Our Home & Landscape in 1999, When We Bought The Property

This week, on May 7, 2024 to be precise, marked our 25th year here on the property we affectionately now call Domaine de Manion. At these junctions in life, one must take time to pause, reflect, and honor the journey. In our case the last 25 years.

When my husband John, and I found this property tucked away down a private easement, and set atop the highest hill and coastal ridge that overlooks the ocean and horizon, we were excited. On this hill you could experience morning pastel orange glowy sunrises and spectacular ocean horizon sunsets in the same day. Surrounded by working nursery properties with multiple greenhouses, it was a true rural setting. I suspect this property was at one time a working orchard property with remnants of sickly avocado trees, but thriving mature macadamia trees flanking the side perimeters.

This neglected property needed a lot of work, and the cute bungalow house, originally built in 1930 was charming, but badly needed an update and possibly a remodel. There was no real garden to speak of, just a bit of scruffy, tired landscape, nettle, and foxtail.

That didn’t matter, we were up for the adventure. We wanted to make this property beautiful, functional, and further enhance this natural setting. Creative ideas began flowing for the property, some that worked, and some that didn’t. Little by little, the property started evolving, and responding to tender loving care.

Back & Side Of Our Home in 1999

I knew I wanted to start gardening for the first time, and get my hands in the dirt. We were told our soil was sandy, yet very fertile from our surrounding nursery neighbors. I have been very fortunate to have had a long time gardener, worth his weight in gold, that has helped me put the garden together and bounce ideas off. In the beginning, he would roll his eyes when I shared with him a garden idea or garden experiment I had. Now, he only smiles, and says “let’s do it.”

Slowly, but surely, garden room by garden room, the garden and really the whole property started to evolve. Local and out-of-town garden clubs started asking to come for a tour. It has been a joy to share Domaine de Manion with others, as well as our family, and friends.

The Beginning Of The Boxwood Garden

A Children’s Playhouse On The Property Became Our Chicken Coop

I could write a book, or at least several chapters on the evolving of this property, but instead I thought to share a timeline with you. I can’t even begin to estimate over the years, how many miles John and I have walked on this property, or hours spent in creating it as it is today. Just that it has been a fun passion. “Life itself is the proper binge.”—Julia Child

Domaine de Manion Timeline:

May 1999, John & I Bought The Property.

Spring 1999, Began Planting First Boxwood Garden

August 2000, John & I Were Married On The Property

Spring 2003, Had Our First Flock Of Chickens. Started Composting & Using Rain Barrels

April 2006, Planted Our Syrah Vineyard With The Help Of Our Mira Costa College, Vineyard Management & Production Class. Gave The Property, Domaine de Manion Name.

Fall 2008, First Vineyard Harvest. Started Traveling To France & Gathering Ideas For Creating “Provence” At Domaine de Manion.

Fall 2009, First Vintage Bottling

2009-2010 Home Remodel and Building of Barn

Spring 2010, Creation of Secret White Garden

Spring 2013, Seeded Eco-Lawn In Back Of House And Front of Barn

Spring 2015, Created Enclosed Potager On North Side of Vineyard and Fountain Garden Parterre

January 2016, Recognized By Miracle-Gro & To Ride Their Rose Bowl Parade Float Representing California Home-Grown Gardeners With Four Others

May 2016, Planted Privacy Landscaping On North, West, South Property Perimeters

September 2016, Started Hosting Cooking Classes

March 2022, Build 12’ x 55’ Bocce Ball Court & Retaining Wall For Garden

Spring 2022, Created St. Francis Rose Garden

Fall 2022, Our Record Grape Harvest Yield Of 1400 Pounds

Summer 2023, Lost Entire Grape Harvest From Cool Spring, Rainy Summer, & Mild Fall

May 2024, In A Blink Of An Eye, It Is 25 Years Later.

Now a few photos of Domaine de Manion this Spring 2024, and a recent fun cooking class.

Yves Piaget Roses Greet You at Domaine de Manion

Fountain Garden & Bocce Ball Court

South Garden & Chicken Coop at Domaine de Manion

West Side of Barn at Domaine de Manion

Spring Syrah Vineyard at Domaine de Manion

All Smiles At The “Springtime Menu For Celebrations” Cooking Class

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Tickets Are Going Fast!

The truly incredible Village Garden Club of La Jolla is bringing internationally renowned floral designer and floral farmer, Gabriela Salazar to San Diego for a very special luncheon event, speaking program, and floral demonstration all rolled into one. Tickets are still available, and are open to the public. Please see above for reservation details, and who to contact for more information. You won’t want to miss the magic of Gabriela Salazar!

Wonderful Ingredients for Truffle-Tomato Bisque

If you love “Simple French Comfort Food” and want to add some carefully curated recipes to your repertoire, please sign for the upcoming Saturday, March 2, 2024 culinary experience at Domaine de Manion. Spend a day in France, learn new tasty recipes, and enjoy a relaxing lunch. For more details please visit: Simple French Comfort Food Culinary Experience

Newly Planted Arugula, Carrots, Fava Beans, Lettuce, Kale, Onions, Peas, and Swiss Chard

January, and the new year 2024 has been very productive and busy for us at Domaine de Manion. I have had our massive pine trees trimmed, refreshed and mulched all of our pathways with the chipped trimmings, pruned all of the roses, redesigned a flowerbed, and started the winter potager. That is just the garden and landscape.

