A Healthy Alternative: Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

I made this recipe the other day and I would recommend it. You can’t taste the sweet potato; you can taste a creamy sauce, which seems very cheesy. I think that’s part of the appeal of this recipe: much less cheese and the nutrition of sweet potatoes, to boot. On a scale of 1 –…

Up in Ojai with a Sick Husband

Ray has a 101 temperature and is complaining of severe body aches. He went to bed shaking with chills last night and has been in bed all day and evening. He was just fine one minutes and shivering the next. Of course, he could have gotten this bug anywhere but this sounds very similar to…

A Dream That Is Spurring Action Related to Brain Health

I had a dream the other night that I couldn’t remember my grandchildren’s names. I was struggling to recall them in the dream and finally woke up with a start. That is the first time that the fear of dementia has entered my dream life. The first time that I found myself frantically trying to…

One of My Favorite Places: St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Hollywood

One of my favorite places in this world is St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Hollywood. I love that St. Thomas the Apostle has as its focal point the “Hospitable Christ,” a figure of Jesus with his arms extended, his hands reaching out. He is no longer suffering but is now transformed. In a…

This Morning at the Breakfast Club

Here are a few photos of our volunteers at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood homeless breakfast. As you will note, everyone looks happy. That’s because they know they are up and out on a Saturday morning doing something for other people who can use a little help. If you want to feel good too then…

Freedom: A Memory

I am a little girl. I am riding my tricycle on the sidewalk. I have to watch for where the tree roots have raised up the concrete. It’s easy to go sideways if I’m not careful and tip over my trike. I can feel my legs churning up and down as I propel myself along…

5-Star Soft Molasses Cookie Sweetened with Maple Sugar

I made these cookies this morning as we prepare to head back to Los Angeles. When you don’t eat refined sugar, then it’s more difficult to get a cookie out in the regular world that is made from maple sugar, molasses, maple syrup or honey. So, I made a few to take with us on…

Brandi Carlile Singing Joni Mitchell

On the suggestion of my friend, Shann Schubert, tonight I listened to Brandi Carlile sing several Joni Mitchell songs. I am a huge Joni Mitchell fan so I am very critical of others trying to emulate Joni’s voice and sound. However, I will say that Carlile did a fine job and I felt myself feeling…

A Few Photos of Our Redecorating Here in Texas

We’ve been rearranging furniture and decorating at our Victorian here in Sherman. Call it spring cleaning in February. Here are some of the results of our work. There’s a lot more that we’ve done, but I’m too tired tonight to go take any more photos. I realize this is not 20 minutes of writing, but…