Tag: Redding

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The Gourmet

A lively group of Redding people have been meeting every month over the last 40+ years to share a meal. The membership has evolved over the years, but the theme persists:
The Gourmet.

I was invited after a regular member had to bow out at the last minute. The idea is that the host prepares the main dish, and the guests bring other courses. This is far from a potluck, however. The emphasis is on cuisine and company. A theme for the evening was persimmons, and so we had a persimmon based soup, and main dish. Our hosts were Jim and Mary Carr of Redding.
In my work as real estate agent, I have seen many large and elaborate kitchens described as “gourmet.” The Carr’s diminutive kitchen workspace reminds us all that good culinary experiences are not at all reliant on size. My deep gratitude goes to the guests and hosts who made this evening so spirited. The Gourmet, it’s Really Redding.

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Real estate in the other Redding

Ran across this list of recent home sales in Redding. Redding Connecticut. Some fairly high priced homes there, it would appear. Perhaps our ‘sister city’ on the east coast wasn’t once named Poverty Flat. It was an interesting read. They even name the buyers and sellers out there. I do have to say though, the previous comment about some of the housing to be priced on the high side is only in certain areas of CT, it was decided to conduct some research into other locations around Connecticut such as these William Pitt homes for sale within Columbia, that are relatively cheap compared to other areas of CT.
Weston Daily VoiceClicking over to the home page of The Daily Voice, I see that Connecticut is still digging out from Hurricane Sandy. Sister cities, different weather. I read they are concerned over an approaching Thanksgiving Nor’ Easter. Yikes.

Scrolled down under the online articles looking for all the rude comments surely waiting, but didn’t see any. That’s different too. A tale of two cities. Really Redding, Connecticut.

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“Looking for my guitar” – Yamaha FG-612S sold in Redding 2 years ago

Saw this plea on Craigslist a year ago. Renee tells me she’d still like to find it, so I am re-posting it. Maybe you can help. In the greater scheme of things, it’s perhaps not crucial. But a poetic return of the instrument is pleasing to consider.

“It’s a long story, but here goes. First of all, PLEASE do not delete this. My name is Renee. My mother and I lived in Redding in the 70’s and I bought this guitar from Bernie’s when I was just 15. I worked a whole summer to afford it. I’d read many reviews on The Sound Junky about this guitar so I knew it was a good one.

My mom contributed half the money, and I gave her my Oldesmobile, Delta 88 to cover that. I really LOVED this guitar and all the cool accessories I had with it, as you can imagine.

My daughters were both played to, nightly, while in my stomach, with this guitar, and it lulled them to sleep while I sung songs to them with it as they grew up. Now, 27 and 20, they loved it also.

I sung to my sister, when she was alive with it, and my father. I have lost them, all 3 now…mom, dad and sisters (both).

Well, I’m 46 now. I had that guitar til 2 years ago, when my mom’s heart went into failure. She was in RMC for 45 days before she passed away, and I live in Red Bluff, and I just couldn’t afford to drive every day back and forth, so I was forced to pawn my guitar to Olde West Guns and Loan.

She died. 46 days into the driving back and forth, I lost my beloved mother, and worse, I went into a horrible depression and lost my guitar.

There’s not a price you can put on the value of it…and it’s got memories from me, while I owned it nearly 30 years.

When I came out of the depression a bit, I went to get it out and to try to piece my life back together, but discovered that the pawn ticket had lapsed during my mourning. I lost my guitar…and I know, it’s my fault, but if anyone out there happened to buy it, please, please, please, give me a call and let’s talk about how I can buy it back. I’m anything but rich…but I guarantee, it will go back to where it belongs, and I will even HELP you find another guitar if that is the issue.

This isn’t just a guitar. It’s a symbol of the memory of my mother and me working together to achieve something…the memories of the time my two daughters were inside my stomach, and the times I sung for both my parents while they were alive, and my sister who’s also passed, at all the holidays. It is an item that cannot be priced, or have a price put on it.

My # is 530-355-7573. I’d be so glad to find out it’s alive…that someone has a huge heart and understands how MUCH this means to my family, and will help me relocate it.”

