The Bloom

17/12/2024

Twelve Places in Lake County to Pick the Perfect Gift

One special thing about Lake County is that we don’t have all the chain stores you’ll find elsewhere. And while it’s always fun to take a trip to the city to do some shopping, there are plenty of places in the county where you can pick out the perfect gift for a loved one. Here are a dozen of our favorites.

https://thebloom.news/twelve-places-in-lake-county-to-pick-the-perfect-gift/

09/12/2024

Ten Places in Lake County to Buy One-of-a-Kind Gifts

Are you looking for something unique, one-of-a-kind, and truly original? Look no further: Lake County has some spectacularly interesting places to get that special person a gift that is impossible to find anywhere else. From antique stores to wine accessories to handmade ceramics, you’ll find something distinctive, special, and quite possibly quirky, at one of these ten stores.

https://thebloom.news/ten-places-in-lake-county-to-buy-one-of-a-kind-gifts/

06/12/2024

For the past two months, I have gone on several solo RV camping trips. This is the first time in my life I have not had obligations to anyone but myself. It’s been a time of self-reflection, grieving, dreaming, and continuing my search for beauty. And boy, did I find it! I met strangers that I now call my friends. I received counsel from a real counselor I met camping, of all places, exchanged many warm hugs, celebrated two Friendsgivings, enjoyed much laughter, shed a few healthy tears, and soaked up many unforgettable moments on the Russian River, at the ocean, and on Cache Creek before coming home for the holidays. And what lessons did I learn along the way? Well, I learned it’s okay to receive help from others, and when one remains open to receiving, what we receive might be a surprise and a chance for new growth. For me, I realized I don’t want to be single for the rest of my life and that I want to go on more adventures and take you all with me! What a great way to end the year!

05/12/2024

by Lori Armstrong - I am happy to present to you our 46th local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Knight’s Auto & Tire Services. Our recent Lake County business featured was Auto Glass Ortiz and the owners, Ramon & Sonia Ortiz, chose to Pay it Forward to Knight’s Auto & Tire Services.

The catch is that I will not choose the next business to interview, but the current spotlighted business will choose who I will interview next. Local businesses will Pay it Forward.

Knight’s Auto & Tire Services is locally owned and operated by Richard Knight, who offers a one-stop shop for all of your automotive needs.

https://thebloom.news/pay-it-forward-knights-auto-tire-services/


Lori Armstrong

04/12/2024

Kelseyville Pear Festival 4th Annual Poetry Contest First Place Poem: For "Laden"
By Roy Arthur Blodgett

What do you think did this?
The picture my sister sent was of a pear
half covered in meticulous,
linear bite marks.

When I came to visit later that week
the pear still sat on the kitchen island
— the whole scene preserved like an installation,
the leathery green shards of pear skin all around it on the counter.

It was late summer,
and we were planning her wedding.
It was set to be be in the backyard
where she lived,
a lively tangle of fowers and fruit trees.
Our father was not invited.

In the weeks before it, we siblings
gathered as often as we could,
to tend the garden together.
First I pruned the old apple tree,
later moving on to the pear.
Its branches were so laden, they were breaking
from the weight of their fruit.

He called me to talk about it once,
and once only, his voice quivering
with rage and grief and confusion.
He was utterly unable to see
his ownership in all of it;
utterly unable to simply apologize.

Sometimes, when I’m tired
of diplomacy and nothing will suffce,
I imagine myself as a rat
crawling into a kitchen window
in the dead of night,

the whole house sleeping,
and the flesh of the pear
sweet and forbidden
and perfect as the full moon
in August.

