Southern Sonoma Country Life

Thoughts for a Rainy Day

 

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

~

A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.

James Dickey

~

The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood and the sound of outer ocean on a beach."

James Beston

Water Sport Santa Sets Course for Coastal Sonoma & Marin Counties

If you missed out on the big man in red's arrival in Petaluma this past weekend, he's all set for his next a visit to the area, this time to Tomales Bay replete with treats and holiday wishes by way of his trusty “water sleigh”. Santa pulls up to the dock at the Boat Shack at Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages for his second annual visit to Nick's on Sunday, December 16th (2012).

Kids and oldies alike will have a chance to sit and chat with Santa in the Boat Shack, which is decorated and lit for the holiday season, enjoying complimentary hot apple cider, hot chocolate and treats. A photographer will be on hand to take portraits with Santa.
 
Guests who bring a donation of canned food for the Marin Food Bank will receive a 15% discount on any food or beverage purchase throughout the day. In addition, Nick’s Cove will also donate 10% of all net proceeds from the day’s sales to the Marin Food Bank.
 
The Boat Shack is located at the end of a 400-foot pier extended into the tranquil waters of Tomales Bay in Marshall, Calif., adjacent to the main restaurant at Nick’s Cove. A special holiday menu and seasonal cocktails will be available throughout the day in the restaurant, in addition to the restaurant’s regular menu by Executive Chef Austin Perkins.
 
WHEN:
Sunday, December 16, 2025
Visit by Santa Claus: 3-5 p.m.
Restaurant hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
 
WHERE:
The Boat Shack at Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Oyster Bar & Cottages
23240 Highway 1
Marshall, CA 94940

Of course, you might just wait for the 24th.....

Extensive Facelift for Petaluma's Architectural Beauty - St.Vincent de Paul Circa 1927 Parish Church

Thanksgiving Day marked the completion of a multi-layered and extensive, three-month project to restore the interior of St. Vincent De Paul Church, the spiritual home of more than 2,600 Catholic families in Petaluma and a beacon of architectural light in the heart of our city.

A special Thanksgiving Day mass at 9 am celebrated the culmination of a series of substantial projects that the parish has undertaken over the past two decades, in order to restore and maintain this circa 1927 heritage treasure.

This latest project had closed the sanctuary for 12 weeks of exhaustive, detailed, highly focused restoration and subtle remodeling work, with mass and other services having made their temporary home in the St. Vincent de Paul High School auditorium. 

Petaluma-based award winning decorative artist Ruby Newman was responsible for the direction and much of the intricate painting and careful selection of warming interior architectural color design, an extended elaboration of the Carnegie Melon University trained artists’ original inspirational color transformation of the sanctuary, following water damage in 1992.

One of the Bay Area’s most respected specialists in decorative painting for public and sacred places, Newman’s exquisite decorative relief, color washing and gold leaf work illuminates the beauty of a sanctuary that changes with the light.

Newman, who is of Jewish faith, specializes in the painting of sacred places of all denominations. "I like to create beautiful atmospheres for people's spirits," she said.

The Northern New Jersey native, who has lived in Petaluma for many years, has a richly layered background in the arts and extensive experience in painting restoration work of heritage structures, particularly Victorian, one of her most renowned past projects being the restoration of the lovely old merry-go-round carousel in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.  

Talking with Newman during a sneak peek into the sanctuary during renovation work, it was fascinating to hear more of this vibrant and impassioned artist's perspective on a two-decade long connection to the church house towers dominate the skyline of her home town.

"I let the architecture dictate what I do to it," explained a spritely, pixie-haired Newman, decked out in painter's overalls, brush in hand on her perch atop a hydro-lift platform high up inthe upper reaches of the sanctuary. Columns that had been monocromatic in color prior to her original assignment retain their familiar faux-marble effect, but it is updated color wash detailing and gold life that draws the eye. 

Back down to earth, fresh color adorned the fully restored spiritually significant 14 Stations of The Cross (a series of artistic, sculptural representations depicting Jesus Carrying the Cross to his cruxifiction), set against newly painted sanctuary walls that change from almost a warm, pinkish apricot to yellow ochre depending on the time of day.

"I spent what seemed like a billion hours testing the color of the walls before we settled on this particular tone," said Newman, matching it with a new deep forest green carpet. "It's all about the overall composition and harmony," she said.

