I remember: Warm pavement under my bare feet Doodle bugs tickling my arms Train whistles in the distance My father’s biscuits and gravy My mother’s typing The smell of chlorine at the pool in summer Chicken and dumplings Incense at church Freshly mown grass My dad’s old farm truck My Uncle Doc’s café My Uncle…
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.
Great Recipe for Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps
I made these lettuce wraps last night and they were quick to prepare and delicious. Also, it’s nice that they are quite healthy, which is always a good feeling especially when coupled with such a satisfying flavor. This meal also included roasted acorn squash, which were cut into bite-size chunks and cooked on a baking…
Family Visiting and Flea Sunday at Church
It is 10:30 at night and Sarah, Luna and Nico are asleep in our guest bedroom while Ray, Cordelia and Frankie are asleep in our room. I will soon follow. We have had the treat of a two night visit with Sarah and the kids while Gregorio is off on a business trip. Tomorrow the…
Perfect for Fall: Honey-Sweetened Pumpkin Muffin
My daughter Liz shared this recipe with me a few days back. I have not tried it, but can already tell it’s going to be good. Pumpkin adds such a great flavor and I’m sure this is a perfect “fall” muffin. I am including the recipe below. I feel certain I’ll be baking this up…
A Comfort Chair
The bent wood rocker is brown with age, and the thin arms are lighter than the rest of the wood where human arms have rested upon them. The back has five wooden rungs that are attached to two long round pieces of wood that stretch three inches above the highest rung and all the way…
Repost: Childhood Play as a Clue to Ideal Career
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…
Orange Picking Day in Ojai
We are up at the orange grove with two sets of out of town friends: Jan and Richard Davies from Wales and Jared Tredway from Texas. This is a treat in itself since these are folks who appreciate the rustic charm of the grove. It also gave us the chance to be here when the…
Two Thumbs Up: Hell or High Water
Tonight we saw the new movie starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster called Hell or High Water. This was shot in New Mexico, but the setting is West Texas. I don’t want to say much about the film in case you see it, which I would highly recommend. Superb acting and a story…
Repost: Best Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe EVER
I have made one of the most delicious chicken noodle soups that I’ve ever tasted and I want to share the recipe with you. The key is making the stock from a whole chicken, of course, and then using that meat for the soup. But the other nice addition is the use of Chinese noodles…
My Father’s Words
These are things my dad used to say: 1) “That old dog won’t hunt.” This meant that excuse won’t work; that plan isn’t any good; that behavior isn’t what it should be, etc. 2) “Hasta La Stinko” This was accompanied by a smile and a wave to a bunch of teenagers who seemed to constantly…
20 Minutes a Day 