New Found Friends in Pt. Reyes Station

Pt. Reyes Station is quickly becoming a hot spot meeting place for Chloe to meet new friends.  Every time we visit, we either encounter loose doggies running around town and many others, on leash. 

No matter the size of the pooch, Chloe is ready to make quick friends.  A lot of sniffing going on in Pt. Reyes Station, let me tell you!

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Our West Marin Morning

What a beautiful morning out in West Marin today!  Dominic and our friend John, who sits on the Marin County Farm Bureau board with Dominic, had an informal meeting with the new Superintendent of Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Cicely Muldoon in Pt. Reyes Station.  While they were having breakfast, the kids and I met Karen (John's wife) and their daughter, Eva for coffee and a park play date.

We stopped in the Tomales Bay Foods building at the Cowgirl Cantina counter to grab a coffee.  Also located within the the restored barn, we visited Cowgirl Creamery where they were in the process of making some cheese.  The kids loved watching this process.

The milk truck had just pulled up outside do deliver some fresh, organic milk from nearby Straus Dairy.

Inside, they have a viewing window where you can watch the actual cheese making process.

Here's another room (photo taken through a screen door) where they were making little rounds of cheese.....maybe some of their blue cheese.

There are various other shops that sell local produce and goods within the building.

There is also a cheese counter where you can sample and purchase cheese.

Many of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses have won awards, including Best of Show at the 2003 American Cheese Society competition for their Red Hawk.  Lots to choose from at the counter.

I ordered my cappuccino from the Cowgirl Cantina, which by the way, was the BEST cappuccino I have  had since visiting Portugal seven years ago!  SO creamy and delicious! I have a feeling I'll be making additional morning trips out to Pt. Reyes Station in the summer weeks to come.  It was that good!

Cowgirl Cantina is a gourmet deli and wine shop located at one end of the building.  So if you ever find yourself out in Pt. Reyes Station and crave an espresso drink or are headed out to the beach and need picnic supplies, be sure to stop by Tomales Bay Foods, you'll find everything you need.

Happy Thursday!

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How to BBQ 500 Chicken Halves-Western Weekend Style

It's BBQ time.  Only 500 chicken halves at once!  Sunday was final day of Western Weekend in Pt. Reyes Station and Marin County Farm Bureau , of which Dominic is the current President, puts on it's largest fund raiser of the year.  A chicken BBQ. 

Remember the BBQ pit burning party at deer camp we had last week?  Well Sunday, Dominic and crew put all of those pits to use.  The deep pits were lit at 6 a.m. with mesquite briquettes and by 7 a.m. the chicken halves were put on. 

The kids and I drove over to Pomi's deer camp, Red Hill Gun Club (where the BBQing takes place) at around 10 a.m. to check on the progress and snap some photos and maybe score a little sampling :)

When we arrived, one pot was completely done.  At this point, some of the 'special sauce' is poured into the pot and it is left to simmer over very low heat creating steam in the pot which produces a very moist and tender chicken half.

The combined process of the 'special sauce', barbecuing technique and steaming is a long time family recipe between some of the ranch families in the area and has been used for decades.  The chicken is not marinated in the sauce, but used during the cooking process as a baste and in the steaming portion of the process as well.

The kids and I did score a sample.......finger licken' good!

Ron Pomi (right) and Matt Field (left) are flipping 24 (or so) chicken halves at once with two grates.

Matt, Ron and Petie Ielmorini are placing some chickens in one of the huge pots to simmer and steam.

Dominic is finishing up the last batch by basting some of the chicken halves with the special sauce using a homemade basting brush made out of bay leaf branches.

The chicken is then driven out to Pt. Reyes Station where the event takes place.

We arrive in Pt. Reyes Station just in time to put the finishing touches on the 4-H "Three Little Pigs" float.

The three little pigs are SO cute!

Camilla Taylor as the Big Bad Wolf.

The chicken BBQ  is set up in theToby's Feed Barn parking lot.

The parade begins at noon.

The Nave group has been around for at least a decade and performs quite the comical routine.

The teddy bear line.

Palace Market float.

Every parade needs an antique tractor.

Bonnie and Clyde made an appearance.

Bryce was so excited to ride on the float and throw out 4-H stickers to the spectators.

Our float driver, John Taylor with his son, Billy Joe.

This is where we watched the parade from.  Perfect seat!

Cowgirls. 

Horse and Carriage #1.

And #2.

Native American dancers.

Even a fire shooting snail.

Top of the snail.

This was my favorite float.

It's a rolling saloon.  Complete with band on one side,

and kitchen on the other side and dancers all around.  It just made you want to join in!

After the parade, we walked over to the BBQ and along the way, I had to check out the home baked goods. 

Tomales FFA volunteers serving up the chicken.

Regina Pozzi serving salad.

The dining area.

Clover Stornetta donates all the milk, ice cream and butter to Marin County Farm Bureau for this event.

Mike Griffen, from Clover, along with his crew also donate their time cooking beans as well.

Happy diners.

Raspberry pie was calling my name.  SO GOOD!

Bryce wanted a bite.  I think it was a bit too tart for his taste, but perfect for mine.

Happy Monday!

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Ribbons and Floats

Wow, what a busy day we had yesterday!  Fair time is always a busy time.  I think this summer is going to be super busy for us.  We drove back out to Pt. Reyes - West Marin Fair yesterday afternoon to pick up Bryce's fair entry. 

I think I'm going to have to find out how to become a judge for the baking entries at these local fairs......don't these look yummy?!

I loved this creative cake............

A table full of goodies to be judged.

There is a category for almost anything you can think of at local fairs.  Here are some of the sewing entries.  I love the homemade pin cushions!  And the pajamas were sewn by our little friend Camilla Taylor......which won 'Best in Show' in the sewing division!

Ceramic dragon entry.

Back outside, we found some chicks.....

Color guard on an amazing draft horse.

Look how big this draft horse is!  A gentle giant.

Some geese and a busy goat.

Time to leave the fair.  Bryce received 100% on his entry and received a gold ribbon.  He's a happy boy!

After the fair, we drove over to our friend's house, the Taylors over at Bivalve Dairy (the same friends who invited us to their house for the Temple Grandin luncheon) to help work on the float for the parade on Sunday (today).

The Taylors are members of the Pt. Reyes-Olema 4-H Club who are putting the float together for the Western Weekend parade. Their club has invited the other local clubs to help decorate and ride on the float.  Bryce will be one of the Tri-Valley 4-H Club members riding along. 

The theme is "The Three Little Pigs" so the float was made out of brick, straw and sticks.  So fun to build!

Stay tuned for the parade and BBQ update tomorrow!

Happy Sunday!

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