Craft Show Weekend

We went to Sonora for the Thanksgiving weekend craft show put on by the wonderful, wonderful Fire on the Mountain folks.  This show is always rich with music, magic and the best crafts people of Northern California and beyond.  The kids loved Magic Mike. My daughter loved the freedom of wandering around the marketplace– the sweet, generous merchants gifted her with samples of their wares, like the rich chocolate English toffee, and she felt rich and grown-up.  My boy was fascinated with the juggling sticks sold by a nice man who patiently took a long time to help him get started, and actually took a hack- saw and cut one down to the right size for five-year old fingers.  This is the way to go shopping– delights for all senses.  The maker of the product before you.  The sky above, even if it starts to rain, and fresh air for all.  Even though I grew up in mall country, they frighten me now= plus, they have so little to offer in comparison.

Here in Oakland, we are lucky to have a number of  farmer’s markets featuring craft artisans, as well as local shops where you can find beautiful hand-made items.  The very best shop, in my book, is Potpourri, at the Lincoln shopping center.  They sell the very best Japanese incense sticks, Shoyeido, in different blends all calculated to stir, open, or soothe the mind and heart.  Right now, they have the most gorgeous handmade lamps and lamp shades I have ever seen– they look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, fanciful glass vase lamp bases and elongated, twinkling shades.  They have a wondrous collection of porcelains and ceramics, hand crafted pens and pencils– even a pencil, all in graphite, sculpted into a feather.  And jewel-bright suede leather pencil and drawing pad holders!  You can also find chimes in all price ranges, from a single, zen, mindfulness chime to a rich array of deep throated bells.  And loads of glittering jewelry– each piece unique, each piece lovely.  And, to get there, all you have to do is park in the FREE parking lot, and wander up the steps– or go around to the flat access in front of Long’s and wheel yourself right over.   They always play good music, and treat you to coffee and cookies.  You can shop for everyone, relax and have a good time, and never have a moment’s hassle. 

 So there you have it– my recommendations for holiday shopping.  Fire on the Mountain is over for this year, but next year, go to Auburn or Sonora, have a delicious Gold Country weekend, and do your shopping the old fashioned, marketplace way.  This year, you can almost re-create that experience with one stop at Potpourri, just off Highway 13 at Redwood Road, the Lincoln Shopping Center, tucked into a glittering shop to the right of the Safeway and Long’s.  I’m not affiliated with either, by the way.  Just wanted to share.  And don’t forget your neighborhood Farmer’s Market– a basket of fresh fruit and nuts is a holiday treasure, too!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

This was a beautiful Thanksgiving.  Yesterday, I cooked the turkey, stuffing on the side and gravy at home, then we took it along with some wine to my sister-in-law, who was doing the really hard work of entertaining Grandpa and his brother– great uncle. Eight decades of sibling rivalry, and counting, playing out in the living room.  It was less hot in my kitchen, with the turkey roasting.   

Roasting the turkey is a simple and straightforward task.  You make sure you have a fresh animal and roast it in the oven until it’s done.  So simple.  Why does it seem like so much work?  I only had three things to cook, and I was busy froom 7 am to noon.  But it really works to divide up the chores– My SIL had set the table at her house, put out appetizers, served wine– and I was able to relax once I got there, and her boys took over the job of dealing with carving up the dead bird.   

 The 18 lb. turkey started out looking rather pathetic and tragic– as I unwrapped it, its poor, slashed leg dropped to the side, and it made me feel a little fiendish, as though I should drop my eyes rather than look on its slashed and plucked indignity.  But I pushed my sensitive inner vegetarian aside and had at it.  It roasted up to a beautiful dark caramel color, and it was pretty good.  Yesterday Istewed the carcass into broth.  All the meat is gone.  It fed twelve people and gave up two  nice small  meals’ worth of leftovers.  The two brothers, Grandpa and Uncle,  have a combined age of around 175 years.  Two present were growing teeneagers, who need to eat a lot of protein.  And my two are growing.  So,  thank you bird.  You did a lot for us. 

Things to be thankful for:  I was not born a turkey this life time.  My little children.  My husband.  My job, which helps provide for us all.  My home– the heater works and the roof doesn’t leak.  Our pets are all in fairly good shape, including the guppies.  Bush can’t run again.  Cheney’s too old to run.  Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House!!  Jerry Brown  is Attorney General of California!!!  Celtic music.  My neighbors with dogs always carry bags– bless you all.  The redwood tree.  The apple tree.  The ability to free associate. Our pet rabbit and his soft fur.  Good health, relatively speaking, of all those loved ones still living.  The shining memories of our dear missing persons.

And so on.  A feeling today that just feeling thankful is its own reward. 

The Bright Side

We have a woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.  I had to laugh– I heard someone describe Nancy Pelosi as an inarticulate speaker.  Fair enough.  So is President Bush.  So she isn’t Ted Kennedy– but she won’t be driving off a bridge with her secretary, either.  And somehow, you get the feeling that Nancy Pelosi, inarticulate though she may be, has more genuine honesty and courage in her little fingertip than Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Hastert and Condoleeza Rice all rolled up together.  Remember when she went to Beijing to commemorate the protest at Tienanmen Square?  This lady has some courage, and she has some principles.  I hope and pray she can help cut a new path. 

San Francisco Values

It’s the latest Republican attack dog call– “We don’t want San Francisco values leading the way, etc.!”

Well, no kidding.  I’m sure they don’t.  It’s much easier to be complacent and always convinced you are right, than to engage in the rigorous practice of tolerance.    The solid San Francisco values of respect, tolerance and hospitality are just plain hard work.  It’s much easier to deliver stupid put-downs, than it is to build up common ground.  San Francisco values are not for the weak or lazy-minded.  They take constant work.  I don’t meant to set myself up as a perfect example, because I’m not.  But here are a few of the San Francisco values I have picked up over the last 30 years or so, and hold, oh so dear:

Value Number 1:  Feed and clothe and care for the homeless.  No matter how hard it is.  No matter how many of them.  Even though the work is endless.  Even though people disagree over how best to take care of them.  Keep trying.

Value Number 2:   Respect other people.  Even though they look different.  Even though they strike you as odd.  They are people, they have dignity, and you can learn something from each of them. Respect leads to diversity, and diversity is good. 

Value Number 3:  Speak up for what you believe.  It may seem that no one is listening, but you may do more good than you will ever know.

Value Number 4:  Love is good. 

Value Number 5:  Parks are good.

Value Number 6:  Walking and taking the bus are good ways to get to where you’re going.

Value Number 7:   Whatever happens, if we help each other, we can rebuild better than ever. 

And those are only a few San Francisco values.  Can you think of any more?  Yes, it’s a crazy place.  No, it isn’t perfect.  But there are reasons why everyone wants to be there.