1 After the book signing, we headed for downtown Philadelphia in search of a lunch spot.

2 The restaurant, Pod, seemed like the perfect choice to enjoy a relaxed lunch. It was in close proximity to the Wharton School so we would not be rushed.

3 The interior of Pod was nothing less than futuristic, created by Stephen Starr, Philadelphia's leading trendsetting restaurateur. This is one of several small eating pods for more intimate dining.

4 The interior is sleek and white and has bold, bright colorful lighting,

5 This bar features a translucent amber resin bar top, lit from beneath with white neon.

6 This area is the red lounge - a sofa-like foam sculpture.

7 This is the busy sushi prep area.

8 This oval-shaped sushi bar has a conveyor belt that delivers the freshly prepared sushi. Above the sushi bar, a large, screen shows non-stop video clips.

9 One sushi roll on its way!

10 These bright panels are actually a sliding door.

11 The pods looked like a fun place to eat, so that is where we dined.

12 The interior lighting can be changed according to the diners' mood - we were happy with this pale green - Mary, Susan, Ellen, Dee, Will, and me.

13 In Japan, it is customary to use chopstick rests. We decided to create our own. This is my knot design.

14 Will's was shaped like a ramp.

15 Eliad, our photographer for the day, came up with this design, which he named the 'dragon tongue.'

16 Mary wanted to keep the wrapping logo in tact.

17 Food is served family style - we had lettuce wraps with delicious tofu and chicken filling.

18 Yummy chicken potstickers

19 Lots of sushi - California roll, eel, spicy tuna, and yellowtail

20 Bowls of spicy condiments

21 After lunch, I visited the ladies' room.

22 The lit up symbol for not occupied

23 Pink for taken

24 And then, a quick touch up before leaving for the Wharton School.

25 At Wharton, I was greeted by Erin Armendinger and Keith Niedermeier, Ph.D.

26 The podium all set up for my lecture, while students poured in

27 This gentleman's name is Chad and he was so upset that he had lost his camera, so I will try to email him this photo.

28 The presentation begins

29 I love speaking to a young and ambitious crowd.

30 Here I am, once again, in action.

31 As I was speaking, many students were taking notes on their laptops. Things are so much easier than when I was a student attending lectures.

32 When I finished speaking, there were many excellent questions asked.

33 Leaving the downtown area of Philadelphia for the airport, the landscape becomes very industrial.

34 Many industrial plants along the way

35 The afternoon light on the tarmac was incredibly gorgeous.

36 Finally aboard the plane, but no slowing down - we used our remaining time together to review my schedule for upcoming events.

37 The setting sun marks the end of daylight, but not the end of my work day.

1 After my early morning exercise, Mary Curran was ready to fix my hair and apply my makeup between mouthfuls of my favorite Uncle Sam's cereal and fresh fruit.

2 My office at home is in my kitchen and here I am checking my morning emails. I have a MacBook Air and a Sony Vaio - I know - I can have it all on one computer, but I prefer the two software platforms side by side.

3 Time for my morning indulgence of a deliciously rich cappuccino - I also offer this frothy brew to anyone in the kitchen.

4 Ahh! Such thick foam!

5 The perfect cappuccino! A great way to start the day!

6 Silly Mary!! Got froth?

7 Francesca and Sharkey are always sad when they see me packing up to leave. However, it's only for the day and they are always in good hands.

8 With today's newspapers in hand, it's time to leave for the airport and yikes, my hair is already messy!

9 Over the weekend, I made a list of garden chores. On my way out, I met up with Shaun, my gardener, about what requires his immediate attention.

10 This is Manny, one of my security detail, giving a friendly wave goodbye as we drove out the of gate.

11 This is one of the pilots for the day greeting me as I boarded the plane.

12 The mandatory pre-flight safety briefing - I have heard all of this thousands of times, but I always pay attention.

13 As we took off from Westchester County Airport, the foliage below painted a pretty picture.

14 Looking down the Hudson River - That's the George Washington Bridge with Manhattan on the left and New Jersey on the right.

15 All settled in for the 36 minute flight to Philadelphia.

16 I enjoy the Ken Ken puzzles - they help to sharpen my mind for the busy day ahead.

17 Two vehicles greeted us on the tarmac - Susan Magrino, my publicist, is signaling for everyone to get moving.

18 How sad - I always feel so badly when wildlife is hit on the roadway - This is an unfortunate red fox.

19 The King of Prussia mall is very nice - lots of great shopping.

20 Here I am approaching the Williams - Sonoma. The crowd was lined up and waiting.

21 MSLO employees - William Van Roden - with his mother, Dee - and Ellen Morrissey - They happened to be in the area and decided to come to the book signing. I was so happy to see them in Philadelphia, that I invited them to join us for lunch.

