Home & Garden

Gingerbread Houses of the Solvang Bakery… and a Suspenseful Tale

I love nothing more than a pretty house. Especially one I can eat. Bringing delicious definition to the term “eye candy” are the gingerbread houses of our beloved Santa Ynez Valley Solvang Bakery. But don’t take my word for it. Ask the movie stars and super-celebs who beat the door down to get their holiday orders in… Continue reading Gingerbread Houses of the Solvang Bakery… and a Suspenseful Tale

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

A Walk in the Woods, Taking Care of Yourself

Just as we’re starting to get the feel for autumn and it getting dark practically right after lunch, boom, here come the holidays. As much as there is to love about them (or not), we all get busier, and some of us get stress-ier. Today is a reminder that there’s almost nothing a walk in… Continue reading A Walk in the Woods, Taking Care of Yourself

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)

“Autumn Is a Second Spring With Every Leaf a Flower.”

“Autumn is a second spring with every leaf a flower.” Albert Camus said that, and I never heard it until this very autumn. Bust my britches. Camus probably never said bust my britches, which in French would be something like Eclatez mes pantalons! Now I’m certain he never said it. Did you know Camus was the… Continue reading “Autumn Is a Second Spring With Every Leaf a Flower.”

Buck House Goes Pink

A friend, reader and fellow breast cancer rodeo contestant sent me this photo and I wanted to share it with you in case you haven’t seen it, in a nod to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I’ve always heard the queen had a sense of humor. Lest there be any doubt that thing she did with… Continue reading Buck House Goes Pink

Out of Africa: A Suzanne Kasler House, James Givenchy Jewels, and a Benefit

Africa is on my mind lately, though it is always close to my thoughts. House Beautiful’s October issue with its inspiration from ’round the world features a fantastic compound of thatched cottages on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya, designed by Suzanne Kasler in what she calls a “weaving of African and British traditions and… Continue reading Out of Africa: A Suzanne Kasler House, James Givenchy Jewels, and a Benefit

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