Southern Sonoma Country Life

Meghan's As Ever Brand Offers a Taste of California

If it's good enough for the King of England to embrace his own British product line, Highgrove luxury foods and goods from his country estate garden, then it's not surprising that his enterprising California-based daughter-in-law Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has announced her first As Ever collection of eight signature taste-of-Montecito products.

Meghan's initial collection, launched this April and developed in partnership with Netflix's CPG division, derives from her approach to elevated, everyday living and is inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining and hostessing with ease.

I must admit I was disappointed to discover the entire first batch of everything in Meghan's online shop sold out on day one. Not because I don't wish her every success (I do), more so than I'm looking forward to ordering a few of her products to see if they live up to all the press. 

Following the debut of Netflix's "With Love, Meghan", and according to the press release, As ever brings to life the staples Meghan turns to time and again in her own kitchen and daily life. "Designed to infuse warmth, beauty, and intention into daily rituals, this collection marks the beginning of a brand that will continue to evolve with new seasonal offerings inspired by Meghan's personal essence." As ever will release new product collections seasonally.

I watched the first episode recently and enjoyed the setting and scenery from the backdoor overlooking the spectacular Santa Ynez mountain range. Meghan appears to be a genuine natural in the kitchen and I appreciate her California aesthetic. My main take on the series is that she's not doing anything out of the ordinary outside of the scope of her extraordinary resources. Plenty west coasters are busy doing what she does with a bag of popcorn and a vase of fresh flowers without all the fanfare. But that's the beauty of it in a way. How refreshing for Harry to sit at a kitchen counter with his kids and eat from bowls of pasta with spring veggies from the family garden, prepared by his partner. 

I'm editing this post after its release after receiving an interesting note from my friend, experienced canner and longtime reader, Kathy, in Colorado. Kathy points out that, as she sat, reading at her desk while large flakes of snow fell outside her home office window, she, herself, had just put up two batches of fresh strawberry jam this same afternoon, baked a loaf of bread and popped beef tips in the crockpot for dinner. 

Kathy found the Netflix series entertaining enough to stick with all the way through. But as an experienced canner of 25 years, she was rather concerned by a segment in the series in which Meghan whips up a small batch of raspberry jam and promptly pours the finished product into some jars sitting open on the counter, popping on lids and pretty labels to complete the task.

"I do hope she (or her canning minions) understand that proper canning includes sterilizing the jars, lids, rims and all canning tools and the importance of doing a final bath for at least 20 minutes (longer at altitude) to eliminate botulism."

So, if you're reading this and you've been inspired to make jam and can for the first time, please do consult correct proceedure before doing so. I count myself lucky in being the frequent recipient of Kathy's annual kitchen creations and have plenty friends in the Petaluma area who treat me to a jar or two, seasonally. Not one of my specialties. 

I did think there would be more of a range in the collection, but it's probably best to start small and scale up gradually. As grocery bills continue to climb here in the USA, Meghan's not the only one making her own jam and whipping up a batch of shortbread. But a splurge on a tin of her herbal lemon ginger tea would be a proper treat! And for all her critics, you can't argue with the sweet success of a sell out day. 

Available now on a waiting list, on AsEver.com, the following products will, at some point, be available to ship nationwide across all 50 states with plans to expand globally.

Now obviously this creates the buzz of a luxury goods line in selling out so fast. A smart move. 

• Raspberry Spread in Keepsake Packaging - The heart of the collection, and where it all began. This luscious, fruit-forward spread is housed in elegant keepsake packaging designed to be repurposed long after the last spoonful. SRP: $14 [Raspberry Spread without Keepsake Packaging available soon, SRP: $9]
• Herbal Lemon Ginger Tea - A modern take on a classic, this bright and warming infusion balances zesty flavor with a touch of spicy ginger, creating the perfect morning ritual. SRP: $12
• Herbal Peppermint Tea - A crisp and refreshing blend of pure peppermint, this tea offers the perfect moment of peace, whether sipped hot or iced. SRP: $12
• Herbal Hibiscus Tea - Vibrant and floral, this lively, tangy brew delivers a naturally sweet finish, especially delightful with a drizzle of honey. SRP: $12
• Flower Sprinkles - A touch of edible artistry. Elevate any dish with these delicate, colorful florals—turning omelettes into masterpieces, salads into statements, and mealtime into moments of joy. SRP: $15
• Crepe Mix - Elegance made effortless. This light, airy mix delivers delicate crepes that are as perfect for a solo gourmet indulgence as they are for a cozy family breakfast. SRP: $14
• Shortbread Cookie Mix with Flower Sprinkles Included - A flavorful, crumbly delight with a whimsical floral twist. Enjoy them as-is, crumble them over ice cream, or use them as the perfect base for your favorite spreads. SRP: $14
• Limited-Edition Wildflower Honey with Honeycomb - A luxurious, drizzle-worthy indulgence with tasting notes of wildflowers, finished with a stunning wedge of honeycomb. Elevate everything from yogurt and tea to roasted salmon and charcuterie spreads. Supplies are limited. SRP: $28

 

 

 

Stop By & Visit Author Frances Rivetti and British American Artist Gail Foulkes in an Arts Alive Pop-Up Thursday October 17th, 2024 Theatre Square, Petaluma Anytime Between 5-7.30pm

Super excited to announce that Gail Foulkes, local artist and cover illustrator of my novel, The House on Liberty Street is offering original paintings and prints of her Petaluma architectural series for sale for the first time. 

