The first peony bloom of the season – from the bush that didn’t bloom at all last year. I have to move it in the fall because the tree that is next to it is overwhelming it with shade. But, for some reason, it was able to produce one big beautiful flower this year. I’m grateful.
The catmint is nectar central for all the bees. Honeybees, bumble bees – they’re all there. The constant buzz (literally) of activity is the best movie in town.
And later in the day, I saw this:
Henry lurking in the shadows. Was he watching the catbird? Or was he contemplating life?
I grabbed my camera and took some photos. Right after that, he turned toward the entrance to his den and disappeared. I think it might have been due to this guy on the edge of the back forty.
I think he lives under our next door neighbors’ shed.
But enough about all that. Let’s get to the meat of this post.
I have to go into the city on Saturday. Why?
Because I have a ticket to the matinee of Hamilton!!!!
Oh my goodness, I am beyond excited about this! Here’s how it happened. One of the guys working on the music for Escape to Margaritaville also worked on Hamilton for several years and continues to work on the tours. He and Don got to talking about that one day and Don mentioned that I really, really, really wanted to see it. He said that he has access to House Seats and did I want him to put me on the list?
YES. YES. YES. He asked me to pick three dates in June. I chose three matinee days. He submitted my name and our credit card info. Saturday turned out to be the day the box office thought might work best, but I was still on a waiting list and as this week went by, I began to give up hope. I mean, it’s Hamilton and getting a ticket is nigh to impossible.
Yesterday, I asked Don whether he had heard anything yet from his friend who had told us that he would hear something the week of the performance. Don said he’d call him. Coincidentally, his friend was emailing him the confirmation at the same time Don was calling.
I’m in!
House seats aren’t free – they’re still pricey, but less expensive than the cost of seats being sold to the general public. I learned my lesson when I turned down the opportunity to buy a house seat to see the original cast when it was at the Public Theater. I grabbed this chance.
Whoo hoo!
A good week: the celebration of my dear friend Rick, Comey is testifying today, the Original Broadway Cast album of Anastasia is being released tomorrow, and I’m seeing Hamilton on Saturday!
Happy Thursday.
Have a wonderful time! Hamilton…sigh
Thanks Debbie!
Enjoy every minute!!
Thanks Judy!
Thrilled for you!!!! Of course…we’ll need all of the details! ;)
You’ll get them!
Claudia, segue to Henry, does he actually stay under the shed all year long, if it really is him? So, even with all the rain, he stays dry under there, d’ya think? I’m wondering because my poor feral cats (and many others I’m not seeing at night, I’m sure; we have a feral colony) are displaced since the new neighbors destroyed their ‘lair’ and now my other neighbor on the other side of the hill (where the cats also go) apparently got cited for weed abatement failure so there are teams of people going into that property and basically leveling it of plant/tree growth to comply, although it seems overboard to me
(I fear for new kittens in little nests); the cats, at least mine and two others I spied, actually look like they’re wandering around glassy-eyed and disoriented because nothing has changed around here for 40-60 years, and now this, all at once, the habitat completely upended (and totally ironic)…and, anyway, my ferals appear to be living under one of our 4 sheds (two are on a raised foundation; somewhat raised; tight squeeze) and I’m just hoping they’re not going to get wet runoff from the downhill when they’re under those sheds once we get rain again. Another place I lived had an old shed and I know possums went under there and got drowned out. I have tried several feral cat shelters (some were expensive, too, to buy, but I made the investment) and these wild cats are too afraid to go in them as I guess they remind them of the humane traps I used in conjunction with Animal Control to do the one-time trap/spay-neuter-immunize/release. Just wondered if your own thoughts have strayed to how Henry lives and survives…do hedgehogs also burrow?
Well, you can’t compare groundhogs living under a shed and cats doing the same. Groundhogs dig an elaborate tunnel system – one for living in, one for defecating. That’s how they live. In the winter, they hibernate beneath the ground in their tunnels. I have no idea how far down the tunnels are, but they’re far enough under ground that they aren’t affected by rain.
The wild cats wouldn’t dig a tunnel so they would be exposed to the rain runoff. Is it possible to build a sort of lean-to off on the edge of your property where they could stay? Do you think they’d go there if they felt safe?
