Posts by Leslie Anne Tarabella
Our kitchens and Pantone
This story is included in my book, Exploding Hushpuppies – More stories from home. We can thank the “color-ologists” at Pantone for giving us a new reason to look forward to January. At the beginning of every year, they’ve announced their official, “Color of the Year.” It’s a very big deal for decorators and designers,…
Read MoreMabel the Christmas dog
Mabel slept beneath my boy’s baby beds, listened while they learned to read, and ran along beside them through the swamps and gullies of Mobile Bay on wild adventures.
When a Southern lady enters the room
She walked into the room, impeccably dressed in a blue and white patterned top with matching navy skirt. Her jewelry sparkled and her hair was perfect. Her bright smile was greater than the Mona Lisa yet less than Miss America. Her final, yet essential accessory, was the hint of mischief in her eyes, which instantly…
Read MoreRush Boutique
You know how I love “follow your dream” stories, so of course, I’m wild about Rush Boutique. It doesn’t hurt that the owner and I have a special connection! This is Jennifer Warren, the owner of Rush Boutique. Jennifer grew up with a Mom who was a home economics teacher and knew the clothing industry…
Read MoreIt’s not the pumpkin, it’s the spice
Fonda Faye’s laughter was contagious, and after a while, you didn’t even notice her two front teeth pointing in opposite directions, much like a real jack-o-lantern.
Read MoreWhen Southern summers were cool
But sometimes, around the end of July, we’ll hear a song on the radio and it reminds us of a day at the beach with sandwiches and icy bottles of Cokes.
Read MoreMercado Centrale in Florence
While in Firenze, Italy a visit to the Mercato Centrale is essential for food lovers.
Read MoreFannie Flagg for Father’s Day
Reading a new book just about every week, Daddy liked a variety of authors and topics. Traditional favorites like Faulkner and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings were balanced by biographies and stories about the wild west. His emergency hurricane cash-stash was hidden between the pages of Jimmy Buffett’s, “A Pirate looks at Fifty” and I once found…
Read MoreAcqua Alta in Venice!
Crazy internet here — photos are popping in and out. I’ll try to fix it all up later. Thanks for the patience. When you write a book these days, it’s up to the author to publicize and work to get the book into stores. Unless of course, your name is Jan Karon, Mary Kay Andrews…
Read MoreReal cheesecake is regional
My voice activated music system sometimes acts as if it doesn’t understand me unless I tone down my drawl, which gives me wrinkles around my mouth, because you have to pinch your mouth up in order to squelch a Southern accent. Try saying, “Hey Siri, play Guy Penrod” without a small twang in your tongue.…
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