As Ray and I prepare to head to Sicily later this week, it was beyond a treat to have our three South Pasadena grandkids with us for an overnight stay. We also had the pleasure of having Ron’s mother, Cindy, visit at the same time, so we had a full orange grove! Cindy will also…
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.
Three Older Grandkids Spending Night w/ Us: So Sweet
Right now, I am writing my blog from the foot of the bed that holds two of my three Pacheco-Beaty grandkids, Nico (8) and Lya (5), while Luna (11) snoozes on a mattress on the floor. They are visiting Grandma and Grandpa, and this is their first overnight stay in a long time. I’m so…
A Sleepy Day after Covid Booster
Ray and I planned a rest day today since we had our COVID-19 boosters yesterday and flu vaccines. Though neither of us had the strong reactions we’ve had in the past (fever, chills, and extreme body aches), we both had body aches and were very tired and groggy today. I took three two-hour naps, and…
Covid and Flu Vaccines Today
Ray and I received our COVID-19 and flu vaccines around noon today. I chose Moderna; Ray picked Pfizer. I have had students all afternoon as we finish up college essays before I head to Sicily next Thursday. My experience with the other vaccines is that around four hours post-shot, I started to feel not-so-good. With…
A Funny High School Memory
Today, my husband Ray was chatting with our youngest daughter, Rachael, about regional dialects and colloquialisms. He then said, “I think the only person I’ve ever heard say “warter” for “water” was George. He was referring to my older brother George who died a few years back and did, in fact, routinely say warter. However,…
Surprising Myself
Today, I was talking with my daughter Liz about adding a Mission Oak bookshelf to a room she was redecorating. She said, “Oh, maybe I can put the new bookshelf next to the one Dad has already loaned me.” I looked at the bookshelf she referenced and said, in pure antique dealer-speak, “Oh, but the…
A Recipe for a Tasty Fall Soup
Fall is here, and I love nothing more than soup in fall (or any other season, for that matter). Below is a recipe I’ve found for a delicious soup with wild rice and sweet potato in a creamy coconut milk broth. Can’t wait to try this! Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup Description This Cozy Autumn…
Ways to Combat Early Morning Worry Sessions
I have been having trouble sleeping lately. Around 3 am, I wake up, go to the bathroom, then get back in bed only to have my brain start to whir. The whirring might be nice if it were centered on all the wonderful things in my life, but that’s not the case. Instead, I think…
Rest in Peace, Kris Kristofferson
Today, I want to pay homage to Kris Kristofferson’s talent for songwriting. I also thought his voice was better than many thought it was. It was distinctive, which I found interesting. He has lots of songs I like, but “Me and Bobby Mcgee” is one of my favorites. Of course, Janis Joplin’s rendition is the…
Prompt: Write About a Piece of Clothing You Wore at a Pivotal Moment in Your Life
On the first day of work on my first job out of my Master’s in Counseling program in 1977, I wore a taupe 3-piece suit, carried a burgundy clutch purse, and sported burgundy high heels. I had gone to Dallas with the woman who helped me get that job, the mother of a childhood friend,…
20 Minutes a Day 