I escaped this past month to the SOUTHERN part of my state………..

I had a WONDERFUL time……….

I stayed with Penelope Bianchi decorator extordinaire and her gorgeous husband ADAM.

I met Brooke from Velvet & Linen and got to meet her miniature  donkeys!

I made it to ROSE STORY FARM in Carpinteria……….

I made it back to Lotusland for the LOTUS FESTIVAL………and ended up being in the towns newspaper!

I spied a beautiful woman at dinner who I found out was on the same cruise ship as MY HOSTESS in the 1960’s and won the beauty contest.Also, found out she left Russia with jewels sewn into her clothing ………….seems she produced a movie recently too.

Lets just say I had a VERY good time…………

.

 

 

 

 

 

This would be the CARDIGAN CORGI PUPPET that I sent to Penelope for her dogs to carry around!This little guy was modeled after my very own SIR WINSTON!I was so happy to see it being used!

 

Penelope and Brooke.Brooke has a blog I have been reading for years called VELVET & LINEN.She and her husband own a shop in Los Angeles and build and decorate beautiful homes.They also published a book called PATINA STYLE.I would imagine a few of my readers may have that book!!

Can you see the little HUMMING bird getting a sip of water!!!

 

The GORGEOUS miniature DONKEYS.I of course want one!

 

 

Here I am……….trying to figure out how I could have one in my rose filled,steep backyard…………….the neighbors would LOVE me more then they already DO!!!

LA CASA for the DONKS as BROOKE calls them…………….

ROSE STORY FARM which I have read about for years……………Note that lantern turned upside down!

Here we are at LOTUSLAND………….I adore this place and if YOU have not been YOU really need to go! NINETTA have YOU been here?

The gardens are SPECTACULAR……………if your a SUCCULENT LOVER well lets just say YOU would be in HEAVEN!

See the SPANISH MOSS hanging from the trees?I thought that only happened in the SOUTH!Perhaps, I could fake it by staging that in my OAK TREES!Which was suggested to me by that Decorator Extordinaire!I think I will try it!

Penelope and a WORKER BEE for the estate…………

An ORCHIO……….one of my passions that I acquired while living in FLORENCE!They are in all the ITALIAN GARDENS……..

 

Beautiful paths done with stones………..

 

A LOTUS FLOWER………..

Bending to say THANK YOU for coming!

The LOTUS POD………………Kinda looks like ET.

The BIANCHI’s and me………waiting for that SUPER MOON to make its debut!Which it did!Where Madame P and I stood up top taking snaps with our phones only to be told how to do it by a woman who announced her husband was the Director of Photography of 24 movies!Lets just say that Designer Extordinaire, taught the wife of the DIRECTOR of PHOTOGRAPHY how to access her camera on her I -PHONE faster then she knew how to do it!!!!

I can NOT THANK YOU two enough………….I adored our time together.Your home your animals…….my cottage all MAGICAL!

XOXOXO