There has been a big demand for prints, especially the cover image gracing The House on Liberty Street. At $20 each, these collectors item prints will make for fantastic holiday gifts. 

Gail worked on a series of architectural drawings in the Petaluma area on brown paper bags during lockdown. When it came time to consider cover art for my second novel, in 2019, I was drawn to these images and invited Gail to collaborate. As long time friends and fellow British Americans it was a natural pairing for us to work together. 

I asked Gail to consider the imaginary House on Liberty Street as I saw it in my mind's eye. A home for new beginnings — rambling, slightly ramschackle, but loved. 

This resulted in a series of wonderful images to pick from. Though I could've opted for any one of Gail's original ideas, the image above was a unanimous pick. The House on Liberty Street was born on paint and paper as well as in my storytelling. 

Gail exhbited the series at Aqus Cafe around the launch of the novel. Now she is ready to release the originals into the world as well as prints.

Pop by  Navigate Realty in Theatre Square, Thursday evening, Oct 17th anytime from 5pm to 7.30pm for a glass of wine and light refreshments. Meet the artist! Shop local. Support women artists and writers! 

I'll be there with books, too. Books and prints are $20 each. Original art pricing starting $30 to $150. Great pricing. Gail would prefer cash or check. Hope to see you there!

Here's a link to Gail's website with the series as a slideshow. 

Thurs Oct 17th

140 Second Street, Petaluma  #108 

5 to 7.30 pm

Revisiting the Past — Return to Ely — England's Second Smallest City

Am I My Brother's Keeper (runs through September 1st, 2024) — An extraordinary exhibit of 28 polychrome figures by sculptor Sean Henry prompted a visit to The Ship of the Fens,  Ely Cathedral this summer during my recent family trip back to the home country. 

Don't be confused by me striking my own pose whilst back in the heart of the Fenlands, about 14 miles north east of Cambridge and 80 miles north of London, where I started my journalism career. It was in Ely where I memorably covered the arrival of the late Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the train station for the annual Maundy Monday service at the cathedral in the late 80s. I've so many vivid memories of my time in the Ely area rambling around the backroads in the Ely Standard Mini, reporter's notebook on the passenger seat on the hunt for stories.

Oldest son, Rocco and my husband, Timo, took the time to recreate a favorite photo of me standing right there almost thirty years ago, during a rare winter visit. This time, though it was in June, wasn't the most summery of English days, but the weather made for ideal exhibition going on hallowed ground. 

 

Ely is the second smallest city in England, after the city of Wells in Somerset. A small town was established around the monastery and Cathedral which dominated the Isle of Ely for centuries. Ely was actually an island until 400 years ago, when work to drain the Fens (freshwater marshes) began, creating the fertile farmland the Fens are known for today. The cathedral has welcomed visitors and pilgrims for over 1300 years. Gracing a vibrant community today (population 19,200), Ely Cathedral provides a glimpse into centuries of English heritage alongside incredibly beautiful art and architecture.

The 14th century Octagon tower at Ely and its unique wooden lantern is considered one of the wonders of the medieval world. The cathedral took over 300 years to be built. Its graceful Norman nave is among the longest in England, with a remarkable 19th century painted ceiling.

According to Historic UK: "Still susceptible to flooding today, it was these watery surrounds that gave Ely its original name the ‘Isle of Eels’, a translation of the Anglo Saxon word ‘Eilig’. It was an Anglo Saxon princess, Saint Ethelreda, who founded the first Christian community on the islands’ hill top site in 673 A.D. for both monks and nuns. Like her father Anna, the king of East Anglia, Ethelfreda had become an enthusiastic supporter of the new religion that was fast spreading through the country."

The cathedral with its many features, including the 14th century Lady Chapel and Octagon Tower, was used as a film set for the  Elizabethan epics ‘The Golden Age’ and ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and more recently, Bradley Cooper, as Leonard Bernstein, conducting Mahler's Second Symphony in Maestro. 

Arguably the most famous resident of Ely was The Lord Protector, the uncrowned King of Great Britain and Ireland, Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell inherited a large estate in the area from his uncle Sir Thomas Steward in 1636, going on to be the local tax collector, a man of wealth and great standing in the community. It was he who was responsible for shutting the great doors of the cathedral for around a decade. 

