Having just had a birthday, I sat in church today and considered that I have no clue where I am going from here. I have a few projects that are part of my current life and certainly plenty of work that needs to be finished, but as far as a big picture plan, goal or…
Category: Writing as a Discipline
Brooklyn: The Film
We just returned from seeing the movie, Brooklyn. This is a definite must-see for anyone who values strong storytelling, engaging characters, and compelling acting. The story, about a young woman who moves to the United States in the early ’50’s from Ireland, demonstrates how strong the Irish community was in Brooklyn in the late 40’s…
My Last 24 Hours: Sweet Fun
Thank you all so much for those sweet birthday wishes. What a treat to hear from so many people near and far, friends old and new. This is the best part of Facebook, the connection to others and I am grateful. So consider yourselves much appreciated. We have been up in Ojai with Luna since…
Repost of Flash Memoir: Lorene and The Bra
Meal time in my house when I was growing up centered on lunch, and the cook was not my mother, heaven forbid, or my father, though he could make an impressive breakfast, but rather our housekeeper, Lorene, a big-boned black woman who wore a white uniform to work, Monday – Friday, from 8:30 – 2:30….
The Simple Pleasure of An Overnight Visit
We are having the pleasure of an overnight visit from our daughter Elizabeth Beaty, who had LASIK surgery today at an outpatient facility near our home. She has a follow-up visit tomorrow morning, which makes it quite convenient to spend the night here rather than in Glendale where she lives. Our cat William is especially…
Pure Beauty
Here is little Luna with her four-day-old little brother, Nico. My heart caught in my throat when I saw this photo. Pure beauty and sweetness. I am blessed.
Happy Birthday, Daughter Elizabeth
Today is the 30th birthday of Elizabeth, my middle daughter. She and her friends (including sister Rachael) headed off to Magic Mountain for the day. We are going to celebrate on Monday evening due to her nephew Nico’s recent birth. Liz, as someone said to me when I turned 30, welcome to the best years…
Best Birthday Wishes to My First Cousin, Lee
Happy birthday to my old friend and first cousin, Lee Leatherwood, who preceded me into this life by six days. We have known each other all of our lives, having lived only a block away from each other for our first five years, then only a few blocks away until we were eighteen. Then, we…
Nico’s Arrival: A Few Scary Moments
Ray and I had a good cry yesterday after they wheeled Sarah into the operating room for an emergency c-section after 12 hours of labor. Her blood pressure had sunk to 30/60 and baby Nico’s heart rate had dropped to 80 from 155. Suddenly, the medical team went from one nurse to a whole roomful…
5-Star Recipe for Chocolate Butter Cake w/ Buttercream Frosting
Since baking is my coping mechanism for stress, I thought I’d share another recipe. This is from Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible, a book I would highly recommend if you love baking cakes. I have tried many of the recipes for cakes and buttercream frostings and they are all delicious. Since I bake with…
20 Minutes a Day 