What does thankful mean to you? I have to admit, over the years, I have purposefully used being thankful more as a discipline than an emotional, warm fuzzy kind of feeling. And yet, I believe the discipline of being thankful is one the most powerful tools we have, even when there are things not to be thankful for. So today, I’m choosing to be thankful. I’m thankful for my home, my family, and our community. Did I ever mention the five reasons that brought us to Lake County? Just in case I haven’t, I’d like to mention them. We were in a unique position where we could move anywhere, but didn’t know exactly where we wanted to live. So we had a family meeting to discuss what we wanted. The list ended up looking something like this. #1. We had to be able to afford where we lived. So that narrowed things down a bit. #2. We wanted to live in the mountains. #3. We wanted to live near fresh water. #4. I wanted to live in Wine Country. #5. We wanted to live near the coast. Sound too good to be true? Not in Lake County. It’s all here. And later, we created The Bloom to help showcase the best decision we’ve ever made–our move to Lake County. One of the special surprises about Lake County was discovering how many small businesses make our county what it is. So, in the spirit of the season, we’re going to kick off our holiday shop local holiday guide that will take you all over the county featuring only locally owned small businesses. So a huge shout out to all of your that support our small businesses, including The Bloom and our sponsors. Wherever this weekend finds you, I hope you are exactly where you want to be and doing all the things you want to be doing and making memories to last a lifetime. Happy Holidays Lake County and have a great weekend!
Tag: This Week
This week I’ve been focusing on all the things I have to be grateful for before the business of the season takes even more of my attention. What I’m reminded of is how the little ordinary things are sometimes the biggest things to be thankful for. Right now, I’m sitting in my living room; a warm fire is glowing in the fireplace, and yellow oak leaves fill my living room window against a bright blue sky with slanted sunlight drifting in between my sheer curtains, and I’m so thankful to see this moment. No doubt, a week from now, there will be fewer leaves on the oak tree, and I’ll be distracted with family, food, and making more memories to remember in the future. And I am grateful, so grateful. I hope that where ever you are and whatever you’re doing, you can find the grateful, thankful moments that we sometimes miss if we’re not looking. Here’s another one for you. Tuesday, I was reading the Lake County Music Guide as I always do, and somehow it caught me off guard, and I started laughing so hard tears began rolling down my cheek–you know, the happy tears. I can not tell you how good it felt to have a good old-fashioned belly laugh. These are the little moments I’m going to look for every day during this thankful season. Where ever your holiday season takes you, I hope you find exactly what you are looking for. In the meantime, take a few moments to read about some more of our small businesses and check out the Music Guide for a little humor and to know exactly what’s going on for live music. Whatever your plans are, have a great weekend!
With even shorter days and cooler weather, it seems to be getting more wintery despite the sporadic fall-colored leaves still appearing on our oak trees. I can remember several Thanksgivings we’ve enjoyed dining on our patio, but I’m thinking this may not be one of those years. So when we have a stormy, wet fall season, I can’t help but get in the holiday spirit despite the calendar telling me otherwise. Don’t get me wrong; I do not want to rush the holidays. No, I plan to enjoy every moment of November and my leisurely time before things get crazy busy. And yet, I’m kind of enjoying holiday music playing in the background while I’m working on dinner. I think any time of year is a good time of year to welcome happy memories and soak in their warmth and all those warm fuzzy feelings they bring. It’s wonderful to be thankful and to look forward to new memories still to be made. So, to all of you enjoying a little holiday cheer, know you’re not alone! Speaking of thankful, this week we celebrate eight local businesses that competed in the 2022 1Team 1Dream business competition. And Kathleen Scavone is going to tell us a few fun facts about fall. Have a great weekend, Lake County!