If you're looking for a less crowded experience after visiting Cambridge, Ely is easily accessible by train. Stroll up from the station to wander around ancient buildings and medieval gateways, the Cathedral Close (the largest collection of domestic monastic buildings in the country) and Oliver Cromwell’s House, open  year-round with exhibitions, period rooms and a haunted room. Tea rooms and antique shops abound. 

We walked down to the riverside for a pint and a fish lunch, followed by ice cream from an old-fashioned van. There are several good choices of pubs and restaurants down by the water and in town. The newspaper office is gone from its long time location, which was sad to see, as with so many print newspapers around the world, though it's still in existance at least.  

Though I felt nostalgic for the past and its simpler times, I was glad to see that the city and cathedral is thriving and appealing to a variety of visitors with its embrace of art and modern culture. It's a lovely place, well located given the access to public transport and I can see why I have such fond memories from that chapter of my life. 

 

Click here for more information on visiting Ely. 

 

Cup of Tea Cake — An Autumnal Recipe for Remembrance

Photo — Frances Rivetti

"Go sit upon the lofty hill, and turn your eyes around, where waving woods and waters wild do hymn an Autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them, the summer flowers depart — sit still, as all transformed to stone, except your musing heart."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The Autumn. 

Libra season is in our midst. A time for beauty, harmony and balance. I'm fortunate that there are several super-Librans within the inner circle of my life, including my youngest son and my husband. I was raised by my Libran mother, Elaine. My heart aches as we approach her birthday, later this week. I'm still processing the finality of her death this past Spring, just as an early summer was about to drench her long-time home in the English countryside with endless days of blue skies and sunshine, red poppies along the roadside and roses in the garden that Dad meticulously maintains. 

The beauty and comfort of the circle of life is that my third-born and youngest son, Dom, was born on my Mum's birthday — remarkably to me, marking a quarter of a century, this week. 

As I watched the hands of the wall clock in the recently shuttered maternity unit at Petaluma Valley Hospital slowly turn past midnight, it was almost as if Mum was with me in my labor, despite the vast transatlantic-distance between us. I'd delivered two older sons in my twenties without her close by, but she was first on the plane to Northern California, soon after each new baby arrived. We not only had generational differences in mothering-styles to negotiate, cultural aspects of parenting provided plentiful fodder for family-lore! Nonetheless, Mum was hands-on, energetic, willing and enthusiastic and on the younger side of grandmothering, which was a gift I took somewhat for granted at the time. 

She loved her work as a general practice nurse in the small market town where I was born and raised. It was immensely helpful having a no-nonsense, career nurse-mother on the other end of the phone as I was raising my own three sons through their childhood years and teens. My sisters and brother and myself still move to call her with any small ailment or twinge — hard to believe she's not here to pick up and put us right as she always did. Mum's strict nurses-corners attitude to life, her attention to detail with practicalities and domestic standards didn't stop her from her travels, her zest for life and fun. 

It was soon after she retired at aged 70 that we noticed her slowing down in her physical capacity to walk on any degree of incline. The persistent cough. She resisted any diagnosis for quite a while until we, as a family, pretty much figured out it was COPD. 

And for such a prevalent disease, it would prove frustrating and in time, maddening in the decade that followed as to how little emphasis is placed on support care in the UK for advanced COPD in comparison to other forms of incurable lung disease. Throw in a respiratory pandemic and it was incredible that she made it through those perilous years with very little medical intervention aside from oxygen. It was sadly ironic to her loved ones that she had dutifully supported various UK hospice non-profits for years, yet there was no such caring entity to support her, or my Dad as her carer, when end-stage COPD became more challenging to cope with. How we tried. "Sorry," the response at every turn — COPD apparently doesn't fit tidily, or untidily into a box. Especially in an over-stretched National Health Service. One of the first phone calls after she passed was from her favorite hospice non-profit, asking why her credit card had been declined for her monthly donation. "She died," I replied. "Oh. Sorry to hear that,"  said the woman on the other end of the phone. Click. 

Still, Mum made the absolute best of her situation and Dad took such extraordinary care of her at home that I am sure she lived several years longer at end-stage than most people with the same diagnosis. 

And she made it seven months past her 80th birthday, which was a gift for us all. She was too frail to have us make much of a fuss and so we settled on three small gatherings for her in the comfort of her home, this time last year. Buck's Fizz (Mimosas), sandwiches, sausage rolls and all the fixings and I'd pre-baked a big, traditional English fruit cake from the recipe she'd given me many years before. I covered it in marzipan and royal icing, wrapped it in parchment paper and foil and carefully packed it in my checked luggage from California, along with various 80th birthday decor and paraphernalia from the party store in Petaluma. One of Mum's best friends, Judy, a fellow retired nurse, drove winding country roads in the dark and late September drizzle to be there for Mum's friend and neighbor party. It was a joy. And especially poignant as Judy passed away unexpectedly, months before Mum. "I hope I see Judy," she would later share, in her own final days. 

