Southern Sonoma Country Life

Historic Budweiser Clydesdale Barnwood - Old Growth Redwood Heads For Sonoma County's Heritage Salvage

Photos: Heritage Salvage 

Petaluma-based Heritage Salvage has recently scored all of the framing materials from the original Budweiser Clydesdale Barn, framed with old growth redwood from original water tanks .

In the process of being loaded on a semi along with the original metal storefront columns from the Brecht Butcher Supply buildings built in 1890-1917 (see photos below), the St. Louis Budwieser Clysedale Barn wood will arrive in Petaluma this May. 

Back in 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their dear Dad, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition.

"Realizing the marketing potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the company also arranged to have a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch sent to New York on April 7 to mark the event. The Clydesdales, driven by Billy Wales, drew a crowd of thousands as they clattered down the streets of New York City to the Empire State Building," writes the intrepid king of U.S. reclaimation, Bug Deakin on his Heritage Salvage site. "After a small ceremony, a case of Budweiser was presented to former Governor Alfred E. Smith in appreciation of his years of service in the fight against Prohibition."

Delighting thousands of Americans on its way, the hitch apparently continued on a tour of New England and the Middle Atlantic States, making a stop in Washington D.C. in April 1933 to reenact the delivery of one of the first cases of Budweiser to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"The St. Louis hitch, driven by Art Zerr, also toured in celebration, stopping in Chicago and other Midwestern cities," reports Bug.

Soon after the hitch was introduced, the six-horse Clydesdale team increased to a team of eight.

A Dalmatian dog travels with each of the Clydesdale hitches, a tradition started in 1950 when a Dalmation was first introduced as the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot at the opening of a Newark Brewery.  These days, Anheuser-Busch owns around 250 Clydesdales - an enduring symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality.

Restaurants and brew pubs throughout California and beyond have been clammoring for Heritage Salvage makeovers over the past few years. If you're in the market for something special in the custon-build department that would warrant the repurposing of some of this wonderful, historic old redwood haul, you'd best not wait too long. Contact Heritage Salvage for pricing.

Next to arrive will be  a bunch of materials from the 1869 Evans Grain Mill that Bug bought in Crestline, Ohio a couple of years ago. Stop by the shop at 1473 Petaluma Boulevard South or call 707 762-6277.

Deck the Walls with Ranches & Rolling Hills - Marin Ag Land Trust 2013 Landscape Art Sale

Photo: Marin Agricultural Land Trust

Just as we can't get enough of our farm fresh local produce, Sonoma and Marinites are all about regional art collecting these days. 

And one of the best annual events in the area for scoring original, quality art from an extensive line-up of renowned regional artists is the upcoming Marin Agricultural Land Trust's Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday, May 18th & 19th at Druid's Hall in Nicasio Square.  

Over the past 16 years, MALT has presented its Ranches & Rolling Hills event, benefitting farmland preservation.  Since its inception, the weekend-long celebration of paintings depicting the West Marin countryside has raised more than $1 million to protect working farms and ranches.

For serious collectors - A private preview lunch and sale: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Be amongst the first to view and purchase art at a private preview lunch. Soak in the sights during a champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception and gather around the table with artists, farmers and MALT supporters to celebrate spring bounty with a farm-to-table lunch in the field located behind the gallery. This lively and fun lunch includes musical entertainment by The Easy Leaves. Pre-registration for preview lunch is required; $150 per person. For tickets to the preview luncheon, click here.

Public show and sale:

Saturday, May 18, 2-5 p.m. Coffee bar by Devils Gulch Ranch Haitian Coffee Project along with wine and beer from the MALT bar. Free admission.

Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Also open to the public with food available for sale from Black Mountain BBQ and wine and beer from the MALT bar. Free admission.

 

 

Taste of Sonoma County - Dandelion Gifts & Goods Delivered to Your Door

We all know that buying local is best. But what if your local's not the best? Or you've grown accustomed to the best of the west and you've found yourself through no fault of your own, decamped to other parts entirely?

Sebastopol-based Dandelion Gifts & Goods offers a nifty one stop solution to stocking your pantry shelves with all sorts of artisan, earth-friendly, quality SoCo products. 

Oh, and on the subject of the all-important issue of our carbon footprint -  needs must when it comes to certain cherished items, so proprietors Christy and Justin insist on a range of carbon neutral shipping options when packing their delicious parcels off around the country.  

Perusing the bounty the Dandelion duo picks up fresh for fulfilling online orders, we don't necessarily need to an East Coast address to sample such tempting wares. 

Dr.Marten's Industrial Boot Company Reveals its Softer Side

A far cry from traditional, industrial Dr. Martens Made in England boot, the famous footware manufacture's latest unveiling of pastel colored sneakers, baby boots and flowery leather satchels is seemingly scoring big on the international fashion writer's radar. 

I've been reading about Dr.Marten's colorful new lines featured in the American press a lot lately. One of my favorite footware ever in a lifelong love affair with style and design of shoes was a snazzy pair of royal blue, snakeskin-effect Dr. Martens boots, I bought in London when I was about 17. I don't know what eventually happened to them as I certainly can't have worn them out.  

Dr. Martens products are created at the company's Cobb’s Lane factory, in Northampton, the same factory that has been producing footwear for the Griggs family since 1901 and home of the home of the original Dr. Martens boot.

A closeknit family of craftspeople steeped in traditional shoe-making methods churn out the modest factory's impresisve production line, supplying a world of people with a penchant for this very British brand. 

