Late fall-early winter in wine country, we begin to rest and celebrate the year past, holidays of the season, and hope for the days to come.
Here are a few favorite shops filled with thoughtfully selected basics to bring warmth and joy into your home for the holidays this season. These well curated offerings speak to the idea of a pause, how to incorporate nature, and bringing forth the warmth that is so welcoming as we embrace home this time of the year in Sonoma and Napa Valleys.
At this time of year, we very much appreciate the cooler days and evenings; it is always a celebration when the vines are at rest. There is a beautiful ease about the slope of the land, with the orderly march of the vines welcoming the winter rain ahead. As we are a partially agrarian society, the combination of nature, authentic materials, and heirloom pieces are essential for a timeless feel in the home.
“Setting, atmosphere and the little familiar objects particular to each family are what make this time of year such a distinctive comfort and joy.” Bee Wilson, December 16th, 2023.
A very timely read, it reminds us that it is the little things that make a big difference, whether while decorating or dining.
I just love the way this store brings the season forth from floor to ceiling.
At Shoppe Amber Interiors we see the most basic, high quality, elements for a home, to include books, furniture linens and art.
A simple, larger pattern, on a footstool can add just a touch of brightness to a room.
Linens and candles are an important part of the warmth of the season.
This relaxing bed ensemble speaks to the peaceful rest which is so desired. The artful combination of textures, pattern, and neutral tones help to create an atmosphere of ease.
At Chateau Sonoma we see the lovely combination of organic materials, animals, plus antiques, to create this inviting table decoration.
Illuminating the darkness, music is such an important part of the holidays.
Recently, I visited the San Francisco Symphony to hear Handel’s Messiah, a holiday tradition around the world since its 1742 Dublin premiere.
Wishing you and your family a most joyous holiday season this year. For an update on the national real estate market, please visit our Market Watch page.
It is late summer, and the days are sunny and warm. As we approach the September holiday weekend, I’d like to share a few resources for your summer gatherings at home. The following is a peek into the shop Sue Fisher King in San Francisco. It’s an inspiring store with many unique home goods, quite a number handmade. They also have a comprehensive website for last minute ordering.
This collection of beautiful white dishes would be welcome on most any table in Wine Country or beyond.
Lovely place settings with a light, summer feeling, using white dishes and a natural themed tablecloth.
Colorful artisan glass tumblers can add a spark of fun to brighten your home, inside or out.
These handmade placemats and dishes are really quite special, perfect for summer gatherings or celebrations.
For many years I have visited this store, and Sue Fisher King now supports my Shelter Pet Card project, so I am especially grateful. Wishing you and all with whom you may gather on this coming holiday an abundance of health, happiness, and wonderful moments.
Art of Leisure has always been circling around home and the leisure lifestyle in Sonoma and Napa Valley. This naturally includes the physical structure of a home, the spirit of its occupants including pets, surrounding gardens, and the thriving wine country community. Below, you will see my oil paintings of pets, very much a part of a healthy and happy home life. Our four footed friends are an important element of our lives, as noted by artists and authors over the centuries.
For many years, I have endeavored to help the shelter pet community. Many afternoons, I would visit the shelter, sit with an animal, paint a plein air painting of it and share a print with the person who eventually gave it a new home. This practice developed into the creation of my Shelter Pet Cards, sold at such shops as:
Now I am bringing this service to those who would like to memorialize a moment in their and their pet’s life. Hopefully, a delightful, happy occasion in which I can help bring your pet to life in a pet portrait painting.
Bring Beauty to Your Home this Spring with a Butterfly & Hummingbird Flower Garden
As we welcome Spring this beautiful year of 2023, I’d like to share with you a community outreach butterfly & hummingbird seed distribution program created just in time for Spring planting and the celebration of Earth Day.
Gardens are an important part of a home here in the Sonoma Valley and beyond. My friends and I invite you to enliven yours with a gift of seeds to create beauty and abundance around you. These high quality seeds have been specially curated to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Both butterflies and these tiny, lovely birds are treasured contributors to our larger ecosystem. Whether in a personal garden or expansive field, they bring inspiring charm and joy into our lives.
