Southern Sonoma Country Life

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade . . . And It's Into The Roaring Twenties We Go!

Photos via Pinterest

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering 'it will be happier'...”  Alfred Lord Tennyson 

 

“Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer.” - Sir Walter Scott

 

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” - Neil Gaiman

 

 

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas Filled with Comfort & Quiet Cheer

photos via Pinterest

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”

Bob Hope

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”

Roy L. Smith

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”

Charles. M Schulz

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.”

Bob Hope

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”

Garrison Keillor 

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”

Greg Kincaid

Frances' Favorite Things — Time to Wrap Up the Holiday Gift Guide 2019 with Some Locally Sourced Home Comforts

Are we ready to wrap up the holiday shopping? Yes, please, I know I am. No matter how streamlined and simple we try to keep things, if we've a lot of good people in our lives (which we all need) then there's likely a long list of little and large niceties to share in the season of giving.

If you're anywhere near downtown Petaluma you can get the job done in a couple of square blocks. One of the sweetest little stores within a store at 122 Kentucky Street is Monarch Apothecary and Trading Company with its small batch artisan herbs and soaps, teas, chocolates and other such delights. Monarch has done the job for us by putting a selection of gift boxes together, something for everyone on our list.

Given the nip in the air this December, an old-fashioned hot water bottle keeps the heating bill down at night! I have one of these little wonders from Maude at 10 Western Avenue and highly recommend. In fact, I love all the gift items in Maude. Such a beautifully curated store. 

Every once in a while I make it up to the top floor of Sienna Antiques on Petaluma Boulevard, downtown, especially for a browse through Sonoma County designer Wendy Owen's sumptuous textile offerings. Look at this gorgeous star cushion. Lovely! Click here for Wendy's website. 

I'm finally closing in on finishing my holiday shopping, I hope you are too! I've been dashing around town with book deliveries. Don't forget my new suspense novel Big Green Country is also available in Copperfield's Petaluma and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and on Kindle. 

 

 

Tune in to KPCA 103.3 FM for a Big Green Country Book Segment — Petaluma Community Access — On Air with Inside Petaluma with Cindy, Jason & Janice Friday December 13th 11 am to 12 noon

There's something so nostalgic and reassuring about radio in this fast-paced, instant news era. I'll be back on air on our local community radio station Friday December 13th between 11am and noon talking with Inside Petaluma presenters Cindy, Jason and Janice about my new novel, Big Green Country.

As Friday is the opening day of the Emerald Cup  the longest running sungrown cannabis contest celebration and marketplace in the world which takes place at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds, it's great timing to be talking about the current climate in Sonoma County and in other parts of Northern California in regards to legislation and impact.

Big Green Country takes a dense fictional look at how the cannabis culture affects one coastal ranch family and friends in a sweeping, suspense saga that leads characters up into the Emerald Triangle.

It's great to be hearing realtime feedback from readers as they race through this winter season page turner. 

Tune in to KPCA 103.3 for a listen in! 

I have limited supplies of books with more on the way, so if you've been meaning to place your order, there's a PayPal button on the right hand side of the homepage of Southern Sonoma Country Life.

Copperfields Books has ordered from the distributer and will have copies available for holiday shoppers and it's also available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon online as well as Kindle. 

 

 

If you've read Big Green Country already, please do write a short review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Goodreads. Reviews are golden! 

Take a Deep Breath & Sort out that Holiday Shopping! Stocking Stuffer Suggestions — Frances' Favorite Things — Holiday Gift Guide 2019 —

Petaluma-based Marigold Apothecary teas and herbal products are super great and I can't think of anyone on my list who wouldn't appreciate an all-natural herbal tea blend from this increasingly popular local purveyor. 

Marigold Apothecary has an easy-to-use online store (click here) and will also be back in the Bank Hub (old Seed Bank) building this coming Saturday (Dec 14th) for a second weekend in a row of local makers' holiday wares, this time with the Clucktown Collective (see poster below).

Seeing as I was feeling under the weather this weekend, I came home from signing books with the Breath Deeply blend and it is delicious and soothing. 

Local Lavender Bee Farm honey has also made it into my holiday pantry before hitting the stocking stash. Tuck this wonderful local honey into any locavore's holiday stocking and it'll be a winner.  Click here for Lavender Bee Farm website and online store. 

