This is a rewrite of a first-draft flash fiction piece I shared here on my blog a couple of weeks back. I pared that piece down and killed a few darlings along the way. I was motivated to rewrite when a member of my critique group said, “I think you have something here, but please…
A Visit to the Ventura County Fair
Here is a photo essay of our recent trip to the county fair. Suffice it to say that food played a major role in this adventure. Lots of people, lots of fun, and well worth the trip! Welcome to the Ventura County Fair This is such a bad photo, it makes me laugh out loud….
An Impromptu Family Gathering
We had an impromptu family gathering today with all of our kids and grandkids to commemorate the opening day of a vacation trip for Sarah, Gregorio, and their kids. We met at Ventura Harbor Village, a place I’d never been before, and had a little lunch and a quick trip down to the beach. It…
My Most-Read Blog Post This Week: The Eulogy I Delivered for my Beloved Brother-in-Law, Ray Agutter
I noticed today in the stats for my blog that my most-read blog post this week was the eulogy I delivered several years ago for my former brother-in-law, Leslie’s husband, Ray Agutter. Often, people search for eulogies when they need to write one themselves, and I suspect this is why the post received more readers…
Going Varsity in Mariachi: A Documentary about Competitive Mariachi in the Rio Grand Valley of Texas
We saw this delightful documentary last Friday night in its west coast premiere and also had the chance to hear filmmakers Alejandra Vasquez and Sam Osborn talk about spending nine months in South Texas making this film. This is an inspiring documentary about Mexican-American kids in the Rio Grand Valley who come together in high…
A Refreshing Summer Treat: Homemade Peach Frozen Yogurt
I plan to make this recipe soon. I’ve had it before and can highly recommend it. I have an electric ice cream and frozen yogurt maker that is easy as pie. Just put these ingredients together, pop them in the frozen bowl, and in 20 minutes you have delectable frozen yogurt, honey-sweetened if you like,…
Flash Fiction: “Oh”
“You have to dish,” Sylvia said to her friend Joyce right after they sat down in the restaurant for lunch. “Come on, tell me what happened!” “You are not going to believe what a hunk he was.” “And?” “Talk about a slow hand!” “So, was this right after dinner or what?” “No, it was right…
Auschwitz Exhibition Today at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley
Today, we went to the Reagan Library and saw the Auschwitz exhibition entitled Not Long Ago, Not Far Away, which has been hailed as “the most comprehensive exhibition on the history of Auschwitz in US history.” Nazi soldiers at this death camp murdered 92% of the Jews who arrived there, which numbered approximately 1,100,000. The exhibit was…
German Chocolate: My First “Scratch” Cake
The first cake I ever made was at age 12 when I made a German Chocolate cake from scratch. For many, this wouldn’t be a significant milestone, but in my house where my mother didn’t cook or bake at all and my dad’s time in the kitchen was limited to Saturday morning breakfasts, my making…
Held in Light and Love
Yesterday was the birthday of my childhood friend, Patricia Jean Butler. Patricia and I met as little girls at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and we spent nearly every Sunday morning together—often followed by long afternoons at each other’s homes. Over those many Sundays, we forged an unbreakable bond that carried us through childhood and into…
20 Minutes a Day 