Southern Sonoma Country Life

Give The Gift of Petaluma With a New Petaluma E-Gift Card — Something For Everyone This Valentines and Throughout the Year. Shop Local.

Shop Petaluma Gift cards — what a great idea by the Visit Petaluma team to boost support and sales in our local small businesses, salons, spas, stores and cafes. If you're a vendor and you'd like to join the program there's still time to do so. 

How it Works

Select the value of your Shop Petaluma e-gift card. Choose your recipient (family, friends, team members) and send via email or text message. The recipient can use that value to make purchases at participating , gift card merchants.

For more details and how it works visit: https://app.yiftee.com/community/petaluma

This gift card can be redeemed at the 63 locations listed below:

Name	Address	Phone
Acorn Chiropractic Club	141 2nd Street, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 200-4466
Adore Hairdressing	430 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, Ca, 94952	(707) 773-7790
Aesthetics y Flores by Tamara	24 western ave suite 303, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 782-6979
Aqus Cafe	189 H St, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 778-6060
Automotive Appearance Specialists	322 Lakeville St, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-2077
Barber Cellars	112 Washington St, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 981-7034
Barber Lee Spirits	120 Washington St, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 971-7107
Bay Laurel Culinary	1370 Industrial Ave. Suite A, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 981-8100
Bay-ti	1 Fourth Street, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 775-1740
Bliss Bridal & Black Tie	145 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 769-8893
Cattlemens	5012 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-4114
Celeste The Stylist	Petaluma, Ca, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 304-4969
Club Pilates Petaluma	289 North Mcdowell Boulevard, Petaluma Ca, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 559-9110
Ethical Clothing	122 Kentucky St, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 769-8564
Field Works	316 B Street, Petaluma, California 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 766-6800
Fruit in Motion	3 4th St Petaluma, California 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 776-4559
Hair by Monica @ Ava Lane Hairdressing	27 Western Ave Petaluma, California, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 250-1544
Hank's Wood-Fired	151 Petaluma Blvd South #123, Petaluma, Ca, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 981-7852
Heebe Jeebe General Store	46 Kentucky St, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 773-3222
Herb Folk	117 Washington Street, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 285-7259
Heritage Salvage	1473 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 762-6277
Hollingsworth Jewelers	5 Petaluma Blvd N,, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-6053
Hotel Petaluma	205 Kentucky St Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 559-3393
Jihan Cerda Photography	Petaluma, Ca But Yes, Open To Travel., Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 332-7715
La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge	151 Petaluma Blvd. South, #117, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-6363
Lala's Creamery	134 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma Ca, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 774-6567
Lala's Jam Bar and Urban Farmstand	720 E. Washington, Petaluma, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 773-1083
Louis Thomas Fine Men's Apparel	150 Kentucky St., Petaluma, Ca, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 924-1715
Maude	10 Western Avenue, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 342-9326
Moonlit Aesthetics	159 Kentucky St, Petaluma , California, 94952	(707) 312-8141
Nan Winters	23 4th St Petaluma, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 778-0163
National Sports Memorabilia	2200 Petaluma Blvd N #200, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 285-2900
Ooh La Luxe	109 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 774-6494
Panache by Pezzolo Designs	800 Lindberg Lane, Suite 155, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 370-5373
Passeggiata Shoes	7 Western Ave, Petaluma, Ca, 94952	(707) 774-6500
Petaluma Coffee & Tea	212 2nd St, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-2727
Petaluma Farmers' Markets	320 N Mcdowell Blvd, Walnut Park, 2nd Street, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 999-5635
Petaluma Hair Company	411 N. Mcdowell Blvd. Petaluma, California, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 794-2471
Petaluma Park Yoga	3365 I Street Ext, Petaluma , California, 94952	(707) 322-9756
Petaluma Pet Company	144 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 480-3545
Petaluma Wireless	131 2nd St Petaluma, California, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 766-8888
Pho Sonoma	140 2nd St #120, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 762-6888
Pub Republic	3120 A Lakeville Hwy. Petaluma, Ca 94954, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 782-9090
Quinua Restaurant	500 Petaluma Blvd south, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 721-7681
Red Umbrella Consignment	120 A Kentucky St., Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 778-3499
Ron Johnson Construction LLC	1545 Casa Grande Rd, Petaluma, California, 94954	(707) 318-6422
Soft Shell Day Spa and Aromatherapy Boutique	18 Kentucky Street #10, Petaluma, California 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 773-4950
Sonoma Travel	725 E Washington ST Suite 100, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-1545
Spiral Jewelry & Artisery	126a Kentucky Street, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 787-1853
Splendid Little Shoppe	140 Petaluma Blvd N. Petaluma, California 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-7467
Stardust Salon & Spa	410 Petaluma Blvd. South Suite D Petaluma, California 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 347-9291
Stefano's Pizza	5 Petaluma Blvd S Suite D, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 971-7236
Stink	126 Kentucky St Petaluma, California, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 773-0525
Summer Cottage Antiques	153 Kentucky St,, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 776-2873
Taps Beer Co. & Kitchen	54 East Washington St. Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 763-6700
The Redd Collection	2000 Clydesdale Way, Petaluma, California, 94954	(707) 238-4540
The Seed Bank	110 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 773-1336
The Shop	139 Kentucky Street, Petaluma, California, 94952	(415) 845-4105
Threads A Boutique	117 Kentucky Street, Petaluma Ca 94952, Petaluma, California, 94952	707 774 6073
Vine and Barrel Wines	113 Petaluma Blvd N Petaluma, California, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 765-1112
Wild Goat Bistro	6 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 658-1156
Yoga Hell	1484 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, California, 94952	(707) 972-2915
cafe bellini	100 s.mcdowell blvd, petaluma, California, 94954	(707) 774-6160

Additional TermsNON-RELOADABLE. NO CASH ACCESS. Unless prohibited by law, a $3.00 fee will be deducted monthly from Voucher balance starting 1st day after 12 months of inactivity. Activity means any action resulting in a change in Voucher balance, other than fee imposition, or adjustment due to error or prior transaction reversal.