The seed gift packets will be gifted to the community during the week before Earth Day 2023 at the local businesses listed below, located throughout Sonoma County. It is our hope that recipients will plant these seeds in their pollinator gardens in the spirit of celebration for Spring and our Mother Earth. Each gift will contain a mix of seeds ready for planting that will bloom into glorious flowers. These seeds are appropriate for a wide number of garden zones across the United States.
Included with the seed packets will be an information sheet with complete list of the flower varieties and simple planting guidelines.
Gifts will be dropped off at Sonoma businesses on April 20th. The community can stop by one of the following participating locations to pick up a Butterfly & Hummingbird seed packet from the 20th through the 29th of April.
Art of Leisure, Brenda McNeill, Coldwell Banker Brokers of The Valley
Scott Nichols Gallery
Readers Books
Eraldi’s Mens Wear & Shoes
The Loop
Potter Green & Company
Vintage House
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Chateau Sonoma
Bartholomew Estate Winery
Half-Pint
Tiddle E. Winks
Artefact Design & Salvage
Wine Country Gardens
Café La Haye
Art of Leisure & Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
A lovely setting with abundant flowers at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, awaiting guests and the Spring Garden workshop.
In addition to the businesses participating in the seed giveaway, we are honored to collaborate with historic Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa as they celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd with a Spring Garden workshop, creating sustainable hummingbird and butterfly gardens using our curated seed packets and recycled wine boxes.
Learn more about these elegant creatures and the importance of flowers as a food source for pollinators. Enjoy delicious hot tea made with fresh herbs while you assemble your own personal garden, and linger afterwards for live music and elevated street food from CaliForno, Fairmont Sonoma’s signature food truck. Tickets include all of the materials needed to craft your unique garden box. If you are unable to take a box home with you, a seed packet will be provided for you to plant your own garden at home.
Saturday, April 22nd, 3:30pm – 5:00pm, $35 per person. You may view the program and purchase a ticket at their website here.
Mentor and mentee work together to create seed gifts for the community.
Wherever you call home, it is my hope that you may find time to plant lots of flowers this Spring.
And, whether you are renovating a home or relaxing with a hobby, that you may enjoy the Art of Leisure. Wishing you a beautiful Spring. If you would like more information on this project, please feel free to give me a call.
Happy Spring! As we begin this season of growth, I’d like to share a few ideas for a leisure weekend of rejuvenation and restorative wellness. In Sonoma and Napa Valleys, the abundance of rain this year has brought what we hope to be healthy vines as they emerge from their winters rest. Thus, this is a perfect time to step out and enjoy something new and special before the full excitement of this season is upon us.
The idea of rejuvenation and wellness is inspiring because it evokes renewal, an abundance of energy, and a sense of optimism. To experience this feeling, here are a few places that offer various forms of personal tranquility and serenity. From the visual to the experiential, these places and rituals allow the true feeling of rejuvenation to bubble to the surface naturally. From the simplest idea of a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a steaming washcloth in the morning, to visiting a spa-golf hospitality venue, or just maybe, up-close gazing at stars and planets at the most advanced observatory in the West . Whether inside or outdoors, a focus on rejuvenation and wellness is an element of the leisure lifestyle any day of the year. As always, I wish you many moments of ease and joy as you experience the Art of Leisure.
Beauty and Tranquility as expressed by International artist/photographers today: Available at Scott Nichols Gallery, Sonoma Square. www.scottnicholsgallery.com
Regarding real estate, we are in a time of many questions and uncertainty. If you would like to know the facts, historical data, and trends that we are seeing for 2023, contact me for a Market Update that will help define today’s reality. Here are a few highlights as we peer into the future:
In the luxury market, we are seeing a trend toward more conscious spending with a movement towards minimalist luxury. The trifecta of location, home condition, and amenities are the primary decision making priorities.
