I love (in no particular order and certainly not an exhaustive list): Dry toast Sunrises and sunsets Reading a good book The sound of the wind in the trees The soft baby skin of my grandkids The warm skin of my husband The smiles of my daughters The giggles of my whole family The sweetness…
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.
Charles Bukowski: A Poet Who Knows How to Reach You
I love Charles Bukowski’s poetry because he writes in a way that makes his poems accessible. This one has a lot of depth to it, but also has a few spots that make you smile. Charles Bukowski was 73 when he died. He was a prolific writer and published 60 books of his poems and…
In Memory of My Mother
I wrote this a while back, but it contains pretty much everything I want to say about my beloved mother. I am reprinting it today to commemorate the anniversary of her death, which was January 23rd. In late January, twenty-two years, my mother, Helen Waugh Leatherwood, died. To say I loved her would be an…
Excellent Blueberry Lemon Muffin Recipe
Blueberry Lemon Muffins These muffins are sweetened with honey and maple sugar. No one will ever know they don’t contain refined white sugar. They are simply delicious. Recipe yields 12 muffins. INGREDIENTS 1 ¾ cups plus 1 teaspoon unbleached white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) ⅓…
What I Didn’t Know as A Teen about Life
When I was a teenager, I knew that in my future I wanted a loving husband and several children. I knew that much. I also wanted a career since I knew from watching my mother get her Ph.D. as I was growing up that having intellectual stimulation and economic freedom contributed to happiness. I saw…
A Happy Evening
Cold night Clear skies Crescent moon smiling Cheshire cat-like in the sky A warm home The laughter of friends A happy evening Swapping tales of our lives
Happy News for My Students Applying to Law School
Today, I finished with one of my final law school applicants for the year and I found myself having to resist the urge to burst into tears. I get really close to the kids I work with since we craft a personal statement that often takes several months of weekly meetings. Often, I have had…
When Your Friend Joins in the Fanciful
Our friend Darrah Dunn has worked with us for over 30 years in both our antique business and our architectural restoration projects. He is not only an artist but also a master craftsman, who has lent his expertise to our many endeavors, big and small. In the photo below, he is working on repairing French…
Making a Friend on a Plane
I met the young man below on the plane today coming from Los Angeles to Dallas. He sat down next to me and I immediately noticed that he was carrying a book by the Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. I reached into my seat pocket and showed him my book by the same teacher. He…
The Eternal Shift
The ticking of the clock Or the heart Signals the passing of time Seconds turn to minutes turn to days Each blending into the other Year after year Then the moment comes When the ticking stops Life shifts to death An end or a new beginning? A discovery we will all make in time
20 Minutes a Day 