        

 

As Dr. Martens are guarenteed for life, reinventing its appeal is clearly the way forward! 

South County Style - Petaluma's New B Street Mercantile

Artists and entrepreneurs, Patti Looper and Jenny Paisley's bright and welcoming new B Street Mercantile store opened its doors this April 2013 as much to the delight of locals as to gateway to wine country visitors.

I detected a distinctive pair of more recently British accents than my own, intently browsing the store's popular Petaluma section, while snapping shots of a selection of favorite things to share with you here on Southern Sonoma Country Life. 

For location, opening hours and the scoop on crafty activities and special events, check out B Street Mercantile's website.

Spinster Sisters Co Bar Soap - perfect for hostess gifts and powder rooms

For the artist within

Love these little globe succulent gardens

You never know when inspiration might hit - chairs to sit on, too!

Cute Kids range

Paper flowers 

Do You Dansko? Shoes With Soul!

 

My forty-something feet might not be model worthy these days, but these new red (purchased in Petaluma) Dansko sandals are so darn sweet I just had to share. 

And Rivetti Mountain was so stunning in the post-rain April sunshine this afternoon, a blanket of wildflowery grass set the scene for my first footwear post in I don't know how long!

If like me, you didn't know too much about Dansko, just assumed it was a Scandinavian brand imported to the USA, it's all the more encouraging to learn that Dansko is, in actual fact, as American as apple pie. Well.... sort of!

Back in 1990, wife and husband team, Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup actually did stumble upon their perfect clog-style barn shoes in a small shop in Denmark - sharing their find with friends. When their appreciative pals tried them on, they told their friends. And, as the story goes: "just like that, a shoe company was born." By 2002, Dansko had soared by the 1 million pairs mark, proving that comfy does not equate to clumpy. Well, maybe a little bit, but cool clumpy!

Today Dansko is an employee-owned company based in Pennsylvania - an award winning environmentally friendly business that is not driven by financial goals, but its  desire to exceed expectations amongst customers, retailers and manufacturing partners. Best known for its classic rocker-bottom stapled clog that first made the brand famous on the feet of American chefs, medical staff, teachers and people who tend to stand and walk a lot in their jobs, Dansko has since evolved its range to include sandals, heels, boots, flats and sneakers.

Voted one of the best companies to work for in Philly, Dansko wins extra points on my shoe brand shopping list for its commitment to charities, including The Ronald McDonald House, sending groups of employees to cook nourishing meals for families staying in this home away from home close to children's hospitals.  

 

Beautiful Bedding - And Made in Marin

photo: Rough Linen™ 

Spring has sprung and along with the season comes a hankering for fresh, new bedding. Looking around a bit, I've stumbled on a swoon-worthy linen collection by Marin-based Tricia Rose of Rough Linen™ . 

I can't decide if I want the headboard as much or more than the bedding. Heritage Salvage or a trip to the beach? 

 

Springtime at French Hen Antiques

French Hen Antiques at 218 Petaluma Boulevard North, in Petaluma's historic boutique shopping district is bursting with primroses, floral pottery and fresh, Spring colors. Always such a pleasure to peruse.

Banish Those Wash Day Blues - Fresh Laundered Windows Worthy of Love

Passing by recycled furniture store, Worthy of Love on Petaluma Boulevard North, I was stopped in my tracks by the nostalgic scene of an old-fashioned laundress at work. Striking window displays speak of Spring and memories of grandmothers and freshly laundered clothes dried in the breeze.

I just had to stop in and have a chat with store owner's daughter, Amanda Sanchez, a new resident of Petaluma, who grew up in Humboldt County. "I lived in a town the size of Cotati," said Sanchez, "when there was more than three cars at a stop sign, we all wondered what was happening in town!"

An eye for the slower paced aesthetic of yesteryear is evident throughout her mother, Crystal Lunsford's new store, which opened in early October of 2012, next door to another top pick of mine for affordable home furnishing and accessory finds, French Hen Antiques. 

Turns out the vintage Maytag washing machine that inspired this darling window display was one of Lunsford's fortuituous finds, first spotted at a yard sale last year, prior to opening her store.

"My mom had spotted it during a sale in the area and it reminded her of the same machine her grandmother had used when she was a child. Six months later, after opening the store, she decided to go back and knock on the old man's door to see if he still had it. He did and she was able to buy it from him."

I  recall my own Mum toiling away at an old twin tub washing machine in the 1960s, back in the UK. My grandmother kept to a strict routine her whole life of washing day on a Monday, and ironing day on a Tuesday. Aren't we happy the automatic washing machine was introduced?

Lunsford's Worthy of Love store and art studios is well worth crossing East Washington Street for a browse around. Hit up  French Hen Antiques while you are over there (post to follow). 

Also worth mentioning, for those who'd like to park out front but find it a busy spot, there is a little known parking lot by the side of the Mexican restaurant next door. Pull in and you're good to go window shopping or in-store treasure hunting to your hearts content!

Worthy of Love Furnishings & Art Studios is located at 226 Petaluma Boulevard North. 

Love and Scandal Are the Best Sweeteners of Tea

Britain's prolific designer Emma Bridgewater is my favorite potter. New collections never cease to appeal. I'm currently most charmed by her new farmyard collection (see mug below) and the Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red and Silver Spangled Hamburgh Red chicken egg cups would be perfect for boiled eggs at my Petaluma kitchen table. But best of all are Emma's cheeky tea-towels and I'll have to put in an order for this new one.....