A Note to and from My Best Friends

Flamingo Estate sent this email to their subscribers on December 07, 2024.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024

This one’s for my best friends. And to my best friends.

Freeway and Daylesford are my cocker spaniels, and my soulmates. But before LA was our home, back when Freeway and Daylesford were puppies, we had all kinds of adventures. I found a small surf shack on the beach in Montauk, NY, and we’d spend summers running through the water and lying on the jetty. I bought a canoe and we’d paddle out and read the newspaper together with a pot of coffee. I planted a small vegetable garden there, and we would spend the weekends digging and planting. At nighttime we’d listen to the crickets and seabirds. We didn’t need a TV because we could witness the show going on in the stars, and under the water. For the very first time since I was a kid, I felt like I knew what a family was supposed to feel like: Me, and my two boys.

Freeway and Daylesford have been my shadows since those first summers in Montauk, for nearly fifteen years of my life. They have waited every late night at the office, witnessed every disappointment, and participated in every joy. I have never had many friends, and maybe that’s because these two dogs were all I needed. They follow me around the garden in the morning and sit at the edge of the bath at night. I watch them have doggie dreams, where their eyes flutter, and they softly whimper and twitch their legs as they sleep. We know each other on a soul level, and I love them both deep, deep in my bones. And I can’t really remember life before them.

As I wrote in my new

They say you can’t choose your family. I disagree. The members of my chosen family have tails and four legs. And as they have grown older, I have grown more protective of them. They have trouble jumping off the bed and up the stairs, so I often have them visit Doctor Tony George, a remarkable animal Acupuncturist and vet.

. Since 1993, they have rescued over 20,000 animals from city and county shelters that would have been otherwise euthanized. And Gillian has spent her life in the dog shelters, saving one dog after another, often using all of her own funds. Today her Lange Foundation is also supplying spay and neuter vouchers, running intervention programs to owners struggling to care for their pets, and providing medical care to all the rescues. It’s incredible, vital work happening right in our backyard.

So together with Freeway and Daylesford I decided to make some dog toys this Holiday to raise money for Gillian Lange and her team. We have made life-size doggie versions of our four most popular products. After much trial (Daylesford and Freeway have thoroughly tested them) we created the most perfectly soft toys with excellent squeakers. We also produced a dog version of my new book, The Guide To Becoming Alive. All proceeds go to the Lange Foundation. You can find them in the Doggie Box Gift Set and the Man’s Best Friend Gift Set, which will be launching next week. It’s my chosen family’s favorite thing.

Speaking of family, in the Farm Box this week we’ve included an incredible, cultured salted Butter from Stepladder Ranch & Creamery. The iconic Stepladder Ranch was founded in 1871 and has been family-owned and operated for three generations. They make small-batch, award-winning cheese on their beautiful farm on California’s Central Coast. I am so excited for you to try it. Also in the box, you’ll find Daisy Mandarins, Black Futsu Squash, Castelfranco Radicchio, first-of-the-season Bacon Avocados, a Baguette, and so much more.

Next Monday, we’re embarking on our 12 Days of Flamingo. Stay tuned for the surprises, which have been thoughtfully planned by a team of us. And if you’re in the LA area, drop by our Holiday Pop-Up and come say hi. It’s open every Thursday through Sunday, until 12/22. Animal friends are especially encouraged to come and test the toys.

As always, cook a meal for someone you love, especially if they have four legs and a tail.

