Good Morning Darlings!

Honestly, you would think I would be done celebrating my birthday by now. After all, it’s been three weeks since I turned another year older. But, no, Crystal took me out for an incredible day on Saturday and it was delicious, precious and educational.

All I knew before Crystal picked me up was that I was to wear clothes that I didn’t mind getting messed up and comfy shoes. Hmmmm, I couldn’t for the life of me guess where we were going. Crystal arrived with fruit filled popovers fresh from the oven and coffee for us to enjoy on our way to the surprise.

So, what was our destination?

Get ready for absolute cuteness overload! Crystal and I were at Decimal Place Goat Farm! We were going to spend the day with Mary Rigdon learning to make cheese and play with the goats. In fact, just a few hours before we arrived, 3 triplet girls had just been born. Crystal’s gift had the best timing ever! I had never seen a newborn goat.

Mother Mimi had just given birth and we were there for the kids’ first steps. It was miraculous.

After all this cuteness, we retired to the house to learn the intricacies of making cheese. I learned here that Mary provides the cheese to Miller Union for their incredible feta cheese with veggies I had fallen in love with during a lunch visit there with my friend, Tami, over at Running With Tweezers. Mary showed us how to make that very same feta, as well as cream cheese, cheddar and tuma (a goat cheese mozzarella). We also had a chance to sample some of these fantastic cheeses.

While the cheese rests, we take another trip out to the barn to tour the facilities.

We finished milking, went back to the house to wash up and then it was time for samples and a q&a session. Mary was very patient with all of our questions and answered every one.

Happy and filled with cheese, we left Decimal Place Farm and headed north for the Sausage Chalet, also known as Patak. Every foodie in Atlanta knows about Patak, but I had never visited. Crystal remedied that.

I chose a couple of big salamis. One for me, one for Denise, who was hosting us all for dinner that night. I think it was the perfect hostess gift!

Crystal and I left Patak and made our way to the German Bakery, where we picked up pretzel bread, black and white cookies and coconut macaroons, then headed home.

But not before we stopped by Tim and Becky’s house, where Crystal was chicken sitting. I had a chance to feed the chickens and gather the eggs. It was a fabulous day.

And night! Denise made a turkey and some potato cheese soup and we all showed up with yummy things to share. Six of us stayed up well after midnight, eating, drinking and hot tubbing in the rain.

It was the perfect day! Thanks a gazillion, Crystal! I love you!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Julie Andrews (on the Muppet Show) – The Lonely Goatherd