Elected Citizen Architect

San Jose, CA Post Office (now Museum)

  An interesting topic has emerged on Bob Borson's group topic discussion in "ArchiTalks." The topic is "Citizen Architect."

As one of the few women elected officials nationwide - who also happens to be a licensed architect, this topic is of great interest to me. I am a Napa, CA City Councilmember, elected in 2006, re-elected in 2010, and re-elected in 2014.

 On a regular basis, I encourage my architect colleagues to jump in and help on committees, working groups, boards, commissions, non-profit leadership, service clubs, and neighborhood associations. Since so many architects tend to be introverted, there is often resistance. My dear friend and a former City Council member is famous for saying "Come on. It'll be fun!" I've tried that line with other architects, and FUN does not seem to be their motivating factor. What I have found that resonates is, "We have a problem with _____, and need some "good heads" to help solve this problem. Can you come to a meeting on ______?" Or, "We need to generate some ideas to solve _____ (problem x)." 

Architects are trained problem solvers. Architects can generate ideas better and faster than any other "civic-minded" group. They are not judgmental, but instead are open-minded and used to working on complex problems with diverse groups of people. They are excellent volunteers.

At the heart of the "Polis" - or City - is high-functioning self-government. According to Plato, the four qualities of a "just city" are wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. He did not discuss infrastructure.

There is a lot of infrastructure in a modern city. Just think about how often an architect deals with the streets, water supply, sanitary sewer, electric utilities, gas utilities, cable and fiber optic lines, storm sewers, trees, sidewalks, traffic management, parks, and city planning. Along with "wisdom, courage, moderation and justice," architects know how to get things done in the complex world we live in. 

When I go on a campaign to "save" an historic building, I turn to a non-profit group, Napa County Landmarks, whose board is heavily weighted with - architects.

Help Save Our Historic Napa Post Office

Recently I attended the League of California Cities Annual Conference in San Jose, CA. Of great interest to me was a city that would build this Romanesque structure to house their Post Office. Then, when the Post Office was no longer interested in occupying the building, the city turned the structure into a signature element of their museum. 

San Jose Museum of Art

I encourage other architects to take that step to help shape the "Polis" or "City" where they live. The city will be richer for it - wherever that city is. 

Spring Garden - part 1

Many of our peony plants have now been in the ground two years. Jackie the Bernese Mountain dog has been very careful not to trample them.

 

 

These photos were all taken in early April - when the tree peonies bloom first.

Bernese Mountain Dog puppy turns one

Little Miss Jackie the Bernese Mountain Dog turned one year old this week. She weighs in at over 90 pounds, quite a change for the "runt" of her litter! In honor of her birthday, I made a dog birthday cake. After searching for recipes, I found that there are very few good ones out there, so offer up my own version of a whole wheat, carrot, banana, peanut butter cake.

Dog Birthday Cake

This is completely edible for humans, too!

Jackie wants some cake! "When do I get some?"

Queen for a Day

Whole Wheat Doggie Cake

1 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 C natural ( no sugar) peanut butter
1 mashed banana
2 shredded carrots
1/4 C. olive oil
1 egg
2 Tbsp. honey
1/4-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

This is a very simple cake. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil small (6 in x 3 in) springform cake pan. Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Spread batter in the oiled pan. Bake 40 minutes or till cake springs back when touched. Cool on rack.

Frosting

2 oz. cream cheese
1/4 C. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. yogurt
1 Tbsp. honey

Cream the peanut butter and cream cheese, add yogurt and honey and frost as you would any cake. Decorate with doggie treats, carrot slivers, banana slices or other special goodies your dog loves.

The cake is actually quite good. For dogs, do not add nuts, raisins or other indigestible or dangerous ingredients! Jackie had no problem digesting the cake.

Here she is gulping her first bite!

Bernese Mountain lap dog

Jackie the Bernese Mountain Dog continues to grow. With large breed dogs, the changes are not gradual, they are instant. She is too big for me to pick up any longer. From her first days home at 18 pounds, she has grown to over 60 pounds at 7 1/2 months.

Jackie at 10 weeks

Jackie the lap dog, 7 1/2 months, photo by John Poole

A little snuggle, please? She's still a puppy and only about 2/3 grown. We spent the day harvesting and crushing grapes last weekend. She was denied her constant daily attention while we were out in the vineyard. (Grapes can be toxic for dogs.) She is hoping to be the next winery dog, though there are several dogs in the wine group. This one could actually pull a cart loaded with grapes some day.

Here's a video of her right after she arrived. She is meeting the neighbors and Otto, an almost record breaking Great Dane.

Time for Puppies

It's time for puppies in our little corner of Napa. Jasmine, the wonderful Lab/Aussie companion of 12 1/2 years passed away right before the New Year. Our new little Bernese Mountain Dog "Jackie" has been learning how to be a good dog.

Jackie the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, 6 months old

She is now 7 months old and is eager to work! Here is a little video of her doing her first job. This little 18 second video had more response on my facebook page than anything in recent memory.

She is eager to please, and eager to work. Praise, little treats and the joy of hearing "good job!" seem to be all the motivation she needs. She is starting to bring me my slippers so we can get the day going each day. What a pleasure to have her in our lives!

Napa Porchfest

I'm still decompressing from the third annual Napa Porchfest held last Sunday, July 28. This is a labor of love for our dedicated committee, which is a standing committee of Napa County Landmarks, Inc.

