Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

It seems to me that most poems are set in spring or summer, and I was pleased to discover this one by Molly Fisk, a Californian, set in cold midwinter.

Winter Sun

How valuable it is in these short days,

threading through empty maple branches,

the lacy-needled sugar pines.

Its glint off sheets of ice tells the story

of Death’s brightness, her bitter cold.

We can make do with so little, just the hint

of warmth, the slanted light.

The way we stand there, soaking in it,

mittened fingers reaching.

And how carefully we gather what we can

to offer later, in darkness, one body to another.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2010 by Molly Fisk from her most recent book of poetry, The More Difficult Beauty, Hip Pocket Press, 2010. Reprinted by permission of Molly Fisk and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2011 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the banquet hall at the golf course, 16451 Golf Road in Cobb.

Meet the artists, and choose unique, creative holiday gifts from high quality fine art, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, art glass, gourds, whimsical handmade animal towels and “blankie buddies” for kids, and more.

A silent auction will include art items and services donated by the community, and door prizes will be given away every hour.

The Cobb Mountain Artists’ mission is to enrich the community with events where local art and craft designers can mingle with people of all ages who appreciate art. A portion of the proceeds is donated to support local elementary art programs.

All work offered for sale is juried and meets the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship and originality.

For more information, call 707-494-6285 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Performances will take place in the Weaver Auditorium at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Historical Museum in Lower Lake.

The cast is made up of a variety of performers – mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers – as well as a gaggle of children who make up the children's chorus and street urchins.

Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future as well as the Cratchets and all the favorites who make up this full length drama make this a must see for the entire family.

There will be barrels in the theater for the audience to contribute canned and nonperishable foods and new toys for distribution throughout Lake County.

The performances at the Weaver Auditorium in Lower Lake will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.

Ticket prices are $15 reserved, $12 general, with a $2 discount for students, seniors and Lake County Theater Co. members, and can be purchased at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St. in Lakeport, 707-263-5787m and Lower Lake Schoolhouse Historical Museumm 707-995-3565.

For more information call 707-279-2595.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting local artist and Serendipity Boutique owner Diana Liebe, who will present two art workshop classes to learn how to paint on silk.

Class dates and time are Sunday, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Liebe will demonstrate the process and each participant will paint and take home a hand-painted silk scarf for themselves or perhaps to give as a gift to someone during the holidays.

The materials fee is $15 for a scarf. Class space is limited to 12 persons each class – sign up now by calling Susan at 707-293-8752 or visiting Lake County Wine Studio.

A former art teacher at both the high school and college levels, Liebe has been very involved in the Lake County Arts community since moving here from Mendocino County seven years ago.

The Wine Studio is located on the corner of First and Main Street in Historic Upper Lake across from the famous Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café. Regular hours for the wine studio are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays.

More bottles are arriving each day, and if you haven't painted and donated a bottle yet, you have until Nov. 27 to make that donation.

These artistic treasures are now on display at the gallery and the community is invited to stop by the gallery to see them and to cast a vote to determine which artist gets the "The People's Choice Award," the award will be presented at the First Friday Fling on Dec. 2.

Just in time for holiday season gift giving, the bottles will be part of a silent auction beginning Nov. 15. All have a starting bid of $10.

Come by the gallery at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport and make your bid for one of these wonderfully created art pieces.

Bidding will close during the Friday Night Fling on Dec. 2, so if you made the high bid you will go home with one of these treasures.

The films will be shown at Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the films starting at 6 p.m.

Another film on monetary policy you ask? Yes, indeed, although “MaD II” is less than half the program, and is the new, improved second edition.

Folks loved the first edition because they recognized how rarely we get to learn about the very foundation of our economic system, the system that’s got us where we are now.

The film also is popular because it’s so mind-boggling that most of our money exists only as loans, and thanks to interest, requires exponential growth.

Thirdly, this film will help prepare us for the educational crash course by Chris Martenson, three DVDs over three Sunday evenings in January, telling us what’s coming globally in the next 20 years.

SSC is happy to be part of this vitally important series on the second, third and fourth Sundays in January.

The intermission will be informed by a 10- to 15-minute talk/discussion on hunger in Lake County – a local crisis and something we can help with here at home. Our speaker will be Lou Denny, who is working with the Hunger Task Force to get food to hungry families every day.

The second film on Nov. 13 will be “DIVE!: Living Off America’s Waste,” another 45-minute document featuring wholesome young people feeding their healthy families by dumpster diving for delicious, still fine meats, eggs, fruits and veggies behind Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

We learn that the US wastes 96 billion pounds of food every year – or a full half of what we produce. How can that be?

This inspiring, upbeat doc is part of a movement to get supermarkets to give away their near-due-date goodies to local food banks that desperately need them.

Finally, we will hear from two dedicated local folks who spent weeks at Occupy DC. We’ll get inside information on the DC Occupation’s really positive, effective moments, what they’re still learning, and why the movement is so important for us all.

For more information call 707-889-7355.