Move-in-ready homes are highly sought after today. In some cases, homes are sold fully furnished, including linens and cutlery.
Overall, the mindset in real estate is evolving, as properties are taking longer to sell and buyers are in a less competitive environment. Every market is unique.
Recently, I visited a site in Healdsburg with new construction containing many of the elements of an Art of Leisure Home.
The property is the Mill District, and although quite different from a home in the country with land or in town, it does offer many desirable amenities to clients.
The interiors have clean lines, minimalist decor, and include some furnishings, including appliances and window coverings. This is a very move-in-ready property that is located close to the Healdsburg Plaza for entertainment and casual to gourmet dining.
I wanted to share this property with you as it is an example of the trend location, home condition, and amenities as we look towards the future.
It is my hope that you will enjoy a beautiful spring, and as always, please contact me anytime with questions or thoughts about the leisure lifestyle or the market which is adjusting quickly today.
Recently, I was visiting with a friend who has created an aromatherapy company in wine country and she brought to mind the importance of a restful nights sleep for one’s wellbeing. As this is an important part of the lifestyle within an Art of Leisure home, I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
Home is our haven and our wellbeing is largely centered around the places at which we feel at home. This could be our own house or a well appointed resort or guest cottage. A large part of the welcoming and relaxing experience that we feel is the air or scent of a location. Carole Addison-Goyne from Nomad Botanicals has created a lovely business with this as their priority. In my own office, I use a lavender diffuser from Nomad Botanicals to enliven the air with a restful scent that reminds me of a trip to a monastery in Provence where monks grew acres and acres of lavender.
At times in which you seek a moment of ease, it is nice to remember that our sense of smell allows us to reach back to a pleasant moment or memory in an instant. This is an element of the wellness provided us by natural plants, which I find fascinating.
In Sonoma and Napa Valleys, with fall upon us, we are feeling the shorter days and longer nights. Along with the grapevines and land devoted to agriculture, we are grateful for the slightly slower pace. With all of my involvement in creating a home and environment that nurtures a sense of wellbeing, it was the luck of synchronicity that I noticed a recent discussion on the importance of sleep and relaxation on the TODAY Show, with Ariana Huffington and noted Harvard professor and sleep doctor Rebecca Robbins, author of “Secrets of Sleep“.
This seems to be a popular topic today, as Carole was asked to speak at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences’ Nighty Nightlife event under the stars.
A lovely older tree is an endless source of healing and airborne scents.
This picture of a very old tree reminds me of Forest Bathing which is receiving quite a lot of attention recently. Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, is a healing ritual originally from Japan. Spending time in nature, has been linked to both cognitive benefits, increase in mental health, and emotional wellbeing. This Japanese practice of taking in the forest with all the senses is truly a rewarding experience. A very interesting book on this subject is Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li, who is the chairman of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine and Associate Professor at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.
Plants can be both hardy and delicate. Accordingly, Nomad Botanicals shares three key areas of working with plants for health and wellbeing:
Begin with healthy, vibrant botanical plants: This brings forth authentic essential oils, imparting aromas along with vital life force with each drop. A treat for the senses and protection from the elements.
Expert Formulations: This is very important as it is with study, apprenticeship and working in the industry that people such as Carole, who, with 25 years of experience, become knowledgable about plant chemistry, mixing scents with top, middle, and low notes. The result is a creation of poignant aromas, textures and results for those who enjoy these products.
The gift of being able to transform routine moments into rituals which support wellbeing. This begins with careful and considerate packaging, presentation, design and personal attention to clients.
This is the diffuser I use in my office. It allows one to easily transport oneself, through scent, to the five different locations of the world identified by their unique scents.
A bee roaming my neighborhood on a summer afternoon. Simply looking and smelling flowers or consuming honey can be healthy additions to our day.
