Author: Frances

⁠ Heaven help me I love a picnic, and I keep thinking I’ll write a picnic book one of these days… Is there anything more romantic than a glass of wine under the stars….minus the bugs of course, which we are blessedly scarce of in California. Then there is the planning and schlepping, which sometimes sends me back to the porch. But when the stars align and the spirit is willin’, picnic it is, and it’s always a fond memory. Dreamy summer picnic setup by @_foodstories_

This ginormous (hard to tell from the painting so you have to trust me on this) was a souvenir of my delightful brief visit with dear friend Dani Hahn @rosestoryfarm One nice thing about all these phone and Zoom meetings is that you can doodle with impunity. I wonder if drawing while listening actually helps you listen better? It seems to. Anyone have any studies to report on that? . . . #rosehip #rosestoryfarm #watercolor #watercolorsketch #francesschultzart #francesschultzpaintings

I looooove a bunk bed. I love the coziness of them and the clever use of small space. This one by @murphydeesign⁠ in this month’s @housebeautiful is a chic, grown-up, and slightly madcap guestroom. Look at the wallpaper on the ceiling (cool idea) and the oriental rug “headboard.” And the color! Brava Dee! Photo @jessicasample⁠ ⁠

Wisteria is always wistfully beautiful, and nowhere more so than on this London townhouse I came upon on @pinterest. First brought out of China in the 13th century by Marco Polo, wisteria’s charms may be at their best when disciplined as they clearly are here. Left un-checked, wisteria grows rampant and will take over whatever world it inhabits. Hmm, but maybe that’s not all bad. ⁠ Photography unknown

My lemon love is here to stay, and you know what they say. When life gives you lemons, make a brilliant olive-caper-lemon-herb vinaigrette that will take the humblest veg, the simplest fish, chicken, or pork somewhere new.⁠ ⁠ “Brilliant” is a strong talk for a simple sauce and not used lightly. I definitely don’t use the sauce lightly. I double the recipe and eat the leftover with a spoon. Olives, capers, herbs, lemon, olive oil and vinegar, boom. No cooking. Make it in advance. Make it at the last minute. Make it for your friends. Just make it. One of @chefstephvalentine’s most treasured recipes, via #linkinbio

Good Monday to you all. This is the littlebitofeverything arrangement I did with the season’s first dahlias and other bits. There is a monstrous – well a few actually – climbing rose on one side of the driveway that Ive hesitated cutting for fear as I approached it, it might engulf me in its thorns, never to be heard from again… but I braved it yesterday as the branches form such graceful arches and the light scent is heavenly. Someone out there will know the variety… ? And while I am kidding about the bush engulfing me (sort of), it does prompt me to think in these ever uncertain times about how our fears and anxieties are often the result of stories we tell ourselves and not actual reality. Eg., “I’ll never meet anyone because we will never be able to date normally again” or “I’ll never see my grandchildren again.” #notetoself If we can all practice catching ourselves in the act of believing our stories, we can diffuse their power and hold over us. The reality is we cannot know that our stories are absolutely true or not true. We can only control how we perceive them, and stay in the now. Well goodness that was an earful I hadn’t intended but I went with it. Hope you all have a good week, in the now. Namaste

First dahlias today! Especially gratifying as the effing deer have eaten nearly every zinnia and echinacea seedling I planted. I can’t even but I am loving my dear dahlias and taking solace in them. . . #dahlias #cafeaulaitdahlias

Happy Father’s Day! Two daughters (someone’s daughters, not mine ️) out for a Morning ride by the little house in Santa Ynez where I love to paint. This happened just as I was packing up yesterday, “cue the horses!” I love it. Will paint it! Hope you all have a wonderful day with the daddies in your lives, or with the memories of them if they’ve crossed over. . . . #santaynezvalley #santaynez #morningride #iwanttopaintit #sundayvibes #sundayfunday

A little less than an hour up the road from us at Rancho La Zaca is the family owned Rose Story Farm, in Carpenteria, California. Owned by husband and wife duo Dani & Bill Hahn, they purchased the property 32 years ago. What was once so run down “that the termites were holding hands to hold it up” has seen its share of fires and floods and other of nature’s forces, but it always returns to itself, a magical retreat. There’s a metaphor in there, isn’t there? And right here in Santa Ynez is new(ish)comer @gracerosefarm begun by the lovely Grace & Ryan Poulson. Because the world cannot have too many roses. That is well known. Fields of roses, with fragrances and colorations from rich and variegated to delicate and subtle​ fill the space. Rose Story Farm is storied indeed. Tap my #linkinbio to see more!

Fathers can be the HARDEST people to shop for when it comes to gifts. Ask them what they want, and it’s always “nothing”, which is like SO not helpful. (While I, on the other hand, answer “just a sec while I look in my file…”) So, with Father’s Day around the corner, here are a few ideas. Whether they are into cooking, camping, clothes, or have “everything they already need” I have you covered! Stop by my stories for a peek.

Sing along if you like, with apologies to Gershwin…Summertime… and tomatoes are ripening. Farm stands are jumpin’, and … I defy you to tell me what’s better than a ripe garden tomato on two pieces of white bread with homemade mayonnaise and salt and pepper. I’ll give you a minute…⁠ ⁠ You can’t.⁠ ⁠ Everyday is a good day for a tomato sandwich with my “homemade” mayonnaise (shhh… they’ll never know). Peek the “recipe” through my stories, and print the version via #linkinbio, because you will want to keep it.⁠ ⁠ Photography @thecooksatelier