Mothers Mad at Maddie

So, did you read the post about my favorite designer ever? And did you figure out who he is….? RALPH LAUREN! So many designers are about throwaway fashion. Not Ralph. And not Red House. Take a look in your closet and see what you’ve held onto – I’ll bet your favorites (like mine) combine quality, comfort and luxury.

Ralph Lauren: The Man, The Vision, The Style by Colin McDowell

My favorite coffee table book!

My heart was racing - I was so excited! Both my parents and Michael’s were coming to Napa to spend Easter with us. As our guest room is occupied by Natalie, the in-laws elected to share one of the ultra-stylish homes of Calistoga Ranch. These are fractional ownership lodges that truly celebrate outdoor living. Nestled between old oak and redwood trees, each home has two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen that - get this: face an outdoor “great room” with comfy furniture and a fireplace. There’s even a private outdoor shower. Now that’s what I call wine country living! And just try finding that in Manhattan! The Ranch is part of the storied Auberge Resorts so there’s also an exquisite restaurant, hotel and wine cellar for soirées. My parents are very close to buying there, which would be fantastic, as they’d have no excuse not to visit often. If I’m lucky Mom will invite me to attend some of the winemaker picnics they offer. She’s talked about guided nature walks in the Maycamas Mountains, yoga sessions and making jewelry after lunch. I’m so jealous! Check it out: CalistogaRanchLiving.com.

There is one hitch in this family holiday: my mom, Marianne, and Michael’s mom, Janice do not as a rule get along. At our wedding, they both wore dresses in the exact same shade of blue. Each blamed the other for not giving a head’s up. Is that when it all started? Who knows! They are just very different, clashing creatures and the conflict endures. Mom is lively and outspoken and Janice is well, restrained and doctrinaire. (I love them both dearly, and in case they are reading: it takes all sorts of personalities to round out a family.) I did think they could both agree on the desirability of Red House pashminas (RH29), wrapped in big spring bows and delivered to their lodge door. My mistake! No, no, they loved the pashminas, but bad Maddie - I got them the same color! I figured that ivory would be a lovely neutral choice. But I just wasn’t thinking…about the wedding incident. Well, neither mother wore hers to Easter dinner so I decided that the rest of the womenfolk would make a statement. Natalie, Delia and I all came to the table identically clad in soft, ivory pashminas. I carried the rack of lamb, Natalie, the mustard-mashed potatoes, and Delia followed, carrying a coconut cake she decorated (very liberally) with marshmallow bunnies and chicks in a riot of pastel colors. Our warmth (literally and figuratively –pashminas really take the edge off a spring chill) broke the ice and everyone had a laugh. Thank goodness! It was a wonderful celebration, even the dessert. And I heard from my dad that both moms were “in uniform” (!) on the plane back home. And while cozy in their cashmere wraps, I’m sure they found something else to argue about for the next five hours!