Usually, we don’t have three days of celebration together for Nico’s birthday, but that’s one happy thing that has come from the destruction of the Altadena fire. Daughter Sarah and her family have been with us for several days, and those extra days preceded Nico’s 9th birthday. Since Sarah and Gregorio have been watching daily…
Nico’s Birthday (Part 2)
Today, we had an art morning here at the orange grove. Our friend Sonny, who is visiting from Massachusetts, brought his art supplies and started drawing at the kitchen table this morning. Soon, Nico joined him, then Gregorio, Lyla, and Luna. They sat for a long while, working on the pictures they were drawing. Occasionally,…
Early Birthday Celebration (Part 1) for Nico
Tonight, we began celebrating Nico’s 9th birthday, which is Monday, by going out to dinner at Soule Park’s restaurant, Zaidee’s Bar and Grill. This was followed by a stop at the Ojai Ice Cream Shop and then onto the Farmer and Cook for cookies. Tomorrow, we’ll hike in the morning, then have lunch at the…
An Orange Grove Full of People
We have lots of people here at the orange grove at the moment. Liz and her family, Sarah and hers, and now the arrival of one of our oldest friends, Sonny, from Massachusetts. Sonny, an artist, is here with his easel and art supplies to luxuriate in the January sun of Southern CA, and even…
Another Update on the LA Fires
Today, Sarah talked to her neighbor in South Pasadena, who described the air in their neighborhood as “sepia-colored.” Sarah checked the air quality, which was at a high danger level. So, the Pacheco-Beaty family will remain in Ojai with us for now. In Covina, where Rachael lives, everyone was encouraged to stay inside. Luna read…
A Few Updates on the Fires
Our daughter Sarah and her family decided to come to Ojai for a few days. They arrived this evening. Ash is falling all around their South Pasadena house, everyone in their neighborhood has evacuated, and the fire is as close as the Rose Bowl, a mile and a half away. They don’t believe their house…
Fire!
Dry conditions + exceptionally high winds are creating a nightmare scenario in Los Angeles County today. Pacific Palisades right on Sunset Boulevard – a route we’ve taken for years to go to the ocean – has been burning for hours, and now we’ve learned they are evacuating parts of Santa Monica. On the other side…
Meet the Main Characters of Hope in a Time of Dying
Set in 1994, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, Hope in a Time of Dying begins with Hope and Ben making the life-changing decision to leave their small Texas town for Los Angeles. The rerouting of the highway has financially damaged their antique business, leaving them with little choice but to seek a new…
Why I Wrote Hope in a Time of Dying
The journey to write Hope in a Time of Dying began a few years after my brothers, John and Jim, died of AIDS in the 1990s. I started it as a memoir to chronicle my experience when Jim offered me a job in Los Angeles, and my husband and three daughters moved from North Central Texas…
A Gift from My Kids That’s Greatly Appreciated!
Dear Friends, My kids thoughtfully gave me a gift over the holidays. They bought me an iPad with a keyboard. This gift was motivated primarily so that I could work in the lovely office that Ray built for me at the orange grove. Unfortunately, the Internet can occasionally be spotty in my office, particularly when…
20 Minutes a Day 