I learned six things from my two weeks of attempted non-swearing. #1. Self-control is not my strong point. #2. I swear quite a bit – not horribly, just conversationally. A damn here, a hell there, with sh*t as my go-to word. When I’m sewing, driving, or discover my dog pooping on my carpet, I use the f-bomb. (Sister Janet, if you’re reading this — I’m sorry I’ve failed…
When I first started recording audiobooks, every book was a combination of thrill and anxiety. I got the book — thrill. I’d pre-read the book — anxiety — more characters than I realized. I’d make up character voices — thrill. I’d worry they might be off — anxiety.…
My kids were gone for a mini-family reunion at their dad’s house for the Fourth of July and I missed them, so I wanted to cook something wonderful when they returned. It was Sunday and my Italian soul longed for lasagne. It was just special enough that my devious plan, to get them (including my daughter’s boyfriend) to stay for a meal, worked. Now that’s success. (See what…
I didn’t bake anything awesome, or make any mistakes more stupid than usual to tell you about this week, so I was uninspired. Then I remembered Jack London’s quote, “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” So I sat my butt down and started writing anyway.…
Does canning scare the crap out of you? I ask because canning used to scare the crap out of me. I was always afraid a jar would explode if I did something wrong. But then I started canning. Don’t be too impressed, I only do preserves because they’re easy. Not Martha Stewart, hey let’s mosaic the side of your house easy, but Fran easy, which means I can…
My father served as a medic in the Army in World War II. He never talked about it until he was in his 90s, except to let us know that war is hell and he was not a fan of anything in France, especially the French. So when I went to Paris with two friends for my 40th birthday, and came back with stories of how nice the…
A good neighbor is someone who, years after you’ve moved, still calls when the blackberries are ripe in his yard so you can come pick some. That’s what my former neighbor, Brian, did a few days ago.…
There wasn’t a lot of excitement at New Brighton Junior High, except when Carolyn Riley arrived breathless after some catastrophe.…
No, I did not forget to write last week, I was covered in flour, white chocolate and nuts for days. Nothing “Shades of Grey,” I was just getting ready for my biscotti tasting on Sunday the 12th. I baked like a maniac, then did the scariest thing a baker can do, I asked people to give me their honest opinions of my biscotti.…
I know, I know. I went on and on about how the lemon ricotta cookies were “the ones,” but I’ve found a new love; Toasted Panko. I feel bad being fickle, but the Panko toasted up so nicely and gave my broccoli such a nice crunch, I was helpless.…