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Geyserville Grapevine by deTraci Regula - December 2019

As I write this, we are facing another potential power outage in the morning - but that isn’t what bothers any of us much - it’s what that power outage is supposed to prevent. I remember enjoying the breezes in fall and the lovely multicolored shower of leaves they would bring down. It’s not so easy to get lost in those moments now – the sounds of the wind coming up can be unnerving, especially with the memory of our before-dawn evacuation with all of our birds and animals still so fresh in our minds. Once again, a huge “Thank you” to the Geyserville Fire department and their colleagues throughout the county, and also to the many firefighters that came from far away to help spare so much of Sonoma County from the flames. There is indeed much to celebrate in this season and so let us do so with these Geyservillian events.

November 30th – Geyserville Tractor Parade

The 10th annual Geyserville Tractor Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting will illuminate Geyserville Avenue this year on November 30th from 4:30 to 9pm, heralding in the holiday season with a visit from Santa, booths providing holiday treats and fun food, and the long line of brightly decorated tractors, earth movers, fire engines, and other vehicles. It’s one of the happiest nights of the year in Geyserville, where all of our small town blessings come to the fore.

State Senator Mike McGuire and Sonoma County 4th District Supervisor James Gore will be on hand So bundle up and come join the fun. Santa arrives at 4:30 before the parade begins at approximately 6:15 pm. Just passing through about that time? Remember that Geyserville Avenue will be closed during the parade, starting at about 6pm. This will also block access to and from Highway 128 during the time of the parade.

December 7th and 8th - Holiday Open House at Francis Ford Coppola's Wineries

Need a little more adult holiday cheer? Visit the Holiday Open House at Coppola's on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, December 8th. There will be special prices on wines for the holiday, and an array of gift merchandise in the Gift Shops. A festive time will surely be had by all at the richly-decorated wineries.

The fun happens at both of the Geyserville locations - Coppola's "main" winery and also at its sister winery, Virginia Dare. Coppola's is located at 300 Via Archimedes just at the Independence exit on Highway 101. Virginia Dare is most easily accessed from the Canyon Road exit on the 101 - go toward the west on Canyon Road and then turn immediately right. The winery is at 22281 Chianti Road. (While there, you can also "dare" to try their fragrant new hard cider.) For more information, call Virginia Dare at (707) 735-3500 or Coppola's at (707)857-1400.

Here at Isis Oasis, we have a couple of December events to note as well:

Saturday, December 21st - Winter Solstice Harp Concert and Holiday Craft Faire

Once again, the Isis Oasis Sanctuary is pleased to be hosting Diana Stork and the Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble for a Winter Solstice Harp Concert on Saturday, December 21 at 7pm. This beautiful evening features many young harpists performing holiday music from around the world, with some sing-along opportunities. Concert and dinner tickets are available at Eventbrite or you can call707 857-4747 for reservations.

This year, during the day, we will also have some craft booths for last-minute holiday gifts, including some lovely fir cone wreaths and other ornaments crafted from our giant, unusually multi-trunked Douglas Fir, an officially-recognized Sonoma County Heritage Tree. The big winds that raged during the evacuation period brought down hundreds of cones - and when life gives you fir cones, we say make wreaths. Though that’s not the only option - while we can’t quite get lemonade from our fir tree, you can make a tea from the green shoots which is supposed to be beneficial for coughs and colds.

May all the blessings of the season be yours.

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