Fall and Winter Delights in the Valley

Below the Snow & Above the Fog: A Year-Round Playground

Shhh! Maybe the great year-round climate should be kept a secret, but the news about the fine weather is too good not to pass on. Now that the summer whitewater rafting & kayaking season has peaked, the equipment is tucked into storage and guides head back to college, Costa Rica or other destinations, locals relish what many consider the finest times of the year.

As temperatures cool, the lucky Coloma-Lotus valley residents who remain here, along with savvy campers and RVers, find plenty to do. Hiking, bicycling and other land activities become more attractive. Fall colors peak in October and November, when black oak forests and riverside cottonwoods blaze with orange and yellow. Savvy visitors love this time, often fitting in a visit to the valley with a trip to Apple Hill, local ranches, and wineries — all of which beckon with great savory attractions.

Winter, with its gentle, life-giving rains, is a time for indoor holiday activities, such as Christmas in Coloma, winter winery events, and local business open houses. In January, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park celebrates the anniversary of the first California gold discovery. See our calendar for more local events.

Any long-time resident of the valley has heard this question from outsiders: "How much snow did you get this year?" and that local resident will give the usual answer: None. Very occasionally the valley will receive several inches of snow, to the delight of local children. However, we're at a surprisingly low elevation — the river is at about 700 to 750 feet above sea level. Even that slight elevation, however, is enough to protect the valley from the dreary tule fog that plagues the Central Valley. So winters here are delightful, typically characterized by winter rains, frosty mornings and localized river mists that dissipate as the sun rises. For more information, forecasts, and links to road conditions, visit our Weather page.

Do come to Coloma-Lotus year-round for gorgeous natural beauty, delectable agricultural and culinary offerings, as well as our arts, history, and culture. Many restaurants, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and other lodgings are available year-round and generally are uncrowded. The B&Bs are beautifully decorated for the holidays. You're welcome to visit, and enjoy, any time!

Adapted from an article by Betty Sederquist. Photos (top to bottom) copyright © Mark Leder-Adams, Donna McMaster, and Betty Sederquist.

Open Studio on the River in Coloma 9/27 & 9/28

Four talented local Coloma-Lotus Valley artists invite the public to their art show and sale at Kelly Ahola's studio on the South Fork of the American River on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. They will be showing and selling paintings, glass mosaics, note cards, jewelry, painted porcelain and ceramics, stained glass kaleidoscopes & mobiles. This is one of many weekend offerings of the annual El Dorado Artists Studio Tour. Bring a friend, come have some refreshments and meet your local artists.

Kelly Ahola - Glass Mosaics, Note Cards, and Jewelry

Kelly has always loved to make mosaics, paint, embroider, and quilt. She started making mosaics with a vengeance after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake supplied her with many broken dishes to incorporate into pieces of art. Kelly now teaches mosaic classes in her studio on the river in Coloma. She and her family have lived in the Coloma Valley since the 1970’s, with some of those years spent in Santa Cruz.

Mary Ann Young Broddrick - Pastel, China Painting, Watercolor, Mixed Medium

Mary Ann started painting porcelain in 1969 when her two sons were young, and taught porcelain painting for 15 years. She has drawn, worked in watercolor, and restored Antique Glass for many years and studied with many teachers. Mary Ann then found pastel, and now plein air painting with pastels is her favorite of all mediums. She says, “When I hike into the high country and witness the vistas that capture my breath, I just have to paint them. I want my clients to enjoy the views and places I have traveled to, plus have the feeling that I feel when I'm painting, which is an immense enjoyment of this picturesque country that we live in.”

Michelle Sage Kite - Light-catching Glass Art Mobiles and Kaleidoscopes

Local artist Michelle Sage Kite has taught art in public schools for over 20 years. She currently teaches at El Dorado High School. Glass is her new medium to explore and she finds its possibilities seem endless. Michelle enjoys the way light plays with glass and adds a new dimension to its beauty. She is delighted to have this opportunity to share art in our lovely community, and hopes for many to visit their show.

Kristina Nugent - Colorful Plein Aire Landscapes in Oil and Watercolor

Kristina is a Professor Emeritus and has received international art awards at the San Diego Museum of Art and Albuquerque Musuem for her paintings in watercolor and oil. She exhibits nationally. Kris paints and lives on the American River where she and her husband have been raft guides, hot air balloon pilots and international guides.

To get to the studio: From Highway 49 through Coloma, turn east onto Marshall Road at the stop sign. Go 1/4 mile to 6921 Marshall Road on the right -- look for the yellow "Studio Tour" signs.

If you need further directions or have any questions about the Coloma-Lotus show, call (530) 626-7823. For more information about the tour and other participating artists, contact the Placerville Arts Association.

Movie Producer Todd Stanley Nominated for Emmy

Todd Stanley, a resident of Lotus, was recently honored with two Emmy nominations for his creation of Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch,' a series about the lives of Alaska's crab fishermen on the dangerous Bering Sea. One nomination was for Todd's camera work, 'Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Series,' and the second nomination was for 'Producer of an Outstanding Nonfiction Series.

Todd Stanley and his Co-Producer/brother Doug Stanley, were interviewed recently by Capital Public Radio's Insight program. When asked in the interview, "Any (other) particularly scary moments stand out for you?" Todd replied, "You know, I think every time you're out on deck is a scary moment. I had a crab pot, one time, it broke free from the crane that was lifting it and it landed on the deck just a few feet away from me. These things weigh about a hundred pounds empty, this one was loaded with 3-4 thousand pounds of crab. Yah, ya know, everwhere you look, there's danger waiting."

You can learn more about the dangerous job of crab fishing by clicking on The Deadliest Catch. You'll find more about Todd and the work he does at Boil Line Productions.

Todd Stanley will do a Featured Presentation at the Sierra Nevada House on Wednesday, September 19th at 7:30pm, with behind-the-scenes footage and a question and answer opportunity.