A mural in my neighborhood. I've been calling this one a “poemish” - part personal essay, part poem, part brain dump in notes trying to make sense of the world. Today was a strange day Jan. 7, 2026 It’s writing day - the day I look forward to the most  I woke up motivated ready to go inspired and Cooking up all kinds of things from my dreams  Started by speaking to a friend about the writing process and second guesses  We said go go go  The headlines got worse as the minutes

Smythe's Accordion Center in Petaluma, Calif. I met with a psychic recently. She said that next year, I would meet the love of my life.  Next door to her brick corner space in downtown Petaluma, Calif., was Smythe’s Accordion Center. I peered in the windows of the shop as we waited for the psychic. She arrived five minutes later, popping out of the passenger side of a sedan with her pho dinner in hand and profuse apologies.  In the shop next door, there were accordions of all

I'm currently writing a collection of fables. From time to time, I will share them here in various states of revision. This one is still in progress. The Dream Collector By Stacie Ledden The dream collector lives in a modest cottage in a clearing on a mountainside. The thatched roof and whitewashed walls are flanked by a wildflower patch, a vegetable garden, and a willow grove just beyond. Past the grove, a narrow creek curls below a green-tufted bank till it runs parallel to

In August, I got this idea in my head that I needed a retreat – to carve out time this fall to reflect on the past year, identify what I can build upon, what needs to shift. For much of my life, I didn't take that kind of time. I pummeled through projects and experiences like a steamroller, straight on to the next one. Life can still feel like that sometimes. But it's become crucial for me to build in thinking time, for both my creative life and my business. Thanks to the gen