I am watching The Crown on Netflix and must say that I feel as if I’m getting a pretty decent history lesson in the process. After each episode, I often look up people or events to learn more. I also have a Welsh friend I quiz routinely regarding events related to the British Royal Family. This…
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.
Next Round of Birds Taking Flight
I am wrapping up with my college essay students. Saying good-byes after several months of work. Several kids have already gotten the first of their acceptances if they applied Early Decision or Early Action. Some will not hear until February or even March. The work is over and the wait is on. While I will…
Godless – Well Worth Watching on Netflix
I’d like to put in a big plug for the 7-episode limited series, Godless, which can be found on Netflix. This is the story of a New Mexico town of La Belle where almost all the men have died in a mining accident and the town is run by their widows. Unfortunately, La Belle comes…
Reflections on the Thomas Fire
On Saturday night after St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood’s Lessons and Carols service (which was glorious, by the way), one of my fellow acolytes, Anthony Palacios, came up and told me he had been worried about our orange grove up in Ojai because of the Thomas Fire. I let him know all was well – so…
Reconnaissance Mission to Ojai
Today, Ray, Sarah, Gregorio, Liz, Ron and I drove up to Ojai to assess the condition of our orange grove after the Thomas fire had raged so dangerously close this week. Rachael and Ariel stayed home and watched Luna and Nico. This trip came after Ray and I decided to cancel a planned visit to…
Happy Birthday, Brother Jim
Today is my brother Jim’s birthday. He died of AIDS in 1994. I wish he were around. I miss him. Jim was one of those guys who was on the cutting edge of whatever he did. He was the first person I knew who owned a car phone, he bought a laserdisc player when they…
Game Time with Luna
I had the nicest time with my four-year-old granddaughter Luna on Sunday afternoon at the orange grove. Ray asked her if she’d like to stay for a few more hours and catch a ride home with Auntie Liz and Uncle Ron, who would be leaving later in the day. Luna immediately said yes. So her parents…
Their Eyes Were Watching God: My New Favorite Book
I have a student who will be writing an essay on Zora Neale Hurston’s book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I had the pleasure of reading for the first time this book that was published back in 1937. I just finished it yesterday and I have to say that I fell in love with this…
Back from Ojai after Thanksgiving
We have returned to LA after being in Ojai since last Wednesday. Since that time, we’ve had 25 people for Thanksgiving, gone to the Ventura beach, the park in Ojai, a hike at the Nature Conservancy, and spent many hours in the evening sitting around a roaring fire. We’ve eaten Karri’s turkey grilled on the…
Ray’s Homemade Honey-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce – Best Ever!
Today, Rachael and Ray made this cranberry sauce for our Thanksgiving meal. It’s better to make a few days ahead so the flavors will meld. Rachael did the chopping of the apples and Ray did the rest. It is easy and delicious. No refined sugar, only honey. It’s just not a holiday around our house…
20 Minutes a Day 