RUSSIAN RIVER CLEANUP DAY -2009

Yesterday I went on an adventure to clean up the Russian River with about 15 boats filled with mostly 20 year olds from SSU. We started in Asti and the leader could not unlock the canoes. Then one of the teens figured out the lock thank God.

We chose partners and I was a partner with Rebecca, a student of Anthropology from SSU. The weather was perfect with a slight breeze at 95 degrees. Luckily we all capsized our boats and got completely soaked - not just once!

The river is very low this year and because of that we had to portage our canoes at least 10 times during the 8 mile journey back to Geyserville. It took us about 8 hours and we had to portage our canoes at least 10 times. I kept wondering why the teens had no sunglasses or hats? The canoes weighed at least 50 pounds with all of our gear in it. I got many bruises from pulling the canoe through the portages. Thank God there were some teenagers who manuevered our canoe through narrow rock passages. The trickiest one was the very last waterfall where a teen pushed our canoe through two rocks about the width of the canoes. I did not bring enough water for me - I certainly did bring plenty of food and shared some of it with those who forgot their lunch.

We picked up at least 50 pounds of garbage including tires and metal pieces.

We saw small trout and a number of beautiful birds- snowy egrets, crows, and white tailed swallows, a flood of geese, and other birds. During last year's clean up trip we saw many turtles and the river was higher. Last year only a few canoes tipped over. All in all it was a fun adventure and I look forward to this clean up every year.

COTATI FARMER'S MARKET

Today I went to the Farmers Market as it was closing down. There was a live band playing jazz and there were about 15 booths selling mostly organic produce. I like to support the local farmers in the Sonoma County area as they keep the area feeling like an organic community. I have grown and eaten organic foods since I was about 20 years old. There is a distinct taste difference between organic foods and mass marketed foods. My relationship with Alvarado Street Breads is strong and I will someday consult with them to add local Native American foods to their blend of breads. As a "Miller" I have a good sense of how to make my own bread and use whole grains in my diet. They are much more tasty than regular white flour and store bought breads and cakes.

I saw a horse that gave pony rides to the children and many people had painted their faces for a Halloween effect. All in all it was a great experience and I love going to various ethnic markets to taste the variety of foods available.

USE OF SOAPROOT

I know most of you have had poison oak from forest hikes. I once fell into a patch of poison oak at Bishop's Ranch and I decided to try to cure it with soaproot - a very potent medicinal plant. And IT REALLY WORKS!

Soaproot has been used for a variety of purposes and it grows profusely in patches throughout the North Coast Ranges. It is a plant that is easily identifiable from it's long slender and curly green leaves. The root has been dug up by many tribes. It is dug by the women and collected in burden baskets - 20 pounds at a time. The bulbs have a hairy bristle around them which was used as a brush for cleaning baskets. The bulb itself has a sapotoxin juice which is used to cure poison oak and heal snakebite wounds. The juice was also used to glue feathers to arrows. The leaves of the plants were used for cooking acorns and buckeyes in underground ovens. The historic Pomo used to boil the tender bulbs collected in the spring for food (I would not recommend it though).

Because the bulb has a sapotoxin it was crushed by the women and thrown into the river. Then they dammed up theis section of the river with willow staves for about a mile or so. This action nullified the fish (both salmon and trout). Then the Native Americans collected the nullified fish with a basket and threw them onto the shore. They were then smoked over coals during a spring and fall ceremony.

Many Indians still smoke salmon and have large tribal gatherings during the spring and fall, as they invite neighboring tribes to their dinners.

STORY FROM CHURCH

Today I went to church and a man I had known for over a year spoke about having an accident on a narrow winding road in the Mayacama Range during the winter. He had a truck and it was a misty afternoon. A small car ran into his truck, leaving the person injured.

Luckily that person had a cell phone that was working and an ambulance came to the scene . The officer talked to my friend for about an hour and he was relieved as it wasn't his fault. He felt that it was a miracle that the injury didn't need surgery. My friend goes to an Episcopal church nearby and
I have been baptized Episcopaleanwhen I was young. God does work miracles and many of you know that there are plenty of miracles happening each day.

COTATI ACCORDIAN FEST

Last week I visited an accordian festival at the town square of Cotati ...
There were hundreds of people playing music and dancing to German songs. There was an interesting Irishman who had the audiance join in the songs and he danced as he played the accordian and the crowd was asked to say "Achoo" at intervals of a drinking song. I saw stands full of various ethnic clothing and jewelry and saw many old timers who knew about their heritage and ethnic background. There is a bronze statue of a boy playing an accordian at the entrance of the park. There was a jeweler who polished my wedding ring and he had many different types of gold and silver jewelry from different parts of the world.

The people were getting very drunk and the police were watching out for trouble with the crowd.

I had fun hearing the various entertainers. Last year I met a very special girlfriend there and she was selling hats woven from Ecuador. There was also a gentleman from Peru who had constructed many pan flutes and played them from his heart and soul. I bought his CD and the music will be posted on my website someday.

PENNGROVE ITALIAN FEAST

Yesterday (8/16/09) I went to a fun Italian feast at a park called Penn Grove. There were about 200 people who were having fun. They had BBQ chicken, roast beef, basil and tomotoe pasta, salad, and ice cream. The park was founded in 1852 probably by Italians. There was an old game or two being played at the park. People bought tickets for one game to win $100 - and the way the winner won was that they put a chicken into a pen with numbers on squares. The chicken pooped on a square and the winner who had that square number won the money. Another game was one which you played by placing a $1 on a square. And a big wheel of fortune was turned. If the wheel stopped on your number you won a salami or a bottle of wine.

I picked wild blackberries on the fence line and the Pomo Indians considered the strawberries sacred to their tribe. I will get them from Bishop's Ranch someday.

Let me know how you have had fun with your summer.........

SONOMA COUNTY FAIR

Yesterday I visited the Fair in Santa Rosa. There were various animals and bands and a huge choice of foods. I went with an old friend and we viewed the artists who were selling western and Indian clothes and hats. We also viewed the Hall of Flowers which was made up of many jungle type exhibits with themes of prehistoric animals. I saw huge carnivorus plants and a large dragonfly made of paper mache - similar to the one I had made in 6th grade. The dragonfly is my special symbol which represents freedom and lightness. We went to see a band that was playing songs about being on a train with prehistoric animals.

We also viewed the full moon as we were leaving. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and the food was good. I missed the Clover ice cream booth - it was only open during the afternoon. We walked about 5 miles or so and got a chair cushion for our backs. We tried out a unique bed that had the ability to vibrate and move your legs and head up - only $2500!

I always like to look at all the different people at the fair - it's like visiting an airport. Many new faces and many types of ethnic backgrounds.

Let me know about your visit to the fair...or other Sonoma County places to have fun.