Sunday afternoon I attended my friend Suzanne's book launch at Penngrove Market. It was such a great gathering and celebration of her new memoir The Cardinal Club (another great gift you could stuff into a flexible stocking along with my new book, Big Green Country of course! Ask Copperfield's Books to order both if they don't already have several in stock & they should by now, or order directly from the authors as we're both local.)

Afterwards, my girlfriend Lesley and I wandered across the street to the treasure trove that is Hello Penngrove on Main Street. If you've yet to check out this charming little gift store, take a drive to Penngrove and stop in to shop for mugs, cards, candles, socks, kids gifts, all sorts of fun stuff. 

It has to be said, I could easily do a bunch of my holiday shopping in Penngrove Market. So much more than a grocery store and neighborhood hub, its beautifully curated range of refreshments, chocolates, fresh flowers, cards and unique local food products is a delight to browse and it's a pleasure to come home with new things to taste. 

Sebastopol based Farm Chocolate  hits the spot for chocolate lovers. I've a stash of espresso praline Sonoma County crafted choccies for gifting if they last that long. 

No local holiday stocking stuffer guide can run without mention of Heebe Jeebe on Fourth St, everyone's favorite go-to for originality and whimsy and lots of local Petaluma goodies and awesome greetings cards to boot. I especially love this year's neon Christmas trees for the bolder, less traditional decorators out there! Granted the trees may be a tad too big for your stocking, but they deserve their own mention. 

 

Frances' Favorite Things — Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — Aqus Cafe 37 Artists' Small Works Holiday Art Show

Stuck for gift ideas? Who doesn't love a beautiful piece of original art? And these are small enough to squeeze into any ample art collection. I always look forward to the annual Small Works Holiday Art Show at Aqus Cafe at Foundry Wharf. Stop in this December and pick out a piece or two. Prices vary according to local artist, but many are very affordable. 

Aqus Cafe, 189 H Street, Petaluma. Click here for more info, cafe offerings and December events. 

 

 

Frances' Favorite Things — Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — Downtown Merchants' Annual Open House, Saturday December 7th

My goodness, what a fantastic day of festive cheer and entertainment and customer appreciation and incentives for the annual Downtown Merchant Holiday Open House in the historic boutique district of Petaluma this Saturday, December 7th, 2019.

Thanks to Marie McCusker and team with our wonderful Downtown Association for putting all the bells and whistles and candy canes together for a holiday shopping day to remember for locals and visitors alike. 

If you can't make it downtown this Saturday, do make it a priority to shop locally this December. Your business is more than welcome in any of our local stores, eateries and services, including the many small and medium sized cafes and businesses that are not located in downtown itself. 

Looking through the list of merchants who are putting on something special during the day, it's hard to pick out favorites other than to say that I always find something I love in our downtown boutiques and shoe stores. And if you're really stuck for gift ideas for someone special on your list you can't go wrong with presents for the pantry and holiday table from Sonoma Spice Queen and iLeoni or a massage certificate from Soft Shell. 

Field Works is one of several local merchants offering curated, local gift baskets. I recently picked up a blue and white Delftware Santa at Summer Cottage Antiques, a reminder that affordable vintage treasures abound in our antique-heavy town. Gallery one is an emporium of handmade jewelry and art and decorative gifts that is a great go-to for that something original or out-of-the-ordinary. 

Books are the best gifts! I will be joining the creative makers in the Small Vendor Fair inside The Bank Community Hub and Marketplace for a few hours during the festivities with copies of my book, Big Green Country, still hot off the press. Stop by and say hi between 11am and 5 pm.  

 

(corner of Petaluma Blvd & Washington)

 

11 - 5	Small Vendor Fair
11:30	The Apple Tree Morris Dancers
12 - 3	Capvara the Clown	Fun & interactive family friendly performances
12 - 5	Free Balloon Art & Face Painting	with Budderball & the PHS Cheer Team
3:30	Alchemy Vocal Performance
3 - 5	Hope, Love & Magic	Anna & Elsa telling the story of Frozen 1 & 2

 

MERCHANT OFFERINGS

 

