creative enlightenment Archives

A Closer Look at Farm Workers and Other People on the Line, UC Davis Library

October 11, 2025Silvia

The UC Davis Shields Library is currently showing photos of farm workers by journalist David Bacon. This exhibit, In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted, documents farm workers and people without a stable place in Northern California. It will be up until March 30th, 2026.

With about 80 photos, Bacon introduces us to the work and living situations of people who are rarely seen in society. This exhibit spans 35 years of his black and white photos. They are sprinkled with biographies that dive deeper into the living situations of people on the verge of society. These texts are provided in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The exhibit was brought to Shields Library by the UC Davis Labor and Community Center.

You can find the exhibit In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted on the first floor of the Shields Library at UC Davis until March 30, 2026. It begins near the archives section on the left of the main entrance and continues in the east wing.

There are a few other exhibits here that might pique your interest. Most of them change every 3 to 6 months. The permanent exhibit Student Live in Color, showcasing UC Davis’s diverse community, is in the hallway to the east wing.

Relax at Soul Food Farm, Vacaville

October 3, 2025Silvia

With a name like Soul Food Farm, it was no surprise that our first encounter following the signs to the farmstand was a group of watercolor painters. There is definitely a heart and soul present here. This place offers opportunities for people searching for relaxation and nature.

We strolled over to the farmstand, which is so instagrammable, you wonder where your big white hat is. But in all honesty, they offer wonderful produce, delicious little cakes, homemade jam, ACME bread, and so much more. The owner told us that her main business has now become olive oil.

As we indulged in the little berry pie in the dreamy setting in the olive grove, we connected with nature.

There is an attention to detail that shows in every corner of the little farmstand. For example, a vase with rose hips and a mannequin wearing dried flowers show off the attentiveness. As we were leaving, a family with young kids got out of their car. You could tell that the kids were excited to be there. Maybe on their way to pet some sheep?

I am amazed at their local partnerships and their commitment to issues such as community land use and workers’ rights. Alexis Koefoed, one of the owners, is the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (PVAA).

I highly recommend stopping by Soul Food Farm! They are located at 6046 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA. The farmstand is open April – December; Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. By the way, the watercolor group is there every Friday.

A sign at the driveway to Morningsun Herb Farm with their opening hours

Purchase Herbs, Morningsun Herb Farm, Vacaville

September 19, 2025Silvia

Fall is a great time to plant. And if you are in the Vacaville area, Morningsun Herb Farm is a great place to pick up all that you’ll need to beautify your garden, not only herbs.

The nursery can be quite overwhelming, with rows and rows of perennials and herbs, augmented with fruit trees on the side. I think I counted 4 double rows just for all the lavender varieties. My tip is to check out their website: https://morningsunherbfarm.com/ and come up with a plan. I ended up with two varieties of thyme and some lime mint.

As an extra bonus, the Herb Farm is having its plant sale – 35% off all plants until Sunday, October 12th, 2025. If you act quickly, they also have a sale on soil and amendments (10%) and garden art (15%) until September 21st, 2025.

Now, I do love a nice nursery, but I love this one even more. You can stroll through relaxing gardens, and you can feed chickens and donkeys!

On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, Morningsun Herb Farm will participate in the PVAA 9th annual open farm day. They present an all-day program featuring interesting talks and a demonstration on the distillation of lemon verbena.

Morningsun Herb Farm is located at 6137 Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville. Their fall hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm. The overflow and large vehicle parking lot is located at the second driveway at 6147 Pleasants Valley Rd.

I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Imagine Creatures, Alebrijes in San José

September 12, 2025Silvia

Alebrijes are brightly colored artworks from Mexico. Usually, they depict multiple animals painted with intense, intricate patterns. They originated in 1936 from a fever dream by the artist Pedro Linares. These days, they are a symbol of Mexican folk art. Although Alebrijes are attributed to Oaxacan culture, you can buy little wooden creatures in gift shops all across Mexico.

My first encounter with Alebrijes was in the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City. Of course, while the little representatives were in every gift shop, the large sculptures entrance you at a higher level.

To experience a group of 22-foot-tall mythical creatures, you can marvel at them at Plaza de César Chávez in San José until September 28th, 2025. This exhibition is in partnership with San Jose Jazz; they offer a lot of free events around the plaza to celebrate Mexican culture. While we saw the Alebrijes at the golden hour, San Jose Jazz recommends you see them at night, as they come to life glowing with vibrant, multicolored LED lights.

