Here's a few more things about me... For more, read My Story.
- I've been married for 44 years. Charles was a budding studio photographer when we were first married. Since then, he's had a successful photo career and founded one of the first digital stock photo companies in the world. He's an amazing nature photographer, entrepreneur, and conservationist! We've raised two boys.
2. I saw Jimi Hendrix as the opening act for The Monkees rock band in 1967. He only performed for seven concerts, but I was lucky enough to see him in Miami, Florida. I also ran into the Monkees when visiting Niagara Falls with my folks.
3. I've dined with Jane Goodall, and that was something. We shared stories about spiders 🙂 What an amazing person!
4. I've also had the pleasure of dining with EO Wilson, an ant scientist and conservationist. My family and I were in his NOVA documentary, "Lord of the Ants," as extras (narrated by Harrison Ford). If you watch it, we are walking across a bridge in the very beginning.
5. I love spending time hanging with my dog, cooking, writing, weight training, riding my bike, hiking, or painting.
6. I have anxiety on occasion and it's something I've struggled with most of my life. I learned that having a heart-murmur made me more easily triggered by stressful events. But it can also be related to chemistry so I make sure I have enough vitamin B and the right nutrition to keep my system calm. Read more about my health journey.
7. I'm crazy about science fiction movies and movie monsters. My favorite movie as a kid was Jason and the Argonauts, animated by the great Ray Harryhausen, who created a form of stop-motion model animation before computers were used. My favorite sci-fi series is "The Expanse."
8. I was adopted in Los Angeles when I was 3 months old.
9. In addition to being a watercolor artist (I love painting figures, still life and flowers), I played the guitar, piano, worked macrame & crocheted and have made homemade gifts. I love working with my hands. I still usually give something homemade to my friends for the holidays.
10. I love hanging with Abby. She turned 15 in 2025 and isn't as agile as she once was, but what a joy it is to live with a dog!
Hi Diane! I have popped on to your website soooo many times over soooo many years!
You are such an inspiration for those of us struggling along the road of health! I have attempted a plant based food plan so very many times and unfortunately just was not successful at maintaining the lifestyle, But I just turned 70 on my last Birthday and made a dedicated promise to myself to give it another go… and my husband Doug LOVES his animal protein and drive thru’s, but a recent health scare has renewed our interest in reconsidering taking the “plant based Leap” again! YAY GOD!! So I am so thankful that I was able to find your website again and will be hoping to try some of your wonderful recipes! Thanks for your steadfast example and dedication for people like us!! Blessings, Hap Brandon (Patricia)
I’m so glad that you’ve been inspired to continue on your plant-based journey. Here’s hoping your husband will discover just how delicious eating a plant-based is as well as the positive outcomes it offers for his health. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. 💕