x Richard

This Week’s Recipes

Cook a Meal →

5634 N. Figueroa St,
Los Angeles, CA 90042
concierge@flamingoestate.com

Text-only version of this email

Membership MembershipFridays from the Garden FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024 This one’s for my best friends. And to my best friends. Freeway and Daylesford are my cocker spaniels, and my soulmates. But before LA was our home, back when Freeway and Daylesford were puppies, we had all kinds of adventures. I found a small surf shack on the beach in Montauk, NY, and we’d spend summers running through the water and lying on the jetty. I bought a canoe and we’d paddle out and read the newspaper together with a pot of coffee. I planted a small vegetable garden there, and we would spend the weekends digging and planting. At nighttime we’d listen to the crickets and seabirds. We didn’t need a TV because we could witness the show going on in the stars, and under the water. For the very first time since I was a kid, I felt like I knew what a family was supposed to feel like: Me, and my two boys. Freeway and Daylesford have been my shadows since those first summers in Montauk, for nearly fifteen years of my life. They have waited every late night at the office, witnessed every disappointment, and participated in every joy. I have never had many friends, and maybe that’s because these two dogs were all I needed. They follow me around the garden in the morning and sit at the edge of the bath at night. I watch them have doggie dreams, where their eyes flutter, and they softly whimper and twitch their legs as they sleep. We know each other on a soul level, and I love them both deep, deep in my bones. And I can’t really remember life before them. Flamingo Estate As I wrote in my new book, we live amongst animals because we want to be more like them. We want to love ferociously and without self consciousness, paying no mind to whether that love is reciprocated. They are their feelings. There is no guile or ego that stands in the way of their free and open expression. Love, loneliness, hunger, joy, grief, anger — feelings pour out of them like rivers. What a gift to live and love so presently. Everyday when I come home Freeway and Daylesford have fetched a dog toy and placed it at my feet, a gift for me. I reciprocate by buying them a new dog toy whenever I am traveling. They say you can’t choose your family. I disagree. The members of my chosen family have tails and four legs. And as they have grown older, I have grown more protective of them. They have trouble jumping off the bed and up the stairs, so I often have them visit Doctor Tony George, a remarkable animal Acupuncturist and vet. Flamingo Estate Tony told me about Gillian Lange, a prolific animal activist and rescuer here in LA, and the founder of the Lange Foundation. Since 1993, they have rescued over 20,000 animals from city and county shelters that would have been otherwise euthanized. And Gillian has spent her life in the dog shelters, saving one dog after another, often using all of her own funds. Today her Lange Foundation is also supplying spay and neuter vouchers, running intervention programs to owners struggling to care for their pets, and providing medical care to all the rescues. It’s incredible, vital work happening right in our backyard. So together with Freeway and Daylesford I decided to make some dog toys this Holiday to raise money for Gillian Lange and her team. We have made life-size doggie versions of our four most popular products. After much trial (Daylesford and Freeway have thoroughly tested them) we created the most perfectly soft toys with excellent squeakers. We also produced a dog version of my new book, The Guide To Becoming Alive. All proceeds go to the Lange Foundation. You can find them in the Doggie Box Gift Set and the Man’s Best Friend Gift Set, which will be launching next week. It’s my chosen family’s favorite thing. Flamingo Estate Speaking of family, in the Farm Box this week we’ve included an incredible, cultured salted Butter from Stepladder Ranch & Creamery. The iconic Stepladder Ranch was founded in 1871 and has been family-owned and operated for three generations. They make small-batch, award-winning cheese on their beautiful farm on California’s Central Coast. I am so excited for you to try it. Also in the box, you’ll find Daisy Mandarins, Black Futsu Squash, Castelfranco Radicchio, first-of-the-season Bacon Avocados, a Baguette, and so much more. Next Monday, we’re embarking on our 12 Days of Flamingo. Stay tuned for the surprises, which have been thoughtfully planned by a team of us. And if you’re in the LA area, drop by our Holiday Pop-Up and come say hi. It’s open every Thursday through Sunday, until 12/22. Animal friends are especially encouraged to come and test the toys. As always, cook a meal for someone you love, especially if they have four legs and a tail. x Richard This Week’s Recipes Winter Squash Pasta Winter Squash Pasta Cook a Meal → Flamingo EstateInstagram: Flamingo Estate TikTok: Flamingo Estate Spotify: Flamingo Estate Pinterest: Flamingo Esate 5634 N. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042 concierge@flamingoestate.com© 2024 Flamingo Estate - All Rights Reserved Unsubscribe

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