COLUMNS

What’s Up This Week – 5.26.23

Now it comes as no surprise for pollen to be everywhere this time of year. But I don’t recall seeing and even eating it quite this much before. I have a constant taste in my mouth that seems exactly what I imagine pollen to taste like if I actually wanted to eat pollen. Our once-red truck that we rarely drive has turned a pasty shade of yellow on the hood and solid bright floral yellow on the windshield. It’s very intense. So there’s my rant on pollen and my thoughts on Mother Nature working overtime to bring new life!

We want to give a special thanks to our very generous contributors who gave this week. You, our readers, keep The Bloom publication running and free for everyone. Thank You! It’s not too late to donate and get in on some free merch and possibly dinner with The Bloom! You can read all the details about our five-year celebration here, and to donate, click here.

This week we are heading to the Fair Grounds for the boat races. You can check them out this weekend if you haven’t been before. I believe the boat races won’t be back until October. It’s a must-do-thing in Lake County! And take a walk with Kathleen at the Clear Lake State Park. Read some poetry and find out what bands are playing where. Whatever your plans are for the weekend, let’s not forget to remember those who gave their all for our freedom. Have a great weekend Lake County.

Essential Lake County: The Boat Races

The odor of heated fiberglass fills the air. I’m trying to keep up with what’s happening but can’t see through the smoke of the car with the blown head gasket trying to round turn one. Who’s in first? It doesn’t matter. A roar comes from the crowd watching turn three. It looks like a couple of boats got stuck together, and one car’s dragging the other around the track. I glance at it for a second, then get distracted by the major crash happening directly in front of the grandstands. A boat’s disconnected from its chain and cartwheels in front of the Blazer. The driver twitches the steering wheel, not to avoid it, but to ensure he gets a direct hit. He aims directly for the bow, and it explodes into a spray of fiberglass and old steering cables.

Clear Lake State Park- A Walk on the Wild Side

Two days are never the same at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville. The morning walk I took was frosty perfection. Upon entering the park I had a choice of miles of hiking trails to choose from that meander throughout the 330 acres deeded to the state in 1947 by then-owners Fred and Nellie Dorn. The park landscape is set at 1,300 to 1,600 feet in elevation, allowing for some breathtaking views.

Celebrate With the New Bloom!

My, how time flies, The Bloom is turning five this year! Can you believe it? Not only that, but The Bloom just incorporated and, you may have noticed, we have a new domain name, thebloom.news. Thanks to your monthly donations, The Bloom has been and continues to be free to all who subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

So what does all of this mean? We want to celebrate, of course! So here’s the deal. Donate $10 or more monthly, and you’ll get Bloom stickers in the mail. Donate $20 a month or more, and expect to get a Bloom hat or T-shirt–your choice! And for our top monthly donors, you will be invited to a one of kind dinner with The Bloom and its writers in late summer or early fall. So if you’re already donating, keep it up! And if you’re not already donating, it’s not too late. If you donate for three consecutive months, you’re in on the goodies. So let us spoil you as we celebrate together! Click on the button below to donate.

This week we’re happy to tell you about our recent trip to one of our local theaters. And don’t forget to check out our recent Pay It Forward article as we visit another local small business! Plus, don’t forget to check out our weekly poetry. Finally, in between visiting your live music venues, be sure to check out the annual Buckingham Test and Tune as the tradition returns to Lake County once again. Have a great weekend Lake County!

Your Alternate Reality Awaits: Lakeport Cinema

It’s all things bright and sunny as we pull into the Lakeport Cinema parking lot. The outside wall of the cinema hangs pictures of upcoming movies that will grace the screen in the near future. Ahead are a row of black glass doors. And in this moment, an alternate reality is about to begin. It goes something like this:

There is a set of black glass doors, unlike any others. Oh, you’ve seen doors like these everywhere you go, but what’s behind these particular doors brings a new state of mind to your everyday life unlike any other.

Pay It Forward – Studebakers Coffee House & Deli

I am happy to present to you our eighth local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Studebakers Coffee House & Deli.

Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve

Our star, the sun was out in all of its glory after the winter storms, providing a respite from the intense but welcome weather this late winter. Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve’s 107 acres, with its mile-and-a-half loop, like much of the fire-ravaged lands in Lake County, is making a welcome comeback.

Four Great Mexican Restaurants in Lake County

Lake County has an abundance of Mexican restaurants, and most all of them are wonderful. Everyone we talk to has their favorite, but there’s nothing wrong with trying something new. Of course, there are more than just four great Mexican restaurants in Lake County, but, if you’re looking to try something new and enjoy some great Mexican food, look no further than this list.

