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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom – 2.12.21

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.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 2.5.21

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.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 1.29.21

How about some snow? This week brought some needed moisture, especially in the mountains. We ended up with fourteen inches at our place, turning it into a winter wonderland. This week we’re re-releasing an article on the Wholly Bowl, a great restaurant hidden away in Lakeport. If you haven’t been, give it a try. Jenn Allen-Malinowski is always up for a good meal and conversation. We’ve got more moisture in the forecast, so kick back with a cup of tea and enjoy your weekend.
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Photo by Rees Wakefield
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 1.8.21

Happy January! The holidays are officially over. the decorations are put away leaving our homes a little more spacious than before. The best part of winter is having all of Lake County to ourselves. The pleasant, cool temperatures make it the perfect time to hike and explore your favorite outdoor spots whether it’s Mt. Konocti, Boggs Mountain, Highland Springs or Cache Creek. No matter where you live, there’s a scenic destination not far. This week we’re happy to share a review of Betty’s Tacos in Clearlake Oaks. It’s a great place and a chance to get out and take a drive around our amazing lake. Have a wonderful weekend!
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 1.1.2021

Happy New Year! Looks like we made it through 2020. . .whew. As we move into January, we’re going to start promoting local restaurants and wineries. Our first is Cache Creek Winery, a great getaway for an afternoon. And it’s your last chance to read up on the great local businesses in our Holiday Shopping Guide before it’s gone. Thank you everyone for supporting Lake County’s small businesses (including us); there’s no better place to call home. Here’s hoping 2021 is a brighter year for us all. We wish you health, happiness, and well-being in the New Year.
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Photo by Kendall Hoopes
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Merry Christmas from The Bloom!

Wherever today finds you, we hope that you are surrounded by those you love, even if it a four-legged friend. Considering today is Christmas Day, we thought you might enjoy reading one of our favorite holiday stories. “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, a short story/poem by Dylan Thomas, tells the story of a Christmas over one hundred years ago. It’s a good way to kick back for a few minutes and enjoy the season. Plus, we’ve got more history and good news for you to peruse. We at The Bloom wish you the Merriest of Christmases. We will see you next year!
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 12.18.20

There’s still time to support your favorite local businesses, restaurants, and wineries this holiday season. This week, we’re excited to share with you two more great local businesses! Lakeside Arts and Gifts is the perfect place to pick up a few last-minute gifts, and if you are looking for fun family nights, be sure to swing by The Game Hub to pick up something for hours of enjoyment. Plus, if you plan your holiday shopping just right, you can enjoy a scenic view of the entire county. What a great time of year to see our local communities all decked out for the Holidays! Thank you for your part in supporting the fine small businesses of Lake County. We at The Bloom wish you the happiest of holidays.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 12.4.20

December is upon us, and Covid hasn’t stopped the Holiday cheer in Lake County. Check out our calendar page and see some safe ways you can do to join in the fun! Between holiday decorating contests and toy drives, you’re bound to find something right for you. This is the year to support the community in whatever way we can. On that note, we’re excited to share with you another great business in Lake County, The Soap Shack. Handmade soaps, lotions, bath balms, and even chapstick are the perfect stocking stuffers for someone you know. Whether you are buying local gifts, wines, or supporting your favorite restaurant, you’re supporting local businesses. We at the Bloom wish you and yours a happy holiday season.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 11.27.20

Thanksgiving always comes just as the oaks that surround our home reach their peak colors and fill the entire hillside with bright oranges and yellows that only glow brighter in the early evening twilight. What a sight to see! It’s another fun week in The Bloom: We’re adding to our Holiday Shopping Guide two great Kelseyville stores: Oak and maker. If you haven’t had a chance to visit either yet, now’s the time. It’s certain you’ll find there the perfect, unique gift for a loved one. Also, it’s time to start writing letters to Santa. While you’re in Kelseyville visiting Oak, be sure to drop off your Santa letters at Hometown Consignments; he said he’d write back! You can read more about that below. And if you’ve got some extra free time, be sure to read artist Helen Kate McAllister’s profile: Lucid Dreaming. Best wishes to you, and a Happy Holidays from The Bloom.
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What’s Up this Week in The Bloom: 11.20.20

