NOT TOO MANY years ago, sister Claudia came to visit Sherry and me in the San Francisco Bay Area. Claudia had brought her treasured bike, a gift from her siblings upon her 60th birthday in 2010. It was a bright pink Schwinn with a basket in the front, and she loved her two-wheeled vehicle. We …
Our Ladybug Picnic
We have a favorite little beach we frequent just north of Malibu. It's just a 20-minute drive from home. It's well off the proverbial "beaten path," but, being the introverts that we are, we want to ensure that we have the place mostly to ourselves, away from boisterous people, especially those with dogs off leashes. …
For the love of art: Meet this creative couple
Collaboration in the world of visual arts is a rarity. But allow me to introduce you to a couple that have created a perfect blend of their skills. And their collective output is consistently provocative, aesthetically enlightening, and just downright whimsical and entertaining. A frog for the garden. Water-based putty over wire mesh. Repurposed bolts, …
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Home-made ricotta is a snap
T'WAS A DARK AND STORMY day, the kind that requires something to be in the oven to ward off the dampness and chill. After whipping up a few batches of granola bars and bread, I began to think about what to do to keep the oven going. “How about lasagna for dinner?” I inquired. I …
The art of giving
Photo by Alecia Paolini WHETHER IT’S FOR THE HOLIDAYS, a birthday, an anniversary or any other celebratory event, nothing beats receiving — and giving — a gift made by hand. Our featured artist today is Gene Paolini, who hails from Northern California. He has been a craftsman and woodworker all his life. He got introduced …
It never rains in California, but it pours
NEITHER SHERRY NOR I grew up in the desert, so we are acclimating to what constitutes inclement weather in these parts. Our back yard on a rainy night. Photo by Sherry-Lynn Lee. I grew up on the East Coast, where the heat of summer afternoons was punctuated by lightning, thunder, and a downpour. In winter, …
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Hand-made gifts are the best
IT’S BECOME SOMETHING OF A FAMILY TRADITION to hand-craft our gifts. Since we have been in lockdown for the past umpteen months, there really was no excuse this year. Sister Francine and her husband, Mike, created this beautiful little rabbit out of redwood. They aren’t sure of the genesis of the wood stock, but I’ll …
And how does your garden grow?
Sherry takes a break and relaxes in our new greenhouse. We are putting the finishing touches on construction of a greenhouse kit. It's made of aluminum framing and UV-filtered plastic panes. We've had the kit hanging around for some time. After erecting the frame and attaching the windows, we noticed a long-term weather warning for …
Christmas miracles come in many forms
A true story from my childhood The holidays for me invoke nostalgia, and for good reason. All in all, childhood was an idyllic time. My family was not monetarily rich by any means, but we had a lot: loving, supportive parents, siblings and relatives. I decided to try to capture the essence of my childhood …
Sherry & George 