Happy Thanksgiving From Rancho La Zaca

Cowboy, aka His Grace my husband, said he reckons there is not a pumpkin left in the Santa Ynez Valley. Would you believe after the car load I bought Tuesday (see last post) I had to go back for more? It takes an awful lot of pumpkins to decorate this here house, is all I… Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving From Rancho La Zaca


Thanksgiving Place Cards, Pumpkins, Flowers, and Plates

So I woke up about 4 this morning – did not get up, mind you – but woke up to this conversation with myself. Self, I said, I have good news and bad news. The good news is Thanksgiving is here. You are sort of organized. You’ve done the place cards and are rather pleased… Continue reading Thanksgiving Place Cards, Pumpkins, Flowers, and Plates


Wedding Highlights From Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm sends her thoughts and prayers, as do I, to all who continue to struggle in the wake of the horrid storm… As an antidote to the destruction, Carolyne posted “Something Positive After the Hurricane,” which was about guess what. Our wedding. Aww. Here’s an abbreviated preview below, and you can see more photos… Continue reading Wedding Highlights From Carolyne Roehm


The Good Effects of Goofing Off (But Beware of Zombies)

I was tooling back to the ranch from lunch with girlfriends in Los Olivos the other day  and thought while I was goofing off I may as well stop in at my friend Jefferson Woeste’s shop J. Woeste, which is a great place to goof off, and there is always something there to make you… Continue reading The Good Effects of Goofing Off (But Beware of Zombies)


My Wife-in-Law and Woods Lake

How beautiful is this? It’s Woods Lake in Colorado, and this picture came to me from another Frances along with an invitation to come up there and paint sometime. She won’t have to ask twice. Now Frances is Frances the First, who also happens to be His Grace’s first wife. (For new readers His Grace… Continue reading My Wife-in-Law and Woods Lake


Thankful for the Harvest

We’re having a good harvest this year in the Santa Ynez Valley, and a good one from our small Oak Savanna Vineyard here at Rancho La Zaca. Last year a late frost spelled disaster. So we will toast this year to the heat and sunshine that makes these babies ripen. I will not bring up… Continue reading Thankful for the Harvest


Lessons From House Party of Painters

The nicest notes came last week from a group of gals from North Carolina who came to Rancho La Zaca to visit and to paint. I had long wanted to organize a workshop here for my awesome Aunt Gray and her painting buddies. And by dern we finally got around to it. Had a wonderful time,… Continue reading Lessons From House Party of Painters


Supper in a Blue Moon

You know how you do something and think, why don’t we do this all the time instead of once in a blue moon? (ha-ha-get-it?) We do have dinner on the little dock occasionally, but it really would be a great idea to do it every full moon as long as we don’t freeze to death.… Continue reading Supper in a Blue Moon


Flowerful Aspen and People From Texas

I knew Aspen would be pretty in the summer but I was surprised by how pretty. There are flowers everywhere, spilling over sidewalks, billowing from containers, bordering lawns, bursting from window boxes. We nipped out here for a short while to catch up with my Cowboy’s good buds from all over and to have a… Continue reading Flowerful Aspen and People From Texas


Designer Megan Yager on Chinoiserie Chic Blog

Let’s hear it for the local talent. So yesterday I get this email from my friend Mary (Dede) Wood, a talented designer here in the Santa Ynez Valley: Not bragging but my girl’s stuff is pretty darned good…XO Dede Well she is too bragging and well she should. Dede’s daughter Megan Yager lives in Texas now… Continue reading Designer Megan Yager on Chinoiserie Chic Blog


Always Do Right

“Always do right. This will gratify some and astonish the rest,” said Mark Twain, who needs no embellishment, and certainly not from me. If anybody has anything to add to this, though, we’d all be happy to hear it. Perhaps it is the arrival of four beautiful, strong, smart, wonderful young girls and their kin… Continue reading Always Do Right


How to Buckle a Seatbelt

Once I was on a plane late at night and the punchy flight attendant said, “…and for those of you who have not been in an automobile since 1965, here’s how you buckle a seat belt.” On Virgin America, which I’m on right this minute on the way back to California, the pre-recorded announcement says,… Continue reading How to Buckle a Seatbelt