Ssssh! What? Oh, pardon me. I’m just enjoying the quiet. For the first time in a month, the air conditioner isn’t on. For the first time in a month, I can open the windows. The humidity, that awful, awful humidity has broken.
Hallelujah!
I never thought that hearing the sound of the refrigerator could be so wonderful. Or the sound of a car going by. Heaven. The minute I got up this morning, I turned off the downstairs A/C, opened all the windows and smiled. Maybe, just maybe I can actually spend some time on the porch today.
I’m continually trying to grab a picture of all the birds that frequent the birdbath. It’s been especially active around there lately because of the heat and humidity. The robins, the catbirds, the finches, and an occasional mourning dove, have been drinking and bathing and frolicking. I have to shoot the photos through the glass on the kitchen door because any opening of the door will scare them off. Nine times out of ten, by the time I grab my older camera with its zoom lens, they’re gone.
I have to move quickly so I just point and shoot. And hope.
Finally, I was able to get some photos yesterday.
Four birds sharing the communal bath. Perhaps they were having a meeting?
Imagine my delight when I examined the photo a bit more closely. Move your eyes just a bit north of the birds.
It’s a chipmunk! He’s peeking out from behind a rock in the garden.
I have to say, this was a fun surprise.
One bird has left, three remain. And Chippie, still watching.
I adore chipmunks.
The blur in the upper left hand corner is a retreating bird. One bird remains, along with our ever vigilant Chippie.
Birds and chipmunks. Sigh of happiness.
The opening for Pygmalion was a few days ago. Don is working at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, one of the most respected summer theaters in the country. It’s a rather big operation and very busy. There are always a lot of well-known, even famous, actors working there. It’s in a beautiful college town and while at least two plays are always running, there are even more plays in rehearsal, ready for the next round of performances.
Anyway. Dare I brag a bit? Don tends to not read reviews. Nor do I. But, he casually mentioned he had heard through the grapevine that the reviews of his performance had been great. And then he changed the topic of conversation. Because he’s pretty modest. But I’m not at all modest about his talent.
The internet can be pretty handy at a time like this. If you don’t mind, I’ll just share some quotes with you. By the way, Don sometimes chooses to be billed as Don Lee Sparks. Sometimes, Don Sparks. This time it’s Don Lee Sparks. (I’ve given up trying to figure it out.)
From the ArtsFuse, Boston’s Online Arts Magazine, written by Helen Epstein:
“Don Lee Sparks, however, steals the show as Eliza’s absentee father Mr. Doolittle. When he’s dressed for his wedding in lavender gloves, vest and spats, he serves as the perfect mouthpiece for Shaw’s views on class, marriage, morality – almost everything.”
From Broadway World, written by Larry Murray:
“Equally delightful are the two extended appearances of Eliza Doolittle’s father played by a perfect Don Lee Sparks…When Sparks is on stage everyone else just about fades to near -invisibility. He not only fills his role, he overflows it, as Shaw has him dominate the proceedings and his delicious acting easily earns the biggest laughs of the evening.”
From the Times-Union, written by Steve Barnes:
“Don Lee Sparks almost steals the show as Eliza’s father, Alfred, a dustman who, thanks to Higgins, gets a lecture tour, money and misery that he didn’t have when he was poor.”
I read much the same when he was doing the role in San Diego. Don thinks this production is even better than the one in San Diego. I can’t wait to see it next Saturday on closing night.
My husband is an extremely talented actor. He’s a gifted comedic actor, as well, with pitch-perfect timing. I’m proud of him.
Sort of bustin’ my buttons here at the cottage.
Happy Sunday.
How fun to have that chipmunk peeking out from behind! We have them here too– and also call them “Chippie!” Congrats to Don!!
I’m just crazy about them!
Wow, so proud of Don, what great reviews! Love the birds and chipmunk pics, delightful view of the world outside your window.
Mary
Don tends to shrug off these things, but I’m enormously proud.
Oh, I wish I could see a production with Don one day!!!! Love to read your blog!!! I think you said there was a TV show he would be on soon, please let us know, I am on the West Coast!!
It seems like it might be airing in November. I’ll keep you posted.
Congrats to Don Lee Sparks…on those great reviews. How can you not want to read that over and over.?? Oh i am so ready to be done with AC…I would much rather open windows. Glad you got to open yours. Birds are a hard subject for me to snap photos . xoxo,Susie
Windows open = happiness.
You are justifiably proud of Don. Burst away!
Thanks, I don’t mind if I do!
I agree, I am so glad to open my windows again. Our week of humidity broke yesterday. I can hardly complain we only use our air about one week a year, but I so hate being cooped up with it on. You photos are lovely of the birds and the chipmunk is darling. Mom dog stays entertained by chasing chipmunks. I forgot to ask you if Don has ever performed at the “Barn Theatre” in Augusta MI. I have seasonal tickets and love watching the performances.
