply
pigmented wine.
Henry Fields has begun their annual wine grape vine sales! This is a great chance to start a home vineyard from just a couple wine grape vines.
Most commercial growers only sell wine grape vines in bulk. Although their prices are lower than Henry Fields, they rarely come with the same money back promise and they force you to purchase many times more vines than you need. Check out these wine grape vine bargains offered with NO minimum purchase size:
Wine Grape Vines On Sale - Click links for prices
Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Vine One Gallon
Chardonnay Grape Vine One Gallon
Technorati Tags: Wine Grapes, Vineyard, Grape Grower, Grape
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a secluded hideaway, minutes from restaurants and with access to northeast Oklahoma’s most popular scenic river? How would you like to see deer wander by and watch the face of your loved one when they touch a fawn for the first time? Elephant Rock is truly a magical place where families can discover nature in a safe, humane and friendly atmosphere. I was recently a guest of Rod and Susan Foster at their beautiful nature retreat and was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of fun and interesting things I experienced during my stay.
Rod met us upon arrival and suggested a 14 mile paddle down the Illinois River, Tom and I love the Illinois during the off season so we were quick to agree. The river provided a nice current which made for an easy paddle. We had a wonderful time taking pictures of the wildlife; we even got the rare treat of spotting an Osprey. The large bird was perched high above us in a tree overlooking the river and was not eager to pose, but we managed to snap a couple of shots before we paddled away. Although we saw many species of birds throughout the paddle, it was the Osprey that stole the show.
Many outfitters close during the off season, but Elephant Rock is open year around which is great news for those that enjoy viewing wildlife and experiencing nature. During the summer many loud people float the Illinois and scare much of the wildlife, but the rest of the year it is a beautiful haven for many impressive creatures like Osprey and Bald Eagle. Diverse natural beauty, good cell phone reception, and ease of access make the Illinois a great fall destination.
After our trip down the river Susan and Rod picked us up and we headed back up the hill to the nature park. I assumed that 'Nature Park' was just a fancy way of saying 'on a rough road', but I was wrong! When we arrived we noticed the beautiful yellow and blue canoes and walked up for a closer look, it was then we met June and July the young deer that Susan is looking after. She uses her experience in the Veterinary field to help wounded and rescued deer among other things.
June and July are not related and have very opposite personalities. July was cautious, but friendly with an obvious fondness for a soft petting between her ears. June on the other hand was full of energy, romping, snorting, running about, stopping briefly to nose the cat (Tater Salad) and then dashing off again in her own little version of tag. There were not any pens to contain the wildlife, they roam free and were our companions by choice, which for me, was a very special treat.
After Tom was finished petting the deer, we headed back to our yurt for dinner. A yurt is a Mongolian creation; I would describe it as a heavy-duty deluxe tent with raised wood floors, very capable of being nicer than a regular cabin. I have lodged in a primitive yurt, but never anything as nice as the ones at Elephant Rock. Our yurt was fully plumbed and equipped with the following luxuries: bathroom (with shower), kitchen sink, stove, refrigerator, pots, pans, dishes, linens, fan, air conditioning, heat, 2 double beds, queen futon, bunches of fluffy pillows, towels and blankets, all the things you need to be comfortable. They encourage quality time with friends and family so you will find an assortment of board games, but no TV or telephone.
We chose to cook dinner on the large charcoal grill outside, it was a nice area with lots of room for the family to gather and talk in comfort. After dinner Rod and Susan stopped by for a visit, we had a wonderful time discussing the new plans they have for expanding the Elephant Rock Nature Park to include an amphitheatre. After completion, they expect to provide a stage for the areas many talented artist and host events of their own.
Morning crept in our yurt from the huge skylight in the center of the room; it was an obvious invitation for a morning hike. I stayed behind and brewed some freshly ground hand roasted coffee while Tom and the camera went hiking. There were many deer in the area, not as tame as the ones we saw the day before but equally as beautiful. The trails were nicely cleared and well marked; they varied in difficulty however benches were scattered here and there in case you needed to take a rest along the way.
After drinking our coffee on the front deck, we decided to gather our things and go. We said our goodbyes and headed down the road to indulge in a breakfast buffet at a restaurant we spotted a few minutes away. It was the ending to a wonderful weekend; I enjoyed the quiet nature retreat and I look forward to paddling the Illinois and visiting Elephant Rock Nature Park again very soon.- Dianne M. Jones (Click here to see more pictures from our trip.)
http://www.elephant-rock.com/
Technorati Tags: Oklahoma Camping, Paddling, Illinois River, Oklahoma
I've been too busy for much blogging lately, lots of changes for the family. First, we traded my beloved Eclipse for a pickup truck. Tom has been trying to get me to trade my sporty little car in for a 4x4 truck to haul our kayaks in. I finally gave in.
Our 2002 Silverado is loads of fun and pretty sporty looking itself. The real kicker is the toy hauler RV we now pull behind it. You can think of a toy hauler as a camper with an attached garage. Tom yacks on about the new RV for days on his blog. All of us love camping out and visiting new places. I'm looking forward to heading back to Robber's Cave for a few days, I haven't been in years.
I do the driving most of the time. After all, I was the one that gave up my car, so I figure that makes the new truck mine! Still, pulling a 24 foot trailer was a bit intimidating at first. Luckily, I can drive anything with wheels ;-)
Another fun thing we do now is roast our own coffee beans. As the original coffee junkie, I am loving this new activity. Once we get done with this September's winefest I am hoping to make a real hasty escape. I hope the cool weather lasts through the festival and if you are there, stop by the tasting tent and say hello.