Scratched, worn pews were removed in September, refinished and reseated in North Dakota, the new carpet has been laid and  heating system modernized. Sanctuary furniture, including Petaluma cabinet-maker Andrew Jacobson’s custom-crafted pulpit and front facing altar and a mosaic were set in place earlier this week, along with an improved sound system. A restored baptismal font matches columns in its ancient stone-like effect.

“The sacrifice our parishioners and others have made reflect not only their love of their church but also the awareness of the responsibility they have to care for this unique and beautiful shrine that was bequeathed to them, so that it can continue to serve, inspire and nurture further generations,” said Pastor, Fr. Gary Lombardi.

Over the past 20 years, the many communities of St. Vincent’s Parish as well as local citizens have raised around three million dollars to cover the cost of this extensive series of restoration projects, beginning back in 1992 with major restoration and maintenance of the interior and exterior of the church, parish hall and rectory. This vital restoration program launched after significant water damage had threatened the stability of one of the landmark church towers and infiltrated the pipe organ.  

In 1998 the plaza and fountain were added to the front of the church to provide a much-needed gathering space for the parish congregation as well as a restful place of tranquility for the community.

The parish undertook vital restoration of the church’s original stained glass windows from Munich, back in 2009. After 80 years, the lead that bound the glass pieces together had reached the end of its useful life and was crumbling. Bit by bit the panes were disassembled and sent to specialists in Wisconsin. That year, a new roof was installed under the original terra cotta tiles, along with new rainwater drainage to protect the extraordinary classic Spanish Romanesque-style structure that was designed and built to last in the California Mission Revival Period under the direction of Rev. James Kiely.

It truly did "take a village" for such an outstanding community effort refurbishment of this beautiful church, including Ruby Newman's meticulous decorative painting,
Spurgeon Painting (Petaluma) for the bulk of the vast expanse area painting, Mike Ward of Marble World (Santa Rosa), Mike Roesner of  “Just Floor Covering” (Rohnert Park)  Alex Gayda of North Bay Iron Craft ( Petaluma) for Altar railings and Andrew Jacobson's exquisite altar furniture, expertly stained by Swift Refinishing Company.
 
One person who has been behind the scenes and involved with all of the myriad elements coming together was  board member Al Cerron who oversees the maintenance of the Church on all levels throughout the year and especially for this project.

Refurbished pews were carefully repositioned to allow more access around pillars and staggered closer the Altar to open up a more expansive floor area at front for weddings and other ceremonies.

These lovely brass angel plates were taken from the old railing at the front of the Altar and preverved for posterity as wall fixtures by the Church's interior doors.

This 1904 Baptismal Font (likely from Italy) from the original Church  was first restored by Newman in 1992 and removed from the Church for repairs to minor chips and scrapes and for retouching at the final stages of the project. The font was put back in place this December.

 

Sonoma County Photographer Directs Children's Hosital, Oakland Video

Children's Hospital Oakland from stephanie rausser on Vimeo.

Petaluma based photographer/producer Stephanie Rausser produced this beautiful and moving new video for Children's Hospital, Oakland, to celebrate the hospital's 100th anniversary and to help raise $450 million dollars for seismic upgrades & renovations and new state-of-the-art electronic medical record system. Some 70% of patients treated at Children's Hospital are on Medi-Cal, making this one of the most extraordinary medical facilities in the country.

Giving Thanks Through Collaborative Art - Or, Turkey Day on Canvas

I've been saving these snapshots for a whole year. Last Thanksgiving's two family collaborative art project proved the perfect way to kick off holiday feasting and festivities.

With four male offspring in our two families, aged, then, between 13 and 20, the parents amongst our party figured it would be fun to concoct a creative, outdoor activity prior to being seated at table for the traditional lengthy stretch.  

Pots of paint, brushes, two large, blank canvases and a blessedly rain-free afternoon later, our collective crew came up with two rather cool, cosmic creations, which we later flipped a coin for to decide which canvas would hang in which house. 

We're hoping the rain will hold off for Thanksgiving 2012 collaborative art project part II.

Shop For One Planet Fair Trade Gifts & Save on Small Business Saturday, Nov 24th, 2012

Nature's Fall Table

Lichen, walnuts, oranges, persimmons, wood blocks and recycled potting containers set the scene for a nature-inspired centerpiece at Saturday's Fall Forager's Dinner. Talk the time to walk your neighborhood, a nearby trail and your own backyard in the next few days for all the bounty you could ask for to adorn your holiday table next week.


