On this post, inside Woodside’s Filoli Mansion, the Hand’s Off Protest, a cute spring skirt and more..
How are we all doing? We had some nice weather here, so being out in the yard and walks has really helped deal with everything that is going on. With the tariffs and the stock market.. I have no words. So many friends have their retirements and kid’s education funds they are relying on. It’s a fraught time.
I added a gingko tray bought at the Filoli garden shop to my coffee table. Juliet bought me that book. I love the greens!
Inside Filoli Mansion…
Last weekend I shared the incredible garden and this week a few photos of the historic estate, which has been changed up since I was last there. They have furnished it beautifully, as the family lived in it. It has the feeling of Downton Abbey with servants rooms, and family spaces, and it’s a delight to see all the small details that make it feel authentic.
The estate grounds sit on the ancestral lands of the Ohlone tribe. It is nestled on a coastal slope, which has a stunning view of the mountains. The home was built in 1917, and became a non-profit and part of the National Trust in 1975.
‘The property is considered one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, featuring a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard, and hundreds of acres of Natural Lands with 6 distinct ecosystems and nature trails.’
I have yet to try the trails, but that is on my list! Since Heidi was a former docent here, she was so much fun to go with. She had a story for everything. We loved exploring the rooms. The architecture is also beautiful.
The family room with I Love Lucy running on the television, card tables with ongoing puzzle games and snifters of Brandy sitting out! They even had a little sneaky closet bar we checked out.
Parts of the kitchen which has its own walk-in vault for the silver, and a baking kitchen, pantries, and cabinets full of dish collections. Heidi and I checked out the case of the family’s Tiffany silver! They have servants quarters furnished now too and you can envision Mr Carson in there!
They’ve done a great job of incorporating real plants everywhere, which is so Californian. I didn’t take photos of the main drawing room as it was being freshened up a bit. The colors, textiles, flowers, books, and porcelains all were so pretty.
You can visit Filoli all year long. They always have something beautiful happening and you can check on the Bloom Calendar to see what is on when you go. Your admission includes the house, the gardens, the Clock Tower gift shop (always cool garden themed things), the Quail Cafe, The Potting Shed, and more interpretive trails.
Last week’s post on Filoli’s gardens here if you missed it.
This video that tells of the two owners of the estate here and how it became part of the National Trust.
Link to Visit Filoli here. If you can make a reservation ahead of time.
On My Radar…
It was warm this week, so I wore my Sezane Chlo blouse ( I bought an 8), with these Frank & Eileen white jeans for a dinner out. I am thinking I may wear this outfit Easter.
I also have these Frank & Eileen shorts in my shopping cart. Sooo cute.
This Madewell open stitch cardigan is fun. I’d wear this with a light tank (on sale) or this one. I love this pull on white skirt. Both great spring/summer staples.
I love these sandals that would look great with it and so much else.
I just heard Claire V. is having a free strap with a purchase of one of their handbags. Another California company with many cool things. Ends 4/13.
I just added a Shop My page which I am slowly adding to. It’s another easy way to shop some of the things in my house and on this blog.
Earth Day and Water Bottles
Earth Day is upcoming on April 22. This year, can we talk about water bottles? Biden had passed a plastics initiative to stop restaurants from selling single use plastics by 2027. Trump ended that and praised plastic straws. Lord don’t get me started on him… Let’s be better.
People are still going to places like Costco and buying massive packages of plastic water bottles. I see it even at my grocery with giant pallets of single use bottles. Why this is still a thing? Years ago I stopped buying them, and since then, we have lots of reusable bottles rolling around here, and a purifier at the sink. Sure occasionally you are out and you have to buy a water bottle when you are hot or parched, but it’s great to always have your own with you.
I don’t think you need to buy them in bulk to fill a fridge for the convenience -or for guests. Someone I know said their kids just love to grab them and go. I’m sure any kid would, but why not show them a better choice for them and the planet?
