Jeanette Walls, author of the fabulous "The Glass Castle", has a new book out, called "Half Broke Horses." Even as I write this blog, the latter is downloading straight into my iPod--now you know why 'reading' is in quotations at the top of this blog. I can hardly...

That's today's weather report from Spokane, Washington. :)It is truly beautiful and close to perfect, as far as I'm concerned.The horses have coats to wear--special blankets to keep them snug at night. Sadie-beagle's sweater from last winter is now much too big, so...

We Laels met in Colville, Washington, at the Eagles Club, this past weekend, as we have done for years. It's always a good time--my family is big on storytelling (go figure), art work and just generally performing. The younger ones sing or read original poetry, and...

So many good things come to us by word-of-mouth. Quinoa, pronounced Keen-Wa according to the box, is one of those things. News to me, though I know a lot of you probably already know about this marvelous grain. It has three or four times as much protein as oatmeal,...

The two seem to be intertwined for me, at least these days.The big piece I call my Renaissance Showgirl is done, except for signing and spraying to protect the paint. She emerged while I was writing "Tate", over a period of many days, a line here, a dab of paint...

I felt it yesterday. It's a mind-shift that happens when I've really made up my mind about something, like quitting smoking or taking off the after-stopping weight.As you know if you read yesterday's blog, my intention is to eat mindfully. Consciously. I know how to...

I'm smart in a lot of ways, and I say that without bragging. I'm not, it would seem, the brightest bulb in the box when it comes to changing my diet.Here's what happened. I quit smoking, and I started to put on weight. Since I'd kept my last weight loss off for nearly...

I wrote on Saturday, but on Saturday evening, late, my long-time friend Vicki Webster and her long-time friend, Sandy, arrived for a visit. (Sandy is now my friend, too.) I intended to work all day Sunday, as well, because Vicki is the type of friend to understand...

Read all about it!On October 1, a wonderful contest begins. The winner will be flown to Las Vegas to attend the National Rodeo Finals with me!Watch the website for info.

I spotted her this morning when I was journaling. My inner mean girl, I mean. Although she has the occasional critical comment to make about other people, the truth is, she mainly picks on me. And I have gotten so used to her voice that I usually don't even question...

Autumn has its own special quality of light, doesn't it? I'm searching for words to describe it, but so far, they elude me. Northern Italy has its own unique brand of light, too, which is why it is so popular with artists, and the same is true of Paris. Yet another...

I stepped on the scale today. I have SO been in denial. I knew I'd gained some weight--I quit smoking 3 months ago today, after all. Well, it turns out I gained about twice what I thought I did!Here's what I feel good about, though. I can do something about this. I...