Call me overly sentimental or childish or whatever else might come to mind, but I unapologetically love Christmas lights. l love the twinkling, the colors, and the glow emitted from strands of tiny bulbs strung over trees, porches, or outlining the inside or outside of homes. I find the light cozy, comforting, and symbolic of…
Month: December 2023
#44 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Baking for the Holidays
With Christmas almost here, I plan to do some baking this week. I’ll be using some of the oranges from our trees since we always cordon off a few when the Sunkist pickers come. Though the oranges are not as pretty as they were back in October when the other trees were picked, they are…
#43 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Posada with Andrew’s Family
Tonight we gathered with Rachael’s boyfriend Andrew’s family for their annual Posada, commemorating Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem, where they searched for a safe place to stay while Mary gave birth to Jesus. Many family members and friends were invited, and there was delicious food, including tamales and green chili pozole with chicken. Yum,…
#42 – Something that Makes Me Happy – Making My Favorite Stuffed Shells Recipe for Christmas Eve Dinner
I have been asked to make homemade stuffed shells as my contribution to our Christmas Eve family celebration this year. This is a family favorite and is a dish you can always count on for either low-key family dinners or something much fancier. Here is what I do: First, I make a marinara sauce with sautéed…
#41 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Commemorating Little Ethan’s First Birthday Today
Today, my grandson, Ethan Arthur Betty, is one year old. I am in Texas at the moment but am returning tomorrow, so I’ll get to see the little birthday boy tomorrow evening. I would think that little Ethan was adorable even if he weren’t my grandson. He has big blue eyes, curly blond hair, a…
#40 – Something That Makes Me Happy – A Memory of Something My Mother Said to Me.
I was looking out the window today at the tops of several trees with bare limbs silhouetted against the winter sky. It took me back forty years to one winter day when I made a visit to the college where my mother taught. We were walking together after her class and I pointed to a…
#39 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Another 1st Draft Song to Share with Brother Sam
I wrote this song shortly after writing the one I posted last night. I sent it to Sam this morning and we’ll see what comes of it in our songwriting collaboration. As Sam said last night when I sent him the first song, “We’re songwriting again. How fun!” Yes, yes, and yes. I’m in “Beginner’s…
#38 – Something That Makes Me Happy – Writing Songs With My Brother
My brother Sam and I have collaborated on several songs together. They are imperfect but perfectly ours, and working on them has been a sweet and bonding time for Sam and me. Tonight I needed to write something for a writing group I host, so I quickly penned a first draft of a song. I…
#37 – Something That Makes Me Happy – My Fellow Women Writers at Story Circle Network
Today, I attended a Zoom board meeting for Story Circle Network, the all-women’s writing organization for which I’ve served as president for the past three years. At the meeting, ten of us sat as old friends and discussed the business end of our non-profit, such as how to garner more members and how to increase…
#36 – Something That Makes Me Happy – A Window into My Other Life
Today, we’re in North Texas and we’ve been working at our mid-century building that was a Savings and Loan when it was first built in 1962. I’ve been dusting, sweeping, and straightening our art pottery collection and various and sundry other items that will eventually be added to our inventory for our antiques and collectibles…
20 Minutes a Day 