Columns

After a rain, outdoor settings smell fresher, better. The word for that smell is “petrichor.” Scents are more easily detected on cool, moist days because water molecules capture scents and “hold” them for all to smell.  Morning dew aggregates scent molecules. That’s one reason why tracking...

The sculpture to the left is by Robert Graham. This statue, like others by Graham, is titled Untitled Torso. He did hundreds of untitled torsos. It’s a signature shape, establishing his reputation for sculpting large female and male figures.  This torso is made of solid...

Ski resorts transport people up mountain sides in elevated moving chairs—literally. A suited butler-ish person greets, holds the chair, making sure passengers are comfortably and safely seated. Thank you, Jeeves.  Generally, pleasant music is playing for this interchange, and then in the next magical moment,...

Rainstorms in Sonoma usually mean snowstorms in Tahoe. As of Jan. 10, snowpack in the Sierra is 214% of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Ski resorts around Tahoe are heavenly this year—double pun intended.  Whiteout conditions. Avalanche control in passes and...

In February 2019, Healdsburg got 20.8 inches of rain in 48 hours, causing flooding of the Russian River, shown in the left picture.  Flood waters crested just below the decking of the old railway bridge. It was the worst flooding in 24 years, cresting at...

Panettone is another one of Italy’s culinary gifts to the world. It’s a brioche-like cake filled with raisins and candied fruits, traditionally enjoyed over the Christmas holiday.  Italy reportedly produces 117 million panettone each year, about 10% for export. Italian production since 2005 is regulated...

Imagine a small kid, five years old, getting a Tonka truck for Christmas. Imagine later that kid playing with a dad who has slightly bigger toys, same color, all set-up to make playtime fantasies real.  Yup! Dad plays with a small kid in the dirt....

The picture above is a full arcing rainbow, portrayed in last week’s Photo of the Week dropping behind vineyards and trees, as if painted by John Constable. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, who claimed to be the light. He asked that people “love...

Four times in the past week. That’s the number of times people pulled over to the side of the road because something fantastic was happening. Arrested by the light or the sight, they needed to get a picture.  Two times, it involved birds. One of...

Back in the ‘Burg. Here’s the Plaza’s beautifully decorated tree. And here’s another digital tree, beautiful in its simplicity at Healdsburg Community Church.  The Plaza’s tree is 43 feet tall and hails from Oregon. The sign next to the tree tells its story. Left in...