Why the rush?

Okay, so go back into California history, say, 1840s and beyond. Women wore shifts UNDER their outer clothing. In our community's July 4th parade, Sonoma is actually remembering 1860, when the town was first planned. We've lasted 150 years, although I can only say I contributed my citizenship locally for the past 15 years, a mere 10% of the time. There are relatives of General Mariano Vallejo living here, back when Sonoma was under the flag of Mexico.

California Parks will have a small contingent in the parade and there I will be, marching around the Plaza in my underwear! For a while I wasn't sure I'd meet the deadline, procrastinator that I am, but I'm completely finished with almost 17 hours to spare. Weather will be hot, 90's. The parade is always two hours long -- amazing for a town of less than 10,000 -- but it's our best event and attended by tourists from all over. The Plaza will be full of people and food concessions - fundraisers for local nonprofits.

If you have no other plans, consider yourself invited. Parade time: 10:00, Sonoma, California, on the Plaza. (In the 1830s the Plaza was the training ground for General Vallejo's troops... in case you were wondering.)

Slow day in Slonoma

Some days are just so low energy! Skies were cloudy most of today with sunshine peering in. The dogs slept more than usual. The chickens were resting several times when I checked on them. Steve took a nap. What was it with today?

Teenagers in Sonoma refer to the town as "Slownoma," a term that often surfaces in the local newspaper. I personally find the community bustling -- tourists pour onto the Plaza from all over the world and the park is always full of picnickers and others. There are historic sites, wineries, two farmers' markets and lots of little shops. People get out and about. Still and all, today was slow in my personal little corner.

I did my best, but it wasn't my most productive day either. And I certainly wasn't up to a major art project. So I drew little cartoons at every break and called it a page. And that, my friends, was fun!

I'ts back!

One of the delights of small town northern California is the arrival of the weekly Farmers' Market. Sonoma has two -- one that runs on Friday mornings all year and the seasonal, April to November, event on Tuesday evenings. These are immensely popular and, even though there was a chill a goodly number of us turned out to welcome the Tuesday market into the new year.



My family enjoyed food from the vendors. I wasn't hungry so I watched the ducks at the pond.