A few reasons to rethink this if you are still in this habit:
More than 1 million bottles of water are sold every minute around the world. Around 85% of plastic water bottles, which can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, end up as waste. They also end up in the ocean, adding to plastic waste that poses a serious threat to marine life. It hugely pollutes our oceans, and when broken down on land or water, gets into our food systems- and us.
If the plastics industry were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Making water bottles is a huge part of this.
One reusable bottle can save the average person more than $1,300 a year in just plastic water bottle cost, so imagine the savings for a family.
The average bottle of water has no better purity than your tap water. Not long ago Walmart water had tested positive for fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, high levels of cancer-causing chlorination byproducts, heavy metals, and more. Even spring waters can be mixed with tap water legally.
Invest in a purifier at the tap, and if you can’t the Brita pitchers are also effective and filter out 99% of the chemicals, plastics, lead, and also make it taste better!
If you need a good bottle, these Swells are very durable, I love this from Owala and it’s what I use for tennis and travel.
Good Things…
Seems like a lot of us got to the Hands Off protests across the nation. I was thrilled to see even tiny towns in some of the reddest states had protest. Look at this beach in San Francisco, and in my son’s town of Salt Lake City they had one of the largest. My son said a lot of his Mormon pals went too. Great to hear in a very red state. Go Utah!
These are a few photos of the San Jose march. I went with my friend Christina and we weren’t sure what to expect. We drove and parked fairly close. Both having gone to college at SJSU we knew the area. We saw group gathering and thought okay a fair amount of people. We walked around the park chatted with others and enjoyed the signs.
Within a short time, St James Park was at capacity and spilling out to the streets! A speaker started and then a march that someone handed out route maps for began. We marched for a few blocks, and then watched from a street corner and chatted with several older folks that had biked over. We think there was about 10,000, but as there were multiple organizers, and no law enforcement, it is an estimate. I find it amazing we had nationwide protests of what they think is now in the millions with no police, and no incidents! Peaceful is so powerful.
It was hugely uplifting being with people who feel the same about everything happening and want to make a difference and speak out. There were so many issues, science, free speech, unlawful deportation, the corruption, lies, and treatment of our allies. We snapped some of the best signs and I shared a video on my Loud Daughter Instagram account.
I’d love to hear if you went too and how it was. Please share!
I love the 1910 Craftsman account on Instagram. They are two vets in Michigan, and they are always posting about democracy. They shared this quote that resonated with me….and my mom was a big fan of Leo’s books in the 80’s.
Keep this in mind, with all the bullying going on now by Trump and his administration…
Rita Konig’s Garden Home
I watch a lot of these home tours, and occasionally there is one I am crazy about. Designer Rita Konig’s home on Frederic Magazine is my latest obsession. It’s a short 6 minute video, but there are so many fresh ideas. I love the way she made the garden a big part of what you take in. Rita is also so relatable and full of good tips.
Isn’t this kitchen just darling? How I love the wallpaper and marble with the high shelf. The arched window with the baskets and plants and more…
If you missed last weekend‘s post- I was guesting on Cindy’s Ageless style, Filoli garden, new local small businesses I love, cute things at Madewell, and sign ideas for the protest.
Take care and enjoy the weekend, and wishing those who celebrate a Happy Passover!
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth’s and Juliet is back for this weekend for more good things…
Pinecones and Acorns
Make Mine a Spritzer
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Another great post, you always knock it out of the park. I’ll come back to watch Rita Konig video, however, I did notice the light fixtures. Beautiful. Have a great weekend. We are in autumn here and yet 29 degrees celsius expecting low 30s tomorrow. Off to enjoy the beach tonight.
Thanks for sharing pics of the protests we don’t know about here in Kansas. The MSM does NOT show the massive protesting going on…all the resistor accounts try their best to show the pushback, but in reality–we are losing our connections nationwide…WORLDWIDE–the gov’t is suppressing news, the truth, and they are coming after how we communicate. I posted “We all need to learn to ride horseback and to write in code. We are heading back to the 1770’s.”
Keep sharing, KIM! 🙂
I am SO tempted by those brown sandals, Kim.
We always refill water containers and Howard even keeps his in the fridge so that they are ready when he runs out the door.
