
I live in a small TOWN called ORINDA and it’s
NOT every day YOU get a call to be interviewed for THE Cover of YOUR TOWNS MAGAZINE!
A COVER GIRL AT 58!
Watch out CHRISTIE BRINKLEY!
WE had a ball getting BANKSY the TEA CUP PIGGY to face the camera……….
(HA!NOT SO EASY!)
I had seen the GREEN CHARTREUSE dress on Instagram and immediately called The Designer a FRIEND of mine to see if she had my size!I needed it in 4 days time and it had to be mailed!She stayed up half the night and had it to UPS by 8:15 AM the next morning!
THATS WHAT I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE!

JENNAFER GRACE is her name and if YOU WANT MY DRESS GO HERE NOW!
It comes in a PLETHORA of colors!
SHE is a YOUNG THING out of San Diego and has a website check her OUT!
SHE is doing a YOGA COVERUP that is pretty GREAT as well…….
I might add MY DRESS is
MACHINE WASHABLE TOO!
I think it may become MY CONTESSA UNIFORM!
Don’t YOU LOVE THE SLEEVES?
NOT A DRESS TO COOK IN HOWEVER………
I tried THAT ONLY ONCE!

WINSTON LOOKING AT ME THINKING……WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?!
BELOW, is ONE of MY FAVORITE PHOTOS EVER!
LA CONTESSA and her GRANDBABY BANKSY.
Yes, I wore the Black and White so I could MATCH HIS ROYAL STRIPES!
THIS photo will be PRINTED and FRAMED for a Life Time memory!
Let me say HERE THANK YOU JILL for the lion statues as these were at my girlfriends house years ago and I can still recall the day she called to ask me if I wanted them as they “Really were not her!”
I jumped at the chance without even SEEING THEM!
Jill has known me since BROWNIE CAMP!
Introduced me to my first GUIENA PIG!
SO, it is VERY FITTING they frame this PHOTO!
GRAZIE AMICA MIA!
WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET TOGETHER SOON!

Below is THE ARTICLE on YOUR CONTESSA.
WHICH HAS A FEW HICCUPS IN IT………….
FIRST ONE BEING “A GREAT LIVER OF LIFE!”
I think WE ALL GET THE IDEA however ORGAN PARTS come to mind!
Let me say the First BOO-BOO HERE was the writer of the ARTICLE NEVER MET ME!
I answered her questions in an email and she formatted into this FLOWING STORY!
She did a GREAT JOB of putting my stories together but a few things got OMITTED or changed!
MY SONS are 29 and 31, I may have screwed up there as in my head Nicholas is still 28!
OR where I worked as a young thing many years ago as a FASHION MERCHANDISING MAJOR!
Which was BULLOCKS WILSHIRE not BULLOCKS!
If you live in Southern California YOU GET IT!
I think what bothers me the most is THE QUOTES ARE NOT completely what I said.
Is that allowed in JOURNALISM?
THIS IS WHAT I SAID at the end of the story………..”.I adore Europe.People often ask us if we would move back to Italy.I doubt, we ever would do that as our SONS are HERE.With one recently married and the other living not far away why would we go even further?”
“ORINDA, is a GOOD place to be!”
I apologize for the small print and realize a few of you willNOT BE ABLE TO READ IT!
IN THE COMMENTS THIS WAS OFFERED!
HIT COMMAND and the + TO ENLARGE PRINT.TO put it BACK hit COMMAND -.
OR CTRL + and CTRL –
HOPE THAT HELPS!!
JUST KEEP TAPPING THE PLUS IT GETS BIGGER!!!!
THANK YOU TAMMY J!!!!
SO, ENJOY THE SHOTS THAT COME AFTER!
There were 124 Photographs to pick from.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
TERRY RIGGINS DID A GREAT JOB!
Not an EASY TASK!
BANKSY WAS ON HIS BEST BEHAVIOR AND SMILED FOR THE CAMERA!
Just like THE LINE in THE MOVIE BABE.
“GOOD PIG!”
XX
PS.I had LUNCH YESTERDAY with a WOMAN who LIVED NEXT DOOR TO BABE!
MY MOUTH IS STILL GAPING!
THESE THINGS TICKLE ME PINK!



SO, now YOU know a bit MORE about me which is A GOOD THING!
OR MAYBE NOT if the print was TOO SMALL!
ANOTHER FAVORITE PHOTO BELOW.
BANKSY has always LOVED CHEERIO’s, as I have since childhood!
Did you know THEY ARE GLUTEN FREE as well?
THEY ARE INDEED!

I found the silver cup in PARIS at THE FLEA MARKET out in the 14th District my last trip there.
They had a stack of them!I so wish I had bought them ALL but I was worried about weight in the LUGGAGE!
I use it for my COFFEE LATTE in the winter.
That is if its Not being used for CHEERIOS!

Kitchen Table.
Adorned with MY CLUTTER!
The ceramic candlesticks were a CHRISTMAS GIFT to me from a dear friend!
The FOOD DOMES I have collected over the years but have run out of places to put them!
I use this ONE as a DOOR STOP from Time to TIME!
WORKS BEAUTIFULLY!

I LOVE THIS TOO!


I ALWAYS SHARE IN THE KITCHEN!
Normally, he is under foot so I have to STRADDLE HIM!
He loves that PINK CARPET!
He also LOVES TO PULL the dish towels down and rearrange them on the floor!
We call HIM the DISH TOWEL BANDIT when he does that!