As one of the more relaxing scents, lavender is abundant in Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Grown for both medicinal reasons and for landscaping. essential oils from plants such as lavender are at the heart of the mind, body and soul-soothing world of aromatherapy. It was interesting to be reminded that essential oils in plants are their organic method of communication with the environment around them. This is both to attract creatures, such as pollinating bees and butterflies, and to deter predators. How plant oils affect our mood and brain is an organic experience that has much to do with our past experiences and the influence of scent.
Towels are most always part of a wellness ritual. These are a few lovely thick white towels and a waffle robe which I saw recently at the Chateau Sonoma store on the Sonoma Plaza.
Another wonderful example of organic towels from the sustainable home decor shop JAK W in Sonoma, just off the Plaza. This style would be perfect for an outdoor shower as can be easily hung from a hook and dry in the breeze.
Alchemy Works is a newer store to Yountville which offers a number of very lovely products. Seen her on the shelf is their room spray which features notes of bergamot, vetiver, and sandalwood with hints of nutmeg and fresh geranium.
Cooking can offer its own form of aromatherapy as seen here at Alchemy Works in Yountville.
This bag and hat would be especially welcome on a leisure wander along a path in a forest or tree lined city street, shown at Alchemy Works.
Wishing you many moments of relaxation and beauty as you enjoy the Art of Leisure. Feel free to contact me anytime.
In Sonoma and Napa Valley because we live in an agricultural area the health of our soil is very important to our wellbeing. As the soil directly impacts the health of the foods we grow and our community, it is my thought that we all may like to know a little more about nutrient rich soil. For that reason, and to teach kids in my Sonoma Nature Club, I did a little experiment to study the effects of various microbial and nutritional additions to the soil on five different small areas of land in wine country. Healthy land and gardens are an important part of the leisure lifestyle in Sonoma and Napa Valley. In 2021, I began the research project on how soil amendments adjust the crop output and water retention of plants.
This informational and educational project included the participation of the Sonoma Nature Club (described in this local article) and Sonoma Mentoring Alliance members. It has been inspiring for kids of all ages to better understand the cultivation of soil and the growing of crops, farm to table, the endeavor has since transitioned into a valuable source of knowledge for the community. Hopefully, this will be helpful to you and your plants as they thrive through the growing season.
This is partial list of what was monitored by Sonoma Nature Club:
Growth + health of plant
Count of pumpkins and size of fruit, plus foiliage
Soil water content
Soil compaction
The 2022 pumpkin patch. You can see the rocks that a Sonoma Nature Club member painted on the lower right corner.
A few larger pumpkins at Sonoma Garden Park which we will study and then carve for Halloween festivities this year.
A few members of the Sonoma Nature Journal Club carving their 2021 pumpkin crop.
Friends in the garden include pollinator butterflies. We always appreciate a lovely Swallowtail butterfly visit.
This study of soil is part of the immersive agricultural experience that I have offered to kids and adults at the Sonoma Garden Park for a number of years. The focus is specifically on analysis and education about crops, soil and the land, which will be helpful to both the personal gardener and the crop grower. It has been my belief that becoming more comfortable with the land and nature is of the utmost of importance for everyone.
Part of our soil science study involved the product Biochar which is available from the company Pacific Biochar. The Chief Executive Officer, Josiah Hunt is shown above discussing how this soil enhancement product increases crop yield for vineyards.
Biochar is simply defined as a fine-grained biomass charcoal used or found in soil. For as long as fire and plant life have co-existed, pyrogenic organic matter (biochar) has played a role in the development and fertility of topsoil. One of the findings in our Art of Leisure soil science study is that biochar does increase water retention in and around the root mass of the plant, allowing for better root development and water availability for the plant. It also helps to increase soil tilth and supports microbial communities.
It is quite interesting to know and see how Biochar is created. First, the natural wood pieces are carefully burned or heated with a minimum or absence of oxygen. When air is excluded, oxygen for combustion is stripped from the biomass, which is thus reduced to carbon bonds of charcoal. Above is a container burning at Donum Estate Winery earlier this year.
