a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose

Is there anything more beautiful than a fragrant, romantic old fashioned rose arranged en masse? Danielle Hahn of Rose Story Farm pictured below, turned her avocado and lemon orchids into thousands of old..antiquey...old world roses. Not far from where we live right in Southern California...Carpinteria, CA to be exact. Her Belle Story Farm named for a David Austin rose...is a blanket of peaches and pinks and blushes and whites and reds and oranges...scents of citrus...honey...apple...licorice and myrrh flow through the air. It's pure beauty to behold. All the roses are awakening in California right now...after a long winter nap they are unfolding their captivating beauty for all to behold. 

Rose Story Farm

www.rosestoryfarm.com

(805) 566-4885 ~ Call to arrange a tour.

Rose clubs travel from afar to visit here. It's a gem of a farm as the owners put it, the magic and grace of roses. Some roses grown here are not typically seen by the public-they are a test site for new varieties. Most of Rose Story's roses are European, pre-1950's roses, with unusual shapes and heady scents. A perfect spot to spend Mother's Day, have a wedding, or just stroll the grounds with friends.

The Huntington Library ~ Art collections and Botanical Gardens

Many a Mother's Day we have spent, having tea in the Huntington Tea Room, wandering around the Botanical Gardens...We love the Shakespeare and the Rose Gardens..the statuary...amazing! It's really hard to say what our favorite spot is. The library is crammed full of historical documents for the public to view. The mansion is a bulging collection of art, rare objects and furniture. We are great fans of Lawrence, Gainsborough, Reynolds, and John Singer Sargent of which many make their home here. It's splendid to behold all the wonderful paintings. The Huntington employs one of the most acclaimed rosarians in the world to keep their roses in prime blossom.

Otto and Sons and California Rose Country

We first learned of Otto and Sons, the largest seller of bareroot roses in California from a local rose show. Sandy Gaal a well known rosarian, residing in Santa Paula, CA, held a rose show every May. Magazines such as Romantic Homes and publications like the LA Times picked up on her event and began to publish articles about "Gaal's Little Acres" as their home is known as. Held in May, lines would go on and on...everyone eager to get in and wander the grounds. Not just locals, but from everywhere. Sandy and her surgeon husband, have an English country estate..way before it was as popular as it is today to be into urban farming..cute chickens and all...they had a grand duck folly amongst thick, lush foliage, exotic varieties of chickens in their charming chicken coop, billie goats and Dutch lop earred bunnies and farm dogs~they had it all. Idiliac would describe their charmed surroundings. Set amongst their Shakespeare garden was a petite guest cottage..the French doors opening onto the garden...to stay there would be a dream! Light floral scents making for a good nights sleep.

At this event you could attend rose lectures by noted experts, find unique items at their boutique such as heirloom sweet pea seeds gleened from Sandy's garden or buy unique, rare and hard to find roses. Otto and Sons was there and that's were our next story begins.

Otto and Sons, 1835 Guiberson Road, Fillmore, CA 93015 is holding their annual rose sale on April 24 and 25, 2011. Doors open at 9:00 am. Their roses are gorgeous...really well cared for...and will make a statement wherever they are planted. Serious rose aficionado's come out to this event. Guest speakers from the big growers are there, Weeks, Jackson & Perkins, Star, and David Austen all lending their expertise to this event. Check Otto and Sons website for more details: www.ottandsons-nursery.com. Be careful though, you might just get bitten by the rose bug!

California Rose Country

Located close to Bakersfield, California, you will find the growers of the largest crop of bare root roses in the United States. A 38 million annual cash crop! Bareroots are any variety of rose budded onto old world rose root stock. It takes 2 years from the beginning until each rose is ready for sale. Locations such as Wasco, Shafter and McFarland all in (Bakersfield area) Kern County are riddled with big growers. Perkins began there in 1908. A large rose festival is held annually in this area around Labor Day. In April and May cars wind their way along the roads to get a glimpse of the colorful splendor of the roses. It is the dreaded Tule fog that lends itself to the success of roses here, keeping their roots constantly moist during a time in the growing season that could otherwise compromise their quality. 

