Bring Your Light to the World

Around May of this crazy ass year, a funny-as-in-haha-funny friend of mine was talking about how long it had been since her last pedicure, root touch-up, Botox, et cetera—and she ended with, “I’m kind of excited to see what I really look like,” which sounded even funnier with a Texas accent, which she has. And… Continue reading Bring Your Light to the World


iPad Painting Workshop at Rancho La Zaca

iPad painting by Anne Ward, teaching at Rancho La Zaca August 20-22

If ever there were a time for creative wellness, it is now. You with us?! Discover the beauty and power of your own creative voice,  and join us for this first-time-ever, very small, safely distanced iPad painting workshop at Rancho La Zaca. We invite you to an all-inclusive* iPad painting workshop at our beautiful Rancho… Continue reading iPad Painting Workshop at Rancho La Zaca


A Chat and a Laugh with Flower Magazine’s Margot Shaw

What do bar fights, the Piggly-Wiggly in Tarboro, and spiritual connection have in common? Find out in my interview with Flower Magazine Editor-in-Chief Margot Shaw. When Margot asked me to do an online chat just for fun, I said I am all about just-for-fun. I’m also all about Margot, who is the coolest, and I would do… Continue reading A Chat and a Laugh with Flower Magazine’s Margot Shaw



Finding Relief in a World of Panic

I confess to a strange sensation amid a world in the panic of epidemiological meltdown: relief, a curious lightness of spirit borne of surrender. At the end of the day we HAVE NO IDEA what’s going to happen in our lives, in our medical labs, or in our financial markets. So think about this: Having no idea is having every idea. When you have no fixed beliefs, then you are open to every every possibility. The Buddhists call it “don’t-know mind,” an elevated state of awareness.


Guess Who’s in Salonniere’s Top 100: America’s Best Party Hosts

Lucille Ball kicking up her heels, via Salonniere.

I am! Don’t know what came over them, but I am so honored.  Oh my heavens. Fell slam off my chair, I did. Salonniere is a brilliant (obviously ;)) and stylish full of beautiful images, chic people, and smart advice about entertaining in particular and hospitality in general, which we can’t have too much of. Thank… Continue reading Guess Who’s in Salonniere’s Top 100: America’s Best Party Hosts


Hot off the Press: Tom Dittmer Memoir!

Talkin’ Big—How an Iowa Farm Boy Beat the Odds to Found and Lead One of the World’s Largest Brokerage Firms, coming out this month from Skyhorse Publishing. Just in time for the holidays!

You are always looking for something fun to read. And  a book called Talkin’ Big sounds like a hoot just from the title, right? I agree! Well, dear reader, this would be His Grace’s memoir. Though I have not written a blog post since the Hoover administration, you may recall that I refer to my darlin’… Continue reading Hot off the Press: Tom Dittmer Memoir!


Goodbye to Bee Cottage

Interior/Exterior/Portraits of Frances Schultz and her "Bee Cottage" located in East Hampton NY. Originally shot for a series of columns written by Frances Schultz for House Beautiful Magazine

The rumor is true. I am selling Bee Cottage. Have sold it, in fact, closing this fall. And yes, it is hard to let go. Really hard. Lump-in-my-throat-all-summer-hard. But there comes a time. If His Grace (aka my husband for new readers) hasn’t taken a shine to it by now, he’s not going to. Oh,… Continue reading Goodbye to Bee Cottage


How to Make Time Go More Slowly… and What I’ve Been Doing With Mine

Image via LL Bean, www.llbean.com

First, how to make time go more slowly: Wouldn’t we all like time to slow down? (unless we are at the dentist) Sounds impossible, but seems you can, because time is relative. Literally. It has to do with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity,* and how time is relative to distance and the speed of light and what… Continue reading How to Make Time Go More Slowly… and What I’ve Been Doing With Mine


Special for Connecticut Area Readers…

A little bouquet I whipped up a while ago...

If you are ready to tap into your inner potential and to take deliberate action (and you live near Connecticut ;), then this is your day. Come to play your “woman card” (sorry, couldn’t resist) with strong, inspiring women in a lovely and intimate setting at this Women’s Leadership Retreat on May 11 in Glastonbury, near Hartford.… Continue reading Special for Connecticut Area Readers…


Five Ways to Work Your Way Out of a Muddle

Late afternoon in the vineyard, Rancho la Zaca

You may have noticed (or been relieved) that I’ve stepped aside from blogging, in part to promote The Bee Cottage Story, which is pretty consuming. But also because I’m confused about what to do next. What to say? Where to focus? Who to become? WTF? Do you ever get like that?


Hopeful New Year!

Hopeful New Year!

Greetings Dear Readers, as we gallop into 2016, I’m still catching up with ’15…Last year’s Downton Abbey for one. Didn’t you love the point-to-point? And how the closed captions said things like: “MAN: FASTER!” The clothes were pretty swell, too.