22 This is Meryl - she made this necklace from Home Depot paint chips and a decorative paper punch.

23 Roasted pumpkin soup, found on page 168 of my new Dinner at Home book, was served to the crowd. Everyone loved it.

24 The line for the book signing was really long - it seemed to wrap around the entire mall!

25 More of the line - everyone was so patient and kind.

26 This is Sang Mi and her cute baby, Jeremy.

27 ABC's Nightline was there filming my book signing as part of a TV special.

28 Carl is a big fan of the Martha show and he knows how to wear our T-shirt.

29 Donna and Ashley - notice that they shoot with a Canon G9? Great camera!

30 And look who else came! This is Margy, the mother of Shaun, my gardener.

31 Margy's book - signed by me!

32 These yummy coconut cupcakes were provided by Cupcakes Gourmet. www.cupcakesgourmet.com

33 We sold over 600 books! That means I signed over 600 books!

34 In the back room of the store, the Williams - Sonoma employees left me a message on their blackboard.

35 Kate Tyler, and Susan Magrino, and Nicole Sutlif discussing logisitcs.

36 Mary Beth and her adorable rescue poodle, Irish

37 Very sweet!

38 This is Kelly McDade, who was the winner of last year's USA Today's Cooking with Martha Contest. I was happy to see her again.

39 This little girl was a bit nervous to meet me, but was very happy afterwards.

40 What happened to the baby??

41 Here he is! I suppose that stack of books weighs more than he does.

42 It really never gets old - I love book signings and meeting my fans.

43 In addition to the roasted pumpkin soup, hanger steak with caramelized shallots on page 207, was prepared by The Water Works Restaurant in Philadelphia www.thewaterworksrestaurant.com and offered for tasting.

44 Executive chef Darryl Harmon of The Water Works Restaurant

45 Rambunctious and playful brothers

46 Of course, they were more interested in their Medieval toys than my book.

47 These are Williams Sonoma employees, who were so happy to have me sign their copies.

1 The Elrod house (1968), my favorite, was designed by John Lautner, an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. This sculpture by Dale Chihuly is installed in the living room.

2 Here I am in sitting beneath the soaring poured-concrete ceiling, punctuated with slivers of glass. This house has a cameo in the 1971 James Bond film, "Diamonds Are Forever."

3 The gorgeous curved pool of the Elrod house

4 A sleek fireplace in the living room, surrounded by zigzagging slate floor tiles

5 The Elrod house kitchen, with Dale Chihuly sculpture overhead

6 A bathroom in the guest house, where the landscape's boulders come inside

7 Sculpture by Harry Bertoia lines a garden wall.

8 Curved walls, a looming boulder, and me in the shadows

9 The pristine master bedroom

10 The master bathroom, equipped with a sunken tub, has a floor-to-ceiling view of the rocks and bamboo outside.

11 Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of decorating, perches on an indoor-outdoor boulder.

12 This giant metal flower, by Harry Bertoia, is one of several that adorn the garden walls.

13 Fritz Karch, editorial director of collecting and Palm Springs enthusiast, balances on the roof, taking in the view. I'm on my way to join him.

14 The glass facade of Bougain Villa (1958) is mirrored on the outside to reflect the terrain; inside, visitors take in views of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The home was designed by William Burgess and Hugh Kaptur.

15 An outdoor lantern at Bougain Villa

16 Here I am with Harold Meyerman, who owns Bougain Villa with his wife, Dorothy.

17 A sweeping view from the terrace

18 The owners of the house have a great collection of pots and planters.

19 An outdoor shower gets a colorful beaded curtain.

20 Bougain Villa is nestled into the rocky hill. Above the roof line, tan pots and umbrellas blend into the surroundings.

21 A koi pond on the edge of the house

22 A monumental vessel beside Bougain Villa's pool

23 A handmade outdoor lantern

24 Taking a rest on a swing made of exotic wood

25 Bougain Villa's owner, Dorothy Meyerman, and me

26 The house backs up to the cliff's edge. Garden pots and a sculptured cougar, teeth bared, decorate the rocks.

27 Gael Towey, chief creative officer and acting editor in chief of Living, enjoys the view from the terrace.

28 Another look at the well-appointed terrace

29 A vibrant mix of color and pattern

30 Here, mid-century furniture mingles with a giant boulder.

31 Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the bathroom with light.

