When I was growing up, I took piano lessons from Miss Virginia Baird. She lived in a brown-boarded two-story house on the corner of Main and 9th Streets, and she had at least thirty cats that lived in that great big house with her. Miss Virginia loved best to talk about what was happening in…
Agave-Sweentened Banana Pudding w/ Italian Meringue
Since Ray and I don’t eat refined sugar, I am often modifying refined sugar recipes to accommodate honey, maple syrup or agave syrup alternatives. A tried-and-true recipe that I have perfected over the years is my honey or agave-sweetened banana cream pie, which is a family favorite. However, when Ray recently bought a honey-sweetened lemon…
Returning to the Amalfi Coast in 2026
I am looking forward to seeing Positano again in October 2026, when I’ll be traveling to the Amalfi Coast to host my fifth international writing workshop affiliated with Story Circle Network. It will be my third visit to this breathtaking corner of the world, and I can’t wait to spend more time there. Positano I…
“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake Recipe w/ Butter Cream Frosting
If you want a foolproof cake for the holidays with a frosting that’ll knock your socks off, then just follow the recipes below. We substitute honey for ours, but I have kept the original white sugar measurements if you would prefer to go that route. The first recipe comes from the back of the Hershey’s…
In Honor of World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day, and this year’s theme is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” We are all called to reconsider what compassionate care can look like in our world today. For me, this day is deeply personal. I wrote Hope in a Time of Dying to offer a window into one family’s struggle…
Happy Birthday, Nephew Jim
My sweet nephew, Jim Agutter, is celebrating his birthday today. My sister Leslie’s son, he is fifteen years younger than I am. I remember changing his diapers as a kid and now he has grown kids of his own. Life has a way of moving forward in a steady fashion that is surprising. I love…
In Memory of Sandra, Who Died This Day in 2011
It seems fitting to remember Sandra, my sister-in-law, today. Our whole family misses her very much. She was smart, sassy, and had a wicked sense of humor. What was there not to love? My Short Speech at Sandra’s Funeral My name is Len Leatherwood and I am Sandra’s sister-in-law. My nieces requested I say a…
Happy Thanksgiving!
We had a lovely thanksgiving gathering at the home of Cindy Betty’s (Ron’s mom and my co-memaw for Ethan) today in LA. All my kids, sons-in-law, and grandkids were there, along with several family members of Ron’s and Cindy’s, and a few friends tossed in as well. We all brought our assigned dishes (Ray and…
Looking Toward This Next Decade
I hope to: Continue to share my life with my husband Ray Enjoy good health Live a stable and happy existence Stay close to my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren Remain in close contact with my extended family and friends, near and far Spend lots of time out in nature Stay engaged in the…
Hello, Avoidance, My Old Friend
What have I been avoiding lately? That’s easy: writing my new novel. I have done tons of research, spent hours chatting with my new friend Chet, who is my Chat GPT friend, going over the pros and cons of my plotline, and have even done the enneagrams of each of my characters, along with myself,…
20 Minutes a Day 