North Bay Woman

44 NORTH BAY WOMAN W ith the holiday season just weeks away, it's time to start thinking about how to spend this festive time of year. Step outside your norm and get creative! Learn to make your own holiday adornments, take a holiday cooking class, and find a new place — or even a new way — to get your holiday tree. I've got five ideas for making this holiday season the best ever! Start a holiday family tradition Why not skip buying from a tree lot this year and cut your own tree at a Christmas tree farm? Bring the family and make a day of it at Garlock Tree Farm in Petaluma. A family-owned and operated tree farm, Garlock has been providing Christ- mas trees and cherished holiday memories to Bay Area families since 1966. Their 10-acre farm offers a variety of Christmas trees, in- cluding Douglas fir, white fir and Monterey pine. Kids and kids at heart love to visit their petting zoo, take a tractor, pony or horse-drawn carriage ride and visit with Santa Claus. Owner Keith Garlock claims he has "the best Santa Claus you'll find anywhere!" Also shop for fresh wreaths, toppers, ornaments, tree stands and holiday gifts. You and your family will want to make visiting Garlock a holiday family tradition. Garlock Tree Farm 2275 Bloomfield Road Sebastopol | 707-823-4307 garlocktreefarm.com Make your own Thanksgiving floral arrangement Celebrate the bounty of fall by making your own mini pumpkin floral centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table. Marin County park rangers will be on hand to help participants make a fall arrangement to take home and enjoy. It's a chance to get creative, have fun, meet new people and learn a new skill. This workshop is open to participants ages 7 and up and is free. Space is limited to 15 kits, which must be reserved in advance. Kits are limited to one kit per family. Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at McNears Beach Park. Contact Park Ranger Sarah Burkhart at 415-446-4424 or SBurkhart@marincounty.org to reserve your kit. Cook to impress your holiday dinner guests Elevate your cooking skills this season and take a holiday cooking class at Ramekins Culinary School. Learn how to make dessert classics to take home with you such as Buche de Noel and French macarons. Or change up your traditional feast by learning to cook creative Thanksgiving appetizers, side dishes and day-after treats. Kids 7 to 12 will love the Annual Kid's Holiday Cookie Class. Kids will learn how to make spicy gin- gerbread cookies, jam filled butter cookies, and more, all while sip- ping hot chocolate and listening Five Festive Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season By Adrienne Shubin

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