"I'll be back in the Spring," I'd promised, last September. And I was. And she held on for my visit, of that I am sure. My aunt picked me up from the train, an hour north from King's Cross. She drove me directly to the hospital where Mum had been admitted a week prior. Dad was waiting there for me. 

"You look very nice," Mum said, despite my 24-hour journey. It must've been my navy-blue collared-shirt. She had a thing for navy-blue. It was the color of her practice nurse uniform for 25 years. And my sisters and my high school uniform. I like navy blue, too.  

We held hands and she apologized profusely for the grim surrounds. "It's entertaining for me, but not much of a holiday for you," she said, her sense of humor intact on a character-filled, shared ward. Fortunately, Mum had traveled extensively up until her late 60s. Never mind that she was dying, she wanted me to have a nice visit. "Take her to the farm shop for lunch this week," she instructed Dad. He was exhausted by this time. The daily trips into the city and traversing a large hospital complex had taken their toll on top of his deep concern for his wife of almost 60 years. (They would have celebrated their Diamond Anniversary earlier this month). 

Each afternoon for the following few days we visited Mum. This time, instead of a celebratory fruit cake, I'd baked a Cup of Tea Cake, a moist, fruity loaf that I knew held up well for over a week. Dad and I enjoyed a slice with a cup of tea the first evening back at the house. The rest I sliced up and wrapped for each day's visit with Mum. Her appetite was dwindling fast but she managed a few bites of each slice, in intervals. Fruit cake was her favorite treat, though she didn't eat a lot of sugary items until the last couple of years of her life when she no longer needed to watch her weight due to her tiny intake of food.

I looked back through the thread of our final few texts. "Oh delicious cake," she wrote on the Wednesday with two thumbs up emojis. The doctors said she had congested lungs, but that's all they could find after the procedure she'd been admitted had completed. "Everyone around me seems to have a cough," she wrote. Not good. She knew it. 

By Friday afternoon pneumonia had set in and she was in tremendous pain. I'd jumped on the double decker bus from the city that afternoon and sat up top, taking in the tree-lined avenue out to the second iteration of the district hospital and past its first and second sites, in which she had trained as a National Health Service nurse aged 18 to 21. The poignancy of this was not lost on me and I made sure to drop it into conversation with nurses and doctors on her ward. "You know," I told them, "she's a nurse." 

Mum knew precisely what was happening. There was nothing wrong with her mind. We held hands and focused on pain relief. The next morning, Saturday, Dad, my brother, my two sisters and me surrounded Mum in person, all together as a nuclear family without partners and offspring for the first time in many years. We've been far-flung, nationally and internationally, my siblings and me and it was the best possible scenario in that we were gathered beside Mum on her final journey. 

The coronation of a new King took place the following week. Bank holidays disrupted bureaucracy and paperwork was delayed. I spent a month in England with Dad, my siblings and extended family. I've spent the summer back in California in part disbelief that such a dynamic force in my life has departed and equal part gratitude for having been by her side. The rest of it is a muddle. Except for the small things we hold on to. Dad has planted a memorial garden, visible from her bedroom window. He's amazed us all with how well he is managing. 

I'm making a Cup of Tea Cake today in remembrance of my Libra Mum. And I'm sharing the recipe so that if you like the idea of a little something fruity alongside your cup of tea one afternoon, you'll think of her and raise a tea-time toast. Happy Birthday, Mum. Happy Birthday Dom. Happy Birthday Librans amongst us. 

 

 

Falling for Filoli — History, Heritage & Horticulture, An English Country House in California

Photos — Frances Rivetti 

Oh what a lovely day spent wandering the house and gardens of Filoli in Woodside, a half-hour's drive south of San Francisco. This was my first time visiting and a wonderful outing with my British American girlfriends, who all love a smashing National Trust property pit-stip as much as I do. This one, however, is a lavish 20th Century American estate, which harkens back to a dazzling era of California wealth and luxury.  

The British National Trust abounds with historic homes and gardens, its US contemporary, The National Trust for Historic Preservation is considerably smaller in scope, but an important non-profit that, hopefully will continue to expand in the future. By supporting The National Trust for Historic Preservation, we can all help save these extraordinary places for generations to explore in the years to come. 

Today, over 100,000 visitors flock to Filoli to experience its seasonal splendor, inside and out. It remains the sole intact estate from an era when San Francisco’s wealthiest families created grand showplaces in the countryside outside of the city in the years after the 1906 earthquake.

