I came across this poem by Emily Dickinson this evening and was immediately struck with the beauty of describing hope as “the thing with feathers-/that perches in the soul-.” This uses the literary device of zoomorphism (which is defined as assigning animal-like qualities to non-animal subjects for added effect). The image of a bird as…
Month: January 2023
Honey/Agave Sweetened Chocolate Cream Pie
I was inspired to make a chocolate cream pie after listening to “Swingin” (written by John Anderson) and performed by the incomparable The Mavericks. I love this rendition of this song with Raul Malo. Makes me smile every time I listen to it. “Her brother was on the sofa eating chocolate pie” is the line…
Michael, My Writing Buddy
I am writing today with my writing friend, Michael. This means that he and I chat for a few minutes when we first meet (we try to stay focused on the subject of writing) and then we mute ourselves and write independently for the rest of the time. We check in with each other about…
Weekend Visit to See Little Ethan
Our family gathered in Ojai this weekend to see Liz, Ron, and little Ethan, who is now 3 1/2 weeks old. Rachael was there for part of the time along with Sarah, Gregorio, and their kids, Luna, Nico, and Lyla. Sarah brought all sorts of appetizers, and Ron smoked spicy chicken thighs and also baked…
For Brother George on What Would Have Been His 73rd Birthday.
Today is my late brother George’s birthday and I can’t let it pass without writing about him. George died back in 2004 at the age of 54. He had esophageal cancer that metastasized to his lungs. He was given 17 months to live and a second, third, and fourth medical opinion confirmed that initial prognosis….
A Busy Day Today
I am very tired tonight. We rose early to drive to Ojai and were on the road by 6:30 am. After arriving here at 8, we went right to work rearranging a cargo bin. Rachael, Ray, and I worked together to get things reorganized. Around 10:30. Liz and baby Ethan came to visit us while…
Rain, Rain, and More Rain
We here in California are usually very happy to receive rain. Yes, I know I’m speaking for everyone in the Golden State, but I feel certain my words are true. However, I think it would be fair to add that, given our druthers, we would prefer that rare and longed-for precipitation to come in a…
How James Clear’s Atomic Habits Applies to Writers
I just finished my 1 1/2 hour webinar for Story Circle Network entitled, “Creating (or Reviving) a Daily Writing Habit.” I had 29 people at the webinar, many of whom were women I know through SCN, either as students or as fellow board members. A few were people I didn’t know and one was a…
Delicious Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Today is chilly and rainy. I have the fire going in the fireplace and am wearing my thick red sweater, jeans, and heavy wool socks. It’s one of those days when it’s nice to know that something good and hearty is cooking for lunch or supper. Something to look forward to that will taste good…
Upcoming SCN Webinar: Establishing (or Reviving) a Daily Writing Habit
On Wednesday, I will be presenting a 1 1/2-hour webinar for Story Circle Network on establishing a daily writing habit. This webinar is for women only and is for writers of all levels from beginners to published authors. (Sometimes even published authors get out of the writing habit, after all.) Over the past several weeks,…
20 Minutes a Day 