Today with Luna

Today, Ray and I got to spend a fair amount of time with our little Luna Isabella. I am happy to report that she will be 21 months old on November 4th. Grandma is very tired after reading nearly every book Luna owns to her – many – and singing with her, dancing, playing, then…

A Quick Write Ramble

I am sitting with Oona. It is almost 8 pm. She is my last student of the day, which began at 8 am. I did have a few breaks. I made vegetable soup, cornbread and cookies during one of my breaks. I love vegetable soup. There’s something very satisfying about it, particularly in the fall….

Ojai Day

Today Ray and I got up early and headed for Ojai. We needed to get there for a meeting at 8:30 am with one of our land partners. The day was clear and chilly – 48 degrees when we arrived – but also lovely as the sun rose, birds flew and the air warmed. We…

Daily Progress, One Student at a Time

I have been sitting on this chair or standing near this table in my living room since 8 am when my first student arrived. I am not inclined to linger at this late hour and, therefore, will be writing only a brief blog this evening. I have, after all, being aiding in the writing process…

Birdman – A Thought-Provoking Film

Ray and I went with our friend David a few nights back to see Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) starring Michael Keaton. I would highly recommend this film. It is quirky, but also deep, and requires a suspension of disbelief in more than one place over the course of the story. Jorge Luis…

Ray and Ragweed – It Ain’t Pretty

Ray is upstairs and I can hear him coughing and hacking away. This will be a short entry since I think my husband might appreciate my presence since he doesn’t feel well. The culprit: Texas ragweed. He just returned after five days in Texas and he is highly allergic. He took Flonase the whole time…

Flash Fiction: Seeing Red

I was shocked that he did it. Threw himself out of that window and landed with a thud on the pavement below as people with dogs walked by. He was dressed to go out that night, in a suit coat and red tie, and he had his cane in his hand even as he lay…

My Postage-Stamp Garden

A few days back, I got up bright and early and headed to Anawalt’s on Robertson in West Hollywood to buy herbs and vegetables for my fall garden. I came home with Italian parsley, curly parsley, cilantro, Italian oregano, beets, lettuce, swiss chard, romaine, sweet leaf, and strawberries. These plants went in alongside several hardy kale…

Ramblings

I am sitting with my student, George, who is in 7th grade at Hawthorne Middle School in Beverly Hills. We are doing a timed writing. He still has his cast on his arm, though the green is fading on the gauze and the edges are dirty. I imagine he is really ready to get that…

Repost: Rosemary-Lemon Chicken Cooked in a Clay Pot

I am reposting this recipe of chicken prepared in a clay pot because I just gave daughter Rachael a Romertopf clay pot.  I think she might appreciate some guidance on how to use it.  These pots are great at producing foolproof meat that is very moist.  You simply soak the pot first for fifteen minutes then…