Another great post, Kim. I really enjoyed the descriptions and photos of the historic mansion. It actually looked quite lived-in and homey. So beautiful. I will also come back for the video. My husband and I have our two glass water bottles (with silicone covers) that we’ve had for years. It is pretty horrifying that so many people still rely on single-use water bottles. We need to get out of the habit of everything being grab and go for convenience. We were at our Hands Off protest in Austin, Texas, and it was peaceful, though there was a pretty big police presence. It was estimated at 7,000, and was considerably larger than the last protest we went to. As you said, it was uplifting to be with others who think the same. There were also a lot of great, creative signs. No matter how they try to suppress or quiet people, we are still here, we’re not going away. We are also continuing to vote with our wallets. I still truly believe that at this time in history, they will not succeed in what they are trying to do; people in the US will just not accept a dictator.
Lisa, love that you guys have glass bottles…
Yay for going to the Austin protest! We have so much power. They have no idea!
I agree we won’t take this lying down. There are more good people than bad and we won’t be silent. xo
Thank you, thank you Kim for your always delightful recommendations for beautiful places to visit and sane comments about things such as water bottles and the large protests. Your posts are very appreciated.
Hi T, Thank you so much! Really appreciate it. x
Great post Kim. I too attended the “Hands Off’ rally in Albany, NY. Even though it was cold, and rainy, the attendance numbers were around 6,000. It was very calm, nothing like the Jan.6 crowd.
Jill that is awesome you had 6,000 in the cold weather. I am so impressed with the numbers.
I love Rita Koenig. I have followed her for years. I just signed up for creative Academy and followed her 26 sessions of how she redid her home. It’s so interesting.! You are so right about water bottles. We always refill our usable ones and put a water filter in our sink. Best decision ever.!
Martha, so do I. I would love to do her academy class.
I know the reusable water bottles are so easy!
Hi Kim,
Another thoughtful and informative post from one of my favorite bloggers!
Filoli such a wonderful and inspiring place. I always come home with a million ideas of how to change my garden, now if only I had the staff they have to do the work.
The protest in Santa Cruz was awesome. I gathered a group of people and made a ton of signs and we had a very uplifting time being around all the like-minded folks who are protesting what’s happening to our country. We just need to keep making noise as long as we are allowed. I will continue to protest this administration and the havoc they are wreaking on our democracy.
You gave me some cute ideas of how to pull together some of the items in my closet. I think we might be able to depend on the weather being a little warmer from now on. I’m excited to wear some things that have been hanging in there for a while! Yay, spring, My favorite time of year!
Hope you have a great weekend.
XOXO Heidi
Heidi, Wish we could borrow a few of those staff gardners and a few hundred of the tulips. Thank you so much for the great day. I am so lucky to be your pal..
I could not believe how many people showed up in Santa Cruz! More than SJ I believe!
I love spring too. xo
Hi Kim,
Terrific post thank you and l adore those sandals too. We bought metal water containers from Costco and use them all the time. Have a wonderful weekend xox
Francesca I think they are so chic!
I love the metal ones too.. So easy. Hope you had a great week. xx
Hi, Kim —
Another great post! That mansion looks amazing. Sounds like it would take repeat visits to see it all!
And I agree with you re: plastic water bottles. My son works at Costco and reports it’s their top selling item. Really, people? And you’re not even recycling them? It’s not hard to get into the reusable water bottle habit, much like our reusable grocery bags. Here we have good water right out of the tap. Maybe put a pastel water bottle in your kid’s or grandkid’s easter basket this year?
We went to a small local protest last weekend for which there was an unexpectedly huge turnout! Our local congressperson attended. Great signs! My favorite was “Does this ASS make my country look small?”, with a picture of trump on one side, and musk on the reverse. The group got on transit to join the downtown Portland (Oregon) protest, which also had a huge turnout. We had reservations at the beach, so couldn’t attend that part, but could see thousands of people downtown as we drove south on I-5. It was so affirming to see so many others with the same concerns. Later, it was challenging to find news coverage regarding the turnout.
