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I am haunted...by the memory of a buttery bread filled with dried fruit and almond paste... a Czech Christmas tradition made by my Grandmother who refused to write her recipes down.  "Come and watch me make them, and write them down yourself, " she said.  But I lived in Nashville and she lived in Io...

Holidays in the time of CoVid-19... no family visits, no cookie exchanges, no caroling...(although I might try going around our neighborhood with the ukulele as the Masked Caroler...)We put up a tiny tree on the dining room table with Christmas cards underneath. And  put lights in the ...

“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.”― David Mamet, Boston MarriageIt's been a stressful time. The contentious election, the uncertainty in the aftermath, the rising coronavirus cases.  Plans made.  Plans unmade. I've had a hard time getting focused and being creativ...

This has been an interesting time... the pandemic has kept us mostly at home... so instead of doing what I normally do during the summer months (travelling across the county to present henna programs to local libraries), I have been in the backyard, watching birds, bees and butterflies...

Meet Max.  He loves to hide under his favorite blanket and attack anything that tries to move in front of him.  It's hard to believe that he was once a shy kitten rescued with his "sister" from the San Diego Humane Society. Now he is king of the household, photobombing his person's Zoo...

As an anniversary treat, my husband and I spent our special day at the San Diego Botanic Garden (a must-visit if you are in the area) and then stopped off at the Butterfly Farms just down the road. I took a ton of photos that day, but one that jumped out as something I HAD to paint was...

It's been a long few months.  Exhausting, emotional, trying months.Everyone has been stressed and on edge.And then we saw that video.  That awful truth. We watched as George Floyd was murdered, in cold blood, while other officers just watched and did nothing. That was the the last straw.  After so m...

Wishing you a very happy Lunar New Year of the White Metal Rat!We have a tradition in our family of sending out our yearly letter by Lunar New Year instead of Christmas.  Christmas time is usually very hectic -- end of the semester, travel to visit in-laws.... it's just easier to write...

On this All Souls Day or Dia de los Muertos, let's take a moment and remember the life and love of Connie, my friend's dog.

Connie was born to be a service dog and spent several months in training.  She loved being helpful, and was very patient with people, but showed some ...

This is Wacky's story:Wacky was my best friend when I was a little girl in Missoula, Montana.  I don’t remember much of her kittenhood, but she must have been adorable – all cream with dark brown smudges on her ears, nose, paws and tail.  But by the time I was 4, she was my very bestes...