Birding at Bodega Bay

For the grand finale of our days in Northern California, we headed to the beach.

More specifically, we headed to the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail in Bodega Bay, a 1.19-mile multi-use path that loops along a saltwater marsh just north of Doran Regional Park which offers excellent bird-watching. 
The trail circles two freshwater ponds along Bodega Harbor and overlooks marshland that provides year-round habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. What a treat to see this pair of bald eagles! Wow.



Others on the trail with us were stumped as to what kind of bird this was. Certainly the most numerous, we just had to know. Steve took a photo with his phone of a photo I had taken on my camera and we sent it to our bird expert Jenny (she's the one who taught us this trick). We felt very knowledgeable when we could tell everyone that they were marbled gotwit. So dang cool!





What a perfect activity to end a perfect trip.

“I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher
is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes.
Our everyday lives obscure a truth about existence-
that at the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light."
― Lynn Thomson, Birding with Yeats: A Mother's Memoir

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Charles M. Schulz's 100th Birthday Party!

Wanting to officially celebrate Charles Schulz's Centennial Birthday, I returned to his museum for a morning of festivities!


Because I wanted to be the first one into the party, I arrived very early and decided to explore. Just across the street from the Museum is Snoopy’s Home Ice, which was designed and built by Schulz and his first wife, Joyce.

A must was a visit to the Warm Puppy Café!
This café was a favorite of Charles Schulz for daily breakfast and lunch. In his honor, this table remains reserved for him. The sign reads, "Please enjoy the memorabilia but do not sit at the table. Thank you!"
The beautiful flower arrangement, adorning the table, had a card which read, "Happy 100th Birthday Dad! Love, Meredith".
Opportunities for photos abound outside the ice arena. I was in Peanuts heaven.



My Tahoe friend, Sue, recently relocated to Santa Rosa and was very excited to join me in the celebrating! It was fun to have a kindred Schulz fan to accompany me.
Part of the party magic was created by this guy, Joe Wos. Throughout the day, he gave live cartooning performances. What a talented storyteller.

We all love your sweet Babboo, Jeannie.
The birthday cake was actually four cakes, each with a panel from the very first Peanuts comic published Oct. 2, 1950.

And promptly at noon, Happy Birthday was sung by the Roustabout Theater’s Apprentice Program performers (ages 11–18). The young performers also sang selections from their holiday presentation of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. What festive fun!

And if all that wasn't enough, in honor of what would have been Charles M. “Sparky” Schulz’s 100th birthday, syndicated cartoonists (at least 75 of them) across the country paid tribute to the Peanuts creator in their own comic strips published today. Schulz is the only cartoonist ever to receive this honor—a fitting tribute for a man who devoted his entire life to cartooning.

Lynne Johnston said it best, "Happy 100th Birthday, Sparky. You're still in our hearts!"

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"Send Our Seniors Mail"

My daughter-in-law found a fun craft project for us to do to further prepare ourselves for the Holiday Season...

How could we resist? "Are you at home and have spare time to share? Are your children looking for a craft to benefit the community? Please send positive cards, postcards, homemade cards, drawings, and encouraging letters to the addresses provided below. When received, the staff at the facilities will distribute the mail to those residents who need some happiness during this time."


My heart would be happy if this card was sent to me. What fun.
“Life is bearable when you have someone to write,
and someone who writes you back,
even if it's just one person.”
―Eunjin Jang

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Holiday Festiveness through Art

My son's mother-in-law, Steve, and I spent the weekend in the company of some incredibly talented artists at the 18th Annual Joy Art Walk & Holiday Sale.

How could we turn down this invitation? "Join ten Sonoma county artists at two locations: the enchanted horse barn and the historic red schoolhouse to view gifts for home, garden and personal pampering. Bring the family for free face painting, tea and fairy cakes served on vintage cake plates. Music and festive silliness."

Our first stop was the Schoolhouse Gallery, home of Susan St. Thomas (mixed media paintings, prints, and cards) and her husband, J. Joel B. ValBrown (ceramic figurative sculpture).
Housed in the gorgeous 1905 schoolhouse, nestled in the redwoods, the setting was whimsical and cozy.






The enchanted barn houses Theresa Joyce's Twig Art & Garden.
Upon entering, the magic of the upcoming holidays were gleefully on displayed.



How cute is Linda Sauter's owl ornament? Crafted from a black walnut shell, a pinecone, and turkey tail mushrooms. Creativity can be found almost anywhere. Fun.


Before Theresa purchased this magical property, it was the Joy Ridge Ranch, owned by Limon Bernell Snider, which provided Stallion services, along with other equine delights (selling and training). The owner was award-winning and the ranch sale came with some special heirlooms, for all of us to ogle.

Seeing exceptional artists, listening to carolers, bundling up and strolling through the woods... all were components that have launched us fully into the Holiday Season. I'm ready (at least mentally).

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