Southern Sonoma Country Life

Sizzling Last Day of September's Antique Street Fair

Despite sizzling sidewalks and sweltering temperatures in the high 90s , downtown Petaluma's September 2012 Antique Street Fair was packed with people hunting down vintage treasures and one-of-a-kind finds.

My favorite vendor display this year goes to Kristy and Cindy of Healdsburg's Just Cuz Creations. Their eye for color and form on updated vintage furnishings and accessories stood out from the crowd, with most of their items already sold by the time I arrived at midday.

All sorts of fun to be had amongst these adorable, handpainted signs and vintage metal letter cutouts.

Though tempted to bring this beautiful vintage vase of young succulents home with me, I picked up a pair of cool, gilded candlesticks instead.

Jewelry designer Melissa Abercrombie of Blue Ribbon Salvage shared posters for the upcoming Petaluma Whiskerino Contest, October 6th, at Walnut Park. I'm telling you, there's just too much fun to be had in this town!

 

 

 

Spice Club

Need a little help spicing up your seasonal cuisine? With its warehouse right here in Petaluma, wine country-based spice specialists, WholeSpice has announced two wonderfully unique Spice Club options to helps us discover a world of spices and seasonings delivered right to our doorsteps, or available for pick-up by arrangement, at each change of season.

As a WholeSpice customer, I have to confess to being a bit predictable in my purchasing repertoire. The idea of experts in their field selecting the best of the season's spice possibilities for me is so appealing, I thought it well worth a post.

Spice Club premium is offered at $140 for a year, standard Spice Club at $75 for a year. Join one of these two club options to receive four hand selected, seasonal specific spice sets throughout the year, along with online detailed recipes and suggestions of how best to use  your new spices.

Holiday season is approaching and what a thoughtful, original gift that keeps on giving. Delicious, vibrant spices are presented in a beautiful gift box for each season.

Southern Sonoma County readers are able to take advantage of significant discounts from buying these products in regional grocery stores. Contact WholeSpice WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE at: 1364 North McDowell Blvd. Suite 20,Petaluma CA 94954

Pick-up Orders
Pick-up orders will be ready by noon the next business day based on availability. A separate e-mail confirmation will confirm pick up and stock availability. Call for same day pickup. 707-778-1750.

HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pacific Time

For those in the Napa area, WholeSpice retail store is located at: Oxbow Public Market, 610 First St #13, Napa CA 94559. PHONE: 707-256-0700.

INTERNET ORDERING
Ordering on the internet is available at www.WholeSpice.com.

What are your favorite spices to use in your Fall season cooking?

Like a Bat of Out Of ..... The Washing Machine

Back in rural England as a teenager, I think aged around 14 or 15 - the first album I bought as a newbie record player owner was Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell. This might come as a bit of a surprise to those who know me well, but it's true, I fell for those lyrics, hook, line and sinker and although my musical tastes may have evolved with the ebb and tide over the years, I'll never forget that awesome album and the blasting out of it in a little bedroom in the great British countryside of the early 1980's.

As a subscriber of Sonoma County Wildlife's e-newsletters, it's with great pleasure that I share this lovely little story of survival with y'all: click here for the Bat out of the Washing Machine epic.

I think that this story has extra appeal as a good friend recently shared with me her bats in the belfry trials and tribulations here in Southern So Co where we are committed to providing solutions for cohabitation at all costs!

Have Pie Will Travel - Check Out Piebox.com

Perfect for all our foodie friends this holiday season is the nifty and stylish new PieBox™ - a reusable raw pine box designed to safely transport our fresh from the oven pie creations. Whether you’re driving, biking, busing or popping down the block to a friends house for dinner, PieBox will keep your pie safe and intact.

Each $35 PieBox is handcrafted in Chicago and made from chemical-free, raw pine. PieBox measures 11"x11"x4" and accommodates up to a 9" deep-dish pie.

Support a cottage industry, specialising in such a sweet, simple and utilitarian handcrafted product by placing orders for a piebox or two directly at piebox.com.

Word Up! Free Festival of Finding Out Returns to North Bay, Sunday October 7th, 2012

Fresh Figs with Basil and Feta

As with so many fruits and veggies that thrive in a Mediterranean climate, figs do fabulously well in Sonoma County (with the exception of my own, sad little fig tree that looks like it needs a new outlook in a fresh spot more suited to its health and well-being somewhere else in the backyard).

A stand by the checkout at The Petaluma Market has been overflowing with fresh figs over the past few weeks, a handy substitute for my lacking backyard bonanza in the fig department, this season.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy the bounty is to stuff figs with a chunk of fresh feta cheese and a basil leaf and grill on a baking dish over flames, Central Market-style. Drizzle with balsamic and serve warm. Delicious.

Late September Sunday

Hiking in Helen Putnam Park, the regional gem just beyond our backyard on a mellow Sunday morning in late September, I was struck by the beauty of this trio of horses. Hard to imagine a more stunning and peaceful setting.

Literacy Lovers Check Out Sonoma County Book Festival 9/22/2012

This Saturday's Sonoma County Book Festival is a free public event produced by The Literary Arts Guild, transforming downtown Santa Rosa into the literary capital of Northern California.

Thousands of book lovers head into SoCo for a full day of literacy overload (if there could ever be such a thing) under cover from the sun in welcoming white tents.

Programs present nationally acclaimed and locally treasured authors, catering to festival attendees of all ages.

There's a wonderful pop-in children's program for parents and young book lovers taking place from 10.30 am to 3 pm, a poetry stage and a wealth of exhibitors to visit, including publishers, printers, authors, book stores, local nonprofit and arts organizations.

If you haven't made it to Petaluma-based West Side Stories series yet, the talented story tellers are taking it on the road. "We've been invited to give a readers digest condensed version at the Sonoma County Book Festival at Corrick's Stationary Store 637 4th Street in lovely Santa Rosa @ 3:30pm," says West Side Stroies creator Dave Pokorny. "Come see what you've been missing as we deliver Five Minute, True Stories, Told Live, On Stage, Without Notes."

Tin Can Tourists Coming to Southern SoCo - Vintage Trailer Chic

Vintage trailors are all the rage these days, commanding huge sums in coveted resale transactions and showing up in all sorts of places dressed up to the nines.

What a fun way to travel or to add a guest room, office or hideway at home.

Petaluma's KOA Campground Resort welcomes the 5th Annual West Coast Tin Can Tourist Rally Vintage Trailer Event, Friday October 5th through Sunday October 7th, 2012.

Dozens of beautifully restored rigs are set to parade along Petaluma Blvd North at 12.30 pm on arrival early on the Friday afternoon.

Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm members plan to showcase their mini traveling museums to the visiting public.

Look out for Vintage Trailer 'yard sales' too.

Thanks to Tin Can Tourist leading light Forrest Bone for use of the majority of these sweet pics. Forrest is one of over 1,500 Tin Can Tourist members who proudly rally and caravan their cute vintage campers all over the United States.

The Tin Can Tourist Open House is free. Pull up in the parking area at the KOA at 20 Rainsville Road, Petaluma, CA.

Kudos to Chris Aluia (Lions, Tigers and Hair & Rivertown Revival renown) for bringing this little breath of fresh air to town!

Check out more info on Tin Can Tourists here.

Art, Beer, Music - What More Could You Ask for on a Monday Evening?