Here’s an image of such a guitar from Google. Looks like a lovely 12 string, but obviously it holds more than just music for the writer. Do you know where this instrument went?
More than a guitar

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Listen to CD and tracks from local artist Tracy Jean Manuel

Redding area singer songwriter Tracy Jean Manuel has released a CD, humbly titled “Halfway Decent.” Listen up.


Blogger Marck Beauchamp pointed me to this brilliant local music. I know readers will want me to characterize the music in words, since that’s what blog writers do. I don’t have much patience with genres when it comes to music like this. It doesn’t fit well into a pigeonhole. At times it conjures earth and roots, colored with evocative Americana. Other parts swell and bloom with restrained electronic euphoria. It’s the mixture of those flavors that propels her work beyond easy categorization. You’ll just have to listen to it all, and decide for yourself what to call it. Luckily, she makes that easy.
Tracy Jean Manuel Halfway Decent
You can listen to more Tracy Jean Manuel at the link, and then go on to download the whole work for whatever you think it’s worth. I think it’s worth a lot. Clever, thoughtful direct marketing, by the way. You can also order the physical CD, signed by the artist. I’d suggest you like Tracy’s Facebook page so you can keep an ear on future artistry from this complex and beautiful songbird going forth. Hearing it in entirety again last night, I wanted it to just go on and on. Good work Tracy. You’re Really Redding.

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Stay cool Redding. August shimmers beneath a nuclear sun.

Heat waves ripple across too much pavement and steely automobiles, evaporating the moisture right off your eyes. Blink back the heat.
Find a way to stay chill today, Redding. You can do it. You always have.
Mercy Hot by Skip MurphyJust another sunny day.
County Building in Redding By Skip MurphyWestside Post Office HotOkay these last two are from Winter. Sunny Winter. So think about Winter.
Coolness brought to you by Really Redding.

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Free drinks at the new Dutch Brothers today

Evidently, all you need do to get Reddingites to line up in the full summer sun is to give away your product. Retailers, take note.
Dutch Brothers in ReddingMore Dutch Brothers in ReddingDutch Bothers gives away productThis company has built a fairly fanatical fan base. Innovative marketing. Note the Starbucks right across the street.

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Sunset on Whiskeytown Lake

Took this image yesterday. Not overly colorful or bright for a Whiskeytown Lake sunset. More subtle and tranquil.
Whiskeytown sunset 6-28-12 by Skip Murphy
These are sized 1920 X 1200 for a Desktop Background image, although they are rather dark for my tastes. But feel free to use either, if you like.
Whiskeytown Sunset by Skip Murphy
Earlier we attended a dinner party in west Redding. This was the view from the pool:
West Redding pool partySublime sunset reflections. That’s Really Redding.

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Bob Moore and his mill provide bountiful whole grain goodness

Redding wouldn’t be complete without our grain mill. All great civilizations throughout history have relied on gristmills to provide the staff of life, going back to the Old Testament. Our terrific local mill is Moores Mill, founded by miller Bob Moore.Bob Moore of Moores Mill in ReddingMoores when it came to ReddingI recall when they originally opened shop, in a quonset style building on Highway 273. Acceptance of the new venture was not guaranteed. Some local opinions I recall were that white, so called “enriched” flour was the modern wonder food. Whole grains, coarsely ground, seemed an anachronistic, outdated idea to many.

Not for me. I’ve been a regular customer and raving fan since their inception. For me, Redding’s (and my) quality of life would be diminished greatly without Moores Mill.

Moores Mill in ReddingMoores Mill in ReddingThey have subsequently expanded into other related human-friendly foods. Spices. Teas. Specialty beans. Creative pasta I have not seen anywhere else. And amazing bread mixes for bread machines. The Cranberry Walnut bread is sublime. Recipes, and books. Juices and local honey. I could go on and on.

We actually buy Grains and Nut Granola there in 25 lb bags(!), and eat it for breakfast. Mixed with plain yougurt, it’s the true breakfast of champions. Throw in some sunflower seeds, and chop some fresh almonds in.
Is it health food or desert? No need to choose. It’s both.
Moores Mill in ReddingThere has probably never been a single day that something from Moores was not in my kitchen, since 1975. The staff of life. Mills have always played an important role in Shasta County (see Millville). Thanks Bob.
Moores Mill proves the wisdom: 23 Jeremiah 1–19 As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.
A harvest of goodness.