My husband loves dark chocolate. I made this cake recipe specifically for him since I knew that it would make him exceedingly happy. It did, by the way. This is EASY and fast and delicious. It is not for anyone who is not completely in love with dark chocolate, but for those of you who…
Category: Home
My Mother’s Gift
I was twelve years old when I scanned through the beautifully bound books that comprised our family library. I don’t know why I decided on that particular day to look through these volumes. Perhaps it was cold outside and the idea of curling up with a book in a cozy room was alluring. Whatever the…
When Life Gives You Lemons…
I am sitting outside my back door in a small alcove that we’ve furnished with two chairs, a bench and three small glass-topped tables. There is a lemon tree to my right filled with Meyer lemons, a wonderful variety that is sweeter and has a thinner skin than regular lemons. The dogs are out back…
Two Weeks Since Luna’s Birth – What I’ve Learned
I have been a grandmother for a little over two weeks now. This is what I know in this very short amount of time: 1) I have not felt this sort of feeling for 22 years since my youngest child, Rachael, was born. 2) Babies have the softest skin imaginable. 3) Luna turned and somehow…
Jury Selection and Rachael’s Birthday
I have been selected to serve on a jury in a civil case. The judge said we can expect the trial to go from 7 – 10 days. We had jury selection today and we begin tomorrow. I am happy to do my civic duty though the timing could have been better. Ray and I…
A Busy Day and a Good Movie
I have had a long day. We had the Breakfast Club this morning, then we attended a requiem mass for our friend, Barry Norcross, who died in January. After that, I had four hours of students and editing before we headed over to the Arc Light in Hollywood for dinner and a movie. Any one…
Thoughts on a Friday Night
Heading back from a Luna evening. We spent a few hours with our little grandbaby tonight plus Sarah and Gregorio, of course. Getting to hold that little sleepy girl and feel her warm little body in my arms is an indescribable treat. Baby love, for sure. Tomorrow we will be up early for the homeless…
The Time is Now
We know a Mexican family with four fine sons. Two were born in the United States; two in Mexico. All four boys have lived here their entire lives save for a year or two when they were babies. Now the two boys – the “Mexican” citizens – have been given two glorious years to live…
My Evening and a Few Simple Pleasures
I am sitting here at my table in the living room. It is 11 o’clock at night. The television is on in the other room at a volume where I can make out a few words, just loud enough to be distracting. I am tired. I can feel fatigue behind my eyes. I have been…
Heading Home from Seeing Luna
We are enroute home from Arcadia, the town where Sarah and Gregorio live, which is about 45 minutes east of where we live. We are returning from a 4 hour visit with baby Luna and Sarah. Gregorio had to leave to go to class. He is getting a Master’s degree in Archaeology and tonight was…
20 Minutes a Day 