No, he’s never performed there – though I always heard about that theater when I was growing up in Michigan. He did do some dinner theater years ago someplace near Flint.
You should be proud of him, he is an incredible actor and a pretty darn good BIL.
Hugs to you sister,
Mere
Hugs to you, too.
Hear me clapping? Brag away my dear. You must and you should :D
Thanks, Z!
Love those bathing birdies and their little watch commander. It would be do much fun to see don in his role–maybe he will be back in SanDiego one day.
He might. I’ll let you know if and when that happens, Sonja.
Bustin’ your buttons for certain. Awesome!
Thanks, Beverly.
Bustin’ your buttons…great pride you have there woman! Isn’t the lack of humidity wonderful!! A true blessing. Now we can get outside, and enjoy it! ;)
I just finished a bit more mowing and weed wacking. Ahhh.
Claudia, what great photos! And I agree about the a/c, peace and quiet for a bit at least. I received my electric bill yesterday, not a happy camper. Almost double what it usually is. :( xo
I’m afraid to see what my electric bill will be.
Makes me smile hearing how well Don is doing. I can imagine him in that part and stealing the show. Go ahead and burst those buttons.
Love your outdoor pictures. Great for a cooler less humid day. I am heading out of the AC today as well. Wish we were closer we could have lunch together.
(((((HUGS))))) and Kudos to DOn
Oh, lunch would be so nice, Debby.
Congrats to Don! Nice pix!
Thanks, Lisa Lynn.
Amazing reviews! How wonderful to be noticed for remarkable work. Bet you can’t wait to see it yourself!
Beautiful pics of those purple finch….. and fun little chipmunk! As awful as this heat and humidity has been, I still have to say I favor it over the bitter cold and snow of winter. Don’t even want to think about that!! :-(
That little chipmunk is adorable.
Alfred Doolittle is one of my favorite characters! Congrats to Don!
Charles’ Dad is an actor and director, and in the summer, his family traveled all over to do summer stock theatre. Charles has many fond memories of productions over the years.
Summer theater is a lot of fun, Paula.
Don’s reviews are so great! After having to live in a dorm with no AC, coming up with a knock ’em sock ’em performance is a real accomplishment! Go get ’em Don!!
Loved the picture of the birds and chipmunk! It looks like he is patiently waiting his turn.
It does, doesn’t it?
What a pleasant surprise is that little chipper..I love to watch them bounce around and play like they don’t have a care in the world..how lucky they are..You have every right to brag about Don..I certainly would if I had such a talented Husband..I really think that Alfred Doolittle is one of the best roles in that play..so funny..You sound as if you are in quite a good mood today..Enjoy it!
Alfred Doolittle is brilliantly written, but then so is everything by Shaw!
Great reviews for Mr. Don Lee Sparks! I love how chuffed you are on his achievement. True love!
Too cute that the chipmunk just had to be in the shot. Cute. Happy to hear your weather is more manageable now. We’re pretty hot here now, with nightly thunder storms and we sleep with our fan on. Can’t remember what it was like to sleep in silence. Soon enough, we’ll be huddle under a pile of quilts when the weather drastically takes a u turn.
Enjoy your Sunday!
I sort of like the white noise, as I am a light sleeper. If we don’t have the fan or A/C on, we have the air cleaner on, so we can hear that steady white noise. Traffic on our road can be noisy.
Great reviews for your hubby, Claudia. I can see why you are so proud of him. Wish I lived nearby so I could go and see him perform. If he ever does anything in the Dallas area, be sure you let me know! And that chipmunk — well that was just priceless. One of life’s little surprises. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a chipmunk, except for Chip and Dale, of course!
No chipmunks in Texas, Debra?
I wish I wasn’t such a wimp about this heat (although it is much better today) because I’d love to go see your husband at the theater. Have driven through Williamstown on the way to Vermont many times. The main street looks like something out of the 1950’s. I do look forward to seeing him in the PBS show. Please let us know when it will be aired. Ratings should be excellent as all your blogging buddies will most definitely will be watching.
I see we have the same birdbath. Birds do love it but it is awfully heavy to tip out the water and clean it. Will look for something a bit lighter the next time I buy one.
I think the show is going to be aired sometime in November, Elizabeth. I’ll update you as I learn more.
Actually, I love you bustin’ yer buttons for th’ hub. Talent is talent and he’s good so go right ahead, my friend!
xoxo,
Connie
Thanks, my friend!
And bust those buttons you should! I wish I could see Don is this production also! I have always admired talent like his. I had ‘dreams’ of working in the theater…not so much as an actress but some how involved. It didn’t happen but I still love the whole world.
That is also the best little photo with the chipmunk peeping at the birds. I laughed out loud! This photo just made me so happy!