Whether we like it or not, this weekend marks the end of summer and the start of fall. I always have mixed feelings when Labor Day rolls around. I love summer and all of its distractions. It’s always a fun challenge to see how much fun we can fit into those summer months. But, I also love transitioning into cooler weather and all things pumpkins and autumn. What I love most about September in Northern California is the chance to fit in the extra summer things. Whether it’s a BBQ with friends, a quick trip to the ocean, more time at the pool, or kayaking and bird watching, the weather is more than accommodating. How lucky we are. This week we’re excited to announce the winners of our Second Annual Poetry of the Outliers Competition! Be sure to read the winning poem below. Also, we can’t wait to tell you about the first Blackberry Harvest Dinner. The plan was to include the Festival all in one article, but that dinner was too special not to have its own feature article. If you couldn’t make it this year, mark your calendar for the last Friday in August, and you’ll be glad you did. Next week, we’ll wrap things up with a piece on the Festival. Lake County has a lot going on this weekend! I hope you have time for the Fair. Be sure to check out the Big Calendar to see what’s going on each day. There’s live music all weekend long, and let’s not forget about the boat races–you’re missing out if you haven’t seen them. And Saturday, the Lakeport Auto Movies celebrate National Cinema Day with $3 everything. How fun is that? Enjoy your holiday weekend Lake County!
While driving Highway 29 just past Kelseyville on a morning commute, my daughter commented, “Boy, Lake County sure looks different when it’s raining.” Big Valley opened up against the recent gray horizon hiding the normally clear blue sky ahead of us. I couldn’t help but feel like we were on our own tiny island. It was comforting to know the mountains surrounding Lake County are still there, just tucked away behind layers and layers of moisture. At that moment, I remembered how much I love Lake County no matter what season it is. I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. This week, we’re happy to share with you another one of Lake County’s treasures: its soundscape. Author Kathleen Scavone shares how the sounds of our county create a unique symphony you can’t find anywhere else. So whether you’re listening to the lap of the lake against the shore or the steady drip falling from the yellow-leaved oaks, have a great weekend Lake County and stay dry and warm!
Well, it’s finally here. It’s the weekend of the Big Valley, Small Farms Tour. As you know, we’ve been promoting it for the past month. That’s because it’s a great event. Big Valley has several great places to visit, from Ripe Choice Farm and Catering (mind the tortoise) to Peace and Plenty, North America’s Largest Saffron Farm. It’s coming this Sunday—for more information, visit their Facebook Page. Also, we’ve got a review of Richmond Park Bar and Grill, a Lake County staple. Situated on the water, it’s always got live music on weekends and massive burgers. It’s a great place to hang out for a few hours, dance a bit, and overeat. And if you’re still bored, check out our Party Calendar. You’re sure to find something to do. Whatever you’re up to, have a great weekend, and be sure to stay safe.
Well, Lake County made the news again. Say the word “fire”, and we’re suddenly famous. All of us have at least one story of how fires have affected us. This week was no exception. Once again, I found myself in awe of how quickly our first responders met the challenge to save property and lives. As a community, we have shown that we will continue to come together to help where help is needed. I’m beyond blessed to call this my home when I see everywhere individuals and organizations doing everything they can to help. These are the times that Lake County shines. A special thanks to our Fire Fighters and local law enforcement for all you continuing to do to protect our homes and well-being. If you want to help out, Clothing Closet in Middletown is looking for donations—you can find out in the Press Releases section of The Bloom.
Here’s what’s going on this week in The Bloom. The Big Valley, Small Farms tour is coming up. Over the next month, we’ll be re-releasing stories we’ve written about the farms; this week you’ll get to read about Peace and Plenty, North America’s largest saffron farm. Also, you can read the winning poem from the Poetry of Outliers competition we just held. It’s beautiful. And we have a new Gathering Podcast. This week, host Michelle Scully talks with canine coach Val Stallings about dogs—I’m certain you’ll learn something if you listen.
When you make your plans, be sure to call ahead of time as there have been many last-minute cancellations, and understand that many still are evacuated. Whatever you’re up to this weekend, please be safe.
