Hotel California

 This little trip to The Mission Inn in Riverside for lunch was like a three hour holiday on an estate in San Miguel de Allende, or what I'd imagine since I've never been. Lunch was lovely, but the best part was lolling around. The private gardens of bougainvillea, courtyards with hand painted tile and tranquil fountains were unexpectedly pleasant!

Corona Del Mama - Last Days of Summer

Spending the last day of summer body surfing, watching pelicans and soaking up sunshine in Corona Del Mar.

Grimes Genesis

50 Years - Jim and Patty

 We traveled to Oregon to celebrate my Dad and Mom's 50th Wedding Anniversary. My sis and I made lovely bouquets with everything from the flower garden and all that was wild. Our picnic lunch was exquisite and the weather was perfect. There were singing cowboys and my mom and dad smiled all day long.  

The Sun Egg

Sun Egg

Solveig, my eldest, was born in the heart of winter, but her soul is summer. She completed her first physics sequence, moved into a new place and painted these rich little treasures on birch wood all in a week's time. You can buy one or pull a few together for a collective story - $20-25

Never Change, Never Stop

 Photo via Rockalittle.com

Photo via Neil Preston/Corbis

Photo via Neil Preston/Corbis

Bewitching Stevie Nicks is in the midst of a stunning musical/stye revival! At least every 90 miles or so, The Kills version of Dreams was getting airplay via sirius xm on our fabulous road trip.
Love this cover!

Stevie's dreamy style looks like she stepped out of a Maxfield Parrish illustration.

image via Clare Freeman Art Blog

Meeting Up

Spending time with my sewing machine working at meeting lines with precision on this super fresh and cool ticking stripe. It's customary to sew the zipper seam first; but, how to match stripes after that zipper is set? I will share with practice.
photo via In Clover Vintage

Lunchtime on Abbot Kinney

It's a joy to be back home with all my darlings under one roof! Guy is taking a day off here and there, Solveig is painting and happy to be home, Sena is working on her tan between work shifts, Seamus is relaxing after the trip swimming and playing in the sun, and I'm just happy to be here. Peek inside Bountiful antiques + home on our visit to Venice for shopping. The furnishings in this shop are epic! photos via In Clover Vintage

Along the Pacific

Marching to the tsunami dock from Japan on Agate Beach

Avenue of the Giants

Hibiscus - Native Subtropical Decor

The most elegant thing in the Hollywood At Home's Vintage Line: 1960's Palm Lamp! 

Moqueca

photo via James Oseland for Saveur

we made this commixture of brazilian magic on our gas barbecue without the palm oil. it was so delicious we forgot to take pictures! love eating hot, spicy food when temperatures are scorching. The recipe came from Saveur. There is a well written article on their website with stunning photographs by James Oseland accompanying, Passage to the Amazon - 
The Elemental Flavors of Brazil's Marajo Island by Neide Rigo. 

Moonrise Kingdom

Dear Suzy,
Here's my plan...

Dear Sam,
My answer is yes.

Dear Suzy,
When?

Dear Sam,
Where?

So beautiful to watch and very sweet. Seamus said the dialogue made him feel like he was watching Fantastic Mr. Fox again. I enjoyed Jason Schwartzman's performance as the ne'er-do-well scoutmaster - stole the show! We've been watching bored to death and love him!

Bastille Day Los Angeles

Cherries for Dinner

Yes! 

When we moved to the southland we decided to subscribe to Sunset again, the wonderful magazine that I grew up with (I'll tell you when you move to the east coast the publisher sends you some rocky mountain version from hell that has no relationship to the best coast). Fortunately, right off the bat, the so-cal edition's food section is filled with recipes for fresh, seasonal menus that you know will work and make you feel good. We have been to the Claremont farmer's market every sunday, ready to go, all inspired. A lovely preparation featuring rainier cherries with ready-made ravioli is one of the favorites of the summer, so far. We substitute toasted pine nuts for toasted almonds  (I am afraid of almonds tasting like amaretto - I love almonds, but not with cherries! Do you feel me?) This recipe is simple and has only a few ingredients. It has wow factor and is really quite delicious!

Cherry Brown Butter Ravioli

1. 10 ouncestore-bought cheese ravioli
2. 1/2 cup unsalted butter
3. 3 tablespoons lemon juice
4. About 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
5. 3 cups pitted and halved Rainier cherries
6. 1/4 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped
7. 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
8. 
   
9. 1. Cook pasta as package directs. Drain and spread out on a shallow serving platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
10. 2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until butter starts to turn medium brown and smells nutty, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. salt (it will bubble up). Pour all but 2 tbsp. brown butter into a small bowl; keep warm.
11. 3. Put cherries in pan of brown butter and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until hot and skins start to wrinkle, about 7 minutes.
12. 4. Pour cherries over reserved pasta along with half of reserved brown butter. Sprinkle with almonds and thyme, and add salt to taste. Serve with remaining butter.