Yesterday I joined a group holding banners from an overpass during rush hour. Again, most drivers were honking and waving in support. Let’s keep showing up!! We can do this!
Keep up the good fight. xo
Julia, That is crazy about Costco water bottles!! Sad. I agree it is such an easy habit and better water at the tap that hasn’t been sitting in plastic, maybe even for years before we get it. Cute idea for an Easter basket like you said.
Good for you guys going to the local protest and that it was huge. Ha! Love that sign. Agree seeing so many others turn out is hugely uplifting and inspiring!
For sure and I believe more are going this weekend. xo
Good morning my friend,
Isn’t it funny that after all these years there are still plastic water bottles? I remember my very first trip to Europe I was 16 and I am 58 now, so that was a LONG time ago. They did not give you plastic bags at the grocery store! It’s the same in South America! Why can’t we get rid of plastic bags? And bottles? I am forever amazed at all of the people the talk about global warming and the end of the world as we know it with a bottle or water in their hands. As you said, if you are out and obout and parched that’s fine but come on, in this day and age when we leave the house we take everything but the kitchen sink with us, bring a water bottle.
I love this house! I cannot wait to take the time to explore it. Can you imagine 54,000 sq feet?
Love your Easter outfit and the sandals! Beautiful!
Rita Konig is one of my favorites! I give myself the Create Academy for Christmas and have been watching her videos! She is amazing as is everyone on the channel.
Have a wonderful day Kim.
xo
We can do the same as Europe and other nations. We have two problems, complacency, and the plastics lobby which shuts down a lot of potential bills from getting passed. They don’t have industry meddling in politics in other places!
Still, if we were imposed to do it, we’d find it’s more convenient anyway- and cheaper! We can be better.
So cool you gave yourself her academy. I have to maybe do it! xo
Kim, my goodness… I had about three of Leo Buscaglia’s books back in late ‘80’s when I was searching for inspiration during the end days of my earlier marriage. Loved his books , as did your Mum. Your visit to Filoli looks wonderful and it’s added to my future plans for my trip to California in a few years. It reminds me of the opportunity I had to visit Agatha Christie’s home ,Greenway, in Devon above the River Dart , when she was happily married to Max Mallowan. It was filled with all sorts of amazing collections…they both collected everything! And it was as if they had stepped out for a while. Her bedroom, especially, seemed very personal, with her 30’s style furs hung in the closet , and her writing area looking as if she was still writing another mystery. I was anchored in beautiful Dartmouth on a small cruise ship at that time.
As a fellow traveller, Kim, look into PONANT week long cruises on their smaller ‘explorer’ ships , for a future trip with your Max. The trip from London ( Tower Bridge) to Glasgow is excellent, and excursions are included now, as they realized that they must complete. I had a bit of a € bill in 2023 for Greenway, gardens of the Scilly Isles, on to Dublin and Belfast( Titanic Museum) . Since you obviously love touring and learning more about the UK, this could be a beginning or an ending to another future trip.
Another place to look into, for an earlier trip, and perhaps sharing with friends, is with English Cottage Vacation located in Bedchester, Dorset. Nathan and Laura provide everything you could want within a week! I was a solo guest back when the just reopened in 2021 and had a wonderful bespoke experience. I saw a good price this fall, and am returning to share the cottage with others in spring 2026. Might be my last BA long haul to Heathrow! You never know… life may be more generous to me with what will be mid 70’s body !
So inspiring to see and read about the peaceful protests. Aren’t we all so weary of this chaos!? And it’s only just begun…still years to go. 😵💫
Cath, I hope you get to Filoli! You would love it.
I did not know about Agatha’s home and I have it on my list now. It sounds wonderful. I am thinking of what kind of trip I could take to include it.
Oh I adore the idea of Dorset cottages too. You really know the best places.
I have hope about these protests that we are all finally going to come together against this administration.