Here we see the opening of the container and cooling of the product. It will then be packaged and transported to a site for distribution. I have used this product as part of the soil science study for Sonoma Nature Club and the community. It is my belief that the foundation for soil health is in increased microbial activity in our soil.
Healthy soil that has some structure and can bring nutrition to the roots of a plant can be accomplished in a number of ways. This engaging agricultural study is helping us to better understand the process. Below is an example of a cover crop of mustard seen in the Napa Valley earlier this year. Mustard is usually incorporated into the soil later in the season, all part of sustainable agriculture.
If you have an interest in this, please feel free to give me a call anytime.
It is late summer in Sonoma & Napa Valleys and truly quite warm. Here, I share a few favorite ice cream spots and two lovely homes with pools that are wonderful examples of how to use the available space on a property for living the leisure lifestyle.
Ice Cream Spots
One of the many joys of life is an ice cream cone. No thought of nutritional content or how it may look on you tomorrow; just the pure, pleasurable experience of going to the ice cream parlor, choosing the flavor, picking the type of cone, and enjoying the cold delight for as long as it lasts. Slowly enjoying a little homemade ice cream is one of the timeless and true friends from our youth. These paintings by a local artist are so evocative of the feeling of this authentically delicious frozen treat. I hope that you may be able to step out and visit one of these spots soon, or pick up a painting as an endless reminder of the experience. I wish you many moments of happiness and sustenance as you experience the Art of Leisure.
On these hot summer days, we are reminded of the importance of the use of space at a home or property. The homes below offer some portion of their outdoor space for a swimming pool. This allows for swimming as exercise, a place for gathering with friends and family, something beautiful to observe most any time of the year, a way to break up an expanse of land with a view, and many other pleasures.
A sparkling pool in the western hills of Sonoma at 3350 Vigilante Road.Built in 1990, this home has a lovely exterior color and openness to the outdoor balcony area.The view looking east from the balcony just outside the above doors.A bedroom with history. The lovely wood ceiling reminds one of the trees and land just outside the window. A very relaxing and natural feel to the space.Brand new construction on two acres of Sonoma land with a pool to take full advantage of the outdoor space, a pool house, and open floor plan for the main residence. Located at 21706 Hyde Road, SonomaThe main residence living area offering a very airy and open use of spaceA fresh feel to the refreshment area in the pool house.Spare furnishings and new construction give this property an ease that has been well curated.
Summer is the season of leisure and mixing up the routine, whether this involves a hammock on a warm afternoon in the backyard, or a day in the woods. I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite books of summer as well as some additional recommendations by the Wall Street Journal. The subjects range from golf to outdoors to foods, and one of my favorite subjects: bees and pollinators. Many of these have been around for a while, with a few new reads included. I hope that you have a relaxing summer filled with the Art of Leisure that we each experience in our unique ways.
Outdoor Scenes Expressed by International Artist Foad Satterfield Available at Christina Maybaum’s Maybaum Gallery.
In Sonoma Valley, we often wander into the family owned bookstore Readers Books to peruse their well stocked shelves of great titles. They are located just off lovely Sonoma Plaza. You can also often find these books at your local bookstore or library to pick up at a moments notice, in addition to online.
A Brief Real Estate Market Update
We are in a shifting housing market. Following are three highlights from the last couple of weeks in which we have seen the market slowing down:
VALUE: Homes are not losing value at this time; experts are forecasting continued appreciation. Are we in a housing market correction? The technical answer is no, as a correction is considered a decline of 10% or greater in the price of a security, asset or financial market. Median house prices are increasing, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median price for existing-housing types in May was up 14.8% from May 2021 nationally, NAR reports. We are in a market that is attempting to rebalance itself.
A graph from the Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) that displays forecasted appreciation over the coming years.
RATES: We have seen a quick and dramatic rise in mortgage rates this year. This has been successful in slowing purchase demand with a decrease in new purchase applications. To bring perspective, the average mortgage rates over the past 5 decades ,from the 1970’s to 2010’s, has varied from 4.09 to 12.70%, per Freddie Mac. The Federal Reserve wants to see the housing market reset to more balance, with supply and demand closer together and lower inflation.
