eating and drinking in France

room with a view

Yesterday morning I broke a piece of baguette and smeared it with French butter and then soft ripe cheese and then topped it with local honey, it was sublime. I’m drinking small cups of espresso, forgoing the tall American coffee, and usually indulging again at half past three. 

everyone helps for dinner in

Second son’s girlfriend says le vin rosé is like water, and you know how you’re supposed to get in eight full glasses of that. 

on our way to town to gather supplies
we did have lunch at this Michelin star restaurant L’Aubergine
okay, so I took this photo, daily run to market

Booie asked me where the pantry is in the kitchen and I replied, ‘no pantry, we buy what we need and will use on the daily’. 

petit déjeuner on the lawn for six

We started with a party of six, grew to eight and then ten, and now back to eight, and on Thursday we will be five. We’ve been gone three plus weeks now, on holiday with really nothing to do, simply enjoying one another’s company in this beautiful country of France. We are blessed, and the husband is the triple gold star. 

prepping for dinner in

I’ve been cooking as most times we prefer staying in and accustoming myself with an electric cooktop and an oven I don’t understand, but that’s okay. Everything makes me think, even the every day run to the market where I have to navigate the carts, and the checkout. 

The first half of the trip I was fairly disciplined with the workout routine and now as we’re getting ready to head home, I’m savoring every lazy hour of undriven bliss. 

and the sun goes down

We’ve been eating and drinking in France, and that’s a very good thing. All photos here by Maxwell Collins, on Instagram @maxyny.

a holiday writing retreat in Andalusia, Spain

For an entire week my daughter Sarah and I wrote, read, walked and meditated while at a beautiful rustic farmhouse in Andalusia, Spain. 

Finca Buenvino
the terrace where we would gather for tapas
top of a walk
on the farmhouse property
Elaine, in the orange puffer, on one of our many walks

We were there for Elaine Kennett’s sessions of Write-it-Down, one of her many writing workshops. She’s a warm, intelligent, energetic, full of wit dynamic leader. The writing was tough at times, and made you stretch and go places you might not go on your own. One of our group called it ‘absolutely life affirming’, and I agree. 

the corner for tea
Sarah writing on our last morning

Our days were full- sunrise meditations overlooking the hills of sweet chestnut and cork oak followed by a seated breakfast at 9 am. Writing began around 10, every day was different as long walks were figured in as well. We worked in chunks, usually around three hours at a time, and religiously broke for lunch at 2:30 pm, served in the garden. There was always wine. 

seated lunch in the garden, local rose
three delightful meals every day

After lunch we would work on our assignments, most often poolside. We would regroup around 5 or 6 pm to read aloud our pieces and write some more. The evening session would usually round out at half past seven, and tapas were served at 8:30pm, followed by a lovely seated dinner in the formal dining room at 9 pm. Again, much to my delight, there was always wine. You could linger over tea and fireside conversation afterwards, Sarah and I usually ducked out early for a little extra sleep time. 

walking about town
one of our excursions to a local cafe

We were hosted by Jeannie and Sam Chesterton, the absolutely adorable owners of Finca Buenvino, their family home of more than thirty years. Sam would taxi us about, picking us up in Seville, dropping us for lunch or a visit to the Hammam, and taxied us to the airport at the end. He also served as bartender for tapas and offered up a pretty brilliant gin and tonic. Jeannie and her son Charlie ran the kitchen, coordinating three delightful meals per day for our group of eight. 

Sam made floral arrangements from the gardens
the pool house where we would have writing sessions
all rooms had small arrangements

I can’t say enough about Elaine, she is the epitome of an evolved human, reinventing herself through life’s inevitable twists and turns, and she is magnificent. She turns seventy this September and has no qualms about sharing her age or her desires for creating her enriched and magical lifestyle. She can hike with the best of them, leads effortlessly and is endlessly supportive. She will return to Finca Buenvino late summer with her three adult children and closest friends to celebrate what I have no doubt will be a most beautiful week. Happy 70th birthday Elaine and wishing you many returns of the day. 

Thank you for encouraging us all to write it down. 

inspired by

Booie, Lexi, Peanut
poppy field outside of Ménerbes France
black tank, black denim

Three days ago, while traveling to Ménerbes France we stopped roadside to photograph this fantastic field of poppies, I adore single color floral arrangements, and this was beyond. 

blue painted shutters, white jacket

For the day-trip I wore black denim and tank, a silk hair scarf as a belt, and a white fringed jacket. It was okay, didn’t feel out of place yet didn’t feel the best. Travel is tough, you want to look good and like you fit in. Picking the right stuff to bring can cause anxiety. 

All black always works for day of travel and layers up the success rate. You never know when and where you might find yourself. 

on the road with this crew for four weeks

This trip we will be on the road for four weeks plus, so the packing thing was a big deal. First stop Spain, daughter and I packed two small bags. For the France leg we had two large bags sent via luggagefree.com and they were at the house when we arrived, genius. The two large bags were split between five of us, me, husband, and three of four daughters. We will ship them out ahead of our departure in mid-June to lighten up what we carry day of travel home. 

all about blue
always inspired by blue and white

Back to the wardrobe: while walking about Ménerbes we took photos of this beautiful blue sports car. I love the blue and grey paint tones of the shutters and the limestone on the streets and the buildings. In this wide world of color why do I so often wear black?

