I am sitting with nine-year-old Riley and we are writing a quick write.  This is when we just put whatever we want down on the page to clear our minds and to build up writing muscles.  Riley is having trouble coming up with something to write about. Cordelia is sitting next to him and I…

Ray and I spent the night in Ojai last night at the orange grove.  It was a strange night, weather-wise.  The temperature had reached 99 degrees during the day and was just cooling off when we arrived in the early evening. However, the Airstream was stuffy even with two fans running and all the windows…

Here is everything that went into two backpacks for three weeks in the Sierra High Country on the John Muir Trail. Here is what all of that looks carried by Leslie and Haley, who are now in Yosemite after a few initial problems. I took Leslie and Haley to the airport bright and early this…

My nieces are getting ready for their trek on the John Muir Trail.  Leaving tomorrow. Nervous. Excited. Busy with last minute preparations. I am taking them to the airport at 5:30 in the morning.  Off to Merced, then on to Yosemite where their adventure begins. No, not true. Their adventure began when they met one…

We have had a busy day today. Early this morning, Haley and Leslie helped me make crock pot green chili chicken enchiladas. Then the grandbabies arrived for the day with the help of Auntie Liz.  I made breakfast for everyone, scrambled eggs and raisin toast, before Liz took Haley and Leslie to yoga.  After they left,…

This evening we met the family in Pasadena (minus Rachael and Ariel who were in San Diego) to listen to Perla Battalia sing Leonard Cohen songs.  She worked as Leonard Cohen’s backup singer in two of his World Tours and was encouraged by Cohen to strike out on her own.  She has a fantastic mezzo-soprano…

We are headed to the airport in about 30 minutes to pick up our nieces coming from Austin, Texas.  This is Leslie and Haley Leatherwood and we are excited about their arrival.  They, brave duo that they are, are headed off to hike the John Muir Trail in Northern California.  They will be here for…

I am sitting in my den, the overhead fan whirring along with a box fan in the corner. The temperature is pleasant, not too hot or too chilly.  The eastern light coming in through the big bay window is filtered through the green leaves of the tall Nandina bush with its clumps of bright red…

We are driving back from Ojai after spending last night and today at the orange grove. It is 9:30 pm. We are currently driving through Calabasas and the roads are surprisingly full of traffic for this time of night. Today was warm but not terrible at the orange grove. The summer heat can be intense…

Grandbabies visiting tonight.  They arrived mid-afternoon and will leave mid-morning tomorrow.  We have played in the mud in the back yard, taken showers to wash off all that mud, eaten dinner, taken a walk around the block with the dogs and Grandpa, brushed teeth, gotten on pajamas, crawled into bed together to watch Madagascar II,…