Mortgage rates over the past year. Provided by Freddie Mac.
SALES: Existing-home purchase applications have declined with the economic slowdown. Current data shows that we are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic demand and sales. This is coming off two years of demand and price increases that we had not previously seen.
The market currently has a housing supply shortage, which will take new home construction and existing home inventory increases to correct.
It is very important at a time like this, when the market is adjusting at a quick pace, that you work with a professional that is familiar with all the data to support your real estate investment needs. Feel free to call me anytime. If you need a referral to someone in another area of the country, I have contacts in most cities. Also, I send a monthly market update to many friends and clients across the world; it would be my pleasure to include you–just let me know.
As it is just a few days into this lovely summer season, I wanted to share with you a few thoughts on the importance of location when considering the Art of Leisure and buying or selling a home. This is particularly important during this time when home has an increase in importance and use. Creating the most nurturing and inspiring space for yourself is rather simple to do when you consider a few important items. Location is always the place to start when you can, as it will influence most all of your other decisions.
To demonstrate, I’ll show you two wonderful homes at very different locations and with very different “feels.”
The first home is located in the city of Sonoma, and is a great example of being close to town, yet having a sense of space plus privacy. The restaurants, farmers’ markets, shopping and wineries are within two blocks. Kids’ and semi-pro baseball games are just across the street. The city center of Sonoma Plaza, a community gathering place, is very close. This is an example of what can be created in a relatively small amount of space.
The side yard entrance. Just across from the baseball fields and moments to Sonoma Plaza.
This generous entrance greets you as you walk through the front door.
This kitchen brings together high ceilings, great lights and appliances, with plenty of space to prepare something wonderful and chat with friends. In this home, a number of the rooms open into each other to utilize the space to its maximum advantage.
Ample storage
A well-lighted bath with unique wall and floor treatments.
This bedroom has been decorated with a touch of drama as in the many tall windows, the positioning of the furniture and a beautiful large print.
An oversized print rests casually on the floor next to a soft chair in the bedroom.
This home is at 196 First Street East in Sonoma and available for purchase. The square footage is at ±2,783, a reasonable size in the Sonoma city limits. You can see more details here. This is an example of a leisure lifestyle home that is close to town, yet offers a feeling of space and privacy.
In contrast to the very artistic home above, below we see a lovely country home with magnificent views and an abundance of space.
This location is on the west side of Sonoma Valley, in the hills. The view here is from the wraparound deck on the east side of the house.
A beautiful living room with an abundance of open space just as you enter the custom front door.
This home at 2600 Morningside Mountain in Glen Ellen has over ±4,000 square foot of livable space. In addition, the land is around ±9.5 acres. A home site in the country offers views, space and distance from noise and proximity to town, offering the privacy and quiet that so many of us value.
A spacious bedroom with fireplace and dramatic views of the Sonoma Valley from both inside and on the deck.
Truly one of the most amazing gyms ever. This large building has gym equipment, a full office and an additional area with a few entertaining features.
A county location is more likely to offer more outdoor leisure living options as well as more nature such as seen here with these old growth trees.
You can see more pictures and information on this home here.
The most important ideas are whatever has meaning to you. With many of my clients, we discuss what homes they have most loved. Sometimes it is the home they grew up in, or it could be even be the home they reside in now. This is something to which one should allow deep consideration before purchasing or remodeling, as importance of location is key and not easy to change. So, yes, jogging your memory and the memories of anyone who will live with you is both fun and time very well spent. Most recently, many people have moved from more urban areas to the country. In Sonoma and Napa Valleys, both in-town homes and those in the hills offer plenty of options to experience the leisure lifestyle as you most wish it to be.
A lovely older tree is an endless source of healing and airborne scents.
A bee roaming my neighborhood on a summer afternoon. Simply looking and smelling flowers or consuming honey can be healthy additions to our day.
