Happy Birthday, Leon Russell — Always and Forever Master of Space and Time

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

Another year without him…

Claude Russell Bridges (Leon Russell) would be eighty-four years old today and sadly, while he’s no longer here, it’s a good time to remember him through his musical genius. He was a gifted pianist, songwriter, arranger, bandleader, and producer–a visionary.

His beauty shines through, no matter his age.

This is a brief compilation of some of his water themed recordings:

Back To The Island (Leon Russell’s creation, NOT Jimmy Buffet)

Down on Deep River

On The Waterfront

On A Distant Shore

Caribbean

I’ll Sail My Ship Alone (as Hank Wilson)

The Heart of The Matter

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

At the end of the day, there is nothing but love.

Such an amazing wave pic from Carlsbad. I can’t take credit for the photo, but I have the photographer’s permission to use it.

Here’s how he did it: he was swimming, not sitting on a board; simply in the right place at the right time to reveal a little love.

If you look really hard, you can see another, smaller, heart.

Do you see it?

Word(s) of the Day: Sun Glitter

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

As someone who loves shiny, glittery things, I always wondered if there was a specific term to describe the sun’s sparkles on the ocean, and I discovered that there is, and it’s adorable!

The proper technical and descriptive term for sun sparkles on water is sun glitter or sun glint.

This phenomenon occurs when sunlight reflects off wind-rippled water waves, creating a shifting, bright path of individual glints known as a “glitter pattern”.

I love to be at the beach on a hot summery day, taking pictures of sun glitter.

Another Happy Solar Return For The Original Angel Boy

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

…and an interesting and coincidental fact about (of course) Leon Russell.

Eleven years before there was even a hint of a thought about any baby, even one as wonderful as Angel Boy, Leon Russell released his self-titled debut solo album on March 23, 1970.

The album featured the classics: Delta Lady, Dixie Lullaby, A Song For You, Hummingbird, and Prince of Peace.

Leon played piano, guitar, bass guitar, and vocals. He was backed by an impressive list of friends, including Klaus Voormann, Mick Jagger, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Alan Spenner, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton, Jim Horn, Bonnie Bramlett, Steve Winwood, Jim Gordon, Chris Stainton, B.J. Wilson, Joe Cocker, and Merry Clayton.

What was I doing on March 23, 1970? I was in high school and I’m sure I bought that album as soon as it came out, probably at The Wherehouse or Licorice Pizza, two cool record stores that no longer exist.

But on March 23, 1981, I debuted MY one and only release of a human–the aforementioned Angel Boy–after twenty-four hours of labor and an emergency C-section. I’ve blogged a lot about the birth: https://enchantedseashells.com/2013/03/23/i-fell-down-and-a-baby-popped-out/

He’s still the same person he’s always been; a voracious reader and writer, loves to garden, is kind to animals. He’s got a wicked sense of humor, and now that he’s a dad, he skateboards with the Angel Kids and finally realizes why I worried so much about his safety.

Could he really be all grown up? Nah, he’ll always be my Angel Boy and I’ll always be the proud Boy Mom.

Photo by Enchanted Seashells

What Does The Vernal Equinox and Chuck Norris Have In Common?

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

Answer: Probably nothing…

We’re still reeling from record-breaking heat in SoCal on this first day of Spring. Flowers and fruit trees are going crazy because the heat has altered their normal growth cycle.

The Spring Equinox (or Vernal Equinox) symbolizes a spiritual rebirth; marking the balance of light and dark, rebirth and renewal. It represents a shift from winter’s stagnation to active growth to encourage reflection, letting go of old burdens, and setting new intentions for the year ahead.

In a weird way, I guess this might explain the death of Chuck Norris.

I learned that Chuck Norris, actor and martial artist, passed away at the age of 86 in Hawaii.

He held black belts in Karate, Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and judo. He was friends with the legendary Bruce Lee and acted as a pallbearer at his funeral.

But way before he became a loud and vocal Repub and supported that orange POS and the disgusting Obama “birther conspiracy”, I was cast in one of his films.

I spent a few days with him on set and he was a real gentleman, respectful and kind to everyone, including me.

It was a treat to watch him choreograph fight scenes. I also met some of the other stars including the veryvery handsome Ron O’Neal, with whom I was involved in a stunt that was sadly cut from the final product.

It’s a shame that Chuck chose the path he did because social media is remembering him harshly, which is not a surprise, considering the ideologies he championed are actively ruining our country. He will be judged for all of those failings, and that, I suppose, is his karma.

Happy Spring!

Peach tree photo credit to Enchanted Seashells
Photo of Chuck Norris from Instagram

Fabulous Freesias

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

I really wish you could close your eyes and inhale the fragrance of these freesias. Our weather’s been hot here in SoCal and all the flowers bloomed at the same time.

Isn’t that vase adorable? I found it at a thrift shop and it’s one of my favorite things.

Word of the Day: Excogitate (In/Out The Box)

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

EXCOGITATE: To think out; devise; invent. To study intently and carefully in order to grasp or comprehend fully.

TO THIINK IN OR THINK OUT…WHAT IS YOUR METHOD?

According to wiseGEEK, to think outside the box means means to “handle a situation or challenge in an unconventional manner. The origin of the phrase is believed to date back to the 1960s, and is often associated with a famous mental puzzle called The Nine Dots.”

I’ve had a lot of jobs over the years and I’ve found that no one really wanted me to think outside the box — independently, creatively, with imagination or compassion. I felt the overwhelming corporate mantra was to agree with everything and keep quiet.

And that leads us on to another outside the box obsession of mine…

I love boxes; cardboard boxes, wooden boxes, large and small boxes. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a massive collection. (I’m not a hoarder, I’m not a hoarder, I’m NOT a hoarder. Stop thinking that!)

But a box full of Bandit was my favorite. Our poor baby died of chronic renal failure. Wasn’t she soo beautiful? Sniff.

banditjuly10 003BOX — She’s speaking to me with her eyes, ” I don’t feel very good, Mommy.” Photo by Enchanted Seashells

Do you have a favorite box? What do you collect?

A Photographic Essay

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

I was clearing out old pictures because my storage was nearly full and I thought these random photos were worth sharing.

A broken but still functional puzzle of a sidewalk…

Narcissus in bloom…

Graffitied dead end sign on someone’s front lawn…

International Women’s Day 2026: “When women thrive, we all rise.”

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Enchanted Seashells

I say it every year, but this is more than simply a day to celebrate Angel Boy’s TENTH birthday, March 8 is International Women’s Day 2026.

“When women thrive, we all rise.” The initiative highlights that empowering women brings collective progress.

This year’s theme is “Give To Gain”, a campaign that urges collaboration and generosity to accelerate gender equality.

The theme highlights that by giving support—through funding, knowledge, or advocacy—we gain a more inclusive world.

The campaign encourages taking concrete actions, such as investing in women, providing resources, increasing visibility, and fostering mentorship.

Of course we’ll commemorate Angel Boy’s ten years around the sun, especially since this is the year he becomes a double-digiter. No longer a baby, he enters the world of the pre-teen with my same shoe size and he’s nearly as tall as me. I predict by the end of summer, he’ll have surpassed my sixty inches. Happy Birthday, Angel Boy!