The Filoli Library (below) and Florilegium collections provide valuable resources for the study of horticulture, botany, the arts, local history . . . this gorgeous library was modeled on a historic library design from Denham Place in England.

“Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.” When Anglophile William Bowers Bourn II and his wife, Agnes turned the key to their Georgian manor, built 30 miles south of San Francisco in 1917, he came up with its unique name as a clever combination on his life credo. As heir to California’s Empire Mine gold fortune, William Bourn built his magnificent English-style Filoli estate with 16 acres of formal gardens amidst 654 sprawling acres. 

Shortly after the gardens were completed in the early roaring twenties, William Bourn suffered a severe stroke and was confined to a wheelchair. The estate he had created as his refuge became just that as he took solace and joy in being pushed around his gardens to soak in plantings and panormaic views until he passed, in 1936, aged 79. His wife Agnes died six months earlier, aged 75. And, sadly, their daughter, Maud Bourn Vincent, had passed away from pneumonia before her parents, at age 45, after falling sick during a transatlantic voyage from Europe to the United States. The couple's young son had died in infancy. The entire family is buried on the estate.

The house is a lot bigger in scale than a contemporary country house in England, built at the end of World War I. It's easy to see the influence from William's years in England when he studied at Cambridge University, only with all the resources he had at hand, back home in California, most aspects of the house interior living spaces are  plus-sized, starting with the kitchens.

Lurline Matson Roth, a San Francisco shipping heiress and self-taught horticulturalist and her husband, William, purchased Filoli in 1937 for an undisclosed price. It was an irresistable country retreat for her family: twin teenage daughters, Lurline and Berenice and their 21-year-old son, William. Lurline employed 16 gardeners, but she was frequently outside in all weathers, working alongside them, deadheading camellias, pruning roses and overseeing the garden she saw as a living tapestry.

Lurline, a naive San Franciscan and heiress to the Matson Navigation Company, was a well-known and accomplished equestrian who competed in horse shows across the country and bred award-winning specimens. In 1964, she and her son, an unsuccessful California gubernatorial candidate in 1974 renovated Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. 

It's not hard to picture the Roth family and guests enjoying the bounty of their California orchard and garden in lavish meals around this elegant dining table. A Tiffany silverware set for 18 and floral arrangements from the property would've set the table scape off nicely, I'd say! I chatted to one of the estate managers in the dining room as he and his team prepared for a fundraiser. We discussed what it would have been like to work in service to the Bourn and Rot families and he said he didn't think it would have been very easy to cater for the elite. I doubt things have changed. Can you imagine cooking for and catering to Zuckerberg or Musk? Even with today's modern amenities, it can't be easy to blend into the shadows while tending to the rich, powerful and famous. 

Elegant and informal, the grounds are as enchanting as any I've vistied in my native England.

Lesley looking very "English Country Home" covergirl in her pretty summer frock. 

Jane and Gail wouldn't mind hosting us for the weekend if they were in charge!

Lurline Roth lived on alone at Filoli after the death of her husband in 1963. She had the foresight to donate the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975 after establishing an endowment to maintain the gardens.  Although she moved to a smaller house not too far from Filoli, she returned frequently on weekends to wander her beloved brick walkways and allées. She passed away in 1985, aged 97. My friend Laura's Mom Louisa was one of the first docents at Filoli and she remembers the kindness of Lurline B. Roth toward volunteers and visitors, fondly. 

A stroll though Filoli’s summer Garden is a treat for the senses! Take in the decadent scents of lavender and roses and the colorful rows of vegetables. Silver and blue perennials and succulents are paired with a parade of pink annuals including begonias, fuchsias, and zinnias.

Tempting to say the least. Both Lesley and I love a swim and a few laps of this super pool would've been a welcome respite from the August afternoon heat. I don't suppose anyone swims here these days, but if pools could talk, there must've been some fun poolside parties back in the day!

Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and bring a full water bottle.  No pets allowed. 

There's a plant sale section attached to the store. Here's Lurline's old golf cart put to good reuse.

Having staff to help maintain fresh floral arrangements at all time was a thing! Priorites. 

Lady of the house. In another life, I could do it! Meanwhile, we did enjoy a nice lunch at the Quail Cafe (open 10 to 4.30 pm).

One's own ballroom. So civilized. 

If You Go:

Filoli is nestled on a slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounded by the protected Peninsula watershed. Filoli is proud to participate in Museums for All offering free and reduced admission to any holder of a SNAP EBT card. Please email [email protected] to reserve your admission with Museums for All. Otherwise, it's best to book tickets ahead. Check out the website for special seasonal events and workshops. 

Admission

86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062

Open every day 10am - 5pm

Open 5-8pm every Thursday for Summer Nights. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Revamp of the Tomales Hotel & Event Space & Coastal Writing Update

Tomales Hotel has new owners, Bill and Rachel Bonini. Bill grew up in the tiny coastal hamlet of Tomales and has a special place in his heart for the Gold-Rush-era main street and its Victorian architecture. 