Got any good RV spots in the Oklahoma area to reccomend?
ttyl - Dianne
Tally’s Good Food Cafe - On the Corner of 11th and Yale in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I have written several pieces about fine dining, the exotic flavors and exciting atmosphere; and from crumbers to chopsticks, I have loved every minute of it! Today, I take a look at a different kind of cuisine, classic American Diners.
Tally’s was my latest adventure in American diners. It is a classic Tulsa diner notable for its 50's style red and chrome exterior...and its great location right on Historic Route 66. ‘Breakfast anytime’ is written boldly on the outside, but Tom and I were in the mood for a hearty lunch. Tom ordered the sampler, three large shrimp, three breaded chicken strips, and three filets of catfish, a large helping of hash browned potatoes and a roll.
The shrimp were notably large, tender and mild with a wonderfully light and buttery breading. If you are used to Red Lobster or other 'Chain Fried Shrimp' you will be pleasantly surprised at these tender, buttery treats.
The chicken was hand-breaded, tender, juicy and cooked to perfection, the breading was light and golden brown. As far as chicken strips go these are the best I can remember (sorry mom).
The catfish was a little over fried, but mild. The breading was not as light and overall rather bland. The tartar sauce was pleasantly tart and tangy which made the catfish easier to eat. Not bad, but compared to the shrimp and chicken a bit disappointing.
The hash browns were firm, crisp, and golden brown. They were not overly greasy or bland, quite nice. I did not try the roll.
I ordered the Salisbury steak with a side of spinach, green beans, and fried okra.
The Salisbury steak was a hearty patty of hamburger blended with onions, fried well and topped with a mushroom sauce. The meat was well seasoned, but the mushroom gravy was a bit too salty.
The green beans had a nice bacon flavor without being greasy, not quite as firm as I like, but not mushy either, I thought they were quite yummy. I thought the fried okra was nice, well spiced, nicely browned and the bit inside the breading was tender and green. The spinach tasted like canned spinach, but I enjoyed it.
Our ticket came to around $22 and the service was quite friendly and attentive. This building is authentically retro with booths and neon throughout. The bathrooms were decent and although they showed their age, it had hands free towel wipes and a clean floor.
I recommend putting on a pair of blue jeans and giving this little diner a try. You can find Tally’s in Tulsa on the corner of 11th and Yale.
Is there a restaurant that you would like to see featured on our website? If so send your recommendations to: webmaster@vinebydesign.com
Buy Grape Cabernet Sauvignon at Wayside Gardens
Texas lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill that will allow out-of-state wineries to ship wine directly to Texas consumers, including those who live in 'dry' areas. If signed into law by the governor, winemakers in California and elsewhere will no longer be required to sell through Texas retailers.
The company is planning a $16.5 million expansion, which will include a 60,000-square-foot plant on 6.8 acres. It will create 108 new positions over the next three years, of which 28 have already been filled. The company now has 220 workers.
Earlier this year, Nomacorc, which has been in Zebulon for six years, threatened put those additional jobs in Oklahoma, which had offered it an attractive financial package.
It's funny how the holidays can make old memories of good friends or family come to mind. I cannot help but feel a little sad thinking of the people I have lost touch with throughout the years.
I encourage everyone to reach out to a friend this holiday season. Grab a cup of coffee or share a bottle of wine; you will both be glad you did.
I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I am instinctively in favor of free trade. On the other, though, I don't like what will happen when this ban goes away.
Some wineries will do more business, but a lot of small ones will also go out of business because they can't compete. When you take down the admittedly artificial trade barriers, we'll have more of a winner-take-all situation. -- John Gorentz
The $21-billion retail wine business is lopsided, with just 2.4 percent of wineries producing 87 percent of the wine sold in 2002, according to Wine America, a leading trade group that's actively involved in pushing for change. At a disadvantage is the thriving cottage industry of 1,659 wineries that produce less than 25,000 cases annually but comprise a whopping 81 percent of the total number of wineries.
The delivery rate for permission-based e-mail marketing campaigns varies by up to 10 percent, depending on the time of day and the day of the week that messages are sent. According to research from Return Path, delivery date and delivery time are just as critical to the success of e-mail marketing campaigns as ISPs and spam filter triggers.
Based upon the results of their research, Return Path recommends the following guidelines to improve deliverability rates of permission-based e-mail marketing campaigns:
- Send e-mails on weekdays rather than weekends.
- Send e-mails on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. EST.
- Send e-mails on the following days (in descending order of delivery success): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Wednesday.
In the month of October, K-1O1/KWOX-FM, Z-92/KMZE-FM, and KOMI-TV here in Woodward will be hosting our annual “Fall-a-Days” trade show. This show has been a very successful annual event for the past 17 years. It is a show that attracts thousands of people and a large number of vendors.
For years we have tried to develop a plan that would attract MADE IN OKLAHOMA EXHIBITORS to this show. With the change in Oklahoma laws regarding Oklahoma Wine and Beer sales and “off premises” wine tasting allowed at Festivals, this OCTOBER we will change the setting and host Northwest Oklahoma’s first ever MADE IN OKLAHOMA PRODUCTS & WINE FESTIVAL in conjunction with our FALL-A-DAYS trade show.
Labels: Training
The United States may soon have its first national center for research on grape genetics, moving the country to the forefront of viticultural science.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing the new Grape Genetics Research Center, which will work on unlocking the grape genome. Ultimately, such research could prove useful in helping scientists to improve wine grape quality; develop vines that are resistant to disease, pests, salt and cold; and improve the health benefits of wine.