I hope your trip was wonderful! Are you still on it? x
Kim, I am back, although admit that my body definitely needed some rest and a couple of Pilates reformer classes to get back into alignment. It’s spring, and with it , time to decide how I want my west facing covered patio to look and work for me. Indoors is looking good so I need another project ! Voted early last night as this election is incredibly important to Canada. I want someone with economic credibility and who will be unwavering when dealing with Trump. I “guess who “ is obvious! ✏️✖️
A couple of my earlier travel ideas are for later on, like a PONANT cruise when you are ‘ older’ , but once I have enjoyed my fall tour of Yorkshire and the dales, this might be something that you might like to try, en route to Edinburgh perhaps, like I am doing to visit family there. I will have my own guide… Yorkshire man who knows and loves the area. York can be accessed by rail , and then onward by rail north to Edinburgh. I will tweet my luggage a bit, especially swapping out a satchel ‘with an attitude’ , for a carry bag that slips over the raised handle of my medium rolling suitcase. I had some frustrations in NL.
“English Cottage Vacation” will give you wonderful daily tours of the west country of England, without the hassles that come with driving. All inclusive , and seriously that’s with Laura’s meals besides Nathan’s tours. When married we did a three week driving tour, staying at BnBs throughout Hampshire , then west through Devon, Cornwall , Somerset, and Dorset in fall of 2021. A few hilarious ‘oops’ but if one is driver and the other navigator using A to Z map books, along with cell navigation, you can’t really get lost . Dartmouth could be a stop if you did something like that. So many amazing places to see…Mousehole, Marazion, Portleven, Lynmouth…well the list is endless.
Back before taking up my first teaching post, and my boyfriend going into medical school, we did a BnB tour all through the UK…very cheap and cheerful in 1971… and this was when we’d drive into a costal village looking for “room to let ” signs in cottage windows. Never without a room for the night…and so few cars on the roads back then. All the way from in Surrey to Elgin in northern Scotland, so we visited all of my English and Scottish relatives along the way.
Yay Cath so glad you all are sticking it to Trump. He deserves all of it.
I love the idea of that cruise and the trip! I am saving all of this. Thank you so much. What a great memory that must have been with your boyfriend back in 71!! Sounds magical. x
Good morning, Kim! Love your photos of Filoli’s interiors. You and Heidi look so happy! I haven’t been to Filoli in two or three years … and I’m disappointed to have missed the tulips again this year. Next year for sure. Touring the interiors is also magical and you’re right, it’s very easy to imagine the Downton Abby residence and staff … especially in that period kitchen. I love that white pull on skirt and just bought a similar one. I adore the look, as well as the comfort and can’t wait to wear it. We weened ourselves off plastic water bottles several years ago and now I don’t think twice about filling an insinuated cup for the dogs, post-walk water bowl. We installed a filter water faucet during our renovation – I’m sure you did too – and love it for filling bottles or glasses. Truth be told I don’t carry around a big Stanly cup or water bottle … but tend to drink out of a glass from the sink. Anyway, happy to do a small part in saving our landfills from an unnecessary overflow of plastic. It was heartening to see the size and scope of last weekends protests. Some of the comments from this administration are so tone deaf in terms of missing social security payments, not caring about 401k balances. These people clearly live in a difference universe than most of us and I have to say we were more than a little anxious when the stock market tanked on the same day Jim retired. Everyday I wake up and say a little prayer that empathy – and sanity – become fashionable again. Can’t wait to watch this Rita Konig YouTube. Did you take her class on Create Academy? I love it and now she has another one. Happy weekend! xo
Juliet, yes its so easy isn’t it with the reusable water bottles?? I don’t get the plastic.
You have to get to Filoli next year in spring.
I know maddening about the SS missed payments that those complaining would be grifters! WHO are these people?
Apparently I am the only one who did not take her class.. I feel serious FOMO!
I’m constantly baffled at people buying bottled water. I have a super water bottle which keeps my (tap) water cool on even the warmest of days. Take away coffee cups also drive me mad, I have a light weight cup which I take shopping/to museums/ days out and a sturdier one for the car, I’m not sure with you, but in the UK the black plastic lids are difficult to recycle. There is far less take away coffee here in France – so civilised!
Wishing you a Happy Easter.
Hi Jude! You are extra good taking your coffee cup too. Even the paper cups here are often coated. I much prefer drinking out of real cups too.
