Entre-Pioneer-ial Spirit!

A big Bean Up The Nose Art "HOWDY!" to one of Marin County, California's newest, super-chick-owned-and-operated store-front operations: White Rose Ranch, in Novato.

This is what you see when you walk up to the corner of Machin and Grant Streets in the earlier-and-earlier darkness on weeknights from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Total white-fairy-lights-on-wagon-wheel cuteness. And lightness and brightness. And invitingness.

Step right on in and meet fabulous Susan Lustenberger, and her daughters Lila and Maeve.

They are White Rose Ranch, and here's how they work.

Check out thewhiteroseranch.com for details on ordering their FABULUOUS TO-GO DINNERS!!

Order ahead of time if you want one for sure. (You can also call at 415-246-1981.) Or drop on by unannounced if you're feeling lucky enough to snag one of the several more that Susan makes each day "just in case."

Here's a sampling of their meals for this past week.

We picked up our roasted rosemary chicken on Wednesday night, and were blown away by the smells of home-cooked meals, and scented candles. Yummy yummy yummy.

We first met Susan when she catered the Barn Sale at which we sold in September. (Click here for the deets.) She's a warm and wonderful woman -- and amazing cook.

Trained and working for years as an energy healer and meditation teacher, Susan found herself switching gears a year ago. Realizing that "food is energy" and embracing her love of cooking (after Wisconsin vacations where she spent the entire time cooking for neighbors . . . and relishing it), Susan took the plunge and became a caterer. And now? Look at her go!!!

She gleefully shares that her dream is for this place -- which just opened last week, and has been sold out every night -- to grow into a bigger place with a barn and land covered in flowers and food, where everyone will come for food and coffee. WE SUPPORT THAT!!!

Need help for Thanksgiving? Susan's got it for you! Flyers up on her board explain that she'll be happy to provide sides and happy endings :) *

* sausage pecan stuffing, corn souffle, bacon brown sugar cranberries, roasted autumn root vegetables, sweet potato praline souffle . . . sweet potato cheesecake with maple cream, butternut squash bread pudding with tres leche sauce, sweet potato pecan pie.

Bean Up The Nose Art wishes Susan and her gals all sorts of good luck. We love folks who are brave enough to take chances, to follow their loves and instincts, to see what happens . . . to be entrepreneurial pioneers. You go! Because you rock, and rule, and roll!!