I am sitting in our house in Texas and I just have to say that it is just ridiculous how beautiful it is. I realize I am biased since we have chosen everything that is in it from the wall paper to the mantles to the tiles on the hearths to the light fixtures since…

We experienced an impressive thunderstorm here in Texas today. We had every window and door open so fresh clean air could swish all through the house. The thunder rumbled, the lightning flashed, the wind blew and then the rain came. Big fat drops, lots of them. The rain pattered on the tin roof and splashed…

In no order and certainly not all of them: 1) Don’t give a damn what anybody else thinks. They won’t care long since their own lives will keep them busy. 2) Figure out how to be good with money. 3) Create a marriage that works for both partners; don’t be tied to traditions that don’t…

We are back in Lyon House in Texas. Rachael is sleeping in the next room. The dogs, who we haven’t seen in three weeks, are asleep at the foot of our bed. The wind is blowing outside, making the trees sway. The night is quiet except for the whistle of a passing train. We are…

List of a few things that make me happy (in no order and far from exhaustive): 1) Luna 2) Sarah, Liz, Rachael, Gregorio, and Ron 3) Ray 4) My extended family 5) Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Handel and Haydn 6) Birdsong 7) The Orange Grove and the smell of orange blossoms 8) My friends…

Today I had to tackle one of those dreaded areas of my life: clothes shopping. I realize that for many women (and men) taking time to pick out just the right outfit is a pleasant pastime, perhaps even fun, but for me, shopping is one of those activities that rivals cleaning out the refrigerator. The…

I came across a box of old pictures when it Ojai the other day. They were stored in one of our two big bins up there. I am going to share them here since they bring back those days of childhood and high school, which were now a few years back… 1st or 2nd Grade…

I am sitting with Jonah. I can hear our employee, Gregorio (not our son-in-law) and Ray outside talking about Gregorio’s upcoming trip to Hawaii tomorrow. He is very excited since this is the first trip he’s gone on in a very long time. He and his wife are going for their 25th wedding anniversary and…

These delicious brownies were made by Liz’s boyfriend’s mother, Cindy Betty, as a dessert for us last night at the Betty home. Thank you, Cindy. These are really tasty and beautiful! Ingredients (Makes 12 brownies) 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed very well (The unusual ingredient) 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder pinch of sea salt…

Jolene loved going to a coffeehouse in Hermosa Beach. The place was called The Insomniac, and it was cool. Beat poets congregated there and read their poems. Jolene was excited by those loose thoughts and wild rhythms and was always going home with somebody at the end of the night. She liked to say, “I’m…