France is ahead of it all.
Happy Easter to you too.
Hello! Oh I think all the bottled water at any retailer, no matter the claims on the bottle must be problematic to some degree as much as you read about those findings and the chemicals the plastic leaches- maybe glass or aluminum has some advantage- but if you are at that level of concerned- yeah, just use a reusable! I feel like so many things that should be straight forward have become so complicated and our food is a major source of this. Those sandals are cute and I do love the quote. Gardens are always so relaxing. I hope our democracy can withstand this and maybe even come out stronger after so much unrest, but I fear the road will be long with divides that aren’t just about the human anymore, but also include AI and how that influences our economy and decision making, but alternately so rooted in the types of human issues that we can’t seem to overcome. I hope we can.
Hi Kim,
Fiololis interiors is a joy for the eyes, it has a warm feeling inside. What a wonderful thing to engage in. You and Heidi do neat things together.
Lived all the signs, great turnout, glad the rallies were all peaceful.
Our administration is thoughtless and their actions speak volumes who they are. They do not think about the majority of people that are counting or at least hoping for the comfort that they worked so hard for to have it just ripped away from folks that tear in and just destroy so much in such a short period of time. No business plan and clueless to chaos and the millions of folks and businesses this has caused. Just maybe some damage control is under way. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I reuse my plastic bottle. Yes all the plastics are bad for the environment.
Hi Kim, wow I had no idea how large the Filoli house and grounds were. So beautiful, will definitely be checking it out the next time we are up in Northern California. I think I have watched Rita’s home tour at least 3 times. I go back and periodically watch many of the Schumacher videos over again. I wish they were just a tad longer.
We do pretty good minimizing our bottle water use. Have used a Brita pitcher for over 10 years, but started using the Target one last year. I have two Swell bottles but on occasion if we are going out for the day in addition we will bring a couple bottled waters along. Lately because my sodium levels tend to be on the lower side I have been drinking more bottled electrolyte water even when I exercise in the Winter. My girlfriend uses the powdered mix so I know I need to give it a try.
Glad the protest was a good time. Would still love to attend one if it falls on a day when my husband and I are available. I saw yesterday the rally in L.A. drew 36,000 people.
Have a good weekend!
Linda
Ha I forgot to mention that when I saw that Tropicana did the shrinkflation thing again with their bottles going from 52 to 46 oz. I got mad and emailed the company. I told them in the end they are creating additional plastic waste when we already have a problem. Smaller bottles mean consumers have to buy more of their product. Informed them I was going to boycott their product. Have to call these companies out when we see this stuff happening.
***call out.
Kim, I am so with you on the topic of single use water bottles, but I am a fellow Californian living in earthquake country. I have to ask, what do you (and others) do to prepare for the possibility of living for days without potable water in the event of a major earthquake? That is the one reason we keep a case of plastic water bottles on hand. I’d love suggestions for a better alternative.
I was privileged to hear Leo Buscaglia speak at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) in 1975. He was very inspiring.
Sarah, great point! I would think the only alternative are these new aluminum water bottles they sell. They have them in the stores near the plastic ones. They are lightweight too. I know Peets only sells those now. We have some old large gallon bottles of water in the garage for this reason that are plastic and I should get rid of them. I do know they leach plastic the longer you have them. They need to offer more options that aren’t plastic right?
That is so cool you got to see Leo at HSU!! I need to find my mom’s books of his.
Thanks Kim, I will look for those!!
Hi Kim,
The Filoli house is amazing – I’ve seen and strolled the gardens, but not the house. Hope to see it in all it’s glory sometime.
Thanks so much for continuing to use your voice to make us aware of important topics as well as entertaining us with beautiful places and lovely things. The hands off protest here in Berkeley was so well attended – heartening to see so many people turning out. I just read another blog about how to make protest signs more impactful. There is good analysis of how to better communicate the message you want to share. I hope you can read it: https://open.substack.com/pub/karintamerius/p/the-message-is-the-movement-your?r=11takw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Again, thanks for keeping us informed and entertained!