Did you know that thanks to Ronald Reagan, the rose is our national floral emblem? Did you know that Oprah commissioned her own Legacy rose just for her eyes only and that she has a rose garden with a collection of 3 dozen rare roses? It's an obsession~the rose...it goes back to the beginning of civilization. War of the roses anyone? Confucius and the Peking Garden? Homer?

 

all images found on rose story farm, huntington, otto and sons and googled from web

Rainy Weather ~ Easy Dinner

Another rainy weekend in Southern California. Didn't we just spend last weekend digging out the weeds? Our poor garden  ~ a new crop of weeds has been birthed just during this last week of rainy days. After attacking the new upstarts today...who wants to cook or go out ??? We're pooped out! It is the perfect weather for Cheesy Fondue. We have been making this recipe for scores of years now in one form or another. The original, which we have veered from was given to us by a friend. You can make this in 2 whole sourdough boules or individual sourdough rolls such as the Pioneer brand. 

Yes, weeds were trying to hide amongst the herbs!

Determination was called for...we are taking back our plot...weed free!

Here are the ingredients for family style fondue.

This recipe makes enough to serve 8-10. Cut the amounts in 1/2 or freeze half for later use, if your family is smaller.

2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded

1 stick butter (8 tablespoons), cut into cubes

1-8 ounce (1 cup) can tomato sauce (not paste)

3 heaping tablespoons finely minced sweet onion

3 heaping tablespoons finely minced red bell pepper

dash cayenne pepper

(2-3 pieces of crispy bacon, crumbled would be a nice addition-we did not do this in today's recipe)

2 14-ounce Sourdough boule (we bought ours at Trader Joe's), slice off the top, and hollow out the bottom by running a knife around the bottom edge being careful not to cut through the bread. (You can see by our pictures how it works) Carefully remove the insides and cut into cubes to use to dip into the fondue when ready to serve. (You should have a bread bowl with a top when you are done)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a lower heat if your oven tends to burn easily. In a large saucepan over medium high heat, add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the onion and bell pepper. Cook until the bell pepper and onion are soft, but not brown. Add the tomato sauce and stir to combine with onion and bell peppers. Remove from heat and add the cheeses. Stir/mixture will still be chunky...it will not  become creamy until it is baked. Fill the boules with the cheesy mixture and replace their lids. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake approximately 15-20 minutes. Lift the lids a little to peek under and make sure the cheeses are melted. At that point, we like to remove the lids and turn the broiler on--broil until the cheese begins to bubble and brown a bit. Remove from oven, replace the lids and serve. 

**Suggestions~ This is how we completed our presentation today....we took a baking sheet...drizzled olive oil over the surface. Cracked sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder over the oil. Then we halved some red, yellow, and blue baby potatoes (enough for 2-3 per person)...popped them in the microwave for 5 minutes...removed them...rolled them in the oil/seasoning mixture on the baking sheet then placed them cut sides down into the hot oven. We also roasted the remainder of our sweet onion cut into chunks right along with the potatoes. Right next to the potatoes, we place our foil covered boules of fondue. The potatoes roasted for about 15 minutes and then we added some thin asparagus tips...we rolled them in the same olive oil mixture and continued the cooking process for another 8 minutes. Meanwhile we julienned some red bell pepper, grabbed a handful of baby heirloom tomatoes, and diced some chunks of leftover tri-tip beef, and began composing our serving platter. We removed the roasted vegetables and then popped the boules back under the broiler as mentioned above. You can see by the picture below that we served everything on one big platter. It is a lot of fun to eat this type of communal meal...it elicits conversation-everyone participates. It's a good thing!

Cleanup after a meal like this is pretty easy!

The Well Traveled Woman

{photo: fabuloulyfrench and LV}

Do you like to travel? Wish you knew the little secrets that make jet-setting around the globe a little easier? We are interviewing one of our BeckwithRoad readers who lives abroad...in Glasgow, Scotland to be exact. She just returned from Israel a few hours ago and has graciously allowed us to interview her.

