City of Sonoma: The Plaza

We sat by the duck pond while the Tuesday Night Market was in full swing.  This is one of Sonoma's most popular events for six months of the year and it serves to bring all the living generations together at once.  Every week we see tiny babies and we see fragile elders and all the ages in between.  The teenagers are busy with their friends and the pre-teens are learning the skills of looking cool in a safe place - their parents are just on the other side of the block.  For those of us who actually live in Sonoma this is one of the community activities that makes us feel that we belong.

California State Parks: Casa Grande Servants' Quarters (Sonoma)

General Mariano Vallejo and his family lived in what is now downtown Sonoma for many years before their new home, Lachryma Montis was built at the foot of the mountain.  They moved in 1851 or so, and their original home, Casa Grande, was destroyed by fire in 1867.  All that is left is shown here, the Indian servants' quarters.  It almost fronts Spain Street and is totally visible without any tourist admission fees, you just walk up to the building from the sidewalk.  There is a cheese shop on the left hand side and the Toscano Hotel, also free and owned by California State Parks, on the right. Across the street is Sonoma Plaza where the General used to drill and parade his troops.

City of Sonoma: The Plaza

One of the really special times in the life of the community of Sonoma is the weekly farmers market which is held on The Plaza.  Each Tuesday from May to November, more or less, venders bring their foods and veggies and wares and the town gathers for snacks and suppers, music and shopping.  It's an intergenerational event with dancing children being corralled by their parents and watched by their grandparents.  It's also extremely popular as scents of multi-ethnic foods waft from plates carried to grassy areas and benches.

City of Sonoma: The Plaza

One of the many features of the Sonoma Plaza is the lovely rose garden. Here there are several groups of roses - the yellows, the reds, the variegated, etc. creating a display that makes a tourist want to begin a rose garden upon arrival back home!

California State Parks: Lachryma Montis (Sonoma)

I enjoy my role as docent for California State Parks, especially when I offer tours through the home of General Vallejo, the founder of the City of Sonoma. His home was built in 1850 from a kit! It's a Boston House, the parts of which were shipped around the Horn for construction on the site. So here I was today, enjoying my tiny part in interpreting local history.

City of Sonoma: Olsen Park

Olsen Park is one of those sweet little pocket parks tucked away in a peaceful neighborhood. You stumble upon it if you're walking on the Sonoma Bike Path, as I was yesterday. Occasionally I see guys playing on the basketball court or a couple moms will be supervising the urchins in the playground. Dogs are not allowed here and alas! there are no public restrooms. There are BBQ grills, however, and it's always a quiet little getaway.

Sonoma County Regional Parks: Maxwell Farms (Boyes Hot Springs)

The reason Brix is also known as Big Baby is because, when he stands one foot off the ground, he freaks out when I say, Hold That Pose! You can't see it, but there is a large group picnic area to the right of this stone construction.

Other than that, he was a great companion in Maxwell Farms Regional Park this afternoon. We were only there about 40 minutes, part of my park monitoring duties that I have nearly forgotten, and it was great to be back. The crows were screeching, children were happily playing with their parents in the playground and the park itself appeared well-tended.