Inside the house, I have reorganized my closet, linen closet, and kitchen. Donated clothes, shoes, belts and odds ‘n ends. Refreshed this, and refreshed that. It is a great feeling to start the year off this way!

With that said, this year I am venturing on to new projects and places—which means I will still be writing my posts, but maybe not as regularly as every Friday. I am not going away, but devoting a little more time for travel, events, cooking classes, and surprises! Please keep your comments and interest coming. I always enjoy hearing from all of you. Please stay tuned, and please share this blog with friends and loved ones that you think might enjoy it for a “Taste of French Country Living.” One can sign up for this newsletter on my homepage at Bonnie Jo Manion.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

In My Garden and Happy Place

For those of you who have signed up for my newsletter, I thought that since it is the beginning of the year, I would introduce myself to you once again—the writer behind all of these posts. It gives me great happiness to write amd share with all of you what I call my “Taste of French Country Living”.

It is a lifestyle that embodies a “coastal Southern California meets South France” through artful seasonal living in cooking, gardening, travel, styling, and more! I confess, I am a little bit farm girl, a little bit European, and a little bit SoCal gal all rolled into one grateful person!

In My Kitchen and Another Happy Place

My husband, John, and I have spent over two decades transforming what once was a neglected acre of land into a beautiful and bountiful petite Provence in coastal North San Diego County. This May 2024, we celebrate 25 years living here at what we affectionately call, Domaine de Manion.

Bocce Ball Court and Gardens at Domaine de Manion

I have been featured in local and national media for my home and garden, backyard vineyard, organic practices, chickens, and styling. I was one of four California home gardeners chosen by Scott’s Miracle Grow to ride on their “California Grown” themed float in the January 2016 New Year’s Day Rose Bowl Parade.

Besides my blog, I co-authored Gardening with Free-Range Chickens For Dummies and am quoted in the beautiful part coffee table, part cookbook, Lunch in Provence, and For the Love of Provence.

Bottling Our Syrah in November 2023

A professed self-taught gardener, I have an Agricultural B.S. degree from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition, I also earned an International Business Certificate, and Wine Technology Certificate from Mira Costa College, Oceanside, California.

If you have friends who might like these posts, recipes, tips, sometimes musings, and hopefully some inspiration, please tell them about my website, and newsletter.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

For more details regarding classes, events, writing, speaking, and other inquiries, please contact Bonnie or (tel) (760) 402-7600.

Lunch on the Canal du Midi in Languedoc, France

Pearls and Gold Add Sparkle for a Festive Table

Happy New Year 2024 to you, your loved ones, and friends! Why not make this year especially exciting with sparkle and shine!

Last year I was at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, where one can visit the outside stockyard pens with all kinds of prize livestock, that represent well-known and honored family ranches in this country. I was really moved to be able to look eye to eye with these massive animals. That inspired me to write a New Year’s post, “For 2023, Look a Bull in the Eye” , meaning stretch, grow, and get out of your comfort zone. I also mention thirteen great points for making your year wonderful. It is worth revisiting this post again, and maybe on a regular basis as your year progresses. Great thoughts to carry you throughout the year.

Well, as it turns out, 2023 was a stellar year for me, and a lot of it I think, was because I teed it up with all of those magical thirteen points at the beginning of the year. I will share more about my year in future posts.

This year, keep all of those thoughts in mind as your year progresses, and add just a touch more sparkle and shine. What I mean is—do a little extra with everything in your life. Put out a little more energy towards your everyday living, goals, projects, and creative endeavors. Think about your ideal life and jot these thoughts down. Make new recipes for dinner. Walk in interesting places besides your neighborhood. Organize your closet and makeup—and then try new looks. Shop at different stores or markets. In otherwards, add some zing and your life and year will amaze you with further sparkle and shine.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Holiday Table at Domaine de Manion

Thinking of all of you, thankful and grateful for the journey we have had together this year through the musings, recipes, places to know, garden, kitchen, workshops, culinary experiences, events, lifestyle tips, and above it all—the sharing.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season….Bonnie

After a break for the holidays, I will return in January 2024. Merci mille fois!

Side by Side, Bibb Lettuce Salads with Persimmons and Candied Pecans

I wrote about this delicious perfect holiday salad recipe, Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans, two years ago. It is such an easy divine salad, so perfect for the holidays, I wanted to mention and highlight it with you all once again.

The cranberry-based dressing is just a natural to complement holiday pork, turkey, and even beef recipes. If you can’t by chance find Fuyu persimmons, substitute pears in this recipe. Yum!

Would you like to know a perfect holiday salad, easy, and elegant for your holiday gatherings? It is “Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans.” It is chock full of fresh seasonal ingredients like cranberries, Fuyu persimmons, and pecans.

