Pulling a Ma
Well, I don’t know about you, but I have gone most of my 66 years without ever purchasing a leek. A leek? What the heck….
A Whole Lotta Babies
Back in March, my sweet friend and neighbor Mary Ellen, gifted me this beautiful bromeliad for my birthday. I think that she showed a lot
Holy Guacamole! Batman…this is delicious
Wow! I have pulled ideas from several on-line recipes to make the most DELICIOUS avocado lime salad dressing. Here’s how it all went down. When
The Fat Yeller Chicken
I am aware that I have often been accused of hyperbole by folks rolling their eyes behind my back. And, actually, I’m ok with that.
COVID Sampler
My sister Tammy has gotten me in trouble all of my life. Well…trouble of the best kind. She will come up with an idea, and
Angel
I went to Beaumont yesterday to get some fabric for a project that I’m doing for the boys (reading pillows and coordinating throws…more on that
The Calendarian
I’m an old elementary school teacher and principal, having started every day of my career with what we in the business call “Calendar Time.” Each
Being
Every Saturday night, we have a Family Zoom meeting with our way-grown-up kids. Mack is in Seoul, South Korea, I am here at the beach,
Sweet Stuff
I have always loved cupcakes. A Hostess Twinkie, a raggedy old cupcake iced by a grand kid, a beautiful cupcake from Sprinkles in New York
BLOG Break…over
I took a bit of a break from BLOGGING this past fall and winter, but I had a really good excuse! I got a partial
Older AND Better
The infamous Pirates and Petticoats will be performed for the final time at the 6th Annual Jane Long Festival, held the second Saturday in October
Ole to Mole
Back in February (which now seems a lifetime away) our eldest son, Trae and his sweet wife, Corie joined us in San
Calendarian
I’m an old elementary school teacher and principal, having started every day of my career with what we in the business call “Calendar Time.” Each
Punta
*The names have been changed to protect the identity of the children. But, the story is true. So true. The truest thing I’ve ever experienced.
Nana, Can You Make Me a….
The most precious words to this Grandma are, “Nana, can you make ….” (fill in the blank). Of course, the answer is ALWAYS yes. Jack
Seoul Food – A Beginner’s Guide
When I first got to Seoul a couple of months ago, I was totally overwhelmed with the thought of….well, everything! But, especially trying to figure
The Xef
We discovered the best restaurant last night…Spanish tapas. A couple of days ago, we took a stroll back in a little hilly neighborhood a few
Seoul Food – with a Tex-Mex Flair
I know, from decades of living on the edge of grumpiness, that I need a project to keep me off the precipice. With just a
Seoul-Searching for Tex-Mex
Mack and I are hosting our first dinner party for some new friends here next week, and of course, the menu has to be Tex-Mex.
The Magic of Ordinary Days
I got a bonus today when Jack asked me to babysit for a few hours while he and Steph went to a TCU event. The
Nanny’s Cigs
My summers as a child were often spent visiting our grandparents in the small East Texas town of Lufkin. My sister, Tammy and I loved
Cherry Blossoms and More – Jeju Island
A visit to view the cherry blossoms on Jeju Island turned out to be much more than a look at the flora of the island.
Heart and Seoul
I won’t lie. It’s been a rough week. I totally underestimated the emotional impact of leaving my kids and those delicious grand babies. Expatriating has
Good Reads
I think that I was born reading – or pretending to read, anyhow. Both sets of my grandparents came from very humble backgrounds and all
A Seat at My Table
This table has seen some pretty great times in its 42-year history with Mack and me. It was the first “real” piece of furniture that
Dog
In the past few years, many of my friends and most of my cousins have begun to have grand children. One of the primary topics
Inch by Inch, Row by Row
This is the time of year when thoughts turn to gardening. I love watching as the home and garden stores start to display the bounty
David
The more I know, the more I know that I don’t know! I have just returned from a trip to Italy with three other ladies.
Kennedy’s Birthday Letter
https://www.flipsnack.com/AE5A55A7C6F/kennedy-s-letter.html My sister Kelly sent out a text to many of the women in her life, asking each of us to write a letter in
Life Goes On
Back in 2008, I was invited to speak at an Early Childhood conference in Moscow, Russia. I drug my feet in answering the call because
More than Reading and Writing
After a delightful time yesterday, reconnecting and visiting and laughing with old teaching pals (who are great teachers), I was reminded of a story from
Despair
One month ago today, the world changed for my sisters and me, when Mop died. The word “orphan” seems silly to apply to a 60-something
Breathing
My very favorite part in my very favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is when Scout goes to first grade and it is discovered by
Giddy up, Granny!
Even though I’m from Texas, it’s a rare treat to get to ride a horse. My dad was a horse-lover and I’ve loved the IDEA
Writing Your LifeStory
I love the genre of memoir and find myself drawn to real stories of real people, even above the wonderful fiction that I so enjoy.
The Nana Rules
I am not a genius, but I am smart enough to know that my involvement with my grandchildren is based on gracious access granted by
Cookie Walk on Steroids
We moved back to our “hometown” of Midlothian Texas about 18 months ago – 5 doors down from our grand babies. That wasn’t really the
Sturgeon Moon – Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Almost two years ago, our dear friends from the beach invited us to come along with them on an adventure that Marcel (76 years
Rocking the Jar Salad
Last week, Mack and I took a great road trip down a portion of Old
Becoming: A Grandparent
The role of grandparent is a fascinating one. While grandparents have always been an important part of family life, this generation of grandparents is designing
A True Friend
“True friends are always together in spirit.” (Anne Shirley) Thirty one years ago, I met a true friend. They are hard to come by, but
Starry, Starry Night
Daddy’s “good old dog,” Vincent died today. My heart is broken. Vincent had a good,long life. He was a great big pound puppy, who found
Six Tomatoes
In our culture of achieving and acquiring more and more stuff and status and success, helping our children to recognize true abundance is one of
By the Sea
Dear Friends, Last weekend, I experienced one of the most joyful times of my life. We introduced our baby grandson, Coby, to the ocean for
West with Giraffes – a Book Review
Heading out to the Sylvia Beach Book B & B with my sisters and niece last month, I knew that I would need a stack
Grand Gardening
Gardening incorporates many of the things that little kids love the most. Getting dirty. Playing outside. Using fun, “grown up” tools. And, most especially, spending
Life and Love in 100 Words: Fig Newtons
I was recently given an assignment in a writing class to write a “tiny love story” (a la New York Times Modern Love). The word
Crying in H Mart (and lots of other places)
It’s now been a few weeks since I finished Crying in H Mart, but I’m still thinking about it. The mark of a great book,
I Know Exactly Where the Wild Things Are!
“There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen”Maurice Sendak We left our home of 18 years, on the beach
USPO
I just counted it up…40 days and 40 nights. Exactly. That’s how long it was between the time we moved out of our house at
Date Night…old people’s style
Since moving down the street from the cutest winery, where they feature a wonderful singer each weekend night, we’ve been toddling down the block from
Riding the Rails
PS…if you are thinking of taking a train trip, sign up on the AMTRAK app. I found out that, several times a year, they have