Category Archives: My California

James Hadley Chase and American Pancakes

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

The first time I ever read a book by James Hadley Chase, the brilliant author of American noir genre crime novels spanning from 1939’s ‘No Orchids for Miss Blandish‘ to 1984’s ‘Hit Them Where it Hurts‘, I was all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Reading, My California, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

The Great British Staycation and A Brew Up California Style

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

A news report stated that due to the Great British Summer we recently enjoyed (all three weeks of it, now, sadly, just a distant memory…), travel agents were reporting a twenty percent drop in booking for last-minute getaways to the … Continue reading →

Posted in My California | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Ladybird, Ladybird, Fly Away Home…

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

Well, it had to come to an end sometime. After more than two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine and soaring temperatures here in the UK, with yesterday being the hottest, and stickiest day yet, the heat wave has broken.  We are … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood Memories, Current Affairs, Family Life, Garden Snippets, My California, Nature & Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Of Mad Dogs & Englishmen & A Very British Heatwave

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

So the heat continues to rise here in the UK, and it is hot!  On Saturday the thermometer  in our garden read just over 38 degrees centigrade (100 degrees farenheit) in the sun!  Now that is hot! Of course, being … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood Memories, Current Affairs, Family Life, Musings, My California, Photos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Baby, I’m Back!

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

Well, hello again dear readers!  I have returned from my journey across that vast Atlantic sea, safe and sound, climbed back out of a sleepless void commonly known as ‘jet lag’ so that I am now managing to  sleep 4 hours straight (yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Life, Friendship, My California, Photos, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Our Spooky Loft, A Queen Wasp & it’s Hasta La Vista, Baby!

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

I don’t like going into our loft at the best of times for two very good reasons: For one thing, last summer, when I had to go up there for something (always looking for ‘something’), just as I poked my head … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Life, My California, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Spring Is Sprung & My Hummingbird Tale

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

Spring is sprung The grass is rizz… I wonder where the birdies is? Every spring time I think of this little poem; it takes me right back to when I was nineteen and working at the Post Office in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Life, Garden Snippets, My California, Sweet Robin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

My California – It’s Complicated

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

I started this blog to mark my new life as a new writer.  I know I’m not keeping to the ‘rules’ by sticking to one subject and perhaps this blog will end up being several blogs in one.  I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Childhood Memories, Family Life, My California, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Amazing Grace – Not Just Any Robin

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Sherri Matthews

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”  How beautiful and powerful those words ring out, you’ve got to love that old-time religion.  Back in … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood Memories, Family Life, My California, Sweet Robin, The Black Dog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments