Barbara Samuel O'Neal is the author of more than thirty award-winning novels, including THE LOST RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS and

The Secret of Everything
The Secret of Everything

A native of Colorado, Barbara loves teaching, travel, reading, writing, yoga, walking, food, cooking, photography and...okay, reality television.

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The Practice of Giving Something Up

Today is Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the opening day of Lent, a period of atonement and abstention in the Christian, particularly Catholic, tradition.  Although I no longer attend Catholic masses or actively practice many of the traditions, Lent still seems to me to be a powerful time to practice mindfulness, to notice what excesses [...]

The Ancient One

My old dog and her favorite thing…a fresh [...]

A writing escape

As you may have guessed, I’ve gone slightly underground to finish the book-in-progress, 100 Breakfasts, which is due in six short weeks.  Last weekend, I spent three days in Pasadena, mostly holed up with the manuscript, combing and combing, unbraiding and reweaving.   In the spirit of my friend Anne Stuart, who often keeps track of [...]

Winter gear, cookies for Christmas

Quicky this morning.  Like the rest of you, my task list is overflowing as we near the Christmas chaos. I’m a cookie fanatic, which means I have to add an extra hour (or six) of exercise during December.  (Et tu?)

GEAR

A couple of good links to help in you daily life. First, a truly fantastic bit [...]

Dusk at Ylarra

This became very long.  Sometimes, a musing requires more time.  I hope you’ll enjoy walking with me through the outback.

Since my return from Oz, the memory images that rise most insistently are about the days at Ylarra.    When I finally emptied my suitcase, the bottom was covered with a fine layer of red dust, and [...]

Training log, avon walk

Miles today: 16

Miles this week:  34

Ipod on shuffle, and heard things I didn’t even know were on there.

Feet are sore tonight for no reason I can name, except maybe just being on them a lot.   I ran out of water for the first time ever.  And I saw a lilac bush leafing out!

The pitch: [...]

29 miles this week

A little late getting my log up this week.  Really busy day yesterday.   Finally managed to get two, back-to-back long walks in, one Saturday at 12 miles, one Sunday at around 6, a good hard climbing hike with my friend Renate.   We haven’t been able to hike much this winter and it was fantastic. The Saturday walk allowed [...]

Walking meditation

Santa Fe Tail in Colorado Springs. Cell phone photo.

I finally got out for a long training walk yesterday. 12 (or so) miles on the Santa Fe Trail, which runs in a ribbon between the railroad tracks and a fast-running creek. Ravens and blue jays were having skirmishes over best nesting locations. [...]