MY TRIP TO SONOMA

I WENT ON A SMALL DAY TRIP TO SONOMA AND SOME OF THE BUILDINGS HAD CHANGED AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL PLAZA.  THEY DID NOT ALLOW ANY CHICKENS IN THE PLAZA!  I TOURED VALLEJO'S HOME AS I DID LAST YEAR.  HE HAD MANY CHILDREN AND HAD A GRAND HOUSE WITH MANY TREES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES. VALLEJO LIVED FROM 1807 TO 1890 COUNTRIES.   VALLEJO WAS A MILITARY COMMANDER WHO WAS AN OFFICER OF MEXICO AS WELL.  APPARENTLY HIS WIFE SPENT MOST OF HER TIME SEWING AND RAISING KIDS AT THIS HOUSE.  ONE OF HIS HOUSES BURNED DOWN.  THIS ONE HAS A NICE RESERVOIR WITH AN OUTSIDE KITCHEN WHERE HIS NANNIES AND COOKS MADE MEALS.  SOME OF THE OLD 1880'S PHOTOS HAD FRAMES JUST LIKE AN OLD ONE I HAVE FROM MY FATHER'S FAMILY.  THEY HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE IN HIS HOUSE AND BASED ON THE LENGTH OF THE BEDS THESE FOLKS WERE NOT ALL THAT TALL!  THEY HAD SOME CUTE BEDS FOR THE 16 CHILDREN AND THE BABIES. 

THE MISSION SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO IN SONOMA WAS BUILT IN 1823.  IT IS THE ONLY MISSION BUILT IN MEXICAN RULE AND IT IS THE LAT TO BE BUILT IN ALTA CALIFORNIA.  THIS MISSION GREW INTO A COMPLEX OF 10,000 ACRES.  IN 1823 THE MISSION'S MOST PROSPEROUS YEAR THEY HAD 900  NATIVE AMERICAN WORKERS.TODAY ONLY 5 ROOMS OF THE ORIGINAL MISSION REMAIN.

THERE ARE 21 ROOMS IN THE PRIESTS QUARTERS IN 1820'S. THEY HAVE MANY PAINTINGS TODAY FROM CHRIS JORGENSEN  WHO PAINTED VARIOUS MISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA.  THESE ARE IN THE DINING ROOM,  THE CHAPEL IMPRESSED ME AS THEY HAD NICE MUSIC THERE AND IT REMINDED ME OF THE ORIGINAL PUEBLO TYPE OF CHAPELS I'VE SEEN IN THE SOUTHWEST.  IT WAS DECORATED IN A STLYE COMMON TO THE MISSION ERA.  THE PULPIT WAS BUILT TO BE SEEN AND HEARD BY THE PARISHIONERS.  THE COURTYARD HAS BEEN REPLANTED TO SHOW WHAT HAS BEEN REPLANTED TO SHOW WHAT TREES MAY HAVE BEEN THERE ORIGINALLY.  THE ORIGINAL ADOBE CHURCH IS EAST OF THE MISSION AQND IT COLLAPSED IN THRE LATE 1830'S.  THEY HAVE LARGE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS WHICH HAD FRUIT THAT WAS EATEN AND THE PADS WERE ALSO DETHORNED AND FRIED.  THEY ALSO HAD A TANNERY, HIDE VATS, VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS, CROPS AND LIVESTOCK HERE.  THEY HAVE A PLAQUE THAT HONORS THOSE NATIVES WHO WERE BURIED HERE DURING THE 11 YEARS OF THE MISSION'S EXISTENCE.

THE SONOMA BARRACKS IS IN THE EAST SIDE OF THE SONOMA PLAZA.  IT ONLY HAS A PLACE WHERE VALLEJO BUILT BARRACKS OF ADOBE TO HOUSE MEXICANARMY TROOPS.  THEY HAVE THE ORIGINAL BEAR FLAG - THE BEAR FLAGEREPUBLIC LASTED ONLY 22 DAYS.  BUT PEOPLE CONSIDER CALIFORNIA ITS OWN COUNTRY.  JOHN FREMONT AND KIT CARSON WERE ALSO VITAL TO SONOMA SURVIVAL.  VALEJO BUILT THE MISSION TO HOLD THE MEXICAN TIDE AGAINST THE RUSSIONS.

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