I’m happy to see wildflowers still blooming. Every week new types pop up, reminding me spring is far from over in Lake County. It’s a great time of year to get in those last few hikes before summer sets in, and we trade in our hiking shoes for bathing suits—the heat is coming! This week we’re ecstatic to announce our second podcast, Gathering, hosted by Michelle Scully. In her first episode, she interviews Christian and Rachel Ahlmann from Six Sigma Ranch and Winery and chats with them about their debt-free life with five kids in an Airstream trailer. Plus, Lake County’s got a new band! Read up on Breaker One-9, then see them live at Middletown Days next month. Have a safe, fun- and sun-filled weekend Lake County!

One thing 2020 taught me is never to take a tradition for granted. This time last year, instead of making last-minute plans for Mother’s Day, families were making do. This year, Mother’s Day represents hope and the beginning of a year filled with continued and renewed traditions as more holidays are on the way. I am reminded that in 2020 I had more Mother’s Days than I could count, whether it was playing board games, having movie nights on the patio and so many shared meals together. For those things, I am grateful that we were lucky enough to have each other, grow together, and make the most of what Covid brought. I am thankful that families will once again gather together this weekend and that this only the beginning of many more happy gatherings. This week, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the winners of The Bloom’s first poetry competition, Poetry of the Body, created to bring awareness of the importance of organ donation. Plus, we’ve got a great nonfiction piece by local writer D. R. Darvishian and lots of other good news. Whatever your plans are for Mother’s Day, I hope your weekend is filled with joy, laughter, and the beginning of many more happy memories for 2021!

It happened as it does every year, actually multiple times a year. I venture off of our lawn, patio, or trails built into the hillside behind our house to do some gardening, and, inevitably, poison oak finds me. I wish I could say I find it first; however, that hasn’t been my luck so far. At three a.m. this morning I woke up and found myself scratching in my sleep, again. My dermatologist has prescribed me four tubes of ointment for which help, but don’t end the itchiness fast enough. I love where I live; I genuinely do. I live in paradise as long as I never leave the “safe” zones of our property. A while back, David wrote a piece called “I Love Poison Oak”, which helps explain not just my misery, but everyone else who has dealt with poison oak. It always makes me laugh, and I hope it does for you as well. This week we are excited to announce The Bloom’s foray into podcasting. Our first podcast is in conjunction with Lake County Poet Laureate (and Bloom Poet in Residence) Georgina Marie. In the first episode of Rooted in Poetry, Georgina interviews poet Beulah Vega, who also reads some of her poems. Plus, The Lake County Music Guide is back! After a year off, musician Mike Guarniero has started up his comprehensive guide to live music in Lake County again. It makes me feel happy inside to see it return! And, after a seven-year hiatus, the Middletown Farmers’ Market has returned to the park. I wish you the happiest of weekends, and may you not encounter poison oak!

There’s some rain coming! When I saw the clouds in the forecast, I got excited. It’s been getting a bit dusty at our place. Won’t it be nice to have everything get washed clean again? While you may spend your Sunday at home with a cup of hot chocolate, don’t miss a chance to get out and see some of Lake County’s amazing wildflowers. This rain should bring out some beauties! This week we’re featuring a relaxing hike at Highland Springs, known for its wildflowers, and a great rain poem by Joyce Anderson. Plus, be sure to check out our calendars; more and more things are happening in Lake County. Wherever you are, have a wonderful, hopefully damp, weekend.

Never again will I take live music for granted again! I had no idea how much music is a part of Lake County’s life. It’s as much a part of our culture as the Pear Festival, Lake County Fair, Boat Races, Christmas Parades, and so much more. Although it may be another year before some of those things come back, it’s beginning to look like the good old days when it comes to live music. We have multiple restaurants booking gigs throughout the county, and I have my fingers crossed for the Library Park concerts and Kickin’ it in the Country. But this is the opportunity to show our support and appreciation to the restaurants that have kept their doors open but are bringing back a little bit of normal Lake County livin’. This week we’re excited to share a review of 350 North in Lakeport, as well as some great creative nonfiction and poetry. Here’s hoping to see each other at one of our favorite venues for live music in lake county.

We had the pleasure of our daughter’s company over Easter before having to drive her back to college in the Bay Area this past week. Like bad luck, fate, or whatever it was would have it, I began my drive back home in the heart of rush hour. I told myself, “You haven’t had to sit in traffic in years. It’s no big deal; it’s a small test to see how you do.” I smiled confidently in agreement. That thought began to battle with the truck’s thumping base directly behind me, its reverberations running through my car as my rearview mirrors pulsed in its rhythm. Meanwhile, the driver next to me seemed to be racing me in slow motion to the next stoplight as he passed me, and later, I’d pass him. I wasn’t sure who was going to win, but we were both giving it our best. At some point, I began to realize I was failing the test. Claustrophobia was building inside me. And suddenly, I understood road rage in a whole new light. Yes, I was failing my small life lesson miserably as the boom boom boom continued behind me and someone tried to cut me off. I think you get the idea, and to not cause you imparted anxiety, I will say the additional thirty-minute commute thanks to traffic once again reminded me how truly blessed we are to live in Lake County. Isn’t it nice to know that there is no Friday traffic to worry about today! This week, we’re thrilled to announce our new Poet in Residence, Georgina Marie. You may already know her as the Lake County Poet Laureate or have read her Rooted in Poetry column on The Bloom. This month we’re co-hosting a Poetry Competition to celebrate National Donate Life Month, and soon we’ll introduce our first poetry podcast. If you’re interested in poetry, you could make some money for a hobby. Plus, we’ve got a review of the Lunchbox Museum. Yes, one of our county’s delightful oddities is open by reservation. Have a great weekend, Lake County.