As I've written about Tomales and the Marin-meets-Sonoma (Fog Valley) coastal history at length over the past decade or so, in my non-fiction, reporting and also in my fictional stories, I too have a fondness for this remote little coastal treasure.  

And so when an invite popped into my inbox last week alerting me to the recent upgrades to the storied Tomales Hotel, I jumped in my car and headed out west to check it out for myself.

If you're a local and a Dillon Beach-goer you too most likely share my experiences of having driven by the hotel on many occasions and wondered at its historic austerity. I couldn't imagine booking an overnight, even though I love its proximity to the beach, the bakery across the road, neighbor bar The William Tell before its recent closure. 

But it was crying out for attention and since the call was heard by a former local, it's really cool to see the authenticity of a mid 1800s hotel paired with modern amenities such as wifi and its own authentic and rustic event/party space across the street. 

Bill and Rachel have refreshed all of the rooms, which are all super spacious. There's a wheelchair accessible suite on the ground floor too. If you'd like to experience staying overnight in a western coastal hotel that hasn't altered all that much since its inception during the mid Victorian era, then this is the place for you. And it's well priced compared to most other properties along Tomales Bay and the coast. If you don't know the area well, Tomales is about four miles inland from Dillon Beach. 

The Bonini's also own the lot across the street from the hotel, recently rebranded as The Lot 95. I took a few photos of it staged for visitors and I can imagine some fun and original parties for small-sized celebrations with the hotel taken over by wedding and big birthday parties. Don't you love the table linen? Apparently it was sourced from downtown Petaluma's iLeoni. 

Click here for more info on Tomales Hotel

TOMALES HOTEL

26985 Highway One
Tomales California 94971
Tel: 707-888-9991
[email protected]

A couple of days later I was back out at the coast, this time to Doran Beach and up to Bodega Harbor and north to Jenner and back. I'm getting stuck into my physical research for my new novel Floating in the Middle, set along the Sonoma Coast.

I keep thinking I'll cast my net a little wider for the next story, but if a story is calling my name and it's set in Sonoma County, then I can't very well hang up and head elsewhere, can I? I hope you're ready for another one. It'll take me at least a year but I have this one well thought out so I am hoping it doesn't take me as long as the last one to complete. We'll have to see. The characters will tell me if they think I need to explore deeper. 

One thing I can tell you is that one of the characters arrives in a boat moored in Bodega Harbor. I stopped by to check out where he would have one of the other main character's pick him up for a long weekend reunion on the coast.

If you drive the Sonoma Coast regularly, you'll be aware of the reconstruction of the highway in parts due to cliff erosion. It's this that sparked my intrique initially. I drove up and down and in and out of the various beach parking lots to figure out in my mind's eye where all the action takes place in my new story. It remains a figment of my imagination however, so don't go looking for any specific house as I truly am building it from the ground-up as a made-up-place. 

I've been thinking a lot about where my stories come from. There's a distinctive thread through all my writing that ties together my connectedness to this place, my sense of being an immigrant, even after more than three decades. I write about where I am. I'm here for longer periods of time than anywhere else, though I'm equally at home back in my native England. This time I have a British protagonist. Not me, but someone I understand for her attachment to two countries, two cultures and two coastal regions. 

Thanks for sticking with my Southern Sonoma Country Life posts. They've been few and far between of late with my book endeavors and my extended family time in the UK. I hope to keep you posted on things that spark my interest in the area this summer. 

 

 

Marvelous Montecito — Read my Story on Weekending Like a Royal in Coastal Californa

Photo: Frances Rivetti 

I'm back in California and dipping my toes in the water to get back to my writing. Here's a super fun clip from an article I wrote for The Royal List prior to leaving for the UK. Please do click here and read the full story . . . 

 

Montecito, the peaceful, super-private, panoramic enclave of a not-so-secret roster of ultra-elite residents, is home-sweet-multi-million-dollar-home to Harry and Meghan’s family of four. And if it’s good enough for the Sussexes, it’s good enough for us.

A winding, two-hour drive north of Los Angeles brings you to Montecito. We soak in its subtle Southern California vibe and pleasant, Mediterranean climate with a drive-by of its upper-village gates of gorgeously-landscaped, lavish, hillside estates of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their star-studded neighbours, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Lowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and Orlando 

History and Sybmolism of King Charles III’s Coronation Clothing — Sacred Robes & Glittering Regalia

(image credits Royal.uk)

Preparations for the historic occasion of King Charles III's May 6th Coronation are in full swing here in the UK where I am currently back in my home country. It's looking a little more restrained than celebrations for the Queen in recent years, however there is still over a week to go. As a history buff and a fashion lover, one key element that I'm most interested in with regards to the Westminster Abbey service will be the monarch’s outfits, including the Coronation robes, which I've read are to carry potent, personal and national symbolic meaning.

