Author: Frances

Zinnias in a pretty vase, the Blue Ridge in the background, in our hosts’ pretty house in Roaring Gap. #zinnias #windowsill #roaringgap

Happy 100th Olivia de Havilland, great lady and great actor, beloved as #Melanie in #gonewiththewind, for which she won #bestsupportingactress #oscar, among her dozens of other womderful roles. I was lucky to meet her once in Paris, introduced by a mutual friend. She had to her house and we had chanpagne and smoked salmon. My cousin journalist Susan Myrick was technical director of GWTW and worked with the stars as dialect coach and with producers/director on getting the “Southerness” right – which to her and Margaret Mitchells’s chagrin, they didn’t always, but it was a great movie nonetheless. #oliviadehavilland

Getting ready to ride into the weekend. Love my #oldfashionedbicycle with 3 speeds (yeah baby), pedal brakes, and a basket, from#bermudabikes in #easthampton.

If real-world re-entry after the holiday has you frazzled–or even if it doesnt–go sit or stand with your back against a tree. Its energy will ground and calm you. Sounds woo-woo I know, but it works. This btw is a Norwegian maple, considered “invasive” here in New England bc isn’t native. So big and strong (those Viking genes) you can see how it might intimidate the local sugar maples et al. #trees #berkshires #metaphysicaltipoftheday courtesy #christelnani and #patriciakingdavies

A #pond in the #berkshires reflects #serenity on a Sunday afternoon. #lenoxmass #reflections #dusk

Just ran across this little vignette from #beecottage a few summers back. Love an #oakleafhydrangea a #treeconch and anything #johnderian The #leaf platter is by a ceramicist from Athens GA whose work I love but whose name I cannot recall. Anyone recognize? #iwanttopaintit

Pretty light in the library at the Bellefontaine mansion in Lenox, Mass. #prettylight #bellefontaine #library #lenoxmass #berkshires

“I am one who dances with nature” am just discovering the crazy fun of #soulcollage and cant wait to learn more. This is my first – with #bees (surprise) and a vintage sofa at bottom right in the same #carltonv pattern in the garden room at #beecottage. #collage #collageart

First, thank you to all of you Insta and “analogue” friends for your kind words and loving thoughts these last few days. Some of my happiest memories are with Gray, cousins, and friends at Nags Head, though our family went to Morehead, hich was great too. #noplacelikehome And now here I am in Long Island, at #beecottage. Am constantly fiddling with how to style this giant wicker tray on giant pouf… Love the candle lantern from @munderskiles especially. #vignette #starfish #driftwood #shellstyle

How precious is this ca. 1965 picture of my cousin Bill and fabulous Aunt Gray, whose beautiful life we celebrated yesterday in Tarboro. How lucky we all were to have her. And look at that dress. #tbt

My Aunt Gray’s dining room. Portrait of her beautiful daughter and namesake in background, by Robert Bruce Williams.

David Austin #roses and #lemonbalm from my garden at #beecottage, in the bath. Scented herbs make wonderful additions to simple arrangements. Shower curtain by @michaelddevine in his wonderful #fretwork.