Off to the Sun: Paint, Pour, Pour, Pour

Climbing up to 83 degrees on April 3rd. Ah, spring in the desert

It's not all fun and games. Wait! It is! After our astonishing night at the Desert Botanical Garden, we needed to (sort of) rest. So the next day it was off to Paint-N-Pour, an event put on all over the area by a couple of local artists at the Windmill Winery in Florence. The winery is set in a very cute little farm and pours wines from all over the world, though the website is a tad misleading - lush as it looks, it's in the middle of miles of desert. The $35 fee included our first glass of artistic lubricant, and a good time was had by all. Completed artwork included interpretations of Native women in blankets, crazed yurts, surfboards, deranged hot dogs, and in one case, "My Mother's Apron".

Image courtesy of Paint N pour

 Our creative senses alight, we went home to sleep it off, and to prepare for the next day's two-and-a-half-hour drive to Karchner Caverns State Park south of Tucson.

 At home, Coco patiently awaited the unveiling of our new works of art, slated to be hung in the world-famous garage gallery. Or was it dinner she was waiting for...?

 All images by Joanne Orion Miller unless otherwise noted

Jack London State Park and an Excellent Biodynamic Winery--Benziger

I'm lucky enough to live near northern California's wine country, and summer  and autumn are perfect times for a trip to Glen Ellen, heart of the Sonoma Valley. Among the sights, one must-see is the beautifully maintained Jack London State Historic Park, dramatically saved from closure by a group of volunteers. Even if London's widely known adventure stories, such as "White Fang" and "Call of the Wild" never made it to your reading list, the park crystalizes the life of the author and his wife, Charmiane as if in amber. The House of Happy Walls museum and Beauty Ranch on the property hold numerous artifacts from their travels in the south seas and around the world, and are so effectively laid out you wouldn't be surprised to see Charmiane sweeping into the room in a shirtwaist and floor-length skirt, followed by the chain-smoking, high-living author; London's lifestyle was almost as famous as his books.

A view of Wolf House

Their stories are tied into northern California history in many ways--London was one of the founders of the Bohemian Club, when it was a bastion of artists and writers. Also on the property, the ruins of Wolf House, the London's dream home that burned to the ground under suspicious circumstances shortly before they were to move in. Take a docent-lead tour to make the most of the property. Beyond the hiking trails and buildings, the park offers many events and activities, including a "Broadway under the Stars" series complete with food trucks. Click on the link above to find out more.

Benziger's recycle pond

On the way back down London Ranch Rd. from the park, take a moment to stop in at Benziger Family winery--one of Sonoma's privately owned wineries (it really IS family owned--members of the large Benziger family, headed by big brother Mike, participate in the winery's operation). Award-winning Benziger was the first in the area to go biodynamic; a process that not only practices the highest level of organic farming, but uses a complete ecosystem--plants and animals on the property--to cut the use of chemicals. You can take a virtual visit on the website, but nothing beats riding along on a tram tour of the lovely property, then enjoying a tasting. AND, the wines are delicious!