My little house on Ridgeway is overrun with  the remainders of a recent photoshoot with Sara Remington–baskets of berries, drying plums, roses, old cloth, notebooks, various plates and props and jars of apricots simmered in wine syrup. All the bits and pieces of creating a book, what we have been playfully referring to as the “detritus” of my life. My ode to memory in an orchard, long ago.

This is what I love-the making, creating, painting with words and pictures and sumptuous flavors. What joy and privilege to have this opportunity, to be thinking about painting, plum trees, the spaces in between, words and stories hidden beneath the surface, and not least, to see it all come to life in one of Sara’s gorgeous images (as above, in Polaroid).

To see more photos from our recent photoshoot and other images from Sara’s travels, check out her lovely blog.

I haven’t gone away completely. Working away on a new book project that I will tell you about soon. Scanning drawings, as in an old sketch of mango. Thinking about orchards, living in Big Sur, a blue bowl on my table. Much to do about memory, about making, creating, finding my rhythm in the kitchen, on paper, in paint.

Sunset magazine called it a valentine to one of the most beautiful places to eat in the world. Epicurious named it one of the best cookbooks of 2009. And Michael Pollan hailed it as “special book about a special place.”

I hope you’ll agree, and join me today for a My Nepenthe book signing at the delightful Nathan & Co on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland.

Drop by for a slice of Meyer Lemon Tart and other spring refreshments, from noon to 3pm, today–Saturday, May 1st.

Above Photo: My grandmother, Lolly, founder of Nepenthe and me (circa 1970′s).