Category: Uncategorized

Barbara Kingsolver: “Novels are True…”

Dave and I heard author Barbara Kingsolver speak at Dominican University last week. Her latest novel, Demon Copperhead, won the Pulitzer Prize. I haven’t read it yet, but I will now that I’ve heard her talk about its inspiration in Dickens’s David Copperfield and her intention to write “the great Appalachian novel” as a window … Continue reading Barbara Kingsolver: “Novels are True…”

Meatless Monday – Stuffed Shells

By the time I graduated college, I could feed myself the basics: veggies and salad, pasta, sandwiches, scrambled eggs, pancakes and brownies from a box, anything easy. My roommate, however, could cook. She often made stuffed shells and I watched to learn from her. Fast-forward many years to Q expressing his delight in stuffed shells. … Continue reading Meatless Monday – Stuffed Shells

No Real Recipe Vegetarian Tortellini Soup

It rained, briefly, almost imperceptibly, because Hurricane Hilary “hit” the West Coast of California. The sky has been gray & breezy all day, humid, but from where I sat with a fan blowing (no AC), it almost looked like fall. So I made soup. This is a good clean-out-the-fridge non-recipe. Throw in all the veg, … Continue reading No Real Recipe Vegetarian Tortellini Soup

Pursuing Hobbies Side-by-Side

Relationship tips: do your own things side-by-side. Also, support each other in doing your own things even when you can’t do them side-by-side. Dave wanted to go fishing while we were in British Columbia. Who knows if we’ll ever get back there, so it was worth an afternoon. We spent the morning together gasping at … Continue reading Pursuing Hobbies Side-by-Side

Keep Dancing

I see the writing prompt, QUICK, & I hear the voice of my seventh grade cotillion instructor teaching us the samba: quick-quick slow, quick-quick slow… How is it that I remember his voice but not his name? Oh well, he taught me a few basics, lessons well learned if seldom useful in my day-to-day life. … Continue reading Keep Dancing

Taking Risks

I faced my fears. I’ve been afraid of heights since childhood, a learned fear from my mom - also afraid of heights - who constantly yanked me back or warned me against getting too close to anything high-up, railings in particular. On our anniversary, Dave gave me a card with a sentiment about adventuring through … Continue reading Taking Risks

Sharing Cookies & Legacy

My son bought me a gingerbread man. While that may not seem like a big deal to you, for me it represents a generous role-reversal. For close to 20 years, my family joined my mom and nephew for one summer week along the Monterey Bay in what we called our “Cation House.” Because Mom and … Continue reading Sharing Cookies & Legacy

Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell

My mom died on February 4, 2023. Though she’d been declining over the past three years, when she left us it felt like a devastating earthquake, complete with aftershocks. Six weeks later, my sister organized a gathering Mom would have enjoyed: a garden party and lunch with her inner circle of dear friends. She arranged … Continue reading Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell

Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups

We’re keeping things simple this season. It’s December 15 and we haven’t yet finished decorating our house for Christmas. The tree is up and lit, as it has been for about two weeks, but no decorations. We’ve hung wreaths outdoors and in. Our year-round home decor is green, and with candles burning in the kitchen … Continue reading Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups