Attitude shapes thought. Thought shapes words. Lately I’ve just not had a lot to say, which is something I never thought I’d say. This morning I grabbed three of my favorite things: my dogs, coffee and camera, and headed down the hill to my neighbor’s garden. Here, rustic trails wind their course, shored strong, anchored, [...]

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Something I love about moving to a new town is getting to discover all of the hidden treasures here. I have never been much of a shopper ~ haven’t been in a mall since something like 2005 ~ but this is not your usual town. There are no chain stores or restaurants within the city [...]

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Way back when, in about 1969 or so, my Cousin Wiley and I went to play in the woods and he got us lost. He was older and he was in charge, so yes, by default, he got us lost. We were missing most of the day and my mom had her friends and the [...]

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I’ve been in LA exactly one month today, and I’m leaving. Yep, that’s right. Packing it up, loading the dogs back into the car, and watching the Santa Monica pier fade from view in my rear view mirror. I’m going up to Ojai. If someone had told me a couple of months ago that I’d [...]

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I walked out my front door at least 20 times today and went absolutely nowhere. Daisy’s separation anxiety has basically trapped me at home while I figure out which method and combination of training works best for her. It isn’t just about correcting the problem that she barks like a broken record when I leave [...]

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The dogs and I arrived in LA in one piece (or three separate but intact pieces) on the evening of January 5th. After 10 days on the road and more potty stops than I can count ~ not all of them for the dogs ~ our entrance into the city could have easily come straight [...]

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Day 4. December 29 Colby, Kansas “The Oasis on the Plain” according to the sign at the visitor’s center. . . . where I’m stealing internet service. I’ve gone through Virginia and Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Days two and three were spent overnight in Maumelle, Arkansas and Salina, Kansas. The weather forcast for Texas and [...]

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Day 1. December 26 Knoxville, Tennessee The Motel 6. Almost 600 miles in and the dogs and I have had dinner and are sitting on the bed watching tv, but only after a quick thumping of the mattress and a rumpling of the pillows failed to reveal any creatures other than the three that have [...]

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For my Mama and Hosa. Merry Christmas 2009. Last night my family sat down to watch The Homecoming. Everyone was in town for Christmas Dinner a night early, and it was kind of cool to be watching the original Walton’s movie with my sisters and mom, since we actually lived right there in Walton Country [...]

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Living Out Loud. ( v11). Tis the gift to be simple. The 2009 Christmas season has been an unusual one. Instead of the traditional parties, getting together with friends, and full-on house decorating, most of my time has been spent going through everything I own and weeding it down to the 4 or 5 plastic [...]

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What happens when 5 girls in their mid-40s get together at an OBX cottage for a mini high-school reunion? The question, answered 7 months later. . .

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I came home from work this evening to see a “for rent” sign posted in my yard. It was a surreal feeling, and I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. It’s easy to dream,  and make big plans, and get hyped and giddy fantasizing about the future. Yet,  it was a little bit odd [...]

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You can fly from Virginia to California in about 5 hours. You can drive the same distance in a little under 2 days. The pioneers traveled for almost 7 months to reach the West Coast from the East. It has taken me 16 years to make the journey. To be honest, my upcoming move to [...]

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I’m giving up my space for the day to Lee Lee Schmalz, my dear friend from Colorado. I’ve know her forEVER and I can tell you, this girl LIVES – out loud and to the fullest. And she’s a truly talented writer, too. There aren’t many people that can dive into a writing project, swim [...]

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One of the nicest things about visiting my parents in the summertime is being able to sit in their backyard and bask in the best of the season. They live in an old farmhouse and the backyard is secluded, surrounded on 3 sides by fields that are alternately filled with corn, soybeans or hay. Geese [...]

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