The current winter weather has clearly created havoc over this holiday season. I heard on CNN tonight that 27 people have died in the Buffalo, NY region alone. Twenty-seven people in an area that is accustomed to sub-zero temperatures. Oh, my goodness! According to the Wall Street Journal, the deaths included 14 people found outside,…

Ray and I gathered with our kids, their partners, and our grandkids today at the orange grove in Ojai. We were joined by Heather, an old friend of our family’s from Texas, and Ron’s mom who lives in Los Angeles. Everyone brought food so it was not too hard on any one person and we…

Ray and I are back up in Ojai so we can be near Liz, Ron, and their new little son, Ethan, for Christmas. We brought Ron’s mother Cindy up with us (she lives ten minutes from our house in LA) so that she could be with the new parents and the baby as well. Tomorrow,…

On the Gold Line heading to Covina to Auntie Rachael’s and Andrew’s for Posada Lyla and her baby Gregorio, Ray, Sarah, and Rachael Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus Andrew’s Mom’s Creche Rachael, Lyla, Ray, and Baby Hazel (Rachael’s dog) Pinata Time with Luna

As we drove back to LA from Ojai this afternoon, it seemed as if the entire city was emptying out. The opposing traffic on 101 and then 405 was bumper to bumper for miles heading up the coast. Our lanes going into LA were full but moving at their usual pace for mid-afternoon. I read…

Don’t hate us here in California. I have just read that a major cold front will be assaulting much of the country over the next few days, making holiday travel perilous. We here in Southern California, on the other hand, will be experiencing low 70s temperatures with partly cloudy skies. Christmas Day is forecasted to…

This is a wonderful, foolproof recipe that is fancy enough to be served for Christmas lunch or dinner with a green salad and garlic bread. This is a favorite in our family and my kids (and now grandkids) request it for holidays and birthdays. The good news is that it can be made ahead. It…

Last-minute Christmas shopping is not all that much fun. Unfortunately, it’s December 19th so last minute is my only real option. I have been perusing Amazon and have a limited selection due to my procrastination. I would, after all, like to have some gifts to offer on Christmas Day, not some vague date in January….

We returned to LA this morning after leaving hastily last Monday night at 10:30 for Ojai upon hearing that Liz had gone to the hospital to have her baby. I joined Ron and her on Tuesday morning at Ventura’s Community Memorial Hospital and left in the wee hours of Wednesday morning after Ethan’s birth. I…

Today, Auntie Rachael and Andrew as well as the Pacheco-Beaty family came to the orange grove to see their new little nephew and/or cousin. Ethan. Luna, Nico, and Lyla all needed to hold Ethan and were happy to finally meet the newest addition to the family. Ethan seemed amenable to being passed around and pretty…