You know how sometimes you read that if you go back to what you loved doing when you were a little kid – 4, 5, or 6 – then that will tell you what your ideal occupation should be? Well, in my case, this is exactly true since when I was a little girl, my…
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.
A Great Recipe: Pumpkin Lasagna
My daughter Rachael occasionally asks me when I’m going to make pumpkin lasagna again. I made it several years ago and couldn’t find the recipe to repeat it even though it was very tasty. Tonight I happen to run across the recipe again and wanted to post it so I could remind myself to make it….
A Valentine’s Day Memory
When I was growing up, there was a Sweetheart Banquet at the 7th and Main Baptist Church every Valentine’s Day. I never had the occasion to attend since I was an Episcopalian, but it was considered quite an event in our little town. When I was in 8th grade, I was invited to go with…
Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) on Sunday: Our Pre-Lenten Pancake Breakfast Today at Church
Today, I was up bright and early with three other intrepid “Breakfast Club” cooks (that’s the name of our homeless breakfast). We met at the church at 7 am (we were there at 6 am yesterday for our official Breakfast Club). Today, we had an abbreviated menu of pancakes, turkey and pork sausage, breakfast burritos,…
Soon, I Will See Clearly Again!
Today, I had a happy day. For the first time in three years, I had my eyes checked and I will soon have new contacts and new glasses. I have an eye condition called Keratoconus, which is where the cornea of the eye thins out and bulges like a cone. I have had surgery on…
A Big Shift
Hi all, Well, it’s been quite a time lately. Ray was sick, then came down with shingles, then I was sick. Ugh. We are both on the mend now, but the catch-up of work has been a bit tough. I have had a long day both yesterday and today, but I’m almost caught up so…
Scholastic Regional (7 States) Gold Key Winner!
I am very pleased to announce that my writing student Lara King has received notification that she has won a Gold Key for her personal essay/memoir, “Ship of Theseus” in the Scholastic Artists and Writers contest, the oldest and most prestigious writing contest for youth in the United States. Lara is a long-distance student of…
1st Song: “Just a Little Hope,” Songwriters Len and Sam Leatherwood
My brother Sam and I have been working on a song since we visited Jaime and him in Nashville earlier in the month. This is a new venture for us. We agreed that I would write the lyrics and Sam would write the music and sing. Here is our first effort, “Just a Little Hope.”…
Thoughts on Mom Near the Anniversary of Her Death
We prayed for my mother today in church to honor the anniversary of her death. I wrote this piece a while back, but I think it expresses some of my thoughts on my mother’s passing. I loved her so and miss her. A Train’s A-Coming A train is a means of conveyance that moves on…
Ramblings on the Trip to Texas
We are on the plane heading back to LA. A baby is crying, a man is shuffling cards, two women behind me are having a conversation with tones that suggest they know each other well. We are three in our row but the fellow in front of us has a row all to himself. That’s…