02/12/2024

Fifteen Lake County Restaurants You Have To Try This Holiday Season

I know. Fifteen is a lot of restaurants to go to in the short holiday season. But why not? There’s always a good excuse to get a bite to eat: You’re already cooking a huge holiday dinner, you’re tired from all the shopping, or you just plain ol’ feel like it. Lake County has a lot of places to get great food, but here are fifteen of our favorites.

https://thebloom.news/fifteen-lake-county-restaurants-you-have-to-try-this-holiday-season/

29/11/2024

We have close to another month of what I like to call Fall Bronze–the golden light that filters through the thinned leaves and dances on rain-cleaned pine needles against the clearest and bluest of skies. In a few weeks, layers of gray will replace the golden light with their bold darkness and rolling clouds, blanketing nature in a gentle slumber. All the while, happy chatter, savory food, sweet treats, holiday wine, and memories in the making fill cozy homes as if to warm the coming winter chill. It’s that heartwarming time of year when we look back, hope for the future, and soak in the moments at hand. I don’t know where this holiday weekend finds you, but I hope you are exactly where you want to be and doing exactly what you want to be doing, even if it's just watching a holiday classic on TV. After all, there really is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holiday season!

27/11/2024

This week, I made one of my wishes come true. For years now, I have always wanted to be at the ocean during a big ol’ winter storm. And this week, my wish came true! There I was, dressed in layers and layers of clothes, bracing myself against gale forces, arms crossed, head down, and hands desperately holding onto my baseball cap. The more I fought to stand, the more teetery I became until I finally went with the flow. Off came my hat in one hand while I spread my step and opened wide, my arms and head held high. And in that moment, I found balance, peace, and harmony against the slapping wind and rain. The moment lasted and lasted until I was drenched from head to toe and filled with the joy that comes from such revelry. I turned towards my car. Unbeknownst to me, a tour bus was also taking in the view. Faces pressed against clouded windows, hands cheering, and inaudible whoops and hollers met me. Shock! My response? I joined in their laughter and offered them two thumbs up. Would I do it again? Absolutely yes! But maybe not with an audience next time.

29/07/2024

A Step into Brassfield Estate's Winery Oasis

It’s a hot July afternoon. The sun is still high, ensuring the day still has hours left to be enjoyed while you cruise down Highway 20. As you weave your way along the shoreline of Clear Lake, sunlight dances on the water’s surface while waves roll onto the beachline from a passing boat. Where’s your destination? Brassfield Estate Winery, located just off High Valley Rd. Far above Clearlake Oaks and nestled against the Mendocino National Forest, your wine experience begins.

https://thebloom.news/a-step-into-brassfield-estates-winery-oasis/

Brassfield Estate Winery

29/07/2024

A Tranquil Atmosphere in the Heart of Napa - The Blue Note

With a plethora of live music events happening locally, it's a rare occasion for me to venture elsewhere. However, when my son’s idol, the very inspiration for his college degree, announced a visit to the Blue Note in Napa, I had little excuse not to go with him. For locals, the Blue Note is the go-to spot for some of the most exceptional artists and musicians touring the United States. And on this particular evening, the stage was graced by the incomparable guitarist Trace Bundy.

Blue Note Napa
Trace Bundy

With a plethora of live music events happening locally, it's a rare occasion for me to venture elsewhere. However, when my son’s idol, the very inspiration for his college degree, announced a visit to the Blue Note in Napa, I had little excuse not to go with him. For locals, the Blue Note is the g...

31/05/2024

The Blue Zone Power 9 journey continues!

COLUMNS, EDITORIALS 5 hours ago Experiencing the Secrets of Downshifting by Trudy Wakefield 0I have the privilege of having email correspondence with our local Blue Zones Project – Lake County team members. And every once in a while, I will get a reply to my email saying something like this, “I...

19/04/2024

Okay, friends, I'm on the radio tomorrow to talk about my third book and how Lake County became home. You can livestream it online, too! Tune in at 10:00 am with host, Olga Martin Steele. I hope you can listen in!

The Bloom

"Citizen Lake" - Upcoming program on KV name change issue. Tuesday night ZOOM meeting! Submitted by John Moorhead on Sat, 03/30/2024 - 8:21pm All - I am producing an hour-long special for "Citizen Lake" that will air sometime in May or June. I am asking for input from all that care to chime in on th...