ALWAYS time for a KISS!

That little hair brush in the terra-cotta planter was mine as a KID!
I remember my Mother got it from THE FULLER BRUSH MAN!
Do you remember them?
They came to the door selling wares!
I did cart that Terra-cotta planter home in my luggage from ITALY!
Remember the container had left with our possessions and so did THE ITALIAN.
I THEN WENT SHOPPING IN FLORENCE and THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES!
TWO CHILDREN,
TWO DOGS,
TWO CATS and 18 pieces of luggage had to get to the ROME AIRPORT!
WE ARRIVED IN THREE CARS and I didNOT have to PAY OVER WEIGHT!
Let’s just say the counter person sympathized with me!
SHE WAS ITALIAN!
(MY MOTHER used that little hairbrush for her cats over the next 50 years!)



SO now YOU have experienced a DAY in THE LIFE of YOUR CONTESSA.
BANKSY will CONCUR!
IT is NOT EASY STANDING on STEPS balancing on ONE LEG, turning and smiling!
WE WERE EXHAUSTED!
THANK YOU ORINDA LIVING MAGAZINE YOU MADE OUR MONTH!
I have ORDERED PRINTS and NOW will be searching for FRAMES………..you know the type!
Old and Crusty with loads of PATINA!

Jazmin Ferrari says
Love all the photos and stories ! And the liver of life comment has me rolling on the floor laughing. Too funny. Thanks for sharing Elizabeth !
LA CONTESSA says
THANKS FOR READING and leaving a comment that has me laughing TOO!
IT’s THE LITTLE THINGS that please us MOST!
NO?
XX
Sheila from the luncheon says
You look amazing in all the photos. How exciting to be featured in the magazine. Good for you–good article.
Jennafer Grace says
I adore you! Your voice, your beauty and your tech tips all bundled into one PERFECT post! We are so grateful for you, oh great connector of creative people!!! Te amo Contessa!
LA CONTESSA says
TE AMO a TE!
THANK GOODNESS I FOUND YOU THROUGH THAT CHATEAU SHOP in San Diego!!!!!!
It’s Time for a VISIT!
XOXO
Sheila-Merle Johnson says
The photo of you in the zebra outfit with Banksy is MARVELOUS! Somehow that outfit makes you even more glamorous. How great to be profiled in such a graceful way in your home town. You are inspiring.
LA CONTESSA says
HAVE had that gown for YEARS……………NEVER WORN IT!
IT was waiting for BANKSY!!!
XX
dawn darveau says
Wonderful photos you look fabulous! And the photos of your home are amazing. Nothing boring about it. You’re now a celebrity in your own town, how fun. Congratulations!
LA CONTESSA says
THANK YOU!
Glad you ENJOYED A LOOK into MY HOME!
THANK YOU for commenting!!
XX
DA Squires says
Vogue, Town & Country etc. are NEXT. Lucky Orinda to have YOU as a resident!! Fabulous photos–the kitchen shots are my favorite…there is something about Banksy that makes me swoon, and the two of you together are OVER THE MOON : ) There is a famous poem of a cow jumping over the moon. The sequel ta-da: “Hey Diddle, Diddle, Theo plays the fiddle, while Banksy jumps over the moon, and Winston laughed to see such a sight and the Contessa ran away with Spoon.” Illustrations would be AMAZING!!!
Loved reading more about your early life in CA… your zest and warmth come right through (and I was able to read the entire article w/ my readers!) First Orinda. Next Hollywood. Where are those agents.
Happy Easter!! XOXO
LA CONTESSA says
MY SONS LOVED THAT BOOK!
I LOVE YOUR IDEA!!
XOXO
Meason says
So much fun, gorgeous photos?????????????? Meason
Meason says
Ooops, those squiggles that look like question marks were a bunch of happy celebratory emojis ! Xo
LA CONTESSA says
YES, those “LITTLE PICS” do not work HERE but EXCLAMATION MARKS DO!
XX
Diana Amato says
It’s 4:20 in the am and I am laughing already with “the liver of life” quote! How wonderful that they found you and showcased your unique life so beautifully! The photos are just Amazing. We all love you so much and I Cannot wait for us to get together sometime very soon!
Tanti Baci Contessa xoxoxo
Ti voglio bene
Zingara
LA CONTESSA says
YES, I need to ZIP DOWN!
GRAZIE BELLA………TI VOGLIO BENE ANCHE TE!
XX
Hilda Smith says
How wonderful to learn some more about you and your wonderful family. You look amazing in all the photos particularly the yellow. I love the story of your first date too. ‘Liver of life’ gave me a laugh!
Congratulations x
Jill says
Congratulations on the article , a cover girl indeed and most definately a liver of life. I so enjoyed a peek into your world . The photos are just wonderful, love the chartreuse dress, its my favourite colour.
A Woman Of A Certain Age says
Marvellous!
http://a-woman-of-a-certain-age.com/
MaiTai says
Fabulous article on a fabulous lady! So thrilled the pearl necklace had the honor. Love the picture with the chicken. Banksy is always a star and you are divine. xxx
Maria Teresa Donovan says
You look absolutely fantastic! I don’t open emails often but this put a big smile on my face, I am very proud of our top model!