32 Fritz Karch in the living room

1 Michel Mane, me, two of the lavender producers - Mr Cervera and Mr Paul, and Jean Pigozzi

2 This ancient distillery to extract the oil from the lavender is no longer functioning. It is a very good example of the kind of machinery needed to do this task.

3 I was pretending to be the distiller.

4 These giant steel vats are used for heating the lavender blossoms.

5 This is an old plow once used behind horses in the lavender fields.

6 Michel with a handful of real French lavender

7 More rows of this incredible plant

8 We took off by helicopter to go to La Bastide de Moustiers, Alain Ducasse's restaurant in the nearby village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

9 We flew over more acres of groomed wheat, sunflower, and lavender.

10 The restaurant was all we had hoped for - rustic, beautiful, and delicious.

11 the pottery unique

12 We sat under an arbor and drank delicious wine, tasted incredible olive oil, and ate heavenly food.

13 There were beautiful handmade pottery plates.

14 Baby lamb from a neighboring farm was served along with braised farm vegetables, harvested from the restaurant's garden.

15 The lamb cut like butter.

16 This plum tart was served with lavender-infused ice cream.

17 There were wonderful homemade pastries.

18 Classic, yet the best of the best

19 We were showered with great things - meringues, cannelés, apricot pâte de fruit, and the cookie of the region made with lavender and honey.

20 I just wished we could stay longer than one day in this paradise.

21 The cheese service was exquisite.

22 The home baked breads were unusually good.

23 The gardens were full of fragrant rosemary, lavender, thyme, and scrumptious figs.

24 The helipad was conveniently in walking distance of the restaurant.

25 I was sad to leave but so happy to have seen this place.

26 And the ride back to Antibes was quite spectacular.

27 Again, the amazing lake

28 And the limestone mountains

29 Breathtaking drop-off cliffs

30 Beautiful cloud formations

31 Such vistas

32 It's hard to believe this is not heaven.

33 More rivers, cliffs, valleys, and canyons

34 Farms appeared at lower altitudes.

35 And suddenly dense clouds and lots of fog - a storm perhaps?? I hope not!

36 The visibility dropped drastically in a few moments.

37 But, we emerged from the clouds and soon saw the Mediterranean Sea and all the villas below.

38 And back home safely at the end of a wonderfully interesting day.

1 The highlight of my summer trip to the South of France was the helicopter ride to view the lavender fields north-west of Grasse - the perfume capital of the world.

