My Musings [and Muses]

Marrakesh: a mother's tale of Stephanie

It all started out with the missing. The missing of a mother of one girl in particular, named Stephanie.  

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 016-001
All the mother's three children were grown now, you see.  They had gone away to college -- some starting, some finishing, some finished. And even though the mother sent care packages, and made phone calls, and went for visits, the house was no longer the same.  The times when her family was all together seemed fewer and fewer now.

Stephanie was the oldest of the mother's three children and she had gone away the farthest.  She had left for Africa, for Morocco, for Peacock Pavilions.   

The mother got to thinking, got to talking, got to planning with her good natured golf-playing husband.  Suddenly,  tickets were purchased, cars were rented, and reservations were made.

Suddenly, they were coming -- all of them -- to Peacock Pavilions.  

It was a sunny day in Marrakesh when they arrived.

We made Peacock Petals cocktails.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 001
and Moroccan briouwates.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 005
We sat on the terrace and sipped and toasted.  And then it was time to go to the Peacock Pavilions dining tent for dinner.  So down the path we went.

(One couldn't help but notice that even though they had been married for years, the mother and father still walked hand in hand and were always kind to each other.)  

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 012
In the tent, there was candle light and bottles of wine.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 062
and there was more food, of course.  

There was eggplant zeluk bruschetta.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 021
There was couscous with lamb.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 061
There was chocolate fondant with spiced strawberry butter.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 070
and there was tea.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 075
But really, none of that was very important.  What was important were the funny stories.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 084
And the laughter.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 026
And the pleasure

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 083
of the family, of all the children, together again.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 050
I love a happy ending.

Stephanie Peacock Pavilions 041
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PS If you like this blog, pls consider liking it on Facebook.  I have a brand new page for My Marrakesh. That would be so nice!: http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Marrakesh/387670284601812 

Oualidia Morocco: and a tale of 50 and 50 more

It all started in a garden that had never seen a landscaper but had the wild and uncalculated beauty of a person who simply loved flowers.

087

Friends from Marrakesh and Rabat had gathered among the blooms for the occasion with their dogs.

Lise with Tilly
Some used for purposes of transportation.

Skylar with Zephyr
But the best news of all was that this garden was by the sea.

Smaller members of the group grabbed surf boards and were gone.

Tristan with his board

Oh!

Oualidia
Later, we feasted on the water's gifts.

Oysters in Oualidia
Crab in Oualidia
But it was the evening that counted the most.

There were hugs.

Chris
And many bottles of champagne.

Champagne
Then it was time.  

With friends, I watched him...

Vincent and Maryam
as he blew out the candles.


Chris candles big
There should have been 50 flickering lights

            but there were only 5.

I thought about the 50 years that had passed -- many of them with me.  And I wondered if they had been happy, happy enough.  I hoped the next 50 years would be yet happier.  But it wouldn't happen all by itself.  

There are many flowers for picking

                                                in gardens by the sea and everywhere.

Flower for Chris
Happy Birthday, big fella. 

Marrakesh: and a tale of Lonny and more

I feel so lucky.  Yes, so lucky to be in this month's Lonny Magazine.  Editor in Chief Michelle Adams was so much fun to work with (We would be doing a lot of hanging out if she were living in Marrakesh!).  Photographer Patrick Cline shot only in film and was such a pro.  Writer Robert Leleux is the loveliest person ever (and has this book out and this one, too).  

Big Maryam on Lonny
Read the whole issue right here.

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My book, Marrakesh by Design is in the Spring issue of Luxe Magazine!

I'm providing some fun tips in the June Family Circle, if you want to check it out!

I did a round up of some of my favorite Moroccan picks on Refinery29. Take a peek here.

Houzz  shared some fun elements of Marrakesh by Design right here.

*I have a book signing and talk today in LA at Downtown at 719 N. La Cienaga Blvd from 3-5. Pls come!

*I am headed for San Diego where I will be doing 2 events tomorrow at Royal Design Studio.  

**I'll be in New York next week for a book party & signing on Tuesday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. at NEST INSPIRED HOME, 20 Purchase Street in Rye, NY.  

***On Wednesday, May 16, 4:00 p.m., I'll be in NY doing a book talk & signing, as part of the Decoration and Design Building (DDB) Spring Market at 979 Third Avenue.

Hope to see you!;-)

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