The Wine Merchant

On a stopover to San Francisco Claire engages in one of her favorite pass times - roaming the shops of Japantown. With no particular destination or mission, Claire is determined to let go for a while and just follow the path wherever it may lead - this time it's into an intriguing shop with an even more intriguing shop keeper - or should we say matchmaker? The shop keeper's regal, full length kimono commands attention - but her spirit soon takes hold of the moment as she finds a perfect ...

A British aristocrat and makes her way across the desert. A CoolAunt and an intrepid mapmaker, she creates the pathway for diplomacy and draws a new world map.

A biography for Claire's flight to Paris turns into a worldwide journey with the Queen of The Desert, an intrepid mapmaker more interested in diplomacy than notoriety. Claire finds more meaning in the book than expected, especially when she returned it to Laurente.

Claire's photo journey encounters a mystery in one special photograph of Laurente. Claire keeps it for herself - for awhile. From vintage black and whites to recent color snapshots and everything in between - Claire has a plan to digitize the lot but first she needs to identify and sort the people and places.

Barret finds and resurrects a Beekeepers Cottage with a French touch. Her new home in this California vineyard feels like a French village outpost - a perfect landing place for Claire as she considers her future in the wine and spirits business. In this episode we meet Barret's newest friends and neighbors - Natalie the vineyard owner/vintner and Tim the carpenter. Landlord and contractor respectively, both have an interest in the rebuilding of the cottage but more so in Barret's counsel...

Personal treasures; The things that you'll go back and search for - an inexpensive beloved object from a trip or an expensive gift to self. But you won't search for things that can be easily replaced, things that don't matter very much - cheap throw-aways. A sustainable lifestyle includes saving money by acquiring better things less frequently.

Laurente shares a deeply personal secret with Claire to help her overcome a pressing challenge. Surprised by the story, Claire does not ask for any more detail than her CoolAunt wanted to share in that moment.

What do the movie Out of Africa and Claire signing for her first library card have in common? It's Claire's mother and a well told story.

Northern California called and Barret answered...she remodels a cottage in a vineyard with her French touch and artistic skill. Soon her cottage is a place for new friends, her daughter Claire, the vineyard owner Natalie and the carpenter Tim. Everyone has a story and an opinion too.

College intern Claire stays in France for the Autumn Harvest and her CoolAunt's Celebration.