Celebrated designer Sir Jony Ive KBE has created a circular coronation emblem featuring a floral design, in honor of the King’s ‘love of the planet, nature, and his deep concern for the natural world’

The king is anticipated to arrive at the service in military uniform, his initial attire for the ceremony. Although formal and official, it’s widely considered that the outfit will be more suitable for today's modern age than the flamboyant silk stockings and breeches of past male monarchs. Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, wore a Norman Hartnell gown embroidered with emblems that represented the dominions over which she was monarch. 

 

King Charles is backing British craftsmen, according to the Daily Mail, having reportedly chosen artisan tailors to make his Coronation outfits, including a Savile Row tailoring of his Royal Navy military trousers. For the anointing, he will reportedly be wearing a silk undershirt made by Turnbull & Asser, the collars and cuffs hand-embroidered with acorns and oak leaf detail. I like the look of the company's James Bond Collection, so I'm looking forward to seeing detals of the King's collars and cuffs. 

 

The garment is believed to have been made in Gloucestershire using English homespun silk.

 

Savile Row shoe shop Gaziano & Girling is likely responsible for creating  luxurious slippers – ‘opera pumps’ made by hand and crafted in Northampton using Swiss calf leather that the King is said to be wearing on his Coronation day. The sole leather of the slippers is sourced from a tannery in Devon that uses ancient methods. These sound gorgeous, I'm keen to see pictures afterwards. 

The Telegraph has reported that the Coronation robes will play a key role, as dictated by the 14th century Liber Regalis, or Royal Book, setting out the order in which the sacred garments should be worn. 

 

Although elements of the Coronation ceremony – from the smaller number of attendees to the welcoming of different faiths – have been updated to be more in keeping with the times, Buckingham Palace is making it clear that the occasion remains a most ‘solemn religious service’ and will be ‘rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.’

The sumptuous clothes that Charles will wear for his Coronation certainly promise history and symbolism woven into each and every thread. This rich and ancient history is as important now as ever, maybe even more so as many question the concept of royalty. There's no denying that Charles has worked closely and tirelessly with many organisations, publicly supporting a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the built environment, the arts, healthcare and education.

Apparently, new robes are traditionally made for each Coronation, with the exception of the Supertunica and the Robe Royal, which date back to the 1821 Coronation of King George IV. Both will be worn during the investiture, with the Robe Royal donned at the moment of crowning, bearing enormous symbolic weight in evoking the divine nature (or, in plain speech, the point) of monarchy. This coronation is expected to be shorter than those in the past and Charles may don a few less robes during the ceremony than his mother did. He's also asked attendees to leave their own titled regalia at home in favor of a more streamlined, business formal attire. 

According to Tatler: "Buckingham Palace has also now released details of the Coronation Regalia that will appear at the event: the ‘sacred and secular objects which symbolise the service and responsibilities of the monarch’, which ‘have played a central role in Coronation Services for hundreds of years’. Part of the Crown Jewels, these exquisite artefacts are typically on public display in the Tower of London. The Regalia belongs to the Royal Collection and is held in trust by the reigning monarch on behalf of the nation."

"The key components include two Maces, made of silver gilt over oak, which date from between 1660 and 1695. The Palace explains that these pieces are the ceremonial emblems of authority which are carried before the Sovereign at events such as the State Opening of Parliament.

Several more swords, sceptres, orbs and and staffs will be carried in the Coronation procession. One sword is much like another to me, I'm more intrigued by the embroidery that has been painstakingly undertaken for the Coronation emblem. 

 St Edward’s Crown will be used to crown King Charles III in keeping with centuries of tradition. It was created for King Charles II in 1661 by Vyner to replace the previous medieval crown, which was melted down in 1649. Although today’s crown is not an exact replica, it nods to the medieval design, with its four crosses-pattée, four fleurs-de-lis and two arches and is crafted from a solid gold frameset with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, with a velvet cap and an ermine band. The crown is topped with an orb and a cross, ‘symbolising the Christian world’. The same crown was worn by Charles' mother at her Coronation in 1953.  

The Coronation Emblem - which will feature throughout May's historic celebrations - pays tribute to The King’s love of the natural world, depicting the flora of the four nations in the shape of St Edward’s Crown.

 

 

Ice Cream For All — Walls "Stop Me, Buy One" Pre-War History from the Home Front.

Hearing a story from the family trove for the first time is always a treat. I'm spending time with my Dad in the UK while my Mum is in the hospital and in between visiting hours we've been reminiscing.

My parents still live in the small market town of Crowland, Lincolnshire on the border of Cambridgeshire in the Fenland region of England, where my Dad was raised, as were several generations before him. Mum and Dad will have been married 60 years this September and they live in the same house in which they started their married life together, which is rare these days.