Pay It Forward: The Men’s Place

The Men’s Place is a locally owned and operated barber shop that specializes in men’s hair. Marisol Fernandez is a licensed cosmetologist and barber, offering quality haircuts in Lake County, California. You can book appointments online and her positive ratings are through the roof with many repeat clients. Marisol provides a friendly, fast and convenient service. The Men’s Place is located in North Lakeport in the same shopping center as Chalerm Thai Bistro.

What’s Up This Week – 4.28.23

April showers may bring May flowers, but quite possibly June’s temperatures this year. Well, goodbye rain and hello summer, all in a couple of weeks. I’m one of those people who change their wardrobe seasonally. It’s not because I have so many clothes, but more because our home was built as a vacation cabin, and its builders never thought of closet space. I blame Christmas for my troubles. Normally we’ve already organized our “stuff” and put things in their proper places. But Christmas, Valentine’s, and Easter decor are all blocking the way to my clothes. I see a dump run and a truckload of donations to one of our many thrift stores in the near future. Gotta love spring and all its cleaning. This week, The Bloom is taking you on a taste of Blue Zones via the Saw Shop. And it’s all good news! And Kathleen is going to talk to us about all things clouds and how good for you they are. For real. Of course, don’t miss out on our poetry as we continue to showcase talented poets both near and far. I’m sure you’re as busy as me doing spring things, but if you have the time, be sure to catch some live music as Lake County moves into full summer mode. Let the good times begin! Have a great weekend Lake County.

A Perfect Partnership: The Saw Shop Public House and Blue Zones

Main Street Kelseyville is a little busier than normal this Tuesday afternoon. With the recent warmer temperatures, mother nature is coaxing all of us to get out and about. Patrons leave Sophies Day Spa with a scoop of ice cream in one hand and a bag of goodies in another. A man leaves Bell Haven Florist with a bouquet and a smile in his step. Outside the Saw Shop, the covered patio and heaters remain in place just in case this warm spring weather should change its mind and bring us more rain. But the sky is clear and blue, and the rain seems a distant memory. It’s not a question on whether to eat outside or not. It would seem an insult to spring and its beauty to do otherwise.

The Wonder of Clouds

With myriad weather patterns blowing in rain, sleet, snow, and hail during the wildly wet winter months, clouds of all descriptions were unquestionably in abundance. Did you know that clouds can be a source of deep importance, not only for weather but for the sheer enjoyment of ‘non-doing’?

Pay It Forward: Sky Shop Autobody & Detailing

I am happy to present to you our sixth local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Sky Shop Autobody & Detailing.

Not Your Ordinary B&B: The Featherbed Railroad, Part 2

There’s a crisp chill in the air this April afternoon. Gray clouds are high over Clear Lake, reminding us of recent rains and storms. But all is quiet today other than the sound of the residential Grebe calling for its mate. It’s easy to get lost in the view sitting on the porch of La Loose Caboose. But we’ve already decided to write about our experience. I mean, how often do you stay at a B & B and laugh as much as we already have after seeing bras hanging from the wall, mirrors over the bed, and the neon light glowing “La Playpen” over the sleeping area? It’s already too much fun.

Yikes! Stripes! The Striped Skunk

Since the months of February and March are peak breeding seasons for striped skunks, you may have seen- or smelled the furry rascals as they performed a search for true love. The black and white mammals’ cousins in other areas sport spots that may be beige or black and white. However, Lake County skunks are the striped variety. Their fur’s pattern is considered a warning signal for predators to keep their distance, but if that doesn’t do the trick, they are programmed to spray their obnoxious scent. The skunk’s stink originates from its two anal scent glands that hold a chemical concoction comprised of sulfurs with a scent so strong it can ward off a bear.

Not Your Ordinary B&B: The Featherbed Railroad, Part 1

“Where are you staying?” her blonde hair frames her bright smile.

“The La Loose?” my husband states with an I’m ready for anything at this point sound in his voice.

“Oh, the La Loose!” Jami’s smile brightens even more. “Well, be sure to add a bra to the collection if you have one you want to spare. Some of our guests have done that,” she says it so motherly, hospitably, and oh so matter of factly, like I’ve heard this conversation so many times before in my life.

My shock is real. I try to hide it. I’m sure I fail. I’m equally sure my husband is too. “Oh!” I say as delighted and with as little fear and trepidation as possible.