Now that we have settled into fall, we can sit back and enjoy the red-gold leaves falling around us. The air’s crisp and clean, and we’re heading into the holidays. What better time to shop local? Today The Bloom launches our Holiday Shopping Guide, showcasing some of the best businesses in the county; you’re sure to find the perfect gift. This week, we’re excited to introduce you to Koontz Mercantile. If you haven’t already been, you’ll find that there is a little something for everyone. Also, in the spirit of the season, we’re happy to share a review of a Thanksgiving story written by local author Lori Armstrong. The book may be intended for children, but the message is for all ages. So no matter what your plans may be this year, we at The Bloom wish you a safe and happy holiday.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom – 11.5.20

And just like that, it’s already November. With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving still a few weeks away, it’s the perfect time to catch the best of the beautiful fall colors and enjoy the great outdoors. No one can deny, this is the calm before the hustle and bustle yet to come. Something we’re excited about is the “Mum Madness 2020 Show,” presented by the Clear Lake Garden and Trellis Club. It’s all digital; just visit their Facebook page or read more about it in The Bloom. It’s a chance to see some vibrantly colored mums. If the Holidays aren’t coming soon enough for you, the Moose Lodge will soon be hosting their annual Craft Fair, and word has it, you can preorder your Thanksgiving desserts! Check out The Bloom’s calendars for more details. Until then, sit back and take a few minutes to enjoy The Bloom as David shares more about the history of Loch Lomond Resort and an evening we spent with a couple of lovely Italian ladies. Whatever your plans are for this beautiful fall weekend, we wish you the safest and happiest of times.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom – 10.30.20

Halloween 2020 is something I’ve looked forward to more than in years past. It’s not because we’ll be doing all the same traditional things: far from it. However, it is a promise we still can make many good memories this year. As we get used to the new normal being the new normal, our Lake County community has once again risen to the challenge to make this Halloween a good one. If you haven’t made plans, no worries. Check out The Bloom’s Big Calendar, and you will find more than enough COVID-safe things to do. If you can’t wait until the evening for the fun to get going, begin your day in Middletown, where the festivities start at noon! From there, you have the entire county offering trunk or treats, scary drives, and corn mazes. And don’t forget the Drive-in in Lakeport. This Halloween they’re showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show, always a fun time. In the meantime, The Bloom has some great reads this week: we’ve got short fiction from Jennifer Mills Kerr, poetry from Marilyn Hung, and one more installment of the history of the Prather Family and Loch Lomond. So sit back, relax, and take a few minutes to enjoy The Bloom. As always, please be safe, and don’t forget to set your clock back one hour Saturday night so that you can enjoy some extra sleep Sunday morning.
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What’s Up This Week in The Bloom 10.16.20

Last weekend I traded in my afternoon iced tea for a cup of hot mint tea, and I have to admit, I kind of like the change. Cooler temperatures bring some of the happiest memories to our home. But it would seem that Summer isn’t over yet as we have another warm weekend ahead, making it the perfect time to fit in one more barbecue. If you don’t have plans for the weekend, here are a couple ideas. If you feel like being out and about, there’s still live music: check out the Lake County Music Guide. We’ve got things going on, but stay safe out there. If you’re in the mood to take in some fall colors, now would be the perfect weekend to follow the quilt trail and see the season change in our beautiful county. It always makes for a pleasant drive. But for now, sit back and enjoy another story about the Prather family and Loch Lomond. In this week’s article, David talks about Ruth Springston Moody, the woman who named Loch Lomond, worked there for decades, and would back down to no person. She was quite a character; it’s worth a read. As always, have a safe and enjoyable weekend, no matter what your plans may be.
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What’s Up in The Bloom This Week: 10.9.20

Bright Fall days and cool evenings make fall an excellent time to be outdoors in Lake County. This is the time of year when our family trades swimming and days at the lake for walks and hikes, taking in the beautiful fall colors. Clear Lake State Park is a great spot for that; if you haven’t been recently, bring a picnic and make a day of it! Don’t forget the Wildhurst Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze if you’re looking for fall adventures. Also, Running Creek Casino is having their annual “Oktoberfest” event this weekend, promising great German Food, beer and music. Check out our calendars for other great live music in the county. In the meantime, take a few minutes to enjoy the second article in David’s series on Loch Lomond and the Prather Family. This week, we interview Bob Prather, who shares his 90+ years of memories. As always, be smart and follow all social distancing protocols to ensure your family stays safe while you have fun.
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