Southern Sonoma Country Life

Take a Virtual Tour of Petaluma's Historic Arnold Scott Ranch and Kelly Creek — Latest on the Expand Helen Putnam Park Project

This evening, Tuesday, February 9th, the Petaluma Planning Commission is set to hear the revised Environmental Impact Report on the Scott Ranch development project which will add 44 acres to Helen Putnam Park. Within five weeks the City will be makings its decision on whether to approve the combined park and housing plan.

 

If you've been following any or all of the 17 year Red Barn Complex/Kelly Creek & endangered species protection endeavor in Petaluma, you'll appreciate all of the work that has gone in preserving as much of the property as possible. All these years of patient wrangling and negotiations surrounding the future of the land that houses the 100 year old iconic two story red barn, meadows and creek have culminated in a compromise that works for both the Kelly Creek Protection Project non-profit on behalf of the community at large and developer Davidon Homes. 

 

There has been significant change from the original plan since the developer purchased the property for $7.8 million in 2003. Several prominent Petaluma families raised dairy cattle on the land for more than a century. Davidon first proposed to build 93 homes on the scenic 58-acre lot and then scaled down its proposal to 66 homes. Petaluma has fought for years to protect this beautiful site from over-development and the proposal stands today at clusters of 18 homes on one side of the property and 10 on the other.  This means that only 16% of the property will be developed with 44 acres of permanent public access preservation and accessible park extension of Helen Putnam Park. 

 

It sounds promising that the barn will eventually become a museum encapsulating the rich, historic dairy heritage of this area. 

 

This Covid-safe Arnold Scott Ranch Video Tour describes the revised project. The physical and mental health benefits of our parks and open space has been a saving grace during this pandemic period. An expansion of the park with access from the D Street area will be a huge benefit for our community. 

 

Kelly Creek will be thankful for the restoration work that will take place, making for happy, healthy frogs and cows. 

Learn more about the Kelly Creek Protection Project at extendputnampark.org. 

 

Southern Sonoma Country Life Rustic Christmas Greetings for 2020 Simple Celebrations at Home

Outside my home office window the street is empty of neighborhood walkers and vehicles at four in the afternoon on a December weekday so close to Christmas to be eerily devoid of holiday hustle and bustle if it weren't for the knowledge that folk are doing what they're supposed to and staying home.

Ordinarily I would be racing around from holiday event and party and last minute errands but this year, December 2020 is so utterly different for all of us — wherever we are in the world. 

I've shopped locally, walked most of my errands, filled the pantry from farm shops and favorite purveyors and I have to be honest with myself about not missing much of the department store/mall, big-city holiday lights outings I used to enjoy in season's past. 

Nightly news and updates from friends and family around the globe fills me with the fresh concerns we're all doing our best to process as we strive to stay safe and well while staying in touch. Ever the optimist, even I have to confess to the sorts of pandemic dreams that would make for a decent Netflix thriller. 

Christmas couldn't come at a better/worse time in so many ways, it's simply going to be a season for holding tight to all we are thankful for in our lives and for making the best of the holiday in however we see fit or are able to muster.

In sticking close to home I've collected lots of lovely photos this winter and in sharing a selection with you, I hope you enjoy this year's curation of literary quotes to suit this muted though still welcomed yuletide. 

And so, here, it is, Merry Christmas, as the song goes . . . Wishing you and yours a peaceful, quiet winter snuggle. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses, medical staff and each and every essential worker out there on the front line this Christmas and every day. 

“The fragrance of pine resin is frankincense poured out—a balm of stars and snow and moonlit nights” — John J Geddes..

“On a busy day twenty-two thousand people come to visit Santa, and I was told that it is an elf's lot to remain merry in the face of torment and adversity. I promised to keep that in mind.” — David Sedaris. 

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” — Harlan Miller 

“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.” — Louisa May Alcott.

“Christmas doesn’t come from the store to sit under the tree;
It comes from the heart and is spread for free.” — Nadine Sedaka Boulos.

“I spend the morning in the local grocers, bringing in the Christmas provisions: Stilton, ham, Brussels sprouts, a capon of terrifying dimensions. Unfathomable quantities of potatoes. Red wine and white, a bottle of Marsala. Turkish delight and cherry liqueur chocolates. A bag of satsumas, some wrapped in blue and gold paper. Several pots of cream, just in case.” — Katherine May. 

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” — Peg Bracken. 

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ” — Washington Irving. 

“I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things that I have never seen: in every wood in every spring there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago, and people who will see a world that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.
(Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, chpt 3)” — JRR Tolkien. 

“This was the time when Mother usually did her knitting. With ten children in the family, she didn't have time to knit more than one pair of mittens a year for each of them, so she gave the mittens to them at Christmas. The children never asked who the mittens were for, even though they watched each one grow. Some had stripes of bright color and some had little patterns, and of course some were big and some were small.” —Lee Kingman. 

“Like kids who only ever get socks for Christmas, but still believe with all their hearts in Santa.” — Barbara Kingsolver. 

“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” — Chris Van Allsburg. 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Greetings from Southern Sonoma County

 

Thanksgiving 

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850 to 1919

 

We walk on starry fields of white
   And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
   We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
   To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
   Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way
   Upon our thought and feeling.
They hand about us all the day,
   Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
   We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives,
   And conquers if we let it.

There’s not a day in all the year
   But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
   To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
   Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
   While living hearts can hear us.

Full many a blessing wears the guise
   Of worry or of trouble;
Far-seeing is the soul, and wise,
   Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
   To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
   To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes
   Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
   Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
   As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
   A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

Maybe because I'm an immigrant I personally don't have any major disappointment this year about not having as big a Thanksgiving as usual. Aside from dear friends who are staying home to be safe, my extended family and in-laws don't celebrate this American holiday with us anyway, as they're all overseas. There's no angst on breaking with tradition and hosting a smaller gathering than we typically enjoy. 

I know it's hard for so many and I hope that you're not too displaced yourself. 

I've been thinking that this year's Thanksgiving is a lot more like the European Harvest Festivals of my childhood in that we're looking more toward the natural bounty of our region than ever and we're extra grateful for home and hearth and garden and the simple pleasure of small outdoor fall and winter celebrations, whether it be a solo hike, supper for two or, best of all, for me, more intimate holiday gatherings with my husband and one, two or all three of our sons. 

There's not too much to say that hasn't been said a thousand times in the run up to the holidays 2020, so I'm sending you love and best wishes to you and yours from my corner of Sonoma County with a few of my favorite snapshots from this fall season. 

Enjoy your day, savor the simplicity and let Mother Nature do the decorating! 

 

Dream Big — Petaluma River Park Non-Profit Purchases Prime Recreational Land

Congratulations to everyone involved in supporting the Petaluma River Park non-profit organization on the successful purchase of the Petaluma River Park property in the heart of Petaluma. This has been an ambitious four-years-in-the-making dream by a dynamic group of community-minded individuals and families and it is an extraordinary accomplishment given the times that we are in. 

I've been thinking about the timing of this remarkable plan a lot over the past months in following the developments that have brought this dream to fruition. It strikes me as incredibly poignant that during an extensive period of global unrest and a pandemic in the latter stages of this big, local fundraising effort, these determined non-profit leaders stepped up their campaign with so much vigor and passion it's nothing less than an inspiration in human spirit. 

My husband Timo was honored to work with the non-profit from the start in brokering a very complex set of circumstances with the historic property that belonged to various descendants of the McNear Family, one of Petaluma's most storied, founding families. This would not have happened if it weren't for the many, many months of vision, hard work, negotiation & cooperation for all involved in the process, not least the financial and other donations from within our community. 

What we need going forward locally, regionally, nationally and globally, is more open space areas such as this for leisure and recreation and the fact that it's the people who are making this happen, not local government speaks volumes for what we are able to do within our communities when we truly set our minds to it. Thinking outside of the box will need to continue as fundraising efforts ramp up now to implement the various stages of this beautiful new river park. 

