A Mouse in the Pantry

The Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off

There are only nine days left until the 11th Annual Petaluma Chili Cook-Off.

This is no ordinary neighborhood pot-o-beans affair folks - No! This is a "rip-roaring" pepperluma party held the historic Petaluma Fair Grounds.

Last year I was blessed with attaining one of the prestigious judging seats, and I tell you folks, there was some good chili waltzing through the pavilion.

Guests can delight in competitors having a boisterous good time with hollering, vibrant signage and a loadful of chili pride.

There are restaurants throwing their hat into the ring like McNears, Blu American Eatery and the Sheraton. Service organizations like the Fabulous boys at the Petaluma Fire Department, competing with those brave souls in Santa Rosa and Hayward. Local business's like the girls and guys at Trader Joe's, and even the Wells Fargo "Bean Wranglers." This is sure to be a fun year.

Tired of all the chili? No problem, stroll out to the garden area and take in some music and beer tasting! There just really isn't anything wrong with this event!

See you there, with bells on, The Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off:

April 27th, 2008 from 1-5 pm.

Chili and Salsa Tasting $25, Chili, Salsa and Beer Tasting $35

Kids 10 and up - $10

KIDS UNDER 10 - FREE!!!

A dose of Disney

Sometimes you just have to live on the wild side of life.  

Pair up a few last minute flights to Southern California, the last rooms within walking distance of the Disneyland Resort and three very eager family members, and what do you get? Well, three very cold, but very excited Disneyland veterans!

Only a few sniffles now three days post chilly Disney, but our tired legs and wallets are mostly recovered and the experience was worth it.

I am a California baby. Because of my almost constant close geographical proximity to the great and wondrous Disneyland (and with my mother as a commissioner for the state of California for Juvenile Justice, with many meetings in LA, and five eager kids), we spent our fair share of time in the big D.

I have memories, I have rituals (that I didn't even know existed until this trip), and as of this last weekend, I have a new pair of eyes through which to view the magic.

I must say that living Disneyland through my almost five year old sons eyes was even better than living it through my own. The little excitements that I now take for granted kept him captivated. Tom Sawyers island, which I must say as a young girl I always avoided, was the highlight of the trip for him (well, that and riding on an airporter bus with no seat belt!).  The midday parade was alive with magic as the "real" Cinderella, Beauty, and the Beast danced away in front of us. He was mesmerized. 

Things have changed in the ten years or so since I have last been. Rides have been revamped, Nemo replacing the Thousand Leagues Under the Sea theme on the famous submarines. New characters prance about the street. Jogging strollers are commonplace.

California Adventure is obviously the largest change to the face of Disneyland over the last several years. And, very untypically for Disney, it is in my opinion a big flop! A yawn, a bore and missing all of the magic. It's a bit like offering a double feature at the movies, but charging twice as much. No deal here, you can still get the goods at Disneyland without the fuss of visiting a mini California.

Oh well, we can say we visited, and from now on you're more likely to find this crew reliving Mom's memories in the Happiest place on Earth (not it's neighbor).

And the five year old? He's already ready to go back!

Vacationing in Petaluma

Something funny happens when visitors come to town. You plan and you prep, you schedule and re-schedule, you re-work work, and adjust appointments, and in fact it is not just your visitors going on vacation, it's you - sort of. This is all an excuse really. I have been in virtual vacation mode for the last two weeks.

With 17 amazing family members trekking across the country logistics were on the front burner. Great Grandparents from Klickitat, Oregon, uncles, aunts and cousins from Seattle and beyond, Hubby's folks all the way from Kansas City by car, and sister, friend and kids too by plane, whew....

Now, our fingers are crossed that everyone is traveling safely and minding the weather as they make their way home.

I am left after this last week of visiting and "vacationing" with an amazing tourist recounting of my own home town. Petaluma revealed itself in so many ways this last week.

There were the breakfast joints (very important meal in this adopted family of mine). 3 Cooks Cafe did not disappoint as Biscuits and Gravy, Corn Beef Hash and Pancakes fed my crew of hungry travelers while I prepped and planned for last Saturdays party.

Hallie's Diner wowed Midwesterners with their Salmon Scramble, Chicken Fried Steak and of course their Maya Tapico for this west coaster, complete with black beans and fried plantains.

Downtown Petaluma served us spoonfuls of it's historic wares with folks finding fun bits and exotic treats at Jungle Vibes, Copperfield's and Tagliafferri's.

And, an architectural tour was taken thanks to our dear neighbor Fran's stash of Petaluma history books. Our visitors were in awe of just how much history, particularly Locomotive history abounds in this town, and I took in the dear old photos of some of our favorite downtown landmarks.

I won't lie, I was worried in the days leading up to the family's arrival. I questioned whether our little town could provide enough entertainment for this big city folks, but they were foolish concerns. I can safely say there is plenty of distracting entertainment in our little town!

Digging Out

The biggest storm in at least a couple of years has at least partially ripped its way across California and many other Western States. The Bay Area took its share of wind and rain leaving some more than a little soggy, including my dear sister who found out her home is less than waterproof under a certain hillside kitchen wall!

By news reports things were dire as well up north in the Tahoe/Truckee area. Though I couldn't even begin to sympathize with highway workers, arborists and ski patrol officials, from our well equipped cabin a storm seemed like the perfect way to ride out a vacation; we were lucky!

As skiers who barely frequent the sierras we take what we get on those few weekend escapades that come each year. This last Thursday brought freezing winds and threats of a blizzard, we braved it anyway. The whole lot of us, minus one resting Mom, ventured out for a few hours of wind baffling antics on the slopes.

It's a good thing we did, because Friday Mother Nature let the world know her many attributes including shutting down power for much of the Truckee area for several hours.

Rain, sleet and snow whipped the cabin and roads. We made cozy with board games, home cooked meals (chicken and dumplings!), cocoa and a risky trip into town to experience the drama (probably should have skipped that adventure but cabin fever was setting in and we were out of squirt - more later).

Friday's big wait was worth it! To the surprise and delight of the nine and four-year-old, Saturday morning brought nearly six feet of snow!  Up to our elbows we were as we dug from one side of the house to the other, gazing at impossibly large icicles and snowman makings.

It was still blizzard conditions, but somehow,in the protection of trees we held out for hours playing in the powder (Mom even snuck off for a half day of back country wonder on the slopes! The thighs are looking good today!).

Back home this morning we are unpacking, watching the local news and wondering - was there a storm? It just felt like a typical blustery snow vacation  for the Courtway's and friends(More on the roots of a Blustery Day)