2 Taking off from Antibes - Jean Pigozzi, Kevin Sharkey, and I flew first to Grasse to pick up our host, Michel Mane.

3 The views of the coast were phenomenal - we got bird's eye views of all the great homes on the coast.

4 The rocky Côte d'Azur

5 The azure water

6 The mansions and villas

7 A large establishment

8 Some of the properties are amazingly large for a place like this, where real estate is at a premium.

9 Antibes from the air

10 Many great yachts were anchored in the harbors.

11 This villa has a Jacques Wirtz garden landscape recently installed.

12 You can see just some of the symmetry.

13 This funny looking boat was designed by Philippe Patrick Starck.

14 A very odd design

15 The port of Antibes

16 An amusement park on the outskirts of Nice

17 Marina Baie des Anges is a famous apartment complex in Nice - very 'modern' and huge.

18 A closer view - It looks like ruins of pyramids from the air.

19 The crowded marinas

20 Flying north to Grasse, the landscape becomes more hilly.

21 We landed in Grasse at the Mane distillery for perfumes.

22 The factory in Grasse, where the highly automated fragrance and flavor blending and encapsulating activities occur.

23 So many wonderful scents for the perfumes of the world

24 We took off again to the lavender fields.

25 We saw all kinds of sights, including stone quarries.

26 This is a limestone quarry.

27 Barren mountain tops

28 The mountains started getting higher.

29 And the landscape became more barren.

30 There are small farms nestled in the stony hills and mountains.

31 So beautiful

32 The trip was about an hour, but we covered so much terrain.

33 It would have taken hours to go so far by car.

34 Huge cliffs

35 We flew over forests and fields.

36 Grassy hay fields, wheat fields, and and dairy farms.

37 More rugged landscapes

38 Limestone cliffs and canyons

39 Here is a murky river cutting through this canyon of limestone.

40 So unbelievably gorgeous!

41 The winds were quite brisk at this altitude.

42 You can definitely see the remoteness of the place.

43 The nature is so unique and the landscape so diverse.

44 All of a sudden a great lake of bright turquoise blue materialized.

45 This huge lake is used for irrigation as well as recreation.

46 The pale lavender fields were the first sign we were approaching the lavender center of France.

47 Hundreds of fields and thousands of acres!

48 Every purple block is blooming lavender.

49 Lavender is a fragrant perennial herb used for fragrances.

50 These are plowed fields and harvested lavender plants.

51 The lavender plants are fantastic.

52 Such straight rows

53 Every acre is used so well.

54 The yellow is blooming mustard plants.

55 Every acre has thousands of plants.

56 Mr. Paul - a French lavender grower and Michel Mane - our host

57 This lavender is about to be harvested.

58 Lavender grows in neat mounds.

59 On the ground the plants look very different than from above.

60 Recently harvested lavender stalks

61 Ready to be harvested

62 A closer view

63 This lavender is growing in close proximity to golden wheat.

64 A blur of sunflowers from the car window

1 The upright pole has a platform attached where osprey, or fish hawk, build their nests.

2 Each of the properties on this stretch of beach have a long wooden boardwalks, which were built long ago, across the marshes and out to sandy beaches on the Peconic Bay.

3 The marshes and the low dunes stretch for a long way and canals run through the grasses.

4 Here is an even better view of the vastness of this special place.

5 The marsh grasses were very, very green and the waters were so clear.

6 This is Greg Yale enjoying the evening.

7 The sunset began about 8 PM and I almost missed getting a photo of it. The night was so clear the reflections were incredible.

8 The reflections of the grasses were beautiful.

9 Many dogs were invited to the party.

10 This charming dog was very well-behaved.

11 The groundskeeper walked Francesca and Sharkey out to me on the board walk. I was a bit afraid that the dogs would fall off into the water - thankfully, they did not.

12 All three posing for a portrait

13 This is Milo, a tiny dog with a very big personality!

14 Frannie was very interested and thought Milo was a stuffed toy and not a real pomeranian.

15 The two Frenchies got a bit rambunctious.

16 Sharkey play attacking - Milo reacting

17 With ears perked, this feisty dog never got afraid.

18 Trying out another breed, the Frenchies were a bit more respectful.

19 Another aspect of the sunset

20 And yet another

21 In addition to the boardwalks, there are also boat docks - all built in the 1920s and 1930s.

22 This is one of Greg Yale's fire displays constructed of rusty-looking corten steel.

23 Another of Greg's fire displays - these are great in the night landscape.

24 This view is from another home in this magical place.

25 The sky turned mauve and pink.

26 The reflections were crazy beautiful.

27 There were streaks of pink everywhere.

28 Night is finally falling.

29 Darker and darker with just a sliver of moon

1 Mary Curran acted as my makeup and hair stylist and also as my personal portraitist! She took great photos, as did Kevin Sharkey and Jill Dienst. I have used some of their photos in these blogs! Here I am ready to catch some trout!

2 My fishing guide was the big and handsome, Chris Francis - he is so knowledgable about the rivers, streams, and fish species on all of Ted's properties.

3 This is the official badge of the ranch.

4 Getting all the fisherman's gear in order

5 Here I am signing the fishing license.

6 Chris is very official.

7 With waders on, we were able to navigate right into the streams.

8 As were the camera men

9 The arm, the rod, the arc, the strength of the arm - all so nerve wracking!

10 Wow! I must have done something correctly!

11 Are we ready for Ted? - the fly fisherman of the year?

12 That's Ted and that's his dog. Ted is a true expert.

13 Ted caught five fish in quick succession - the fish were all released.

14 Ted and Gary

15 At last - I finally caught one!

16 Laurie, Gary and Mary - what a team!

17 This little cutie was watching us.

18 Many pairs of waders

19 And many fly fishing rods

1 Here I am with Ted enjoying dinner.

2 Gary Nardilla grilling bison steaks at Ted Turner's ranch - he is great behind the grill!

3 Karen - Ted's chef, me, and Ted discussing logistics

4 We just can't wait for our meal of bison - hamburgers and steaks - very, very good.

5 A table al fresco - overlooking Snowcrest Ranch

6 Wonderful bison steaks and roasted red, yellow, and orange peppers

7 Yummy grilled corn

8 Beautifully grilled squash

9 It really was a very superb hamburger!

10 I'm holding a piece of delicious bread made from Kernza™, a new perennial grain that Ted is testing. By planting grains that are perennial, you cut down on plowing and the potential of creating a dust bowl.