Here's a link to the article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat this week on the historic property sale. 

And please do click here and check out the Petaluma River Park website to get on-board with being a part of this exciting development. 

 

Petaluma Arts Center Welcomes Back the Annual Members Show this Holiday Season

Mary Fassbinder, Amanda Bergan, Jennifer Jensen, Clark Mitchell and Peter Phibbs have stepped into action to set up the ANNUAL MEMBERS SHOW at Petaluma Arts Center. Art has been dropped off this past week or so and will be available to view online shortly. 

It's one of my favorite events — I'm always so impressed by the range of local talent in our midst. For a while, pre-pre-pandemic, there was a push away from the local element at the arts center in an effort to bring in regional visitors to high-profile traveling shows but it didn't pan out financially and so the returning emphasis now on local is more essential than ever in rallying support not only for our beloved arts center space but for the many artists in our community. 

The MEMBERS SHOW will be setup in the arts center main gallery and will be viewable online in the weeks ahead. 

Plans to showcase  the late Jon Gariepy's artwork have been put on hold until next year so more time and space may be dedicated to celebrating his life and legacy as a valued member of our community. That said, the arts center is pleased to have a piece of Jon's in its Petaluma Loves Art: Auction + Stories, graciously donated by Joe McDonald and in tandem with a decorated helmet created by David Best.

If you are interested in donating to Jon's memorial fund, please reach out to Lindsey at lgoodwin@petalumaartscenter.org.

Petaluma Loves Art: Auction + Stories Fundraiser December 1st - 7th The Arts Center is excited to present its inaugural Petaluma Loves Art: Auction + Stories fundraiser. On December 1st - 7th, the arts center will host an accompanying online silent auction, including over 25 stunning works of art donated generously by local collectors and artists.  Add to your collection or purchase a special holiday gift while knowing your purchase is supporting the arts in Sonoma County! In addition to supporting the Petaluma Arts Center, you will also have the opportunity to support Petaluma City Schools’ My Art Supply Kit program. You may donate directly to this program via our fund-a-need category benefiting each of the 2,200+ students in the school district with an at-home art supply kit to inspire creativity during the continued shut-downs.  *Due to rising COVID cases nationwide (and statewide), the Arts Center has decided to err on the side of caution and suspend in-person gallery viewings at this time. That said, all of the artwork will be photographed and available for high-quality viewing on the online auction site.
VIEW THE AUCTION AND REGISTER AS A BIDDER

Petaluma Gap Winegrower's Holiday Recipes —Thirty Seven Wines 2016 Reserve Pinot Paired With Wild Mushroom, Sausage and Sourdough Stuffing

Petaluma Gap Winegrower's Holiday Recipes – Trombetta Family Wines 2016 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir Paired With Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta

Petaluma Gap Winemakers Holiday Recipes 2020 — Ernest Vineyards 2017 "The Wrangler" Grand Vent Vineyard Pinot Noir Paired with Tray-Baked Ratatouille & Roast Beef Tenderloin

 

 

 

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving.

Click here for wines. 

 

Petaluma Gap Winemakers Holiday Recipes 2020 — Ron Noble Wines 2018 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Paired with Yun's Chanterelles, Done Two Ways

 

 

 

Petaluma Gap Wine Alliance has been working hard compiling a super series of local wine and holiday food pairings for this 2020 Holiday Season. It's been one heck of a year here in Sonoma County with wildfires and smoke wreaking extended havoc on an already intense period in history. One thing we can all do as wine lovers is to seek out the fantastic cool climate wines made from fruit grown in the Petaluma Gap wind and fog tunnel and especially those crafted by local winemakers. 

I'll be sharing recipes from many of these dedicated and talented winemakers in the run up to Thanksgiving.

Click here for wines. 

Petaluma Gap Winegrower's Holiday Recipes — Sangiacomo Family Wines 2017 Roberts Road Pinot Noir Paired With Nonni Maria Julia's Ravioli and Short Rib Gravy