Author: Frances

My lemon love is here to stay, and you know what they say. When life gives you lemons, make a brilliant olive-caper-lemon-herb vinaigrette that will take the humblest veg, the simplest fish, chicken, or pork somewhere new.⁠ ⁠ “Brilliant” is a strong talk for a simple sauce and not used lightly. I definitely don’t use the sauce lightly. I double the recipe and eat the leftover with a spoon. Olives, capers, herbs, lemon, olive oil and vinegar, boom. No cooking. Make it in advance. Make it at the last minute. Make it for your friends. Just make it. One of @chefstephvalentine’s most treasured recipes, via #linkinbio

Good Monday to you all. This is the littlebitofeverything arrangement I did with the season’s first dahlias and other bits. There is a monstrous – well a few actually – climbing rose on one side of the driveway that Ive hesitated cutting for fear as I approached it, it might engulf me in its thorns, never to be heard from again… but I braved it yesterday as the branches form such graceful arches and the light scent is heavenly. Someone out there will know the variety… ? And while I am kidding about the bush engulfing me (sort of), it does prompt me to think in these ever uncertain times about how our fears and anxieties are often the result of stories we tell ourselves and not actual reality. Eg., “I’ll never meet anyone because we will never be able to date normally again” or “I’ll never see my grandchildren again.” #notetoself If we can all practice catching ourselves in the act of believing our stories, we can diffuse their power and hold over us. The reality is we cannot know that our stories are absolutely true or not true. We can only control how we perceive them, and stay in the now. Well goodness that was an earful I hadn’t intended but I went with it. Hope you all have a good week, in the now. Namaste

First dahlias today! Especially gratifying as the effing deer have eaten nearly every zinnia and echinacea seedling I planted. I can’t even but I am loving my dear dahlias and taking solace in them. . . #dahlias #cafeaulaitdahlias

Happy Father’s Day! Two daughters (someone’s daughters, not mine ️) out for a Morning ride by the little house in Santa Ynez where I love to paint. This happened just as I was packing up yesterday, “cue the horses!” I love it. Will paint it! Hope you all have a wonderful day with the daddies in your lives, or with the memories of them if they’ve crossed over. . . . #santaynezvalley #santaynez #morningride #iwanttopaintit #sundayvibes #sundayfunday

A little less than an hour up the road from us at Rancho La Zaca is the family owned Rose Story Farm, in Carpenteria, California. Owned by husband and wife duo Dani & Bill Hahn, they purchased the property 32 years ago. What was once so run down “that the termites were holding hands to hold it up” has seen its share of fires and floods and other of nature’s forces, but it always returns to itself, a magical retreat. There’s a metaphor in there, isn’t there? And right here in Santa Ynez is new(ish)comer @gracerosefarm begun by the lovely Grace & Ryan Poulson. Because the world cannot have too many roses. That is well known. Fields of roses, with fragrances and colorations from rich and variegated to delicate and subtle​ fill the space. Rose Story Farm is storied indeed. Tap my #linkinbio to see more!

Fathers can be the HARDEST people to shop for when it comes to gifts. Ask them what they want, and it’s always “nothing”, which is like SO not helpful. (While I, on the other hand, answer “just a sec while I look in my file…”) So, with Father’s Day around the corner, here are a few ideas. Whether they are into cooking, camping, clothes, or have “everything they already need” I have you covered! Stop by my stories for a peek.

Sing along if you like, with apologies to Gershwin…Summertime… and tomatoes are ripening. Farm stands are jumpin’, and … I defy you to tell me what’s better than a ripe garden tomato on two pieces of white bread with homemade mayonnaise and salt and pepper. I’ll give you a minute…⁠ ⁠ You can’t.⁠ ⁠ Everyday is a good day for a tomato sandwich with my “homemade” mayonnaise (shhh… they’ll never know). Peek the “recipe” through my stories, and print the version via #linkinbio, because you will want to keep it.⁠ ⁠ Photography @thecooksatelier

Inspired by the interiors of Italian modernist Carlo Scarpa, French interior designer Jacques Grange crafts a contemporary vision of the centuries-old splendor of Venice. Here, a view of the Grand Canal and the church of Santa Maria della Salute is framed by a coffered ceiling, a stone table by Angelo Mangiarotti and chairs by Franco Albini for Poggi. Pop by my #linkinbio for a peek inside (wait until you see the bathroom ).⁠ ⁠ Design @jacques.grange⁠ Photography James Merrell⁠ Featured in @elledecor

It is ironic that we might yearn for retreat even as we are in a kind of retreat as many of us continue to shelter in place, and it is a yearning that begs to be answered. Looking at a beautiful photo or piece of art is a kind of retreat, as is a walk, or a swim, or a cup of tea and a book. Like many in the last few weeks I’ve experienced shifts in perception of the world around me that call me to educate myself further about things I thought I knew but realize maybe I don’t. I’ve put aside my usual stack to delve into the words of @Ibramxk #robindeangelo @resmaamenakem @tanehisicoates and others. Where has retreat come for you?⁠ ⁠ Photography unknown

Continuing the pink theme… we are loving our new house rose by the brilliant @amvwine and I am tickled pink about how the label turned out, designed by moi. It’s painted from a bouquet of dahlias I photographed and then turned the vase into an oak tree kinda sorted shaped like the one that stands by our road. . . . #rosé #roseallday #roséallday #pink #rancholazaca #andrewmurray #summerwine #francesschultzpaintings #francesschultzart #dahlias

This pink living room by @veere_grenney is a veritable confection, kept from its own preciousness by the architecture of the room and the discipline of the design. For darling @serenacrawford (from whom I reposted this) it is all about the banquettes flanking the fireplace and her delight in finally being able to emulate them in her own house, which I for one cannot wait to see.