Today is Rachael’s 32nd birthday, and in the spirit of tradition, I am going to recap her birth story. This is something I usually do in person on the birthdays of my daughters, but since I won’t see Rachael until tomorrow, I’m sharing it here. If you’ve followed my blog for a long time, then…
Month: April 2023
Happy Birthday to My Son-in-Law, Ron
Happy birthday, Ron! I hope you’ve had a lovely day. Please know that I feel very lucky to have you in our family. I love you and am so happy that you and Liz are together and that you two now have baby Ethan. What a joy to have your little family as part of…
The Skating Rink in My Little Texas Town and Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date”
Few songs on the radio trigger such a visceral reaction for me as Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date.” This instrumental piece featuring a piano with the accompaniment of a string takes me right back to my childhood and the roller rink where I spent endless hours skating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with my friends. As…
Alpaca Shearing Day
Daughter Liz and her husband Ron have three alpacas up at our orange grove in Ojai. Their names are Leroy, Buttercup, and Finn. This is the second year that they have had an official shearing day, where the professional shearer and his helper arrive and not only shear their fur, but also trim their nails,…
So Near to Heaven
Positano on Italy’s Amalfi Coast I awoke early one morning and walked out onto the balcony of my hotel. The sun was rising, the air cool, the sweet scent of orange blossoms wafted from the blood-orange tree. I saw the sun-dappled blue of the Mediterranean, the muted green of olive trees, the vivid fushia of…
A Poem for Brother George
I participated in a Story Circle Network poetry webinar today with poet Sharon Charde. The title of her presentation was, “Transforming Your Trauma into Art.” I don’t consider myself a poet but am drawn to this short form of expression. At the end of the 1 1/2 hour presentation, Sharon gave us the prompt: Describe…
Chocolate Cake Recipe with a Secret Ingredient + Royal Honey Butter Cream Frosting
Here is a tried and true recipe for an exceptional chocolate cake. The secret ingredient is mayonnaise, which substitutes for the oil and the eggs in the recipe. This is from the Cake Bible and is moist, rich, and “Double-D” delicious. Ray and I don’t eat refined sugar so I substitute one cup of honey…
A “Just Right” Rocking Chair
The bentwood rocker is brown with age and the color of its thin wooden arms – where human arms have rested – is lighter than the rest of the wood. The back has five wooden rungs that are attached to two rounded wooden pieces that stretch three inches above the highest rung and all the…
The Easter Vigil Mass and Easter Day Activities w/ Lots of Photos
Over the past two days, I have had three separate church experiences. Last night, I attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, where I read two of the nine readings and then participated in the Mass. This was a marathon event of two hours followed by a dessert potluck and time…
A Poem for Good Friday
Good Friday BY MARIA MELENDEZ KELSON Jesus, I want my sins back. My prattle, pride, and private prices — climbing, clinching, clocking — I might loan you a few for the evening, so you don’t show up at your own crucifixion naked of all purpose. But for God’s sake, don’t spill any redemption on them! They’re my signature…
20 Minutes a Day 