My grown-up great-nephew and niece, Eli and Sophie, each wrote me separately recently asking for the honey-sweetened baklava recipe that we have used for the many Thanksgivings they came and visited with their parents when they were younger. This was a fun holiday cooking project that the three of us enjoyed. I am delighted to…
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.
Ojai Tonight
We are at the orange grove this evening and are listening to KUSC, which is the classical music station that broadcasts from the University of Southern California. The vaporizer is spouting out a column of white steam, which is needed since the humidity here was 10% when we arrived this afternoon. Now our handy-dandy humidity…
Ray’s Delectable Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Today, Rachael and I made what we think of as “Ray’s” cranberry sauce. Ray came up with the recipe and made it all by himself for many years. Today he was sitting in the other room available for questions on proportions and cooking time. Rachael peeled and chopped the apples while I rinsed the cranberries…
Stutz: A Netflix Film Worth Watching
Today I watched a film on Netflix called Stutz, which was directed by Jonah Hill. This is a documentary of Jonah and his relationship with his therapist, Dr. Phil Stutz, who has provided Jonah and other patients with some key tools to navigate through life. In fact, these tools ended up being helpful enough that…
Assisi
Written October 2022 I walked into the Romanesque Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi this morning and was instantly transfixed by the low arched ceilings, the predominate blue and gold colors, and the intricate beauty of the Biblical scenes depicted on the ceiling and walls. Signs read, “Silencio, Grazie” as we entered so there were…
Flash Fiction: A Visit from the Bardo
Mary Louise awoke at three am to the distinct smell of bacon frying. For just one moment she wondered what John was doing up so early, then remembered that he was dead, and had been for forty-nine days. That was when she walked into their study and found him in his armchair, skin cold, eyes staring off at some…
Italy and Texas: A Fall Full of Flavor
I have had a very busy fall, which was highlighted by a two-week trip to Italy for the Story Circle Network Writing Workshop and Sightseeing Tour and also a week-long trip to Texas to help celebrate the marriage of my niece, Charlsie, to her long-time partner, Austin. Both events were filled with fun, laughter, and…
An Uncharted Path
I married my husband Not just for his irreverent sense of humor But for his way of looking at the world Always questioning the status quo Never accepting “just is” With him, I learned To venture into the darkness Hand in hand A dim flashlight beam Illuminating the way Forty-two years together We embark…
A Few Thoughts and a Poem
Hello, my friends, I wrote this poem last night. The line, “If I could love you,” popped into my head, and off I went. I didn’t write this with anything else in mind other than I felt compelled to make it lively and silly. I am new to poetry and decided to follow my gut….
A Quick Hello & A New Flash Fiction Story
Below is a story that I’ve written recently. This is flash fiction, which is a piece that is no longer than 1200 words. The prompt was “Seaside Gothic,” and I started writing it in the St. Thomas the Apostle Writing Group that we formed a few months back. (St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in…
20 Minutes a Day 