Alchemia Gallery	1 - 4 pm cider and treats
Athletic Soles	Free runner gloves with every shoe purchase
Ava Ln. Hairdressing	Christmas music and raffle tickets for products
Barber Cellars	$5 off any bottle purchase
Bay-Ti Modern Rustic Living	20% off anything in the store
Chelsea Antiques	Treats in the store
Copperfields Books	Free balloon art from 11-1 with Paula Moors
Club Pilates	25% off retail
Clutch	25% off all handbags all week! Drinks and snacks in store
Ethical Clothing	Cider, cookies, treats & special promotions all day
Field Works	Refreshments and a drawing for 2 gift baskets
Flower Child Consignments	$5 off for every $25 spent. Caricature artist "Faces by Audrey"
Gallery One	Happy Hour after 4 pm and 50% off selected items
Hollingsworth Jewelry	Appreciation party, door prizes and giveaways
iLeoni	Hot coco & cookies at 12
J. Fermi	20% off any one item
Louis Thomas	Cider and cookies
McGuire's Pub	3:30 West County Harmony Traditional & Seasonal Music Caroling
Nan Winters	Prosecco & snacks. Discounts on selected merchandise
Obsessed	15% of purchase of $150 or more
Passeggiata Shoes	Bring a same day receipt from another Petaluma shop for 10% off
Petaluma Pet Company	Dog treats for visiting dogs
Petaluma Pie Company	Annual Pie tasting from 12 - 3 pm
Phoenix Optical Petaluma	Goodies and raffle give away, plus 30% off discounts
Razzle Dazzle	Hot cider, cookies, appetizers & cheer
Red Umbrella	Refreshments, music and special sale rack
Riverfront Cafe	Free glass of wine or beer with purchase of entree
Robindira Unsworth	Treat in the store
Shunzi	Food, drink and discounts from 3 - 7 pm
Soft Shell	Refreshments & snacks, 15% off all purchases
Sole Desire	20% off all boots (excluding UGGS) & $0 off all shoes
Sonoma Spice Queen	Warm drinks and treats
Spiral Jewelry & Artisery	Special thank you gift to customers who spend over $100, cookies
Splendid Little Shoppe	Cider & cookies and splendid little raffle kick-off
Stink	Champagne & treats; save 20%
Stockhome Restaurant	Kids eat for $2.50 off the kids menu
Summer Cottage Antiques	Appetizers and hot apple cider
The Strike Zone	Serving cookies and sale on select items
Threads A Boutique	Refreshments in the store & pastries supplied by Bright Bear Bakery
Wicked Slush	25% off all hot drinks
Yankee Girl Antiques	Champagne, cider and sweets

 

Frances' Favorite Things — Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — Letters to Santa Mailbox is Open at the Mail Depot, Petaluma

The much loved annual Letters to Santa mailbox is open at the Mail Depot on Fourth Street in Petaluma. Mail a letter with a return address by 12/20 and super Santa will respond in time for Christmas. 

For any readers in the south county who have not yet frequented the community institution that is the Mail Depot and I know I have some relative newcomers to the area who subscribe to my blog, Maureen and team are the best and make the chore of shipping into an actual fun outing with a store full of local art and greetings cards and everything you need to get your stuff from here to the four corners of the globe with a smile and a pinch of salt!

Check out the Mail Depot on Facebook. 

COTS Holiday Free Store — Help brighten the holidays for children and adults experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County

COTS (Committee on the Shelterless) is accepting donations of new items for its annual Holiday Free Store.

Drop off gifts for COTS clients experiencing homelessness, and later this month, COTS clients will be invited to shop for free for their children, families and friends.

It’s the perfect way to pay it forward this giving season by helping to make someone’s holiday a happy one.

COTS Holiday Free Store

50 Western Avenue, Petaluma
right at the corner of Kentucky Street in the heart of downtown

Open for shopping to COTS clients   

TO DONATE: Bring NEW, unwrapped gifts to this temporary store Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 10am-3pm. Click here for more info. 

Frances' Favorite Things — Holiday Gift Guide 2019 — Beautiful Blooms by Flower Casita

Now that I'm coming up for air after getting my novel Big Green Country out into the big, wide world, I'll be posting a little more frequently here on Southern Sonoma Country Life and in the run up to Christmas, sharing some of my favorite local things for gift ideas and activities.

I love that Flower Casita Floral Design in Petaluma's Theatre Square now has its own online ordering website store for deliveries in the south county. There's nothing nicer than a browse in store, inside Theatre Square, on 2nd Street, opposite the sweet shop but if you're pushed for time, you simply can't go wrong with a gorgeous floral arrangement or holiday table centerpiece. Simple as that. 

Click here for web store.