While working black works, I’m surrounded by rails of garments in all different color stories and the focus is on helping my clients find what they should wear where, and I can’t be distracted by what’s on my body, I want to blend in. 

Same with day of travel because I consider that work too. Getting to a place dependent on others means I want to blend in and not be distracted as well. Not in a haphazard or unthought of way, the black denim and the black sweater are usually pretty nice, and I always wear good enough shoes.

It’s in the countryside and the resort towns where I long for more color. For me black is default, and there’s so much more out there. 

Two days ago, we went to Saint-Rémy, the village where Van Gogh had himself institutionalized for over a year. If I couldn’t wear color, there I’ve definitely lost my way. 

greens and blues
trying out color

Went out on a limb and pulled from the case khaki green skinny jeans, a blue floral linen blouse, and a blue cashmere V-neck sweater. The blues didn’t match, that was the point. 

buying asparagus, apricots, and cherries
market day
mama and daughters
bought this blue ring from her, 20 euros

It was market day, and there was a woman with two young girls. She was selling jewelry of her design, from the back of her van. I bought a blue ring. I’m always inspired by women working alongside of their kids. I asked her if I could take her picture and she smiled and said yes. 

So here in France I’m thinking about clothes and thinking about color. Travel makes you do new things. 

soft florals, brilliant light

Now in Eygalières, and we’re settling in to life in the French countryside. 

our very own garden
pool with a view
morning coffee spot
very early morning
home base

First morning I took these photographs of the garden before anyone else was awake, and then did an hour of exercise, it was divine. 

rolled neutrals
bought a khaki green tablecloth and napkins in St. Remy and cut white roses from the garden.

Of course, I’m up to my usual, buying linens and candles, and these I picked up in nearby Saint Rémy. I was undecided between the khaki green or a very soft pink, and at the end chose the khaki, I guess if you look at my case of rolled clothes it all makes sense. 

youngest of the bunch, she’s pretty good at speaking French
both wearing a variation of florals

We are now a party of six and expected four more to come. Summer holiday in Provence, the light is absolutely brilliant.

travel clothes and a lipstick

I like to spend a lot of time on my feet and when traveling pack as light as possible. My clothes have to be multi-purpose. Footwear is the biggest deal, and I think a pair of boots in really any location is a good choice. I wear them on the plane and pull them out when the weather is cold or inclement or simply when I need to feel grounded.

A black V-neck sweater (first choice cashmere for softness and comfort) is a must have, I’ve been on the go for five days and this one has seen probably ten wears, maybe more, as sometimes it’s off and on all day long. 

Black silk camisole takes up no space at all and can go it alone or be a layering piece. 

lipstick | FLAME Tom Ford

A red lipstick just adds oomph and says yes, I might be wearing utility (camo cargo jeans) yet I’m really glad to be here. 

the frog pond

writing and reading, in the abandoned garden, by the pond

Writing, as much as I can, has helped me navigate life and all of its intricacies. Blog posts here have been a creative outlet for several years and recently, as in the last four months, I’ve been taking pen to paper and writing things down in long-hand, three pages a day, having read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way

In fact, my daughter Sarah and I have been working this program together, she is being steadfastly consistent, me fitting it in here and there. She has found the page to be a safe place, a place for her to explore her life-threatening experience with anxiety and depression

We talk about writing together, and often share with each other some of our more intimate work. Writing has been therapeutic for us both, and for the next four nights we are sharing a room in the countryside of Spain practicing our craft. 

Below is a short piece I wrote yesterday, after a long walk, one of my favorite things to do settle the mind, soothe the body. 

The children were all playing in the garden while I prepared lunch. The boys digging holes, the oldest daughter doing whatever she does and the babe poking things with a stick, at the side of the small pond. 

‘Lunch is ready’ I would call. Maybe I would bring it on a tray, and we would have a picnic. ‘Lunch is ready’ I would call again. 

Everyone all immersed in the outside world while enclosed in a garden with a fish pond. Isn’t that how life should be?

Outside, enclosed, immersed. Years went by and the garden was abandoned, we all got busy. 

And then she fell and fell hard. Not in the garden but outside in the world. She immobilized our family, our hearts stood still. 

Doctors and pills and pills and doctors. Journals and writing and writing and journals. 

guest cottage, in the meadow, while walking the hill

Time travel and a writing retreat and a walk up a hill in silence. She finds a spot at the corner of the pool, the only corner with sunshine, and then pokes things, and gradually stirs…

study abroad

I’ve been educated entirely in the USA, most specifically New York state, and more specifically then that a public high school, and then State University of New York at Buffalo with three young babes in attendance at commencement. Now, at the almost age of 54, I have the opportunity for the very first time to […]

Continue reading

things I gather

We’re prepping to leave town for a month, heading to a writing camp in Spain and then three weeks in France. I’ve known this trip was on the horizon, of course doing all kinds of stuff severely last minute and will for certain leave some things undone, whatever.  Not much hotel action happening, my second […]

Continue reading

dress over pants

One of my go-to style tricks is to start the day with a black bodysuit and black skinny jeans and runaround everywhere and get stuff done. When it’s time to leave the house, office, or studio and face the world outside simply layer over top: a jacket, a knit, or even a dress, add some […]

Continue reading