I am tired. Today was busy. Lots of visiting, which was all pleasant and with people I am very fond of, so that wasn’t the problem. The problem is that I went from one activity to the next with no downtime in between. We went to breakfast with one of our antique dealer friends to…
Month: January 2024
The Success of SCN’s “20-Minutes-a-Day” Writing Challenge
I just concluded hosting Story Circle Network’s “20 Minutes a Day” January writing challenge. We had 44 participants who committed to writing for 20 minutes a day from January 2 until today, January 30th. Here’s to your success, writing participants! Daughter Liz Beaty, SCN’s program director, and I created this program a few years ago. This…
“Blue Zone” Spiced Lentil Recipe
This recipe comes from the website of Dan Buettner, who researched and wrote several books on the Blue Zones, which are areas where the longest-living people call home. These areas are as diverse as Greece; Sardinia; Okinawa, Japan; Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California. I have been trying different Blue Zone recipes. This can be…
Our First Day in Texas
This morning, Ray and I got up early (at 8, which is 6 in California) and got ready for church at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Sherman. A friend of ours picked us up at 9:15 and we were there by 9:20. Nothing is too far away in Sherman, but, in this case, the church…
Almost There!
Ray and I are driving through Childress, Texas right now. I’m typing on my computer in the car because I know I’ll be too tired to write once we arrive in Sherman this evening. We started at 6 am from Grants, New Mexico where it was 23 degrees this morning. We have made good time…
Finally Driving to Texas
Ray and I are on our first driving trip to Texas since September 2019. Covid-19 was the culprit, and then when we were finally able to return, we flew rather than drove since the flights were faster. Until today. Here it is January 2024 and we are finally getting to make the drive on Interstate 40…
Looking for a Flavor-filled Winter Soup? Here’s a Great Instant Pot Recipe
As many of you know, I am an undying supporter of the Instant Pot. Ever since my niece Nicki introduced me to this quick and easy pressure cooker, I have never looked back. I cook probably 80% of my meals in an Instant Pot and have found it produces moist meat and vegetables, perfect rice…
A Silly Poem: Tomorrow’s Unfolding
Let’s see how tomorrow unfoldsLike a flowerOr a chairOr maybe a spring-loaded tentLet’s see how that unfolding happensGentlyWith a little helpOr all on its ownMaybe tomorrow will be resistantAnd stay comfortably foldedHappy to maintain its more protected stateUntil further noticeTomorrow’s unfolding remains a mysteryUntil tomorrowWhen we will seeExactly what does or does not unfold
Our Christmas/Birthday Celebration Did Not Disappoint
We had a raucous time on Sunday for our joint Christmas and birthday celebration. Lots of food, fun, and laughter. I looked around the room on several occasions at this motley crew of folks who all love each other and felt exceedingly grateful. I had a wonderful birthday. And now Gregorio and Sarah can finally…
Flash Memoir: Could That Be John?
I was walking the other day in downtown Los Angeles when I saw him – a man in his mid-forties, slight of build, with a square jaw and dark eyes. My heart jumped in my chest, John! I wanted to shout out but did not. My brother, you see, died back in 1991. The man…
20 Minutes a Day 