Here are some of her photos taken in the last few months.  

A visual of her surroundings.

A scene from her 60 mile hike across the moors of Scotland. 

Lovely farmland~it's no wonder they have some of the best clotted cream and dairy in the world!

Grab your wellies and go for it!

Sheep that graze at the nearby manor house.

Amsterdam~canals~one of their famous methods of travel.

Interesting architecture.

A weekend in Paris every now and then.

Really lovely!

Some of the charm found in this amazing city.

The queen of macarons found here ~ so unlike our American macaroons.

The French have given the world many gifts, and this is one of their best.

Israel, ancient, dripping in history.

A view from my hotel room.

The structures, the landscape, the beauty.

Standard transportation? No! But it makes us glad the automobile was invented...can you imagine?

London Bridge

Hi E,

Let me first begin with a little intro about you. You left your rural roots right out of high school and went to a top business school some distance from your childhood home in Northern California. Not knowing a single soul there, you began your journey that led you through school, a business degree, a job with an international auditing company, and literally now you travel the world. (a very smart cookie, we might add) Currently you reside in Glasgow, Scotland.

In the past 2 years, how many countries have you visited?

I have been to 9 countries in 3 different continents. In the near future I am taking my first trip to South Africa where I will be there for 3 weeks.  Soon after  I will be in Spain for a 5 city summer tour for 10 days. Germany, and the Gran Canaria Islands are coming up later in the year...a birthday gift...travel on my birthday is a must...then Hawaii to conclude 2011.

What should every traveler know when going to a foreign country?

I would always recommend that you research the culture and customs of the country and people you are about to visit. On my recent trip to Israel, I found it quite important to know what their everyday life was like (very modern and Western) and how to show respect at places of religious significance and worship.

What makes navigating the airport a little easier? Tell us what you know.

I know we hear the advice to arrive 2 hours early for your flight and we might scoff at that, but by planning this way you can eliminate a lot of stress. When you get there early, be sure you read all the signs (very important) and get familiar with your surroundings. Now if  everything goes smoothly and you have the time, most airports have amazing Spas. Get yourself a manicure, pedicure or relaxing massage before you set off on your journey. 

What experiences have you had recently while in another country that our readers might find interesting?

Recently while I was in Israel, standing at the Western Wall, I was so touched by this nearly 2,000 year old landmark. As I laid my hands and head on it, and said a prayer for my family present and past, I was struck by the diverse group of people visiting there. At this very spot that has withstood so many wars and religious conflicts - was the very place people were drawn to - to seek peace and solace. I was enlightened and my faith awakened. 

Tell us about Glasgow from your perspective. What are it's people like, their way of life? Favorite places?

Scotland is by far the most beautiful country I have ever been to~I am fortunate to live there. I tell everyone that comes to visit, there is nothing more beautiful on this planet than Scotland on a sunny day. The people are some of the most relaxed and friendly you will ever meet. Upon arriving here, I was all alone-I knew no one. On any given night when I would run out for a quick bite, I would inevitably meet and make some new friends. We would share a conversation and a few laughs and soon I had a new circle of friends. I think I can credit some of my intrigue to my "accent" and California colloquialisms!

The dress here is relaxed and casual with a High Street flare, attributed to the social life. You may happen upon  a standard Scottish Pub, and find an amazing Jazz band captivating all the "pub-goers" attention for example. Scotland is down home with a sophisticated twist. 

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while traveling?

Funny/embarrassing. I was flying back to Scotland from San Diego. I was to meet a friend from San Diego at our layover who was just returning funny enough from Scotland. We met at the Newark Airport to have some wine and tapas, and after a few glasses of wine, we said our good-byes, I walked with her to her gate, after a quick hug I turned and "gracefully" caught my kitten heels (didn't feel like packing them-bad decision) in one of my pant legs. The weight of my laptop back pack pulled me backwards and I flipped over like a turtle on its shell! My friend was laughing hysterically and one of the gate attendants had to walk over and help me up. NEVER WEAR HEELS WHILE TRAVELING!

