The Accidental Winemaker
I never dreamed that I'd be a winemaker! Several years ago, we came to California with our small herd of horses to escape the Florida summers. While my wife was fully involved with the horses, I became interested in the vineyards around our ranch. Met some good people, got interested. And now, in 2020, we've bottled the first of grapes that I helped source and blend, wines that have my input with the assistance of master winemaker, Steve Clifton.
Hopefully, you will enjoy drinking these wines as much as I've enjoyed making them.
Kent Mitchell
Texas Wildlife
I headed to Cook's Branch Conservancy for some family Foundation work last week and Rona flew in to meet me to spend a few days visiting family and friends in Houston and Austin. Apparently, it wasn't enough to donate money to wildlife rehab, Rona had to save a critter on her own.
While waiting for me to pick her up at the Houston Airport, she noticed a group of people entering with lots of yelling and cell phone videos going...at which point a tiny baby opossum ran into baggage claim. Without missing a beat, Rona scooped the baby up in her scarf, contacted Wild West Wildlife Rehab in Amarillo (last month's donations) for a contact in Houston. With lots of questions from the LA Professional Rugby Team, I picked up Rona and her new friend and we headed to the Woodlands Mall (opossum still cradled in a scarf), grabbed a pet carrier, food, and some soft snuggly things and headed to Cook's Branch for the evening.
After a night of snuggly the pet carrier (opossum was unhappy unless nestled next to Rona's heartbeat), we headed to Friends of Texas Wildlife in The Woodlands and dropped off our baby. There they plan to introduce several of the same size to each other, make sure they are fit and well-fed, and then they'll be released back at a 5,000 acre preserve. Not a bad rescue!
Apr 21, 2021 at 10:18 AM
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National Unicorn Day? Who Knew?
Apparently this is happening at our place this weekend! I left Rona alone for a few days and suddenly there are jumps everywhere, banners and flags up, and bunches of kids, ponies, people and horses descending on our place to celebrate "National Unicorn Day". Use Code UNICORN50 and get 50% off your order. Free shipping in California!
Apr 9, 2021 at 3:33 AM
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Wines for Wildlife
Somehow, Rona talked me into (it wasn't that difficult) to donate a portion of our proceeds to different non-profit organizations. In honor of "Groundhog Day", February brought a "feel good" discount of 10% discount - COMBINED with other discounts and we sent a check for $650 to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.
In March, she did one for "National Wildlife Day" and thanks to our customers we are able to donate $675 to the Wild West Wildlife Rehab Center in Texas - Rona's folks have enjoyed seeing them featured on "Lonestar Law" a few times.
Apparently, Rona tells me that in April, we'll be benefiting the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network again (use code SBWCN10 to receive a 10% discount in addition to your other discounts) and in May it will be for the Coastal Carolina Wildlife Rehab (CCWR10) in Wilmington, NC. 
Apr 1, 2021 at 1:32 PM
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