One of my current guilty pleasures is the Outlander series on Netflix based on the books by Diana Gabaldon. This is a story that I would not normally be drawn to since it involves time travel and lots of romance, but, in this case, I must confess, I’m hooked. The first couple of seasons of…

I found this story today and wanted to share it again with you. It encapsulates the awkwardness of those teenage years. Here’s to Valentine’s Day and love, whether clearly expressed or not. When I was growing up, there was a Sweetheart Banquet at the 7th and Main Baptist Church every Valentine’s Day. I never had…

Today, I made a blueberry cream pie. This recipe is easier if you eat refined sugar because you can simply buy a blueberry pie filling for the topping as well as Cool Whip to mix with the cream cheese to make the filling. However, since Ray and I do not eat refined sugar, I made…

Heading back to LA tonight. My hands are chapped from working outside and also because of the dry air. After only a few days of exceptionally cold weather, the sky has been blue, the temperatures mild, and the wind blowing, which I love. That’s Texas weather in a nutshell. Long Johns and wool socks one…

I love (in no particular order and certainly not an exhaustive list): Dry toast Sunrises and sunsets Reading a good book The sound of the wind in the trees The soft baby skin of my grandkids The warm skin of my husband The smiles of my daughters The giggles of my whole family The sweetness…

I love Charles Bukowski’s poetry because he writes in a way that makes his poems accessible. This one has a lot of depth to it, but also has a few spots that make you smile. Charles Bukowski was 73 when he died. He was a prolific writer and published 60 books of his poems and…

I wrote this a while back, but it contains pretty much everything I want to say about my beloved mother. I am reprinting it today to commemorate the anniversary of her death, which was January 23rd. In late January, twenty-two years, my mother, Helen Waugh Leatherwood, died.  To say I loved her would be an…

Blueberry Lemon Muffins These muffins are sweetened with honey and maple sugar. No one will ever know they don’t contain refined white sugar. They are simply delicious. Recipe yields 12 muffins. INGREDIENTS 1 ¾ cups plus 1 teaspoon unbleached white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) ⅓…

When I was a teenager, I knew that in my future I wanted a loving husband and several children. I knew that much. I also wanted a career since I knew from watching my mother get her Ph.D. as I was growing up that having intellectual stimulation and economic freedom contributed to happiness. I saw…

Cold night Clear skies Crescent moon smiling Cheshire cat-like in the sky A warm home The laughter of friends A happy evening Swapping tales of our lives