Last night, over dinner we talked about some of the older buildings in town and the various shops and businesses that my Dad remembers from his childhood during and after WWII.

There was a shop (Mrs. Taylors) on the corner of North Street and East Street in which the proprietress made homemade ice cream on occasion. "When word spread that there was a fresh batch, once a week or so, my mother would send me out on my roller skates with a bowl," said Dad.

"But didn't it melt before you made it home?" I asked. 

"Either it wasn't very warm those summers or I was a fast roller skater," Dad replied. I can picture him sitting down to a bowl of ice cream with locally grown, sliced strawberries, small, red and summer-sweet. 

Well, I never knew my Dad had ever roller skated for one and I hadn't ever given any thought as to the availability of ice cream in the provinces during WWII.

That set me to thinking about an old photo I have in my collection of my Dad's auntie Margaret as a girl, selling Walls Ice Cream in Crowland on a Walls Tricycle. 

Ice cream, on further research, became popular in England in the mid 1880s when Swiss emigre Carlo Gatti set up the first ice cream stand selling scoops for one penny outside of bustling Charing Cross Station in London. 

Before this, ice cream was reserved for the privileged who had access to a brick ice house (with ice gathered from frozen lake or pond water). 

Ice Cream manufacturer Walls of London issued tricycles in London around 1923. When the Second World War started in 1939, the cycles were requisitioned for use at military installations. Ice Cream became a rare comodity. 

After the war, Walls introduced ice cream freezers for shops. 

Now I know the story behind Auntie Irene's ice cream selling enterprise, part of her parents' business as small business owners/shopkeepers. My grandmother, her sister, married a local businessman and small town enterpreneur who also went on to open several shops in town. My Dad and my Uncle continued the family business for many years. 

 

 

The King's Breakfast & Buckingham Palace — Two Classic Poems by A. A. Milne & My Current Mindset

With the fast approach of the May 6th Coronation of King Charles, I've been reminicing quite a bit about my childhood in England and the classic stories and poems that populated my early years. The poems The King's Breakfast and Buckingham Palace by A.A. Milne keep popping in a timely fashion into my head. As they're in the public domaine, I thought it would be fun to share them. 

Alan Alexander Milne (1882 - 1956) was an English author, most famously known for his books about Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh and for various children's poems. Milne, who was educated at Cambridge University and graduated in 1903, wrote 18 plays, early screenplays, three novels and collections of childrens stories before the enormous success of Pooh overshadowed his previous work.

I'm headed over to the UK and will be posting a little of my (predominantly family) visit here and there on this site and my other social media. The concept of royalty amidst the gravity of current global concerns gives me much to ponder. While a large part of it appears ridiculous these days, there's a lot more than meets the eye to think about when we look at the merits of history and heritage, tradition and change. Especially for an ex-pat like me. So I will bring you my honest thoughts and feelings in my posts along the way. 

Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash

The King's Breakfast

 

The King's Breakfast
The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
"Could we have some butter for
The Royal slice of bread?"
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, "Certainly,
I'll go and tell the cow
Now
Before she goes to bed."

The Dairymaid
She curtsied,
And went and told
The Alderney:
"Don't forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread."
The Alderney
Said sleepily:
"You'd better tell
His Majesty
That many people nowadays
Like marmalade
Instead."

The Dairymaid
Said, "Fancy!"
And went to
Her Majesty.
She curtsied to the Queen, and
She turned a little red:
"Excuse me,
Your Majesty,
For taking of
The liberty,
But marmalade is tasty, if
It's very
Thickly
Spread."

The Queen said
"Oh!:
And went to
His Majesty:
"Talking of the butter for
The royal slice of bread,
Many people
Think that
Marmalade
Is nicer.
Would you like to try a little
Marmalade
Instead?"

The King said,
"Bother!"
And then he said,
"Oh, deary me!"
The King sobbed, "Oh, deary me!"
And went back to bed.
"Nobody,"
He whimpered,
"Could call me
A fussy man;
I only want
A little bit
Of butter for
My bread!"

The Queen said,
"There, there!"
And went to
The Dairymaid.
The Dairymaid
Said, "There, there!"
And went to the shed.
The cow said,
"There, there!
I didn't really
Mean it;
Here's milk for his porringer,
And butter for his bread."

The Queen took
The butter
And brought it to
His Majesty;
The King said,
"Butter, eh?"
And bounced out of bed.
"Nobody," he said,
As he kissed her
Tenderly,
"Nobody," he said,
As he slid down the banisters,
"Nobody,
My darling,
Could call me
A fussy man -
BUT
I do like a little bit of butter to my bread!"

 

Photo: roberto-catarinicchia-unsplash.jpg

 

Buckingham Palace

 

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
                                     Says Alice.

They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
                                     Says Alice.