11 These are solar heating panels - one of many environmentally sound measures practiced on Ted's properties.

12 There are many, many bird houses on the ranch to encourage more species to return.

13 Even deer are encouraged.

14 As are birds of prey

15 The local cranes are wonderful.

16 We all enjoyed this spectacular sunset over the ranch.

17 The mauve skies were breathtaking.

18 The TV crew ate dinner at the lodge.

1 On day two in Montana, we got up very early and ate breakfast before beginning the ride with Ted Turner.

2 As you can imagine, there is taxidermy everywhere in the lodge.

3 Such a sweet buck

4 Gary Nardilla has worked with me for fifteen years - he directs, lights, and is also the cinematographer.

5 Chris Meagher was our second camera in Montana.

6 Dave Minerva was one of two grips - they take care of moving equipment, raising screens, creating shadows, etc.

7 Our horses were lined up and ready for the ride. We used Quarter Horses from Ted's ranch.

8 There's Ted on his dapple gray.

9 The equine manager, Greg Pole, was knowledgeable and a really good guide.

10 One of Ted's two black labs - they are very loyal and cuddly.

11 Ted uses a saddle with special leather covers to protect the toes of his boots.

12 The grand vistas in every direction were expansive and beautiful.

13 Some of the numerous film crew waving at us near the bison herd.

14 Ted discussing the trail with Greg

15 The skeleton of a bison - a recent death - the bones were picked clean by coyotes and vultures - there is quite a food chain.

16 This formation is a very ancient bison wallow - the sandstone has been worn away by bison who scratch themselves to relieve biting insects and lice.

17 More of the ancient wallow

18 Greg tracking the path for us - observing no dangerous animals, he let us ride ahead.

19 Our first good glance at the lovely Ruby River where we were fishing on day three.

20 A golden eagle flew overhead as we were getting ready to ride.

21 This pile of driftwood was a good 'hideout' for one of our cameras.

22 We forded the Ruby River several times.

23 I felt very comfortable atop the beautiful, Kootenai, the name of a Native American tribe from the Northwest.

24 We looked just like a trio of cowboys.

25 Gary used a long lens to capture the incredible beauty of the ranch.

26 The life of a real cowboy must be really lonely at times.

27 Dan is an excellent rider and a true cowboy.

28 Kootenay loved to eat any chance he could - a bad habit.

1 After landing at the airport in Montana, we saw this old single-engine crop duster on the tarmac.

2 Mary Ann VanDerventer - unit manager - field dept. of TV - met us at the airport and chauffeured us to the ranch.

3 We stopped in Dillon, the first little town we came to, for a snack. Dillon may have a population of under 4,000, but it is a happening place.

4 Sweetwater was a very nice coffee, gift, and antiques store.

5 Kevin and Mary tried on vintage glasses and hammed it up a bit.

6 There is gambling in Dillon.

7 Dan Dienst and Kevin Sharkey - leaving the coffee shop in Dillon

8 The big sky we all hear and dream about is present in Montana!

9 And the views are breathtaking.

10 Our very first sighting of bison

11 A hungry red-tailed hawk is perched with its prey - poor little mouse.

12 The red-tailed hawk has left its perch.

13 Here it comes.

14 A small deer watches the hawk.

15 It landed again on a fence post with its prey.

16 Here we are at the ranch.

17 My wireless was not functioning in Montana and I had to dictate on the phone, my entire Martha Stewart Living column for October, which I had written on the plane!

18 Our guest ranch where we all slept for three nights - the telephone was in keeping with the decor.

19 There was lots of taxidermy here and there.

20 Mary Ann loved these long-horned goats.

21 Donna Tate McDonald, owner of the guest ranch, Upper Canyon Outfitters www.ucomontana.com, me, and Val - a school teacher from New Jersey, who works with her husband at the ranch every summer.

22 Laurie Hepburn - TV producer and me, ready for the hiking episode

23 I love this photo of me - bandannas are my thing!

24 Jill Dienst, who joined us for the trip, looked happy and healthy in the mountain air.

25 And Mary Curran, too

26 Upon arrival at 9,000 feet, we were informed that we would be embarking on a brief hike to see the flora of the surrounding area - many wild flowers were still in bloom. Betsy, my stable manager, felt at home in Montana.

27 Gary, Dave, and one of the crew high up the mountain hillside

28 A scabiosa flower topped off with a butterfly

29 We have not yet identified this berry - the plant looks like a bunchberry.

30 lt looks like a moose slept here the night before.

31 A gorgeous view of the mountains to the north.

32 Donna and I descended the mountain before the others. She knows a lot about the area having lived and guided there for many years.

33 I was so happy to get a bottle of water! When hiking or walking at high altitudes it is imperative to drink a lot of water!

34 Kevin and Mary were always posing for photos. Mary had packed all my makeup and hair supplies in a new backpack.

35 A great photo of Kevin

36 Kevin and Jill dressed for our first dinner with Ted Turner