The fantastical creatures are on a tour. The next stop will be from October 10th to December 7th, 2025, at the Arte Américas in Fresno. At this stop, you will also be able to see the original, smaller hand-made sculptures.

Do you have a favorite Alebrije?

Experience Arts of Fire in Benicia, NY2CA Gallery

September 5, 2025Silvia

Every city in the Bay Area has a vibe. For Benicia, the art galleries on First Street communicate a welcoming vibe for art lovers to browse and discover new artists.

The most recent addition to the First Street art scene is the NY2CA Gallery.

With changing exhibits every seven weeks, this place will truly entice you to come visit often!

Currently, they show Arts of Fire – Clay. Glass. Transformation. This juried show featuring 36 artists is all about working with clay and glass in a contemporary and fantastic way. I found the Drops of Lights by Jenn Shiflett inspiring. A glass plate that looks like it captures raindrops, but also reflects everything. I have two photos, both somehow showed up as distorted selfies.

Arts and Fire will be open until September 21st, 2025. The NY2CA Gallery is on 617 First St in downtown Benicia. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm.

Follow the Art, Yountville Art Walk

August 16, 2025Silvia

Yountville combines food and wine culture with an advocacy for the arts. The Yountville Art Walk displays more than 30 outdoor sculptures. Many of these artworks are for sale.

We picked up a brochure at the community center. The community center is a great starting point for the art walk as a lot of sculptures are nearby. But you can really start this art exploration anywhere. Most of them are on a 1 mile stretch of Washington Street. At Van De Leur Park is another cluster of sculptures. The park is not very extensive but it offers shade and the possibility to sit and rest. It also has a little rose garden.

The Steve Rogers Gallery at the community center hosts six free exhibits a year. Currently, they are displaying painted trays, Midnight Snack Trays – A Feast for the Eyes by Seward Johnson. These trays can be viewed through September 12, 2025.

My favorite sculpture was this Yellow Sphere by Ivan McLean – a large yellow ball made out of woven metal.

We enjoyed our stroll while we discovered Yountville. What an excellent way to promote both the walkability of Yountville and the arts!

The Steve Rogers Gallery is located at 6516 Washington Street. Opening hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm. You can also listen to descriptions about the sculptures in an audio tour: https://youraudiotour.com/tours/yountville-art-walk/

Information about the art walk can be found on their website: https://ca-yountville.civicplus.com/238/Art-Walk

Jonah and the Whale mechanical bank at the Napa Toy Museum

Adore Vintage Toys at the Napa Toy Museum, Napa

August 9, 2025Silvia

They name themselves the collectors of collections. The owners of the Napa Toy Museum proudly display their collections of wind-up toys, mechanical and still banks, patent models, and salesman samples from 1890’s to the 1960’s. It’s as fascinating as it is whimsical.

We were offered a tour that was included in the admission, and we gladly accepted. Our guide, one of the owners of the museum, opened cases and demonstrated how a mechanical bank works, and showed us vintage wind-up toys.

The Barbie collection is on loan from the collector Myk Ciapusci. Ninety-eight Barbies with accessories prompted us to share memories and stories about miniature outfit creations.

But there is also a lot of history in those pieces. Like the patent models that inventors had to submit to the patent office with their inventions. Or the Ark toys that were popular in Germany around the late 19th century. These toys were also called Sunday toys because they were the only toys kids were allowed to play with on the Sabbath. Although only a fraction of the 150 ark animals are displayed in the case, we still appreciated the love that went into carving the animals.

Thank you to the Halls for sharing and explaining your collection.

The Napa Toy Museum is located at 964 Pearl Street in downtown Napa and is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults with discounts for seniors, locals, first responders, and kids. The museum is free for under-8-year-olds. If you bring an unwrapped, new toy for Toys for Tots through December 17th, 2025, you will receive one free admission.

Water wheel for the Bale Grist Mill in St Helena

Grind Corn at the Bale Grist Mill, St Helena

July 25, 2025July 30, 2025Silvia

A grist mill converts grains such as wheat or corn into flour and animal feed. Built in 1846, the Bale Mill in St Helena is one of the oldest structures in Napa County. This marvel of ingenuity still works; you can watch it in action on the weekends.

Tours are offered at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. We got there a little late, but it was no problem to join a tour midway and then stay a bit longer to catch up on what we missed.

Our guide was very knowledgeable as he presented the history of the mill and its owners. Then he turned on the waterwheel. He set it at the slowest setting so he could demonstrate it and yet still be heard once we moved inside. The mechanics for the mill are efficient. It can be operated with just two people. Cup elevators transport the grain through the system. The pinnacle of the demonstration is to watch the flour come out of the grindstone. There is also a hands-on element where you can grind corn by hand.

You can buy various flours at the historic granary gift shop. These are marked ‘Not for human consumption’, as the mill operators opted for a personal demonstration area that doesn’t meet the high hygienic standards.

The Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park is located at 3315 St Helena. Parking fee is $10 and the entrance fee for adults is $8, children 6-17 pay $3, and children under 6 are free. The mill is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.

A bench that looks like a stick of butter under the MAC sign

Experience the MAC, St Helena

July 17, 2025Silvia

Riding through Napa Valley with my husband we were talking about how much of Napa feels like chasing experiences. For example, the wine train is a luxurious experience on a vintage train ride featuring elegantly curated menus. The price tag starts at $225 and can easily go for $600 a person for an experience.

You may already know that I am trying to find more frugal savoir-faire for you in this blog. But I’m also a foodie; sometimes these worlds collide. No, I did not ride on the wine train. When you rarely drink alcohol, you don’t have a problem skipping offerings centered around wine. However, I learned about an exhibit featuring Julia Child at the MAC (The Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture) in St Helena. The $25 entrance fee per person made me pause. I paid it, I enjoyed it, but my husband decided to wait outside. If you can’t share your experience with others, is it worth it?

I did not grow up watching Julia Child, but I read her book My Life in France, and I saw the movie Julie & Julia. The exhibit starts by introducing Julia’s upbringing and then her work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. While in Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) she met her husband, Paul Child, who also worked for the OSS.

Although Child was not the first TV cook, she was the first to win an Emmy for an educational program. I really enjoyed seeing a set up of the TV kitchen with an old-style monstrous camera as my highlight. It becomes clear in this exhibit that Child was an icon, beloved and admired by her colleagues. Through the black and white photographs of Paul Child, you can see the love the couple had for each other.

Additional Information

To round off your experience, the café at Under Study, next door to the MAC, offers a three-course prix fixe menu inspired by Julia Child for $38.

On Saturday, 7/20/25 at 11 am, you can meet John Donohue at the MAC. Donohue is a cartoon artist who has famously drawn restaurants in Paris, London, and New York. Some of his drawings can be viewed at the MAC gift shop for free! The event on Saturday is also free.

Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is on display at the MAC until March 8, 2026. The MAC is located at 607 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA. It is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for 5 – 17 year olds, free for children under 5.

Be Grateful at the Children’s Bell Tower

May 31, 2025Silvia

When I researched things to do in Bodega Bay, the Children’s Bell Tower rose to the top of the list. I am always interested in large sculptures and local oddities. So, we absolutely had to check this one out.

It turned out that the coffee shop, Sea Flower Cafe, where we had breakfast, was a short walk away from the bell tower. The bell tower itself includes a small parking lot if you decide to skip the coffee and delicious breakfast.

Before we reached the tower, we admired the small community garden. We were fascinated by the vast number of wind chime collections hanging from two trees.

The bell tower is a very touching place. First, you see the inscription, a dedication for Nicholas Green. Nicholas, just seven years old, was shot by highway robbers in Italy. His parents donated his organs to seven Italians. In gratitude for this selfless act, Italian families donated 140 bells for the tower. The largest bell, the centerpiece, has the name of Nicholas and the seven recipients engraved on it. Pope John Paul II blessed it. This is a very peaceful place. But I’m sure kids have a good time running around and exploring, too.

The donation started a wave of organ donations in Italy known as the ‘Nicholas Effect’. The Nicholas Green Foundation is an advocacy group promoting the best gift you can make: donate your organs so others can live!

The Children’s Bell Tower is located at 2255 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA.

This was a humble reminder that organ donation saves lives and gives hope. If you’d like to sign up to be an organ donor you can visit this website: https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up