Ray is better after his brief bout with the flu and we have returned to LA after a week at the orange grove. Leaving Ojai is always bittersweet since the rhythm at the orange grove is slow and the chance to be out in nature all day is a treat. I loved smelling romaine sauteed…

I wrote this last night but didn’t have the Internet access to send it. I’m happy to report that Ray is feeling much better today. Still, be aware of the flu that’s going around.  I am here tonight in our Airstream in Ojai with husband Ray who is the latest victim of the stomach flu…

Hi all, I am sitting under a quilt in a rather chilly vintage Spartan trailer in Ojai at our orange grove this evening with daughter Sarah while she works on her charting and I catch up on work that I have laid aside for the past little while. I took an Internet holiday as best…

As many of you know, Ray and I don’t eat refined white sugar. Therefore, I am always on the lookout for great recipes for cookies, cakes and pies that turn out well when I substitute the sweeteners we do eat: honey, maple syrup, maple sugar, agave syrup or fruit juice. This particular recipe is adapted…

In 1984, I returned to college. I already had a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology but wanted to deepen my education in literature so I was exploring getting a second Master’s in Comparative Literature. I took a class in writing nonfiction which was taught by a professor who normally taught Chaucer. She explained to us…

My Favorite Season It’s a little hard to think about favorite seasons since I live in Southern California, which is like living in perennial spring. I do love spring so that is one of the benefits of living where I live. However, if I have to pick a season as my true favorite then it…

In case you’re wondering where I’ve been, let me say that the last month or so has been a bear. Not only is this my busiest time of year working with students on their college essays, but this is also the very first time that I have helped coordinate a trip to Italy for 48…

Hi friends, I have about 15 minutes before my next student so I thought I’d jump in and write my blog post for today. What to say?  Rachael’s little dog Hazel is asleep on the couch. The other dogs are upstairs with Ray. I am listening to the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat…

We are back home in LA. It was tough to leave the orange grove since it was a perfect 70 degrees with a light breeze coming in from the ocean. The next several days are busy student days for me so I had to come home. I love the cooler weather. I can see the…