I thought by the time I was in my early 60’s, I would have accomplished all sorts of impressive things. Surely, I’d have made lots of money, seen the world, had a successful career, raised lovely children, had a successful marriage and published at least three books. Here I am at 62 and I can…
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.
Restful Evening Back in Ojai
I am listening to the classical radio station KUSC this evening and they are playing Robert Schumann’s Five Pieces in the Folk Style with Benjamin Britten on piano and Mstislav Rostropovich on cello. It is absolutely lovely, rich and resonant. We are back in Ojai for a few days. We will be working, but are…
A Reprieve from Near Death
A few years back, my husband and I were traveling from California to Texas, and I was pulling a 1958 Buick on a trailer behind our 15-passenger Ford Van. This was my husband’s idea of love at first sight – that ’58 Buick – a car from his birth year that he hoped to restore…
My Connection to Texas
Whenever I drive back to Texas, the minute I hit the border from New Mexico, a calm settles over me. Not that West Texas is my home, but still, I can see the big open sky and the flat plains and I hear that West Texas closed-mouth drawl when I stop for gas. These signal…
Back Home
Tonight we are back home in LA in a quiet house. We have been very busy working and traveling and entertaining for the past several weeks so the calm of our home feels good. We have returned to our guilty pleasure at present: binge watching older television series. Right now we are watching the 1st…
Last Night in Ojai
We have relinquished the new Airstream to Sarah, Gregorio and Luna who arrived here this evening. We are back in the Spartan Manor and I am writing this by candlelight. We figured our pregnant daughter trumps our need for modern conveniences; besides, we want to encourage our kids to come up to the orange grove…
Ojai for Work and Play
Today our Texas friends headed back to the Lone Star State. We enjoyed them very much and are so appreciative they were willing to bring out our restored Airstream. Thank you, Scott and Amy Ellis (and daughters) for making the very long trek with a 33 foot trailer. Also, much thanks to master craftsmen, Darrah…
Hollywood Tonight
Tonight we headed to Hollywood with our Texas guests. We went to the El Capitan movie theater, a restored old movie house of the first order, to see Inside Out, complete with a pre-movie stage show. This is the only theater I’ve ever visited where they have dancers who do a show that augments the…
Airstream in Place
We are still up in Ojai, heading down to LA tomorrow. Our Texas friends are still here and we are enjoying time here and Ventura together. Very relaxed and comfortable. The Airstream is nestled between two orange trees, a distance away from the Spartan Manor and the fire pit. The good news is that its…
July 4th
We spent today with our Texas friends, Scott and Amy Ellis and their three daughters, as we celebrated the Fourth of July together. We went down to the Ventura Street Fair in the morning, ate lunch at Ranch House BBQ, then headed to the beach, where the girls played in the water despite windy and…
20 Minutes a Day 