Though these photos (taken amongst several others I am holding on to for possible use in my almost finished first book) are mine, all credit for this gorgeous table goes to my friend Suzanne, whose magic touch beautifully transformed her kitchen into nature's abundant pantry.

Lest We Forget - A Bumper Crowd for 2012 Petaluma Veterans Day Parade

Members of California’s last National Guard Unit to return home from Iraq were led by Petaluma teen bagpiper Declan Villa in Sunday’s annual Veterans Day Parade.

Having participated in 15 annual Veterans Day Parades in Petaluma over the past two decades, Aviation Department guardsmen in charge of helicopter maintenance were deployed from Stockton, in November 2010 for what would be one of the worst years of rocket mortar attacks in the history of the Iraq war.

 “Though our unit missed both the 2010 and 2011 Petaluma Veterans Day Parades,” said former British soldier and Sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard since 2008, Peter Bradley, “we were awarded the Combat Action Badge citation by the President upon our return.”

 Bradley, one of a handful of skilled aviation unit guardsmen currently living in Petaluma, explained how 85 rockets and mortar bombs had pummeled U.S. troops alongside the biggest mobilization of National Guardsmen stationed outside of Baghdad between 2010 and 2011.

 “We lost a lot of ground equipment, but by absolute miracle, our aviation engine mechanics never lost a single Chinook unit of some 240 helicopters.”

 Average age of the National Guard’s Combat Aviation engineers, formed in Stockton in the 1940s, is early twenties. “During peacetime, we are mainly deployed for firefighting,” said Bradley, whom I spoke to for my Argus Courier column, last week. “We’re expecting up to 25 of our guys to participate in Sunday’s parade in formation high mobility humvees for what will be our first homecoming parade.”

Like the majority of young people who enlist for this particular unit of the National Guard, Bradley has pursued a successful career in aviation. “Many guardsmen have used the G.I Bill to go back to school,” said Bradley, employed by Reach Air Ambulance Helicopters of Santa Rosa. The unit has since deployed more of its guardsmen to Afghanistan.  

Each year, as aging World War II Veterans from all over the Bay Area continue to participate in the largest parade in the North Bay, it's extremely moving to see the trace of brave young men and women's faces in each proud, old profile.

Beautiful New Book on The Poppy Lady - American Moina Belle Michael and her Tribute to Allied Veterans

Author Barbara Elizabeth Walsh and prolific children's book illustrator, Layne Johnson have released a beautiful tribute to America's historic Poppy Lady, a humanitarian and school teacher from Georgia, Moina Belle Michael who singlehandedly launched a campaign to establish as a symbol the red poppy from the First World War torn Fields of Flanders. 

Inspired by finding a box in the attic as a child, containing a postcard signed Pat's Poppy Lady, with a red, crepe -paper poppy pinned to the card, the author learned that her father had met Moina Belle Michael while he was a private first class studying communication at the University of Georgia during World War II. He was living at the Georgian Hotel, along with some 300 additional soldiers in training when he heard that his two brothers, serving in the Italian army, had been taken as prisoners of war. The school teacher/humanitarian lived on the fifth floor of this same hotel at the time and, after having established herself as the Poppy Lady, made it a personal mission to talk to troubled young soldiers whenever she had a chance.

Moina Belle Michael had written to the young soldier's fiancee, the author's mother, on his behalf. Half a century later, the author traveled to the Georgian Hotel after deciding it was time to write the story of Moina Belle Michael's poppy legacy.

Published by Calkins Creek Books/Boyds Mills, a portion of proceeds of The Poppy Lady book sales will go to support the National Military Family Association's Operation Purple(R), which benefits children of the U.S. military.

This gloriously illustrated tribute to veterans marks almost a century since the Poppy Lady handed our her first 23 red silk poppies in New York before pursuading several national and international organizations adopted the poppy as their memorial flower. Millions of disabled service people have been employed in producing these memorial poppies around the world, over the years, raising millions of dollars for veterans. 

What a great way to teach young children about the sacrificies made by allied veterans in World War I and II and also to share the simple, powerful story of a school teacher who made such a marvelous and lasting huminatarian contribution.

 

 

Warm & Fuzzy - Windrush Farm's 10th Annual Holiday Arts Sale