Napa Porchfest 2013

 We had over 4,000 people who wandered in our Old Town neighborhoods listening to over 80

musical groups performing on 47 porches between 1 and 6 pm. Planning starts in January and goes till event day. It's a solid six month volunteer commitment. I'm a founder and chair of the event, so a lot of unusual tasks come my way. Things like making the map, being webmaster, crunching all the data, social networking, picking up T-shirts. The T-shirts are great, and co-chair Thea sold hundreds of them. Thea also has the massive task of coordinating music for all the porches. Others on the committee coordinate volunteers, handle logistics, and media and public relations. We even have a committee member who coordinates food trucks - added this year to the line-up.

 

Porchfest T-shirts disappear at the food truck round-up

 

I was inundated with texts and calls from the "hot spots", but snapped a few pictures on the run. Churchill Manor was the largest and most elegant venue we've had yet - beautiful lawn to sit on, expansive two-story porch, and great music. Everyone played for FREE, even these seasoned professionals.   

Jimmy Smith Band at Porchfest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 There was one report of a badly stubbed toe, and one reported bee sting. As the person in charge I am greatly relieved!

Porchfest 2013 at Churchill Manor

As the afternoon waned, this idyllic spot beckoned. One of these years, when the event is well established and we really know what we are doing, I'll bring a blanket and sit right here. All this came from a conversation on Facebook. Don't believe the pundits who crow that Social Media is a waste of time. Napa is all the richer for it.

Napa Fourth of July

Our Fourth of July starts with the hometown parade at 10 am. I rode my bike with the Napa Rotary Club and the Pathway Home serving Veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. No pictures, as I did want to carry the camera on the parade route. Some pictures have been tagged on Facebook.

Last evening, Jackie the Bernese Mountain dog puppy experienced her first fireworks when the booms from the annual Silverado Country Club July 3 event. There was lots of barking.
This evening, the fireworks just started - and she is woofing and sitting on my foot.

In the early evening we had the flag salute and "flag wave" at Veterans Park.

 

 

 

 

 

July 4, 2013 Flag wave in Napa

 

 

 

 

 

 

garden tour

After another long afternoon in the garden, it seems an opportune time to share the early fruits of John's labor over the past few months. Along with John's cutting up and milling of a 70 year old redwood tree, we have been tending the peonies, bulbs, irises, roses and fruit trees in the yard. John is a collector. Now we even have a collection of Michelia - members of the Magnolia family.

Michelia sp.

We encountered a Michelia on our wedding trip. The large creamy flowers masked the possible "off odors" of a bathroom building at an arboretum. We were both captivated by the tree.

tree peony

Along with the Michelia, we have been planting herbaceous, Itoh hybrid and tree peonies. Our concerns about lack of sufficient winter chilling to support peonies may be unfounded. All the newly planted (fall) plants have sprouted, and almost all have buds. These three tree peonies have been in our yard for several years, and seem to be thriving.

tree peony

 

tree peony

We planted blueberries in wine barrels so that we could control the acidity of the soil. It looks like fruit is setting.

blueberries

Also in wine barrels are herbs.

variegated sage

basil in the herb garden

old camelia

tulips and lilacs

quince

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early rose, Joseph's coat

sour cherries in bloom

Queen Elizabeth

John feeding the peonies

John feeds the plants weird concoctions such as fish emulsion and epsom salts. It appears to be working.

Anonymous bloggers

The local newspaper online edition - the Napa Valley Register - allows anonymous comments on their articles. Some bloggers have written that they are disappointed that I do not comment in the commentary section. Of course their language may be more strident than mine.

My response is this: it is not possible to have a conversation with a bunch of people wearing hoods.

Tales from the trail

I've been busy. Walking a lot of miles, knocking on about 3,500 doors, wearing out three pairs of shoes. All in the service of running for local office. There have been neighborhood meetings, debates, a direct mail campaign, and the task of raising money to send the mail that one hopes does not go into the recycle bin unread.

From walking in the wind and rain of January to the scorching heat of late May, there have been many lovely interludes on the campaign trail. I'm convinced that most people really put a lot of effort into making a lovely entrance to their homes. I'm posting some photos to show what I mean. We have vineyards in the City of Napa - and photos of vines before bud break.

Campaign events for other candidates such as for Congressman Mike Thompson:

Talking to a group of neighbors about the evils of urban sprawl:

 I found an old "head pruned" vine in north Napa, serving as a landscape feature:

A celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouts, complete with uniforms I remember from my own childhood:

Crabapple trees in bloom, in the rain:

A clever "Burma Shave" sign campaign against that same "Urban Sprawl" project:
 

Pink dogwoods in bloom, reminding me of the "old home place":

California poppies and bearded iris in a vibrant clash in a front dooryard:

 A front yard garden in a forgotten and often overlooked neighborhood:

 

And by the end of the campaign, the bare branches and dripping spring flowering trees have yielded their front yard bounty:

 

My backyard persimmon tree is loaded with tiny green fruits in little frilled and pleated cups. Our cherry trees have jays and mockingbirds yacking over who will eat the first fruits. They test the sweetness then complain that the cherries are not yet ripe. The weeds in our garden are knee high and the peonies are begging to be relieved of the strangling tentacles of blackberries that seem to think the deeply dug flower beds are their own. We missed the iris bloom in our own yard, and the artichokes will be sending out their blue flowers any day. Certainly they are past their tender and youthful stage.

The elections office calls the election "too close to call". So we wait patiently, realizing that we are 87 votes behind, and not likely to surpass the other challenger to the incumbent.