It’s right about this time of year that I begin thinking of meandering over to Oak Hill Farm, not only for their abundant choices of splendid organic vegetables, but because they have an annual tradition of creating the most wonderful altar in honor of Day of the Dead, which we are inclined in California to celebrate, our Waspy customs being marinated with the prior (and current) inhabitants, our Hispanic companion citizens. It’s a rich melding. So it was with happy anticipation that I played hooky on Thursday and drove down county to Sonoma, out through Valley of the Moon, into the long drive of Oak Hill Farm, parking just outside the big red barn that serves as store to the many wonderful creations of the farm.

Oak Hill Farm is over fifty years old, and consists of 45 acres of productive farmland set on 700 acres of protected wildlands. Each time I visit my spirits are enriched enormously and Thursday was no exception. I stepped inside the red barn hoping the annual tradition would still be intact. I was not disappointed!

A very creative addition this year were wonderful “curtains” of roped marigolds that framed each side of the altar–an orange curtain on the left; a golden curtain on the right.

This stringing of marigolds draws from the Hispanic tradition of wearing marigold necklaces in honor of the departed.

Handily, Oak Hill Farm had a flyer for customers explaining a bit about The Day of the Dead. It reads, “The Day of the Dead is a tradition started by the Aztecs. It is based on the belief that right after the harvest, the souls of the dead (including pets) can visit their relatives in the living world. Candlelight, vibrant colors, lively music, fragrant flowers, spicy foods and cherished mementos guide souls to their specially prepared altar, so they can eat and visit with their family.”

Indeed, the folks at Oak Hill Farm had lovingly placed photos of their departed loved ones on the altar with attending candles present. It was very endearing, I must say.

Turning my attention to the red barn’s other treasures, I was overwhelmed with the beauty and aesthetics in which I found myself surrounded. This same loving care and artistry is extended to every corner of the red barn store. It is a photographer’s dream, though I must confess the subdued lighting was a challenge almost beyond my skills. I share with you the best of what I was able to capture.

Gorgeous bouquets just adjacent to the altar…

Buckets of freshly picked zinnias

Organic vegetables beautifully displayed

Wreathes for which Oak Hill Farm is known and cherished

Festive seasonal pomegranates

Rich display of turban gourds with sunflower heads

Mini gourds on mirror

Lovely, simple, autumnal centerpiece

You can imagine that by now I was nearly sated with beauty! However, I can never go to Oak Hill Farm without poking my nose into the other half of the red barn, which is technically not open to the public, but, hello? the door is open and I have a camera in my hand. This is where much of the magic begins.

Doesn’t this look inviting? And here’s one more, where herbs are drying. Don’t you just love this?

Yes, Otto and Ann Teller, creators of Oak Hill Farm (Otto now being honored with altar, I must add) had a dream. Its magic prevails on every level. I am grateful for their vision and hard work and due diligence to have created such a wonderful oasis of beauty and purity of spirit. I’m glad I am able to share a bit with you. I now prepare to leave the farm. By the register I am captured again by the whimsy and creativity of these sugar skeletons made by local children to raise funds for their school.

Preparing to leave, I step outside and breathe deeply. Rain is in the air. I allow myself time to ponder the field adjacent to the red barn, admiring the amaranth and dipping sunflowers.

I love this area. I lived close by for many years. I turn to my car and my patiently awaiting Border Collies, Ruby and Conner, and head on down the winding road. I’ll be back next year. For sure.

Love and seasonal blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on November 1st, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: Field Trips | 26 Comments »

Early this morning I rose, showered, dressed and headed promptly into Mendocino’s central small town as I’d spied a Pumpkin Festival going on, and wanted to get there ahead of the inevitable crowds of people from all over the county who come annually to enjoy the festivities. I especially wanted access to an unencumbered look at the giant pumpkins folks around the county grow each year to see who can grow the Biggest Pumpkin! I’d spotted a few of them literally being forklifted earlier in the week into a central park for early daytime viewing! Children had immediately gravitated to them and were permitted to climb up on them and use them as a vantage point in viewing the setting up of the festival.

However what I was not aware of was the addition this year of a Scarecrow City, sporting contributions from children from various Mendocino classrooms. And that was a special treat, I must say! Here were a few of the creations that greeted me!

A modern Greenman?

la mama

Hip girl scarecrow

And here is my absolute favorite! Note the pampas grass mane! Isn’t he wonderful??

Walking beyond the Scarecrow City I arrived at the park where the Biggest Pumpkins had been put on display. Words fail me [moi!] in contemplating these behemoths. Let’s just have a zen moment here.

Three

Two–OK, Three

One

Can you even begin to imagine the time and energy and commitment it would require to get a single seed to these proportions? Mon Dieu!

I adore this time of year. I do. In preparation for all of the upcoming holidays yesterday I pulled out a recipe from my distant (meaning she’s been found through genealogy studies) cousin Julie for, fittingly, Pumpkin Apple Soup, which she boldly touted as the Best Pumpkin Soup in the World. So what better weekend than this one to try? I whipped it up–and, must confess, tweaked. You can try either version.

Cousin Julie’s Pumpkin Apple Soup

Melt an entire stick of butter in a good thick soup pan. Add one large red onion, which I threw into the Cuisinart first. Add 6-8 tart apples, peeled and cubed. [Again, I threw in the Cuisinart. Also, I used the apples from my tree, which are pre-hybridized delicious.] Add 4 cups of pumpkin puree.
Saute. Now. If you’ve used the Cuisinart, you’re ready for the next step. If not, you need to mash up what’s in the pan before proceeding to next step. Then, add a quart of chicken broth and “a good swig of half & half” which she goes on to define as “a pint or more.” Yeah, that’s a good swig, all right! Add a goodly teaspoon of tarragon. Salt and pepper to taste. Now here is where I tweaked. I could not get myself as excited as I wanted to be without adding a nice fat tablespoon of curry. I love curry and pumpkin. I just do. So the curry was just the thing that made it perfect for me. You can choose.

I found this to be a very rich and delicious soup. It’s an exquisite pale yellow color (richer if you add curry) in which those little tarragon leaves are floating. Gorgeous. I think it would be the perfect soup to prepare the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas, then serve as a simple cup of soup, as a first course. Or you could serve a full bowl pre-holiday on a chilly day with perhaps homemade croustini. Let me know, will you? Enjoy!

Love and seasonal blessings,
Kathryn xoxo
Footnote: The first recorded mention of scarecrows is in Europe in the 1500’s! Will you be making one? If so, send me a jpeg and I will post!

Posted on October 19th, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: People at Play | 28 Comments »