Spring for our family always includes a hike at Highland Springs. One would think that with the combination of warmer temperatures and readily available water, I would be prepared for the spontaneous rope swing swim. Yet year after year I bring home soggy kids and, yes, you guessed it, a soggy car. I guarantee towels will be in our trunk before we leave the house again! This week we’re excited to promote the second week of the NCO/EPIC Poetry Competition. Enter a poem, and you could win a $100 gift card and be eligible to win a night away at the Tallman Hotel. And if your Easter weekend isn’t already scheduled, be sure to check out the Bloom’s calendar for some fun ideas.

A couple of evenings ago, while the kids were in a Zoom meeting, I found a quiet moment to enjoy a glass of wine on our patio when I realized things around me were anything but quiet. Jasper, our dog, was all ears and eyes watching our resident blue jays in their spring flurry. Acorn woodpeckers chuckled in the pines, and ravens circled overhead, utterly unaware of our . As I watched them, I realized there is always something going on in Lake County. At that moment, I appreciated how lucky I was to be watching springtime happen and not stuck in traffic! How happy I am to live in Lake County! This week we’re excited to announce the NCO/EPIC Poetry Contest, hosted by Lake County Poet Laureate Georgina Marie! This contest is a huge deal and begins today. Each week, the winner will get a $100 gift card, and the grand prize winner gets dinner and a night away at the Tallman Hotel. How cool is that? For more information, head to the NCO Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/NCOEPIC/events). Plus, this week, we’ve also got a review of Gregory Graham Winery, a great place to enjoy some fantastic local wines. Wherever you may be, have a wonderful day and a beautiful springtime.

Indoor dining begins again in Lake County. How crazy is that? It almost felt strange to do something that used to be so common and ordinary. Who knew the highlight of my week would be eating a taco salad in a restaurant! I can honestly say, I think this new, new normal is something I can get used to. A huge thank you for those in our community that have helped keep our businesses alive through the ups and down of life the past year. This week we are excited to share a review of Happy Garden in Clearlake Oaks, written by Hilary Devine. Now that we’re getting more authors, it’s great to be able to share more reviews in The Bloom. Remember, we’re still looking for writers, so if you’ve got an idea or something you want to share, get in touch with us.

This week has been a cloud watcher’s paradise. We’ve had clouds bring snow, rain, and hail, and I am loving it. Sure, spring is already rounding the corner, but thankfully winter and its rain is hanging around a little longer. This week, we’re excited to share with you our wine adventure at Vigilance. We’re putting our Wine Passports to good use already! And, of course, we’re still looking for creative writers. Send us a short story or some creative nonfiction. It’s a chance to get noticed and make some cash as well. Whatever you do, be sure to have a great weekend.

So it’s Friday again, and another month of 2021 has begun. The verdict may still be out whether or not we like this calendar year better than the last. We shall see. One thing that has remained a near-constant through our year of COVID is the Blue Wing’s commitment to local music. Four days out of the week, the Blue Wing has provided a sense of normalcy and a place where food and live music still thrive in Lake County. If you get a chance, check out the Bloom’s Big Calendar and pick an evening to support a local business and enjoy some great tunes. And don’t forget they still have their take-out menu, another great way to help them and say thank you for all they’ve done. This week we’re excited to share with you True Grit Coffeehouse in Loch Lomond. Owner Dottie Bates makes consistently good coffee. Imagine a place that uses coffee cubes instead of ice cubes in their iced coffee drinks, creates smoothies from whole fruit, and has the county’s only juice bar. It’s well worth the trek up to the pine trees of Loch Lomond to get a drink.

Happy Friday! This week, we’re excited to promote two local poets, Melissa Bentley and Sama Morningstar. Plus, we’ve got a new favorite restaurant: Live Oaks Grill. Owners Jennifer and Jamie Taylor create incredible food, and we can’t recommend them highly enough. Seriously, they’re worth visiting several times. Lastly, we’ve got some almost “normal” news. Crab […]

Valentine’s Day weekend is here! I can’t think of a better excuse to celebrate locally. Whether it’s picking up a bottle of wine from your favorite winery, planning an evening in with food from a local restaurant, or picking up a gift for your loved on at one of our great local shops, it’s an excellent time for us to support our local businesses once again. This week we’re excited to share a review of a new business: Mix in Lakeport. It’s a great place to pick up a healthy smoothie. Plus, we have some Valentine’s poetry from poet Joyce Anderson for you to enjoy. So kick back for a few minutes and enjoy this week’s Bloom.

And just like that, Spring is back! Even though we’ve still got a few piles of snow left in the shadows, this week we picked our first manzanita blossoms from the top of our property, and hummingbirds are looking for their feeder on the back porch. I couldn’t be happier. Thanks to your contributions, we are excited to publish our first paid articles in the Bloom, a poem and powerful column by Lake County Poet Laureate Georgina Marie. And we’re looking for more writers. If you enjoy telling a good story, you might be able to make a few bucks on it. We’re currently looking for restaurant, winery, and small business reviews. For more information, click on the “Submit” button at the very top of The Bloom’s homepage. Whatever Spring is bringing to your corner of Lake County, I hope you get a chance to enjoy our gorgeous weekend.