Visually, a treat for your table. Healthy and good for you. It is what I call a composed salad, which is layered with a drizzled dressing on top, rather than tossed all together. You can make this salad ahead of time on individual salad plates or on large serving platters. It has different textures of crunch and softness, and sweetness from the cranberry dressing and candied pecans that stand up well to the tang of bold crumbled blue cheese. Your family and guests will love this salad!

Bibb Lettuce Salad with Persimmons and Candied Pecans

Lovingly Adapted from Bon Appétit Magazine, December 2005

Ingredients:

3/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce (purchased or homemade)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon golden brown sugar

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 heads of Bibb lettuce, coarsely torn

4 Fuyu persimmons, peeled, sliced

1 cup (generous) crumbled blue cheese

Candied Pecans

Directions:

-Whisk first 4 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper.

-Mound lettuce in center of 8 plates. Top each with persimmon slices, then drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and Candied Pecans.

Recipe Note: I often substitute Bibb Lettuce with a Baby Spinach & Green Lettuce Mix, or when I can find it, a Baby Red Butter Lettuce. Trader Joe’s carries a ready-made Candied Pecans 5 oz. bag, perfect for salads or snacking.

If you make this salad, please share with me your comments. I would love to hear from you!

Another Related Post:

Beet & Goat Cheese Arugula Salad

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Autumn Tablescape

Thinking of you all, and wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving full of love, blessings, and deliciousness.

Gather your loved ones close. Gather the abundance of the harvest and its many comfort flavors. Gather your gratitude. Gather your thoughts, and take time to reflect on the year that has unfolded.

Be in the moment, but honor the past, and carry forward creative positive thoughts that will manifest how you want your next year and life ahead to unfold.

Bon Appétit et Happy Thanksgiving….Bonnie

On a Mission, Walking in Paris. Photo Compliments of Stephen Caldwell

This fall I spent a glorious week in Paris with a dear friend. I had wanted to do that for a while, spend a week just enjoying everyday Paris. We did a lot of walking in Paris, which I highly recommend. One can really take in the details of Parisian everyday life, study the architecture, smell the croissants, and enjoy the razzle dazzle of this great city. So often, a view, or a scene is like a real life picture perfect postcard. No editing or enhancing needed. Everyday Paris is amazing.

Walking so much in Paris, I had an “aha” moment where all of my past trips to Paris came together. I really got a grasp of the layout of Paris, and now it seems very personal and familiar to me.

Of course, if you are walking, it helps to have a plan. Last June, The New York Times published A Walk in Paris: Gardens, Greenery, and Flower Shops by Christine Chitnis, which was curated by Sandra Sigman. Sigman has had a long time love affair with Paris, recently bought an apartment there, and has a popular floral business in Massachusetts specializing in French floral design. Her delightful new book, French Blooms highlights the celebrated florist and her distinctive French style of flower arrangements. In The New York Times article Sigman tastefully guides you on a short three mile walk through the 6th and 7th arrondissements. You can stop and start whenever you like. If walking is not your preference, you can get to these places in your preferred mode of transportation.

Sigman highlights her favorite florists, eateries, green spaces, and specialty shops such as Barthelemy, an incredible cheese shop that has been in the neighborhood for more than 40 years.

One of the Neighborhood’s Most Charming Cheese Shop. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

These two neighborhoods, the 6th and 7th arrondissements, have an abundance of incredible flower shops. I can see why Sigman especially loves this area. This neighborhood also boasts Cafe Varenne, one of my favorite (and Ina Garten—Barefoot Contessa) casual spots for people watching and delicious lunch.

Inside the Flower Shop, 69 Bac

Each flower shop is different from the next, in what they carry, how they display, what they specialize in, and their locations. Flower shops and flowers are very popular and well supported in the Parisian community. It is not uncommon to see an armful of beautiful flowers heading to someone’s nearby home.

Jardin de Luxembourg, A Perfect Spot to End Your Walk

Sigman ends her walk at the Jardin de Luxembourg, a classic Parisian park, usually filled with relaxing Parisians strolling about, lounging in a chair by the Grand Bassin, or contemplating by the magnificent Medici Fountain. In October, the gardens were still bursting with color for all to enjoy.

Started in 1611 by Marie de’ Medici originally, Jardin de Luxembourg has seen many transitions. Thank goodness Jardin de Luxembourg was saved from the mammoth Haussmann urban redevelopment happening in Paris in the 19th century. Slated for demolition and development, 12,000 Parisians petitioned to keep the garden, ensuring its glorious permanence.

The Magical Setting of the Seine at Dusk. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

Not on Sigman’s curated walk, but a “must to do” sometime while you are in Paris. Stroll the Seine at dusk and sunset with a friend or a loved one. It is breathtaking, and postcard picture perfect. One really feels the essence of Paris and the amazing beauty that abounds.

Paris has recently made strides to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Roads down to the Seine have been blocked from cars, encouraging you to stroll, meet up with friends, or perhaps stop at one of the riverfront cafes. Allons y!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie