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Redding’s fire based economy

We have had economic change over the years, just like everywhere. Our area was once mining based, and then railroad based, and then logging based. Today we are more or less medical services, and retail-based. Except for the substantial part that is government-based. And a big part of that has become the fire-camp based economy.


To those who criticize the Stillwater Industrial Park, I ask: what’s your plan to provide jobs in the Northstate? The fire-camp based economy seems like a bit of a dead-end road. We’ve seen dead-end economic plans here before…

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Kilarc reservoir is on the endangered list

We stopped in over at Kilarc Reservoir in eastern Shasta County for a look. It’s nice to get up out of the valley heat.
Kilarc reservoir in eastern Shasta County
It’s a lovely picnic area and lake, maintained by PG&E, who run the electrical generation facility there. PG&E wants to abandon the project, which is one of the oldest in the county. They would demolish the reservoir, power house, and the dam on Cow Creek that feeds it.
Kilarc reservoir in eastern Shasta County
The plan strikes us as a bit sad. This has to be one of the cleanest possible ways to make electricity. It’s been here for years, and seems to have had proportionally small impact. No hydropower comes without cost, but some projects seem to have reasonable cost/benefits, especially when already in place. Imagine the power replaced with a coal fired plant, and it offers some perspective.
Kilarc reservoir in eastern Shasta County
On the way home, we stopped at a high country ranch we know. The owner let us pick some fruit. These apples are from trees more than 100 years old. Still productive. The people who planted that orchard 100 years ago are the same people who thought electricity made from falling water would be nice. 100 years later, they are still right about both.
Kilarc reservoir in eastern Shasta County

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Last week of freedom for kids, back to school next week

Redding kids enjoy summer fun at Caldwell Park
Some teachers are going back to school this week, and the kids start next week. Summer went by fast. It always does….
Redding kids enjoy summer fun at Caldwell Park
There’s lots for kids to do all summer here. The Aquatic Center is a great place to spend a day. We’re lucky to have it. Redding is such an idyllic place to live if you are a kid, or just a kid at heart. Sorry about that approaching school thing, kids! (and teachers!)
Redding kids enjoy summer fun at Caldwell Park

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A short trip to Hell can be heavenly

Bumpass Hell in nearby Lassen Park is just a short hike off the main highway. Fleeing the hot summer days in the valley below can lead to a different kind of heat. Geothermal.
Lassen Park near Redding CA

The trail leads to a magical part of the Caldera of long vanished Mt Tehama. Walking in, we met people from Belgium, Germany, Australia, and Japan. We are reminded this is a world class hike, so near to home. Bumpass Hell is named after a man who was burned walking where he shouldn’t. Hell, indeed, Mr. Bumpass.
Lassen Park near Redding CA
Fumarole vents and boiling water are evidence that you are near the powerful forces deep in the earth. Sulfurous gases vent with a roar.
Lassen Park near Redding CA
It’s beautiful and sort of terrifying all at once.
Lassen Park near Redding CA
This bird didn’t seem to mind any of it. Did life itself spring from primeval cauldrons like these?
Lassen Park near Redding CA

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A trip to the Farmer's Market leaves Karry speechless.

Today’s sojourn to Redding’s Certified Organic Farmers Market next to our City Hall was fruitful in several ways. Here is some of our haul. I love those Thai Peppers, but a few go a long way. These few yellow onions represent the last of the Walla Walla onion season, we’re told.
Food from Redding's Farmers Market
We needed some Olive Oil, so we stopped at the Olinda Ridge guy’s booth. He insisted we try several varieties from tiny cups on bits of bread. To tell the truth, a lot of the subtlety was lost on me. Grassy, buttery, whatever. Its all good. We liked the idea of the Pomegranate Vinegar. A couple of funny parts: One variety of oil he said was Doni Greenberg’s favorite, and he asked if I’d heard of her. In fact I have. Who knew she was endorsing olive oil?

At one point, he turned to Karry and asked, “ So what do you think of that variety?” A bit of silence ensued. I looked at her face and realized she had swallowed it wrong or something, and temporarily couldn’t speak. That’s when 30+ years of marriage kicked in.

“That works great. I’ll take a half gallon of whatever she had.” 😉

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Summer thunderstorm over Trinity County

Rivers in Redding
We took in dinner at Rivers and watched the lightning show from the patio.
Rivers in Redding
I wish I had my tripod, and some way to capture the lightning on camera. It was really spectacular. It wasn’t your typical Redding August evening view.
Rivers in Redding
Dinner was good too.

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Cooking at the Cascade serves up satisfying results

We attended the final show of the Cooking at the Cascade series last night and had a blast.
Redding's Cooking at the Cascade series
Prior to the movie we watched demonstrations onstage on how to make some nifty mixed drinks. Photo appropriately fuzzy. Yea Mojitos! I’d never had one until last night. More than one, for that matter. I felt like Hemingway in Havana. Here’s a link to the recipes.
Redding's Cooking at the Cascade series
The Spanglish movie was not your typical Adam Sandler movie, for sure. I hadn’t seen it. I thought Tea Leoni playing Adam Sandler’s wife nailed the stereotype, and that part was pretty hilarious.
Redding's Cooking at the Cascade series
Afterwards, we were served demo-food, including the yummy pork shoulder they were roasting all day in a Big Green Egg barbeque/oven. Which was later given away in a drawing that night. Nice prize. A great time was had by all. As we stepped out into the warm Redding night, there was much activity and a lot of people downtown. The whole place was hoppin’.

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When the going gets hot, the hot go to Lassen.

We are so blessed here in Redding. When it gets a bit too hot in the valley, we can head for the hills. It’s not far at all to Lassen Park, maybe an hour or so drive. Once there, you will find tourists from all over the world enjoying the scenery and volcanic splendor. We took these shots on Friday.
Lassen Park near Redding CA
Lassen Park near Redding CA
Lassen Park near Redding CA
Lassen Park near Redding CA

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Live Music by DJ at the Red Lion

Talk about unclear on the concept. I had just been reading Jim Dyar’s recent article about the Hot Start to the Cascade’s season and thinking that Redding’s really developing quite a live music scene. Then this sign on Hilltop Drive took it all back. Via cell-phone camera:
LiveMusic
I like DJ’s as much as the next person, but if the only instrument you play is an MP3 file, you might not qualify as live music. Note to tourists driving by on Hilltop: This was probably a joke, see. We’re not like that, really. No, really.

If it isn’t live music, it’s dead music.