I am tired but happy after meeting the Pacheco Beaty family at 10:30 this morning for breakfast and then bringing Luna and Nico home for an overnight visit. The kids will head home mid-morning tomorrow to see Mama, Daddy and baby Lyla. We went to the Habitat for Humanity “Restore” after breakfast in Glendale, then…
Author: lenleatherwood
I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.
Repost: Nils, Norway and a Lesson or Two
In the spring of 1975 when I was 22, my boyfriend Nick and I decided we would go to Europe after I graduated from college in June. (He was already finished with school and up for an adventure). The goal was to go for a year and the original plan (or at least the one…
Today – A Detail Day
Today, I have been attending to details in my life that usually fall through the cracks. For example, I looked up my insurance benefits to see if I am covered for a new pair of glasses. (I am). I also made a doctor’s appointment for a physical and blood work (first opening April 20th. That’s…
Pure Comfort Food: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
I made this chicken pot pie today since Ray is still sick and I thought he might like a little something special. I used the recipe below, which I found on sallysbakingaddiction.com, a spot where I’ve found quite a lot of recipes I like. I made my own pie crusts (a goal of mine instead…
Ray, Relapse and Another Victim of the Flu
Well, I don’t know if I can call this a relapse or simply the next phase of this particular flu, but Ray is back in bed with a terrible cough now, red runny eyes and a low-grade fever. These are the same symptoms Sarah and Lyla experienced a few weeks back and a variation of…
Blueberry Lemon Bundt Cake with Honey Lemon Glaze
This is a delicious cake that I made last week. I have included the original recipe and put in the alternative sweeteners I use in parentheses. Bake it as long as you can so that it gets done through and through. This is something you can serve for company and it can be made a…
The Advantage of an Orange Grove: Lots of Vitamin C!
Ray had a fever-free day today. He was moving slowly at first, but by mid-afternoon was back to life as usual. I guess the good news is that particular strain of the flu is over in 2 – 3 days and is primarily body aches and fairly high temperatures. It could be worse! So far,…
A Healthy Alternative: Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
I made this recipe the other day and I would recommend it. You can’t taste the sweet potato; you can taste a creamy sauce, which seems very cheesy. I think that’s part of the appeal of this recipe: much less cheese and the nutrition of sweet potatoes, to boot. On a scale of 1 –…
Up in Ojai with a Sick Husband
Ray has a 101 temperature and is complaining of severe body aches. He went to bed shaking with chills last night and has been in bed all day and evening. He was just fine one minutes and shivering the next. Of course, he could have gotten this bug anywhere but this sounds very similar to…
A Dream That Is Spurring Action Related to Brain Health
I had a dream the other night that I couldn’t remember my grandchildren’s names. I was struggling to recall them in the dream and finally woke up with a start. That is the first time that the fear of dementia has entered my dream life. The first time that I found myself frantically trying to…
20 Minutes a Day 