How does something as delicate as a flower have such power to comfort and please us? They remind me that beauty, like life itself, is fleeting, and that we must appreciate the bloom in the present because it is all we have. But oh what a miracle is the blooming!
#roses
#ranunculus
#hydrangea
#waxflower
#hellebore
#tulips
#parrottulips
#valentineflowers ?
#francesschultzflowers
So many favorite photos of our Nina, who never took a bad one, but I love this because of the expression on Sidney Poitier’s face. She was with @pattyraynes that night at one of her Patty’s father’s big doo-dah’s, back in the day. ‘80s?Dont know who took the photo, reposted from @ninaggg. Nina no doubt is continuing to be the life of the party in the life after the party. RIP beautiful friend.
#ninagriscom #sidneypoitier #glamour #glamourgirl
The city wakes up. The rising sun hits the tops of the buildings on Central Park West and for a brief few minutes they glow golden orange before cooling again into their gray and glass and steel.
Saying goodbye today to a dear friend of mine and to many. From my heart, thank you all for your condolences, your tender sympathies, and your memories. If you were a friend, and you are in New York, please come to her service today, Wednesday, at 11, at St James. She always played well to packed house.
Photo #rancholazaca
Goodbye my precious Ninja. A fitting nickname, though Leo at times called us both Ninja. Cannot imagine why, or that all those nights we stayed up way too late, drank way too much, and cackled way too loud, had anything to do with it. (And why wasn’t I Frinja?) During the day I was Miss Jane to your Drysdale. I think that started in Africa, hence this photo.
Not that the world can ever have enough glamour shots of Nina, but this is Nina’s glamour in the bush, on our first trip there together. Nina’s first, my ?th. I so wanted her to love Africa as I did. We went with a small group of fabulous girls, “Cougars Without Borders,” someone’s cheeky son called us. And after 10 days of bewildering beauty, bumpy game drives, much wine, and many late nights of inappropriate everything (is there a theme here…?), Nina did love Africa. At safari’s end she allowed that she was ready to “get home, get out of this khaki and into some diamonds.” But she was hooked. So much so that she joined the board of our beloved @empowersafrica charity and served with loyalty and enthusiasm.
Nina was not a Believer-capital-B in the conventional sense, but then she was not always conventional, period. I believe part of what spoke to Nina about Africa is its way of putting you in your tiny place in the universe, a way of making you feel so small amid its majesty and vastness, and yet at the same time a part of it, down to its very source. It is a liminal experience, transcendent, and it never leaves you.
Nina also believed in love and in life. She believed in the love of her husband Leo, her daughter Lily, her late mother Liz, and her army of friends. She lived life with irrepressible vitality and verve, with wit and style, with attitude and gratitude, and with her gorgeous head held high. You couldn’t help but admire and be inspired by her.
Her charisma and spirit were unsinkable to the end, and that is how we remember her. Her body failed but her spirit did not. She died defiantly as she lived, with dignity, gumption, and grace. Go home now, my sister, and get into those diamonds. Your sparkle is eternal.
#ninagriscom #ninagriscomrip #whatafabulouswoman #greatchick
Setting out for morning errands. These beautiful swaths of green are so rare and wonderful. They transform our normally brown high desert landscape, if only for a few weeks. We are so lucky to live here. I never forget that. Then again we are lucky to live, aren’t we. Happy Saturday to you all, and blessings.
#rancholazaca #morningdrive #oaksavanna #oaksavannavineyard #iwanttopaintit #iwanttopaintthis #santaynezvalley #santaynez #santa barbarawinecountry #californiacookingandsouthernstyle #landscape
The potato is the culinary Kate Moss. Unadorned it is beautiful but plain, But with just the right embellishment–not too much–it is GORGEOUS. From California Cooking and Southern Style, our Pan Fried Potatoes with Lemon and Parsley are gorgeous potatoes. Try them this weekend with any meat, fish, veggie, or a salad. Recipe on blog, via link in profile. I wouldn’t be above crumbling a little bacon on that salad, too. Just saying. Photo @DeborahLlewellyn @chefstephanievalentine
#potatoes #californiacookingandsouthernstyle #comfortfood potatoeswithlemonandparsley #chefstephanievalentine #flashesofdelight #everydayliving #bhghome
What new can you do with the plain old potato? How about pan fry with lemon and rosemary? The potato is the culinary Kate Moss. Unadorned it is plain. But embellished in just the right way–not too much–and baby you’ve got a yum-dinger. Try Chef Stephanie Valentine’s Pan Fried Potatoes with Lemon and Parsley. Or… Continue reading Gorgeous Potatoes
A rare and beautiful frosty morning in our Valley.
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#santaynezvalley #frostymorning #solvang
TBT! I ran across this ca 1986 photo recently of my darlin’ uncle and me, with our family, around the campfire in Botswana. A tented camp, not the fancy like they have now. I look like i have on kabuki face but is just my usual pallor and a pitiless camera-flash-weird-light-thing. It was my first safari, and I was hooked on the bush before I ever arrived. My aunt and uncle had been going since the 60s….Africa, hunting, safari, and tourism have all changed so much over the years, but what will never change is the vastness, the majesty, and the beauty of Africa—as long as we all take care of her. A shout to my sisters of @empowersafrica too, a great cause to follow if you love Mother Africa
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#tbt #throwbackthursday #motherafrica #aroundthecampfire #uncledubba #onsafari
Remembering last week’s desert retreat, but also glad to be home, sitting here before the fire and watching the embers glow…
Three little centerpieces for this weekend’s table and jolly times around them. Am always happy when the Lenten roses start coming in. Cant beat #purpleandgreen in my book and hellebores wrote the book! The gorgeous antique roses and green parrot tulips were an emergency fill-in and thank goodness for @forageflorals , new to our #santaynez ‘hood and much welcomed! Go by and see her fab shop, stopping also at the fab new @santaynezgeneral right around the corner, and then you’ll have everything you need for next weekend’s dinner party, including the inspiration! Btw our menu was Chapter 8 from California Cooking and Southern Style substituting the corn and crab soup with the more seasonal cauliflower soup. Order book via link in profile, or Amazon, or anywhere ☺️
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#hellebores #lentenroses #tulips #antiqueroses #hypericum #hydrangea #centerpiece #rancholazaca #californiacookingandsouthernstyle