Petaluma Arts Center Call for Art — Eight Bay Area Artists/Designers Sought for The Time To Address Climate Change Now Exhibit

Building on the example of Petaluma Arts Center's successful Get Out And Vote campaign, the center's next exhibition will address climate change. 

Entitled ACT: Climate Action Now, the exhibition will run online and be on view from Earth Day, April 22nd, through the summer. 

The Arts Center will be partnering with climate change activism organizations on a supporting program of events that will directly and actively engage the community in an ambitious campaign to raise awareness of how together we can mitigate climate change.

The opening of ACT is timed to coincide with this year’s local, national, and global Earth Day celebrations.  

The Petaluma Arts Center is soliciting the expression of interest from artists and designers for this exhibition and is  looking for a diverse group of 8 artists and/or designers interested in creating evocative artworks that inspire the community at large to “think globally, act locally”. 

As with the Get Out And Vote campaign, reproductions of the artworks will be printed in large format and displayed on the outside of the Arts Center building. The artworks will also be available to the public online on-demand and at the Arts Center as posters, lawn signs, tee shirts, and postcards.
 

How to Apply

Send a letter of interest along with a portfolio of relevant work. Include a paragraph or two describing how you would address this challenge to PAC (ACTpetaluma@gmail.com) by February 17th.  

Bay Area artists and designers are welcome. The Petaluma Arts Center will select 8 artists by March 10th. During the review of the applications, applicants may be contacted to clarify intentions.

Artworks must be received by April 10th for installation and an “opening” on Earth Day, April 22nd.  Successful applicants will be awarded a $500 stipend upon the receipt and acceptance of their artwork, preferably in a digital format.  Petaluma Arts Center will hold reproduction rights on the selected artworks.

Top Pick for Valentine Gifting for the Foodies in Your Life — Straus Home Ranch Small-Batch Artisan Cheese Collections

Photo Credit: RoccoPhotography.com 

One thing I'm asked to recommend frequently these days is local, high quality, small batch food gift options for delivery in the area and elsewhere in California. I can't think of a collection that would be better received and just in time for Valentine treating of family, friends, clients as well as ourselves than a Straus Home Ranch Small-Batch Artisan Cheese Collection — an inaugural homage to Straus family and friends in the area.

This is the first release of a new collection by Cheese Trail creator Vivien Straus. While Vivien and her brother Michael are patiently awaiting (as we all are) a time when it's safe to ease COVID restrictions for reopening bookings for their family's iconic, historic Straus Home Ranch weddings, retreats, reunions and events, they've created this special collection concept as one delicious way of supporting both their own and a range of neighboring businesses.   

Vivien picks the best of the west for her collections. With her many years of experience in marketing for Cowgirl Creamery & Straus Family Creamery (a separate entity from Straus Home Ranch, headed by she and Michael's older brother Albert) and her intimate Cheese Trail connections, a box of Vivien's favorite cheeses, local chocolate, jams and linens will be well met by even the most discerning of foodies. 

Included in the first collection:  

• Bivalve Dairy's Foundry Fresh (from cows who graze at Straus Home Ranch) 
• Cowgirl Creamery's Heart’s Desire (made with Straus Family Creamery organic milk)
• Chocolate truffles by Mutari Chocolate
• Flour sack towel with cows hand-drawn by Ellen Straus (co-founder of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust)

Photo Credit: StrausHomeRanch

Orders: Pre-order by January 31^st, for delivery the week of February 8^th, by USPS 2-Day Priority Mail.

Price: $75, with free delivery.

Ships only within California.

Curated by: Vivien Straus, creator of The California Cheese Trail (www.CheeseTrail.org)

Where to buy:

• Exclusively at www.StrausHomeRanch.com
• Direct link to collection

Upcoming collections will feature cheeses and accoutrements from local, organic, artisan producers.

Photo Credit: www.StrausHomeRanch.com

Image credit: Graham Beer

 

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. 

 

 

 

Local Author Event at Sbragia Vineyards December 9th Postponed Until 2021

Postponed — Although it was to be a safe distanced, outdoor event in beautiful Dry Creek Valley, we're following the lead from neighboring Bay Area counties and postponing this lovely event until some time next year. Please continue to support Sonoma County wineries & all the families who depend on the farming & production of these wonderful wines when shopping for your holiday vintages.

Even if Sonoma and Napa Counties do go into more stringent lockdown, wines are available for pick up and delivery. Look for local wines on your favorite grocery store shelf.

 

Look for the first of my holiday GIFT GUIDES on Tuesday. There is so much bounty to share in our neck of the woods that I'll most likely post an additional GIFT GUIDE for last minute shopping ideas that support local. 

 

Claudia's A Moveable Feast Book is available to order online at https://www.recipesforrollingkitchens.com/

Jayme's Wonder Is My Compass is available at https://www.jaymecellitioci.com/

And my Fog Valley books are available directly from my via my blog homepage www.southernsonomacountrylife.com. Big Green Country is available at Copperfield's Books, online from all major booksellers and from me directly.

Also look for lots more great local books on my bookshelf at Bookshop. https://bookshop.org/lists/books-by-sonoma-county-authors

 

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