Clayton, CA

According to the Clayton Pioneer a rare white hummingbird has been spotted in Clayton California. Read the entire article by clicking here.

According to the hummingbird website www.RubyThroat.org this is extremely rare.

Couple things I learned while visiting www.RubyThroat.org were that hummingbirds are rarely seen in Europe and those are birds that have escaped captivity. I had no idea they didn't have hummingbirds in Europe.

I also learned about hummingbird moths, which apparently act so exactly like a hummingbird that they are often mistaken for baby humming birds. Hummingbirds do not leave the nest until fully grown, so you won't see a baby one flying around anywhere.

I just thought that was interesting, and it did remind me to fill my hummingbird feeder. : )

Clayton, California Pumpkin Patch open 10/1-10/31 from 9am to 8pm daily

Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm & Christmas Trees
1060 Pine Lane
Clayton, CA 94517-9706
(corner of Pine Lane and Marsh Creek Road)
PHONE: (925) 672-5198 (925) 672-5198
EMAIL: info@cvpumpkinfarm.com

This is not just a pumpkin patch! They also have a pumpkin playground, gift shop, train rides and gorgeous Mt. Diablo Views.

It's a very fun place for kids and adults alike. They have a nice school tour program as well. When it's time to pick out your pumpkins this year, check them out. Right now they even have a soup recipe contest. What's better when the weather starts to chill than homemade soup!

Submit your own soup recipe to be a part of Chef Pumpernickel's Soup Delight Cookbook!

We've been visiting this pumpkin patch for a long time. It's always a lot of fun, just remember you'll spend a little more time here than the usual pumpkin patch! There's a lot more to do.

- Terrylynn has been a Realtor in Contra Costa County for over 32 years. She works with Diablo Realty in Walnut Creek and is consistently a top producer. Terrylynn is a local expert, please contact her for any Real Estate needs, or with a question about the area.

In Search of the Elusive Blue Pumpkin!

Last week I wrote about Blue Pumpkins and how great they are for cooking. Some people thought I was joking. Well Sunday I hauled my Five Pumpkins off to the Pumpkin Patch. The farm on Clayton Valley Road is currently in it's Pumpkin Patch mode before being turned into the Christmas Tree Farm.

The boys got to play in the Hay Maze, the Bean Pools (Giant Plastic Tubs filled with Beans) and do rubber duck races at the water pumps. The littler boys went on the Train Ride. Dad bought them all some Kettle Corn and then we picked out the Pumpkin.

We got one Orange one (to carve) and two big Blue Pumpkins for cooking.

A good time was had by all and Dad was allowed to fall asleep peacefully in front of Sunday Night Football as his reward.

Clayton, CA a fabulous small city nestled beneath our gorgeous Mt. Diablo State Park . So much to offer in Clayton. I know, because it is where I call home myself!

Just in the last month or so in Clayton we've seen our own Oktoberfest, Labor Day soapbox derby, a weekly Farmer's Market and our bi-weekly Music in the Grove. Our walking trails are consistently voted TOPS, and Clayton itself is on the list of America's BEST CITIES to live in! Oh, and you'll often horses and riders walking thru town (or tied up behind the local saloon), coyotes roaming around and wild turkeys galore - seemingly unaware Thanksgiving is, oh, but a month away! For dining, playing, relaxing and living, you couldn't find a better place than Clayton, CA.

Check out www.CNNMoney.com for more on the Best Places to Live 2009 featuring CLAYTON!

So, now that I've talked about how great Clayton is to live... what about the homes for sale in Clayton?

There are some really good housing opportunities now. Prices have come down from the highs a few years ago and you can get a lot of house for your money here in Clayton as compared to neighboring Walnut Creek. Schools are TOP NOTCH and both the elementary school and middle school in Clayton are California Distinguished Schoools, the best in the area. The widely respected API score at Mt. Diablo Elementary School is 911. Huge gains. Diablo View Middle School is also distinguished with an API score of WELL over 800 and is the newest of middle schools in the entire district. Beautiful joint use gym, and a campus less than 15 years old offers air conditioning and all the latest technologies. Parental involvement at our local schools assure the success of our schools.

So, now let's talk housing stats, and market trends. Take a look, and contact me for more information, the full report on Clayton or other nearby cities, and what it all means:

Search homes for Sale in the Clayton, CA and Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek areas:

Contra Costa County, Clayton Homes for sale, Real Estate Expertise

Johhny Sandhu and his wife, Amarinder Kaur, have opened Johnny’s International Deli in downtown Clayton.

As soon as you walk in the door and the delicious scents hit your nose, you realize this is no ordinary deli.  Yes, they offer high quality Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, deli sandwiches prepared to order and all natural gourmet salads……..but their international dishes will make your mouth water.

Clay Oven Creations
Chicken or Lamb Seekh Kabob laminated in ginger garlic and herb
Tandori Chicken or Prawns marinated in a mild spiced sauce
Paneer Tandoori – soft, juicy chunks of home-made cheese marinated in tandoori masala and then baked in the clay oven

Curries and Vegetable Dishes
If you have only had curry from the grocery store, do yourself a favor and try a real curry dish!  There are 18 Curry and Vegetable Dish options so I will only mention a few:

Chicken Dhan Saag – Milk masala spiced chicken tossed with fresh spinach
Fish Tikka Masala – Ginger lemon marinated fish cooked in a tart curry sauce
Roghan Gosht – Tender cubes of lamb cooked in a spicy curry
Matter Paneer – Home-made cottage cheese blended with peas in a spiced sauce

Freshly Baked Flat Breads
Plain Naan – white flour tandoori bread
Garlic Naan – garnished with freshly roasted garlic
Keema Naan – Naan stuffed with mildly seasoned lamb
Tandori Roti – Full whole wheat bread baked in the clay oven

Rejuvenating Rice
Vegetable Biryani – a medley of vegetables and rice, cooked with nuts and raisins
Murg Biryani – Richly flavored rice with chicken, nuts and raisins.
Lamb Biryani – Basmati rice and mildly spiced lamb cubes, garnished with nuts and raisins

This doesn’t represent the entire menu but it is certainly enough to encourage your visit to Johnny’s International Deli.  Consider stopping by for a bite to eat before the Free Concert in the Grove on Saturday night, August 22^nd.

For more information about Clayton events or Clayton businesses, please visit Everything Clayton.