​There’s something magical about seeing Yellow-billed Magpies flashing their bright wing patches and chattering away right outside my home at Washington Commons Cohousing in West Sacramento. These clever, social birds — endemic to California and once nearly lost to West Nile Virus — are making a remarkable comeback. And so am I, after years away, I’ve returned to Sacramento and found my forever home in this vibrant, eco-conscious community.

Magpies are part of the brainy Corvidae family (think crows, ravens, scrub jays), known for tool use, memory feats, and the uncanny ability to recognize individual humans. (Yes, they remember who’s been naughty or nice!) For fellow bird nerds, I can’t recommend John Marzluff’s “Gifts of the Crow” enough, a fascinating deep dive into how these birds think and feel.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of spotting a Yellow-billed Magpie recently, consider joining a trip with Yolo Bird Alliance or Sacramento Audubon, both have expert guides and passionate volunteers. Or better yet, swing by Washington Commons; I’d be thrilled to point out a few local magpies myself. 🌿

Let’s keep celebrating biodiversity, smart birds, and community living.

Follow Washington Commons Cohousing for more local wildlife moments and sustainable living inspiration!

What I love about Washington Commons Cohousing: There are the obvious things, like living in a building that’s fully accessible, that has a huge patio where we and our neighbors and all of our pups can hang out, where we can walk up a short path and visit sea lions, where we can walk to breakfast at several lovely cafes. Then there are the less obvious things like the Yolobus stops about 3 blocks away that can take us to Downtown Davis or Sacramento, to the RT light rail, to the airport or to the Capitol Corridor train to the Bay Area.

But the best thing is not a 'thing', and it isn’t obvious until you live here, which is the generous spirit of the people in the community, who help each other out, respect each others’ cultures (we’ve celebrated Christmas, Hanukkah, Korean Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day, and have had lots of impromptu common meals in the 8 months we’ve lived here), carpool to events together, support community organizations, and lend an ear to each other.  What more could you want from your neighbors?  

JANUARY  ​

Many of us rigorously downsized in preparation for our moves into Washington Commons. Anne visited the Friends of the Sacramento Library's Book Den many times in the first months of the year as she let go of many books.  

Washington Commons grew out of an idea from a seminar of Sac State's Renaissance Society This history is reported in January 2024 issue of the Recorder, the Society’s newsletter. It’s on the third page: HERE

We also welcomed Patsy and Richard to our community. ​

The time eventually came when WCC homeowners Stu & Willa’s two daughters left for college and moved out of the house in Davis, CA they’d grown up in. When the couple retired a few years later, they realized the house that for many years was perfectly-sized, had become a bit more than they wanted to manage.
“As you get older, you realize you’re taking care of this property with tree, roof, and sewer line issues - and for what?” said Stu.

They also had seen in recent years a drift away from neighborliness on their street. They began thinking about what was next.

“I was looking for a family-style neighborhood where you know the people that are there and you do stuff with them, have projects. Cohousing seemed like a great solution,” said Stu. 

In 2016, the couple attended an event in Berkeley about cohousing, and in the following years visited established cohousing communities in Davis and Portland, OR.

After much thought and discussion, the couple had narrowed down their “wants” in a cohousing community and their next home and began looking at the future site of Washington Commons. They wanted a single-level home that had less maintenance and featured a sustainable design. 

In early 2017, they became members of Washington Commons, and now are the third longest members of the community. Living in a walkable/bikeable area with the possibility of car sharing (they now share a car with another member – Willa’s sister) and with easy access to amenities and attractions such as the Crocker Art Museum and Old Sacramento added to the attractiveness of Washington Commons.

When construction was nearly complete and a permit was issued in June 2024, they were among the first to move in. “I’ve felt that the things that attracted me to cohousing with more of a family-neighborhood has come to pass,” said Stu. Part of the appeal of Washington Commons is having access to large spaces such as a community dining room and large terrace - which they did not have in their Davis home - but here could share with others.

Stu says it is the small things that are creating a strong community – living in a space where you often walk by each other’s front doors and dealing with the issues of a new building.  

Stu loves riding his bike along the Sacramento Riverwalk and looking for new cafes where he can get some work done. And that house in Davis? Stu and Willa sold it to their daughter and her family who can make use of the larger space and are just a 20-minute commute away.

"When Lisa asked me if I would do the Happy Hour, I was like, "Oh no!" Then I said I would think about it. Then I said I would do it. I would do a Happy Hour as the Sicilian Julia Child, one of my all-time idols, making bruschetta. I'd do it as a hybrid in-person and Zoom presentation.
 
The stage is set. Me, a short, Rubenesque and sarcastic Sicilian - actually Sicilian, French and Iberian (thank you, Ancestry.com) - woman, channeling Julia Child making bruschetta. One must envision me, 5'2+3/4" and very, very Rubenesque, channeling the 6'2" slim and refined Julia Child. But, alas, we both love FOOD, WINE, beer and spirits.

(Story continues below photo gallery)

The hour starts with me introducing the theme. Then, throughout the hour I intersperse tidbits of information about Julia Child with actual "how to" information on knife use, olive oil types and quality, coring and dicing tomatoes, different ways to dice, slice or mince garlic (garlic is its own food group), slicing and preparing the french bread, etc, etc, etc.
 
Did I forget to say that the in-person crew was enjoying wine and non-alcoholic drinks and tidbits of food? But, worry not, the attendees had to help put all this together.
 
Finally, we enjoyed the bruschetta. We talked both in person and over Zoom and had a great time.
 
Thanks to everyone who attended. I want to apologize to all of you who were not able to come in person. Soon, that will not be an issue. I love doing this stuff.
 
A special thank you to Allyce. She makes it possible for me to do these things with her loving support."

A great time was had by all as we gathered for a Happy Hour on “How to make Bruschetta”​ ♥️‼️Thank you, Frances (and Allyce) who graciously co-hosted the event. ​