Pay It Forward: Terped Out Kitchen

I am happy to present to you our fifth local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Terped Out Kitchen.

Backstage Lake County: Fishwrap

I joined a group of actors and crew members at their storage facility in Lakeport the other day. They were there to build set pieces, paint flats, and try on costumes for the latest comedic endeavor from the Lake County Theatre Company, Fishwrap, by Ben Bromley. They were meeting on a Saturday morning after working all week at their day jobs and rehearsing nights. Yet, the mood was energetic. People were talking, joking, and getting the work done.

An Abundance of American Robins

What luck! During one of our prolific winter rainstorms, I happened to glance up to the bare oaks waving their weather-worn limbs above and was surprised by more than 100 American robins calling and flitting to and fro from one oak branch to another! A half-hour later and I would have missed this now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t magic act. Nature is always full of her high jinks and surprises. She is constantly parading her stories of predator and prey, her succession of seasons full of fecundity, fruition or loss. Her ubiquitous bounty of narratives, large and small are offered to us whether or not we choose to notice. Daily dramas unfold in the form of the innumerable avian species that we are blessed to witness here in Lake County.

20 Years, 25,000 Changed Lives: Operation Tango Mike

It’s another Thursday night in Lake County. We seem to be between rain storms, and even the sun has made an appearance as a promise of spring’s return. The sidewalks and streets of Lakeport are exchanging wet asphalt for dry. The day’s work is done, and most people are heading home for the evening. But on 11th Street, many are gathering, some strangers and some friends and acquaintances. My husband and I pull into the parking lot, dispersing a group of 4-H girls so we can park. Two men in Army uniforms approach the front doors to Umpqua Bank, and we know we are where we’re supposed to be on this third Thursday of the month in Lake County.

Pay It Forward: A+H General Store

I am happy to present to you our fourth local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – A + H General Store.

Better Than a Three-Hour Tour: Grillagan’s Island

It’s a blustery day in Lake County. The wind whips the palm fronds stretched across the restaurant’s facade and across the highway, the lake, muddy brown, froths and splashes against the bulkhead of Lucerne Harbor Park. It’s cold, rainy, and miserable outside. But inside Grillagan’s island, it’s sunny, warm, and tropical. Calypso music plays on the speakers, tropical prints spread across the walls, and fishing nets hang from the ceiling. It’s the perfect place to get away on a short vacation and enjoy some great food. Cold, wet weather calls for grilled cheese and tomato soup; we all know that. And there’s no better place to enjoy it than at Grillagan’s Island. They specialize in grilled cheese and offer multiple ways to enjoy that delightful sandwich.

Going Bananas with the Banana Slug

A walk in any one of our county’s 32 parks can provide you with a saturated experience of sensations. Depending on the season, you may enjoy the depthless silhouettes of trees against the Technicolor smear of cloud cover, fog blurs of ducks as they decoy amongst the tule reeds along the lake, whole worlds encapsulated in water drops upon tender tips of pine needles, or you may enjoy birds and bugs singing about their homes. Famed photographer Ansel Adams said, “I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful – an endless prospect of magic and wonder.” Now, to some, the lowly banana slug may be a repulsive little critter, but as I took a brisk walk along the creek and nearly squashed one, I decided to take an up-close- and-personal look at the lowly little slug.

Backstage Lake County: The Rules of Comedy at MMS

The Middletown Middle School (MMS) is putting on their Spring play. This year, it’s The Rules of Comedy, by Peter Bloedel. I had never heard of this show, but since my son is doing the sound, I was able to read the script. And, boy is it a good one! The MMS students and director, Joleen Jessen, have some great material to work with. . The show runs Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th in the cafeteria of the MMS campus.

Buy Mike and Danny a Beer: Busking for Brewskis at Kelsey Creek Brewing

Tuesday afternoon in Kelseyville, August. Mike Guarniero and Danny Prather perch on barstools next to the front window, half-full beer glasses on the floor next to them. Danny’s taken the lead on a Neil Young tune he’s finishing, and odds are they’ll switch it around on the next song. Between the two of them, they could play all day and never repeat a tune. Danny gives a hearty strum on his guitar as the song ends, then grins as he leans over and takes a sip of his beer. Caroline Chavez, co-owner of Kelsey Creek, sees his glass empty and quickly brings over two full ones. “Now everybody,” she says, walking the smooth walk of a skilled bartender, “You all need to pitch in. I’m the only one buying them beer right now.” Mike and Danny happily grab their full brewskis, sip off the foam, and start a new song.

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