You must be thinking about doing up your holiday table, if you haven’t already, and I just came across the prettiest, simplest centerpiece and table decorations by Carolyne Roehm in the November/December issue of Veranda. Of course everything Carolyne touches is pretty. Carolyne is pretty. And smart and funny and interesting and warm and genuine… Continue reading Pretty Is as Pretty Does
News & Notes
One Little Thing: How to Keep Calm
In this busiest of weeks, at this busiest time of year, I am comforted by the thought that IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PANIC. … Okay seriously, there is one little thing that can keep you calm. That’s it, actually: one little thing. If you can’t bust the whole rock at once, then chip away… Continue reading One Little Thing: How to Keep Calm
A Sweet Gift Idea – fun for kids, too
If you are like 99 per cent of the moms out there, you’ve promised your child(ren) you’d bake cookies together, and you swore you wouldn’t get the damn slice-and-bake because, like, how lame, but you probably will because baking from scratch is too much trouble and and and… but now it isn’t. (Second post this… Continue reading A Sweet Gift Idea – fun for kids, too
Elizabeth Taylor’s Treasures
Dear Mom & Dad, Did you read about my ring? It’s fab! Love you both. Wish you were here! Elizabeth & Richard This was a postcard from Elizabeth Taylor to her parents, soon after Richard Burton gifted her with the 33-carat Ascher cut diamond now known as the Elizabeth Taylor diamond, formerly the Krupp diamond.… Continue reading Elizabeth Taylor’s Treasures
A Little Behind in my Holiday Baking
I do love to bake for the holidays, but sometimes I get a little behind… ahem… so to speak… This was sent to me by my friend Susie Quinn, sent to her by Bonnie Burdett, and I don’t know who sent it to Bonnie. There is a faint by-line on the photo that I can’t… Continue reading A Little Behind in my Holiday Baking
Housekeeping
Greetings all. Just letting you know that something technical to do with this blog is migrating somewhere – Palm Beach? St. Bart’s? I don’t know what it means except that Frances and the Belles are out of commission until Monday morning, but we’ll see you bright and early then. Hope you are having a good… Continue reading Housekeeping
One Little Thing: Keeping Greenery Fresh(er)
Where have I been not to know about Wilt-Pruf? Did all y’all know about it and not tell me? When I picked up the greenery for the ranch last week at Rolling HIlls Garden Center in Solvang, owner Rocky Marshall said I might want to spray them with Wilt. Well that’s like saying you might… Continue reading One Little Thing: Keeping Greenery Fresh(er)
Decking the Halls
RANCHO LA ZACA, Calif.–To my old-fashioned self it seems a little early to decorate the house for Christmas and put the tree up and all–mainly because by Christmas all the greenery will have to be replaced at least once. But I left the ranch yesterday until the 27th, and it had to get done for… Continue reading Decking the Halls
A Barrel of Inspiration: Felipe Hernandez
Hey, want to start your Saturday off with a barrel of inspiration? Okay may I brag? Wine is beauty, harmony and joy, right? So it has a place in this blog, if only once in a while, and this is one of those whiles. A stupendous fellow named Felipe Hernandez manages the vineyard–and many other things–here at the ranch in Los Olivos where I am lucky to live part time. He also manages vineyards of some of our Santa Ynez Valley neighbors, including the well-known Koehler vineyard and winery just down the road.
One Little Thing–A Room With a Bloom
Brrr it’s turned chilly here at Rancho La Zaca, and windy too. As the days shorten and the weather turns, we can create a bright spot anywhere with the One Little Thing of fresh flowers or greenery. If I’ve been away the first thing I do when I return is put flowers in the house.… Continue reading One Little Thing–A Room With a Bloom
An Al Fresco Autumn Dinner and Thanks to Jackie
RANCHO LA ZACA-Calif. I’m on a gratitude kick lately. Decorating tips to follow, I promise, but bear with me: In last Thursday’s post, One Little Thing, I talked about the big benefit of doing the one little thing of a gratitude journal. The idea came from author and motivational speaker Jerry Posner, who, in his… Continue reading An Al Fresco Autumn Dinner and Thanks to Jackie
An Easy Sunday Supper – With Thanksgiving Leftovers
RANCHO LA ZACA , California – Everything about Sunday night supper should be easy. I had a girls’ night (not a Sunday) at my NYC pad a few weeks ago, and you’ve never heard so much cackling. There was a bit of eating and, ahem, drinking, too, but the point was I wanted to focus… Continue reading An Easy Sunday Supper – With Thanksgiving Leftovers