Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

Petaluma hosts the largest Veterans Day Parade in Northern California, starting at 1 p.m. at Walnut Park on Monday, November 11, with an after parade program back at the park at roughly 2:45 p.m., which I always find to be a good transition from October’s pumpkin patches, corn mazes and El Dia de los Muertos festivities and into the Thanksgiving and December holiday season.
“ We don’t mimic songs by artists we admire, we make our own versions.” ~ The Bluebyrds
Preferred Sonoma Caterers and Wilibees Wine & Spirits can do no wrong when it comes to booze-paired dinners, especially when held under the stain glass dome of the historic Petaluma Library. Just in time to warm your insides for Thanksgiving, the Petaluma Historic Library and Museum holds their
2019 Scotch Pairing Dinner on Thursday, November 21, with tickets being a bargain at $75 for the general public and $60 for members. (With memberships being as little as $20 (seniors, educators and students), $35 (individuals) and $70 (family), this is as good a time as any to join and support the Museum.
A Mellow Cotati Thanksgiving - I am thankful for blessings,
large and minut. This lovely music packed town, the quiet mornings and afternoons. Raking the leaves in the garden, feeding the overwintering Anna’s hummingbirds and a few solitary bees that visit our fountain and flowers.
You can see a full list of recommendations in my Petaluma Argus-Courier article of where you can order your holiday bird or pre-made holiday dinners and which restaurants are opened on Thanksgiving Day, but here is a small appetizer. As far as birds go, Thistle Meats seems to be a local favorite and has the expertise to help advice you on how to cook it. Angelo’s Meats also makes a killer smoked turkey, which is my preferred method of prepping a turkey.
An Action Based Gratitude Practice - There exist numerous ways to expand an awareness of gratitude. I happened upon one method I want to share because it puts you in charge of your mind/life...
Other options are obviously your local grocer, with my preference being Petaluma Market. And no holiday meal preparation would be complete without a visit to Sonoma Spice Queen, where they have all the great spices you’ll need to create your feast but also have loads of recipes and advice. And don’t forget the Dungeness crab, which is a Thanksgiving tradition here in Petaluma. We never know if the season will be open in time or not, but fresh local crab always makes for a nice treat at the Thanksgiving table.
Twelve years ago, I kept a gratitude journal. That year held heartbreaks and disappointments for myself and my family yet I learned to keep moving by enrolling in a career Microsoft course. I made new friends and volunteered for Sonoma County Volunteer Center. This led to an office job after years of staying home to raise our daughter.
As far as pre-cooked meals, unfortunately, Bellyfull Dinners is no longer delivering. This is sad news for the whole year, but especially for the holidays where they really shined. (Anyone interested in purchasing the business, you can find their contact info on their website. We patronized them regularly.) Thankfully, Petaluma’s stalwarts such as Sarah’s Eats & Sweets, Preferred Sonoma Caterers and Petaluma Market are still offering to-go pre- made dinners for Thanksgiving.
1. Plan something kind then do it for someone you know..
2. List an act to expand one’s future by way of career or business goals,
We have enjoyed all three over the years and so can personally recommend each. And don’t forget to order your holiday pies from Petaluma Pie Company. Check their website for order and pick-up deadlines as well as a schedule of free pie tasting Saturdays coming up throughout the holiday season. For those closer to Penngrove, Penngrove Market also has plans in the works.
Be Brave, Stand for Others - Much civility has been destroyed over
past years. Old hatreds have risen. Hate crimes have Increased by 800%
since November 2016, according to the ACLU. Those who have received the blessings of love, compassion and fairness must stand and demonstrate the values of acceptance and human kindness. We need to resurrect as much as we can of civility, mutual aid, and joy. Not simply for ourselves but for all people everywhere.
For those looking to avoid the cooking and dishes all together, but still want to enjoy time with the family, surrounded by great food, there are actually quite a few great options in Petaluma. Central Market usually has a special menu on Thanksgiving and Tolay (at the Sheraton Hotel) is well known for their holiday meals. Other local favorites are the Washoe House, Dinucchi’s (Valley Ford), and Hilltop 1892, which is in Novato, but we Petalumans always consider Novato to be Baja Petaluma.
One of our favorites has been Everest Indian, which might not sound very Thanksgiving, but is actually quite warm and inviting and the food is as much a comfort food to us as turkey and mash potatoes. Another interesting choice would be Fantasy Restaurant. I have been hearing great things about their food recently and with a large Asian menu, including Hong Kong style BBQ, this could be a fun experience for the family. Reservations are strongly recommend at all of these.
And as an appropriate handing off of the torch from
Thanksgiving to the Christmas holiday season, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by riverboat on Saturday, November 30 at noon at the River Plaza Shopping Center and later that evening, starting at 5:30 p.m., Theater Square will hold their annual tree lighting ceremony.
30 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 11/19
December 7th Cotati Shop & Stroll - Our Cotati folk/rock band, the Bluebyrds will play family friendly danceable tunes during Cotati’s Shop & Stroll on Saturday, December 7th, downtown. I did an interview with Tom Richardson and Rick Minervini. Turns out they were in rival bands in 1975. This talented five piece band has played for Cotati History Society’s annual Chicken Barbecue and a Two Rock Coastguard event. Rick and Tom agree that 90% of the band’s audience has to know these icon songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, The Byrd’s, The Beatles, and many more. Catch them on YouTube or their website: thebluebyrds.com
The greatest, if I must choose one, continues to be my smart, kind and loving mother, Evelyn. The luck of birth that continued, giving us my beloved sister, Denise.
Mental and physical well being also top my gratitude list. Am glad too for my family and dear friends. So far I have escaped addiction, the enthrall of television, and monomania. A thousand other personal blessings remain unnamed.
Write each morning and each evening. What made this practice unusual was the instruction to write down three ACTS one was willing to take each day. That evening, one wrote what happened a state “That happened because I did___________ (describe the action and the result).
and do it.
3. Describe a helpful action to do that day for a stranger.
I recommend this method because it places you in charge. If you use it faithfully, for three to six months, you will become more PRO-ACTIVE in behalf of your own happiness. As I kept that journal, my mood and my life transformed immeasurably.
Keep our local artisans making art and useful gifts like handmade soaps, coffee mugs, dinnerware, and personal items like jewelry.
If you have a reader among friends and family, consider buying a book
by a local author. Redwood Cafe’ has a dozen books in a variety of genres. Copperfield’s Books in Santa Rosa has a large shelf of local authors books and I am proud to have my Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries on that shelf.
A mystery series our that gives belly laughs, stars the least-likely-to-succeed bounty hunter on the planet. “If you’re looking for a literary antidepressant, you can’t do better than the hilarious HIGH FIVE.”—Los Angeles Times
At the Cotati Chamber of Commerce breakfast, I met Connie Van Guilder who runs administration for the Berlin College of Canine Studies. Although the campus site is in Penngrove, they are now members of our Cotati Chamber. Luckily, Van Guider has rich skills and talents. She has volunteered to serve as secretary for the chamber. More on her and the college in my next column.