A group of amazing young people were out to the farm today to help us collect all the butternut squash from the fields. It is so fun to have them come and see what the farm is really all about. Their energy and help is so appreciated. Thank you all. Cacao is off to spend a couple of months with Dex the bull. We went to visit her today and she looks great and was having fun, running the hillside with the other cattle. I imagine the exercise is good for her too, she had gotten so chubby!  She let me rub her face and scratch her around the horns, one of her favorite things! Leche is doing great, it is easier to see the difference in the pregnancies now (or what we thought was a pregnancy)! She spends her days with one of the chicken families and they enjoy sharing their sprouts and wheat grass together! It is quite the scene.  These warm days and evenings are appreciated before winter comes. We are able to prepare fields for spring planting and the fall garden is in full swing now. Cauliflour, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce all in abundance. The peppers are still finishing up and we are roasting them daily. I shared that we bottled last years wine and we crushed and put into barrels (three!) this years harvest. We have enjoyed what is called "fresh wine", only fermented for two weeks prior to putting into oak. It is on the sweet side and delicious! Javier loves making wine and seems like he could do it all day every day, it is definitely his "gift" and passion. The days are shorter and I can begin to feel things starting to slow down a bit (seasonally). However life still feels like I carry a full bucket. We leave for a family reunion in Los Angeles on Saturday, then return home that night, head to SF to sleep, and leave for Maui on Sunday morning to prepare for our Community Building workshop there. I am so grateful for the support of community and especially Cary's father Jon, during some of the challenges we are facing. He has sent me so many great references, and inspiring sermons, and daily reads to keep our spirits up and focused on what really matters. I am blessed. Today I read a sermon he sent that shared how important "strife" is in any community, that resistance is what makes us stronger, more connected, and shored up to our mission.
Thank you all for continuing to support Cafe Gratitude and we are grateful to have you as part of our family. Love. Terces

The earth is softer today due to rainfall. I noticed while walking about the farm early this morning as I opened up the chicken coops that my boots (yes rain boots) were treading softer on the ground. The smell of moist leaves, soil and wood chips is everywhere. The flies are vying for their last days. Today there is a group of volunteers coming out to help bring in the butternut squash from the fields, and the corn too.

Our campfire is going, the smell of smoke permeates those of us who live here, so much so that when we hug people they ask, "Have you been camping?" I call it "Campfire" cologne! I haven't yet put on any "window coverings" on the yurt screens but we can certainly feel the cool night air blow across our faces when we are tucked into bed at night!

Anna is still visiting from Kansas City and her assistance with Spanish (she speaks perfectly) is so wonderful and deepens our already deep connection to our family from across the border. She is a great "farm mama" assisting wherever she is needed. Newe our now 2 year old farm member loves her and she and he are a great duo to support his mama, Lindsay, who grows all our sprouts and wheatgrass.  

Well, here comes the calf! Cacao, our precious and super friendly Irish Dexter Cow is in labor. This is her picture! She is pretty cute huh?

We are hoping the calf comes on Wednesday or Thursday while we are here, as I really want to be the arms she is delivered into. 

Hi.

What an amazing week this was. We went to Los Angeles to lead Kindred Spirit and were so well received and supported by all the participants doing such deep and meaningful work on their relationships. I left completely inspired. We also got to soak up the LOVE at Cafe Gratitude L.A. where everyone wants to be and is! What a beautiful expression of love in action the Cafe is. I felt so good just looking around the restaurant at all the BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT people there knowing that they were in a fun, exciting and loving place being served food that is healing and good for them! What a miracle that is. What an amazing combination of serving others is created there. Thank you all. If you haven't yet been to the Cafe on Larchmont, make plans to visit it soon, you will LOVE your experience, I promise! We also got to hear Jason Mraz record a song on his upcoming album and I was deeply moved and appreciative of who he is for all of us. Thank you Jason!

Fresh peaches are in the Cafes now, and soon we will be moving to fresh frozen this year, so have and I AM Peachy soon, they are the sweetest peaches ever!

Head to one of our Cafes and taste the first of our amazing blackberries and apricots. The heat is here and so is the fruit! All the plants in the fields are G R O W I N G like crazy! 

We have started to have our heavier meal at breakfast time as it is just TOO HOT to turn on the tortilla grill at 1pm for our midday meal. Our freezer just can't keep up with the demand for ice for cold drinks while working in the field. A sure sign of SUMMER.

Our Santa Cruz location is coming along with the transfer of the Beer and Wine license in process and the excitement building.  We are thrilled to be adding the location to our family and finally serving up the love near the coast. We are so grateful for the loyal following of Santa Cruz people over the years and happy to be bringing you your own Cafe Gratitude in August. Watch for the opening date and celebration!

Our cow Cacao, is due any day now. She just lays down in front of a big fan (yes, we cool down our cows in the summer heat) awaiting her time to give birth. She loves back and belly rubs not to mention her favorite head scratch, when she reaches out her neck and lays her head in my lap!
Love to everyone and thanks for being part of our Mission to serve up love along with some really great nutritious food!

Love. Terces

Hot weather, ripe tomatoes, mulberries, and our corn is growing! Chickens and cows are happy for the sunshine and so are we and our plants. We had our first "new" potatoes made into potato salad and fresh strawberry shortcake, all made from farm ingredients for Matthew's birthday on Sunday. Mabel, our granddaughter turns two on Thursday and she is excited about her birthday coming! One of our cows, Cacao is due any day now, however we are hoping she waits until we return from Mexico so we will be here to care of the new baby calf.