What are the most interesting sites you have been to?

Singapore, a country less than 1/2 the size of the big island of Hawaii that has over 5,000,000 inhabitants. With all the hustle and bustle, I was expecting chaos upon arrival, but it was quite the contrary. They are well organized and very functional. I felt totally safe when out on the streets. The British held the main influence until the mid 1900's. It has a high expat population, as well as Malaysian and their cuisine tickles the taste buds. Very tasty! One minute you can be by a Buddhist Temple and the next, you'll be walking right in the middle of China Town where you might be bargaining prices with a food hawker. For my first experience visiting an Asian country, it was a good one. 

On a personal note...you've got out there and done a lot on your own...what is your life motto?

Choose happiness. We can't control everything that happens to us, but we can choose how we react to it.

It's natural to be frustrated, sad, annoyed, etc. at times, but at the end of the day happiness is a choice - no one can take that from you. 

Thank you E for taking some time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. In closing what are your favorite indulgences right now?

Israeli food (I  probably gained 5 lbs while there, but it was well worth every bite), Dolce and Gabbana eyewear, Florence and the Machine and Adele for music, Chanel and Ralph Lauren (while in Paris, the Chanel store rocked my style world) when money's no object, for everyday wear, H&M and for more posh outings, House of Fraser, Miss Dior Cherie perfume, The Diary of Anne Frank is my all time favorite book bought by my mom for me at a grade school book fair...the best book ever~Thanks mom! I love the food at Waitrose....and a good pub...yes that too.

And the future? What would you still like to accomplish?

I want to continue to experience the world and learn of its different cultures. I plan to dive deeper into Asian destinations, I'm intrigued by their culture. In closing I would like to say the nomadic life I lead can sometimes be hard. I would love to find the love of my life and have a family one day. In the meantime, I am living life fully, blessed with great friends and a family, and choosing happiness at every turn.

DRYBAR

                               What's DryBar, you ask?

                               The most convenient idea in the world!!!

Drybar is a brand new “blow dry bar” concept created around a very simple idea: No cuts. No color. Just blowouts for only $35. They believe, as do I, that your hair always looks better when it's done by someone else. Its also better than paying  $60+ at a traditional salon. 

Choose from Straight up, Mai tai (sexy,  beachy, wavy), Southern comfort (volume), Cosmopolitan (loose curls), Or Manhattan (sleek and smooth).

For those of you that need a house call, no worries, for $75 dollars, they come to you. Easy as that!

Private parties are a fun feature as well as brunch blowouts, when you are recovering from a night out. Come between 10 and 2 for complimentary croissants and bagels with your blowdry.

Memberships and bar tabs are also available and make great gifts.

With locations in Brentwood, West Hollywood, Studio City, Pacific Palisades, Newport Beach and Dallas Texas visit the website and you can make an appointment online. http://www.thedrybar.com/locations/
SO, What are you waiting for? Grab your girlfriends and have some fun!

AllSAINTS SPITALFIELDS

I'm obsessed with ALLSAINTS clothing and I'm thinking that you will be too, which is why I want to share with you the most interesting clothing out there for Women, Men and Children.
ALLSAINTS is a UK based clothing line that started in 1994, as a menswear line and expanded a few years later into womenswear, as well.

Touted as, "fashion that doesn't follow trend" and named in part to AllSaints Road- notorious for it's artistic and Musical associations, the brand features sharp tailoring, fine knits and treated leather- injecting sexiness into the "boyfriend" wardrobe.

I can't remember a time when I've worn a piece from ALLSAINTS and someone didn't comment on the unusual  of the cut or details. These clothes are not your boring, normal, run of the mill items. Every piece has thought put into every aspect.

Moderately priced and worth every penny, go out and see what strikes your fancy but don't be mad at me when you get addicted, as I have and want to spend your last pennies figuring out how to get the next look.

