I have been sitting in this chair – more or less – since 7 am and it’s now almost 9 pm. This is the time of year when students arrive and leave and arrive and leave all day long, one after another. The November 30th University of CA deadline is almost here along with the…
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.
Ray’s 5 Star Cranberry Sauce
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought you might be looking for a good cranberry sauce recipe. Well, if you are, then here it is. This is the best cranberry sauce you will EVER taste. The nice part is that it’s really simple, and it is better if you make it ahead so the…
What You Can’t See in The Photo
This photo was taken last Tuesday on Hillcrest Road in Beverly Hills immediately after Rachael, Ray and I voted in the national election. Ray is taking the photo. What you don’t know looking at the photo: I had just cried when I saw Hillary Clinton’s name – a woman’s name – listed as a serious…
A Visit from Sandra Leatherwood in My Dreams Last Night
Last night I had a tiny snippet of a dream in which my dear departed sister-in-law Sandra Adams Leatherwood appeared. She was young – maybe 35 or so – and we were in the back garden of a house where she lived, but it wasn’t any house that I recognized. She and I had been…
The Orange Grove Bathed in Moonlight
We came up to Ojai just so we could enjoy the Super Moon at the orange grove. With no city lights to compete, the grove is bathed in soft moonlight bright enough to illuminate each tree. Absolutely lovely. Completely peaceful. The temperature is mild and the quiet of this place unbends every bent-up muscle. Getting…
Thanks for Your Service, Brother Jim Leatherwood
My brother, Jim, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S Navy in the mid-1980’s, serving as a medical officer to the Marines. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton after graduating from medical school. He loved the military and often said that if they had been more kindly to gay men, he…
Great Recipe: Pan-Roasted Chicken with Oranges
No surprise that I have turned to cooking at this particular moment. Cooking is calming for me, makes the house smell good and, of course, supplies Ray and me with some tasty meals. I especially like this recipe because of the inclusion of orange slices slipped under the chicken skin. Hard to beat that flavor….
May Light Perpetual Shine Upon You, Leonard Cohen
My beloved Leonard Cohen has died. Eighty-two. Spry the last time I saw him perform live just a few years back, once in Las Vegas and once in LA. Ray and I even flew to Denver to see his concert there, but the performance was rained out. We considered going to London to hear that…
The Day After…
Today has been one of those days. Filled with a particular sorrow that I haven’t experienced except when dealing with the loss of a loved one. Pure grief. The desire to crawl into a small dark place, curl up in the fetal position and let the world and its worries just proceed without me. Some might…
Comfort Food for Election Day
Hi all, We’re in for a long day and evening tomorrow and let me recommend some real comfort food for your table. The vegetable soup described below was created by Alton Brown and is a 5-Star, To-Be-Counted-On-Everytime-Everywhere recipe filled with colorful vegetables cooked in lightly seasoned chicken broth with a hint of fresh lemon and…
20 Minutes a Day 