Hugs,
Linda
Isn’t it adorable! What a cutie!
Of course you’re proud! And you should be. I am proud of him too and wish I could see him in the role! It’s really the most interesting role in the whole play–and the movie, I think.
We have a couple months more to go to experience that quiet you had today. No central AC/heating in this old house, only lots of room Acs and fans everywhere. My youngest son says we live in The House of Fans. Noisy. I am always filled with joy when the day comes that they’re all turned off and I can open windows. Enjoy it, Claudia!
Noisy here, too, Dewena. Just window air conditioners – no central air!
What a wonderful review and it seems like everyone is enjoying the break in the weather.
Finally!
That chipmunk is SOOO adorable! I love them…The birds are really beautiful. How lucky to be able to open your windows in July… Its so hot and humid here in the south I’ll be listening to the AC running until Nov :(..Congratulations to hubby! And you should brag on him… He deserves it :)
Well, I have no idea how long this will last. And I had to put the A/C on later in the day because the heat really gets to Scout – she has a lot of hair and she’s older, so I don’t want to stress her out.
CONGRATULATIONS DON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Julie!
Encore! Encore! So proud of Don and his great reviews – not surprised at all. You should be so proud!
We are home – thank goodness. Thanks for checking on us.
Love,
Judy
I’m so, so glad you are home, my friend. Now, the two of you must take it easy and give yourselves time to heal.
Now, I really, really want to see Don in a theatrical production! If he ever works this side of the border, make sure you let us know. Tell him the Stratford Shakespearean Festival would be very convenient for me and it’s a nice part of Ontario. I’m sure he’d like some ‘theatre in the round’.
We have friends who work at Stratford, Maureen. Don’s worked in Canada before but not at Stratford.
You have every right to be busting your buttons! What awesome reviews of your talented husband. I would love to see him perform some day. Does he ever come to Chicago? Oh, I know that wonderful feeling of being able to turn off the AC and open doors and windows. There’s nothing like fresh air. I enjoyed it for a few hours this morning, then it got way too hot and humid and I had to turn on that darn AC again. (So thankful we have it though!) Love your bird and chipmunk photos. I don’t know where all the little chipmunks in my area went this year. Last year, there were a lot more. What kind of bird is the one with the red markings in your photo? I don’t believe I’ve seen any like that around my neck of the woods.
I don’t think Don has worked in the Chicago area, Melanie. But my best friend, Laural, does, as well as several other friends of mine. Look for Laural Reinhart, Jonathan Weir, Nate Burger and Anne Thompson.
Not sure about the red bird – some kind of finch?
I love it when a blog sounds like you’re just sitting across the table from the writer having a conversation over coffee etc – and yours sounds exactly like that. It just flows like good conversation. You write so well, Claudia – I really look forward to seeing “Mockingbird Hill” in the “FROM” row of my Inbox. Isn’t this Heat Relief just the best? I have never been one to enjoy Hot and Humid [personally I’d love nothing but May and October all year long]. Doing a standing ovation here for Don too. What fun he must be having doing ‘Pgymalion!’ Did he ever do “My Fair Lady” and then get to do the music too? Just wondering. Have a great week! PS – Hey, Scout!
No, he’s never done My Fair Lady. He’d sure be good in it, though!
Thank you for your kind words, Janet.
Good Morning Claudia! Just delighted with Don’s reviews–very exciting! Bravo, Don!! As for the windows open, as you know I am your friend who never got the snow out of her boots and summer or winter (much to my family’s disapproval either way and yes even when it’s in the 30’s! I tell them: “put a sweater on”) I open the front window for Fred, my tuxedo cat, to do some morning hunting and the kitchen window over the sink so that I can curb my yearning for days like you are enjoying, now yesterday, but I hope this a.m. as well. Canada days…. It can never last long due to Florida’s lovely humidity and heat blasting in 8 months a year. But fresh air is a necessity to my soul–the windier the better! Love the cardinals and chipmunk photos especially the one with the bird in flight. Hope you get your porch time! b
I agree, have to have fresh air!
Ah, the birds! I miss my back porch mornings when I would watch the hummingbirds just on the other side of the screen.
I would LOVE to see your hubby in action on the stage. Hubs and I love the theater, and we have a favorite place: The Wagon Wheel….the audience sits around the stage, so the actors come and go right next to you. So fabulous! Congrats to him on his accolades which I’m sure are well-deserved!
Thanks, Cindy!
Congrats on the rave reviews …it’s wonderful! :)
That little chipmunk is a cutie…! :)
Oh, Claudia – how awesome!!! So is Lee Don’s middle name? So funny! I’m Donna Lee! What AWESOME reviews!!
Loved your birds and your CHIP!!! You know how I love hanging out with and feeding the Chips in our yard! You need to get a bag of unsalted peanuts and you will have a friend for life!
Donna