You can find ALLSAINTS at Bloomingdales, Sherman Oaks. 818-325-2225

Transformations......Keeping it simple

A few weeks ago I saw 3 radical facial transformations that our guest blogger had performed on some very appreciative women over 50. They were stunning and it set my wheels in motion. Who doesn't want to look their best? What do we need to know to keep our skin it's best despite gravity? I can't think of anyone I'd rather have share her years of skin care. Here's my interview with her. 

K, When did you first realize the importance of good skin care? In my teens.10th grade to be exact. My Mom purchased my first skincare regimine- Cliniques 3 step. However, some of my earliest memories were applying  Revlons bright blue peel-off mask in the 70's/80's. The lid had what looked like a big paint brush on it and I was so fascinated with how it would stay in one large piece when you peeled it off.I would do it over and over.

You come by this knowledge honestly. Could you tell our readers a bit about your background? I started out in Beauty supplies offering knowledge on hair care, hair color and cosmetic application, then specialty beauty boutiques and large box retailers such as Sephora and now Kiehls. As a skincare specialist I have trained with many different brands, so I have many perspectives on skincare.

Does it take a bucket of cash to keep our skin in it's best condition? Yes and no. It really depends on how many steps you are willing to do in your regimen. In the long run skin care is less expensive than plastic surgery....and less painful! You have to be committed and consistent. Determine what works best for your skin and stick to it.

Tell us where to begin -  What are the essentials? Wash, tone, moisturize, use SPF (90% of skin damage is due to sun exposure) and exfoliate!!! No exceptions!!!
Serums are my best friend, especially Vitamin C. It's great for anti-aging.

What are your favorite products right now? I'm always loving the simplicity and efficacy of Kiehls Ultra Facial Collection. It is a fragrance free, colorant free pH balancing skincare line that is extremely affordable. Skincare doesn't need to be complicated.

I just discovered Bobbi Browns Extra Face Oil and I'm obsessed with the softening results it gives as well as the luminosity. They also make amazing eye creams like Hydrating Eye Cream and Extra Eye Balm....

The key to really good results is pairing your favorite skincare with the Clarisonic products. They make a tool called a skincare brush to wash your face and it cleans the skin 6 times deeper than using your hand or washcloth, diminishes fine lines, temporarily closes pores and helps your products absorb better so you use less.

The Clarisonic Opal delivers a sea serum deep into the under eye skin and gives the result of ironing out a wrinkle. Its like botox without the pain and has great cumulative results.
Find a salesperson you trust in a department store you like and work with them. Many brands offer samples so that you can try the products to see what works for you. Whats great about department stores is that they can track all of your purchases and samples and that makes it really easy. You'd also be really surprised at what kind of events and gift with purchases you are missing out on if you don't have a connection.
Take some time this week and find someone to work with.....You wont be sorry.


Thank you for all these wonderful skin care tips. For those who may not know, we sought out our interview with K today after seeing so many amazing transformations on her customers - transforming them from scullery maids to Cinderella's. She is tops in her field having helped many A List celebrities and public figures over the years. From time to time we will have her update you on any new products  that come along.

Blow-Up

Tim Walker...most of you may already know...but if you don't, (his work is astounding) he is a genius photographer/artist who teamed up on this project with set designer Rhea Thierstein. Upon seeing the April issue of W Magazine...drawn to it by the cover of Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender...and flipping through my newly purchased copy...my eyes clapped upon the article, Blow-Up...these images are so jaw-dropping gorgeous, much bigger than life itself, and so much so that I found they changed the perspective of how I view these famous works of art~how brilliant! Pure exhilaration is found in beholding and scouring the details of each picture. There are more in W than we have shown here. Click on each photo to enlarge, but better yet get a copy at your local newstand. 

We can't do these justice...you must buy a copy if you don't already subscribe. W Magazine is a large..larger than most in scale, glossy magazine. These photos are best displayed within those pages. 

You must take in every detail...each piece enhances the overall impression. 

How ironic!

Delicious bits of finery...scattered with abandon.

The setting for these scenes is a vast Elizabethan Estate in Suffolk, England...Glemham Hall. 

The concept was to cause the characters in each piece of art to fall out into the reality of today.