Skip to content

Trudy Wakefield

A Tranquil Atmosphere in the Heart of Napa – The Blue Note

With a plethora of live music events happening locally, it’s a rare occasion for me to venture elsewhere. However, when my son’s idol, the very inspiration for his college degree, announced a visit to the Blue Note in Napa, I had little excuse not to go with him. For locals, the Blue Note is the go-to spot for some of the most exceptional artists and musicians touring the United States. And on this particular evening, the stage was graced by the incomparable guitarist Trace Bundy.

Northern California Living: Camping and Surfing

If you live in Lake County, you find fewer and fewer reasons to leave unless you have to. And when you leave for any reason, you might be a little like me and eager to return. We truly have a slice of paradise. But there is one thing we don’t have: the ocean. Trips to the ocean and the redwoods are two of the biggest reasons for our family to leave Lake County from time to time. Luckily the coast is an easy day drive to visit. How lucky for us!

The Organ’s Breath of Life: Experiencing the Power of 7,455 Pipes

It is an unmatched sound that most of us have heard many times before. Its reverberating music fills the ear and body with notes high so high they prick the ears and so low they shake the ground. Collectively, its delicious music brings a full-body encounter. Nothing quite compares to an organ’s music, but absolutely nothing compares to listening to it in a cathedral. Welcome to the monthly organ recital at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. 

Exploring Power 9: Move Naturally

My Blue Zones journey is far from slowing down. But I’ll be perfectly honest with you: the Power 9 principle of Move Naturally has had me stumped for the past year or so. But that’s because I was looking at all wrong. Let me explain. 

A year ago, I had been working twelve- to fourteen-hour days since the previous August. Thankfully, it was only for a season and not a long-term situation. But the strain was all too real. All year, I had one bug or another. By the New Year, I got sick with COVID. If that wasn’t enough, I was diagnosed with asthma in April. My body seemed to be taking all the hits for my added stress. 

With those long days, cooking good homemade meals and going on my daily walks were a thing of the past. All I could do was get by the best I could. In my mind, I was failing at my Blue Zones journey because I wasn’t doing the things that I used to do. Then, I had an ah-ha moment. My mental state of mind was strong, and I knew my journey hadn’t stopped. It was being redefined.

Exploring Power 9: The Key to a Full and Happy Life

Well, it’s that time of year again. We’re either still fully committed to our New Year’s resolutions, we get to them when we think about it, or we just don’t get to it at all (We can live with the guilt just fine, thank you.) Or maybe you’re the one who is already living out your fullest potential! Wherever you are in the spectrum, have hope; this isn’t a diet article! The Bloom has partnered with the Blue Zones Project – Lake County because it’s all about living the fullest and happiest life possible. That doesn’t mean focusing on clothes size but rather considering all aspects of our lives, including our mental and emotional well-being.

For the next few months, I’ll be exploring the Blue Zone’s Power 9 principles. And did I mention it’s not a diet? Well, I’m saying it again. Rather, it’s a total well-being process. Look at the nine principles and see for yourself:

Exploring Power 9: Food

Well, I thought we’d get the “diet” out of the way when I tell you about my two-year Blue Zone journey with food–one of the Power 9 principles. Two things that I love about the Blue Zones are that it’s carb-friendly and loves wine. Whew, that was a close one! First of all, this is a lifestyle, not a diet. Instead of forcing you to remove carbs or drink shakes, Blue Zones encourages increasing your plant-based foods while eating smaller portions of meat and dairy. I realized I had to live with the changes I made forever, not just for a short time like I would on “diets.” That took some real thought. And here are some tricks I’ve learned so far.

Acceptance and Forgiveness

Have you held a baby? Do you remember that feeling of wonder and amazement at the miracle of new life? And did you think of all the possibilities that baby could do when they grew up? I have with every baby I’ve ever held. Never once did the thought cross my mind that one day this baby would be a serial killer, rapist, or thief. I might have had concerns for their environment, such as whether they are safe, well cared for, and loved. But I could never imagine that baby not being or doing what it was destined to do with its life here on earth.

Good News is Good News

It seems that the world is getting worse and worse every day–no, every minute of every day, especially when we read or watch the news. It’s always bad, bad, bad. That is my main complaint about the news today.

The truth is, there isn’t really more bad news happening in the world than there is good. There can’t be because governments all over the world would collapse if there were constant war, crime, famine, homelessness, and joblessness. But that isn’t the case, is it?

Is the West Coast the Best Coast?

I’ve often wondered why the saying, “The West Coast is the best coast.” 

I remember going to Washington, DC, our capital, not the state where I was born. I was young and madly in love: he, my soul mate and soon-to-be lover, husband, and always-best friend. We discovered we both loved Enya, the artist, and bought all the CDs we could find for our future home together. I saw Les Miserables for the first time, and all these things were magical and new to me. I could love the East Coast were it not for the parking.

error: Content is protected !!