A beautiful spead for an afternoon open house as prepared by @chefstephvalentine and flowers by moi… a few weeks ago at #rancholazaca and a taste if what’s to come in #californiacookingandsouthernstyle next fall from @skyhorsepub The occasion was a book party for @tomdittmer and his new memoir #talkinbig

After a fun day with friends, His Grace is windin’ up and #talkinbig…
#mycutehusband
#memoir #justpublished from @skyhorsepub
#rancholazaca

Had this fun bunch out from the East Coast for a fun day of shootin’, eatin’ and #talkinbig! Love them all! @arossgirl @zhbthree Thank you for coming!
.
#family #rancholazaca #sportingclays #losolivos #santaynez #santaynezvalley

Yikes company coming for lunch and (finally) tossed every (dead) green thing in the house and need a centerpiece in10 minutes!!! 1. Go outside and cut stuff 2. Go to garage, shoo cats, sneeze, and get dried stuff from boxes 3. Fetch pheasants from basement 4. Toss lightly on table and serve … swipe for a few more – and the starting point… #californiacookingandsouthernstyle coming out next fall with @chefstephvalentine from @skyhorsepub #cantwait!

… and the moon rises above another year. I wish you all good health and good hearts and laughter and peace. My deepest thanks for your warm, funny, fun, and abiding community here on Instagram. I consider you all friends or friends I’ve yet to make, and I count my blessings… This photo is from the last full moon of 2018, rising over Foxen Canyon Road, in our beloved valley.
#foxencanyon #fullmoon #santaynezvalley #california #newyearseve

All is not particularly calm, but it is bright ☺️❤️Blessings to you and yours on yhe blessed night. Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good night. Love, Frances

In place of place cards?… and a built-in favor ☺️
#gettingready #christmasevedinner #rancholazaca #californiacookingandsouthernstyle

Bringing lip sync to a whole new level, and completely undistracted by the antler malfunction next door. #focused The little angel at top right is taking Silent Night literally… #rudolphlikeyouverneverheardit #rudolph #antlermalfunction #christmaspageant #stmarksinthevalley

What we’re doing now… Am excited preparing for my first family Christmas at #rancholazaca figuring which serving pieces hold what. Good to do ahead so you dont put the oysters in the thing you meant for the sweet potatoes and cause an international incident…
.
#entertaining #buffet #beginningtolooklikechristmas #californiacookingandsouthernstyle

Dramatic winter skies over the vineyard at #rancholazaca. .
#nevergetsold #landscape #vineyard #winecountry #losolivos #foxencanyon #santaynez #clouds

A budding gingerbread virtuosa in the making… our 4-year-old granddaughter clearly exhibits talent, dont you think? @djpipertini1016 .
#gingerbreadhouse #lovinghandsathome #nailedit

Welcoming guests to a celebration this weekend for #talkinbig, His Grace’s just published memoir (if you hadn’t heard). The early winter light just so darn pretty in the late afternoon. Not sure I rolled out red carpet over the road and then they walk up a dirt path. I guess it got them going in the right direction anyway. And in the proper festive spirit I suppose! .
#talkinbig #memoir #tomdittmer @skyhorsepub #rancholazaca #californiacookingandsouthernstyle #santaynezvalley #prettylight #redcarpet