Interesting you should say that, about building something (and I didn’t know about the tunnels; also interesting). My husband says it’s pointless to keep trying out different shelters (frankly, I’ve even tried a child’s playhouse; I took off the windows and doors thinking that would help, but, no). I’ve got a few months to figure it out before colder weather sets in. I’m going to do more research. These cats definitely want entry/exit; a one-door entrance into anything doesn’t give them an escape route. I’ve considered the lean-to idea, even just banking tall pieces of plywood at an angle against a fence and covering it with a tarp; a different kind of ‘tunnel’ underneath for them. Wouldn’t seem like such a closed-in thing (too bad, because a smaller kitty ‘tube’ or cube would keep them warmer); they want freedom, not a structure per se. Thanks for the info/thoughts; I’ll keep working on it. Mixed in with the truly-wild kitty population are strays; abandoned (what I think so, anyway). And they’ve been much more prone to going inside a shelter. I just worry about these two elderly ferals of mine who are definitely wild and never domesticated (who remain so shy of humans, even me); I want to do what I can for them.
I hope you can find some solution for those poor cats. They deserve a place where they can eat and feel safe – where they can go in and out but have a shelter of some kind.
Well when the sun shines on you, it really shines! I gasped when I saw the photo of the peony – it actually took my breath away. And Hamilton – wow! I looked at the ticket prices – too expensive for me right now. I can’t wait to hear about it. Enjoy!
I can’t wait to tell you about it!
Oh happy week!
Yes!
the title of this post made me smile. i am glad you are having a very good week!
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy.
Won’t it be wonderful to see Hamilton! I’m happy for you! My brother, husband (former staunch Republican, with emphasis on “former”) and I watched Comey’s testimony today. We heard explosive statements, but when I scan online news sources from left to right, it’s as if there were two different hearings.
You’re not kidding. We live in a Twilight Zone of a certain segment of the population simply putting blinders on. A stunning level of willful ignorance.
What a treat to be able to see Hamilton; lucky you. So happy that you’re going to get to experience it! I’ve seen Lin-Manuel Miranda on a few talk shows by now and he’s so full of enthusiasm; so full of energy; talented (prolifically!). I knew he’d won some Tonys (I don’t follow theater as much as I should, ‘way out here on the West Coast, although I love it) but I’d had no idea he’d also collected a Pulitzer. Too bad you couldn’t have seen it when he had the lead role but every ounce of him is otherwise in that total production, right?! I can’t imagine the music, the costumes…the message…you are going to have such a great time…it’s coming to L.A. at the end of summer for I think a multi-month run and I would love to see it myself (Pantages theater, Hollywood; gorgeous venue).
And what a treat for us to see Henry with that delightful facial expression; I think he’s endearing and I’m surprised how chunky these hedgehogs are; just don’t know a thing about them (until you gave us a glimpse of him…much like me and peonies; I’m ignorant of peonies, too…and dahlias; just never have grown them or recognized them in floral arrangements nor do I see them in my local garden stores, which makes me wonder why [?]…my life is clearly too narrow!).
Up late last night, icing my sore neck and caught a entertaining segment on Jimmy Fallon…it was the young, pre-teen son of the deceased crocodile guy, let me think of his name, last name Irwin; Steve Irwin. His widow and their two kids have continued to keep his memory alive with many TV appearances over the years and I guess this Australia Zoo of theirs is a pretty-big operation (not just a zoo, but wildlife hospital, conservation; a lot of acres for reserve/preserve). Been in their collective family for like 40 years or something. Big business, of course. Anyway, the kid is quite well-spoken, full of educational tidbits about the wildlife, and he sure seems comfortable around the animals but these were little things…a baby kangaroo, baby warthogs, some kind of baby badger I think; baby turtle. Made me smile. Baby-anything fed by a bottle is just too cute.
He’s a groundhog, Vicki, not a hedgehog. Hedgehogs look very very different and are found in England.
Henry is adorable. I really love him.
Oh, silly me. Why did I say hedgehog?! Hedgehogs have those stiff spiny hairs on their back. I think my brain is tired; lack of sleep. Whiplash injury makes my head ache and I’m sick of the whole mess but, good thing, the HMO came through and I’m going to my physical therapist tomorrow for my first neck/back treatment and the guy is a jewel, so I know I’ll get better soon. I’m tired of being shackled to the house, day after day; I need to be able to get back in a car again and drive myself places without inconveniencing other people as chauffeur. I also see my doctor again tomorrow and I’m hoping she’ll give me the green light to drive. I think I have enough range of motion now in the neck/shoulders; even though I’m of course still very achy and sore. (And, no, the police have still not found the bad guy; I hold out no hope despite their best efforts. I hope he doesn’t rear-end anybody else and damage their car the way he did mine, not to mention hurting me. What a menace; he needs off the streets, that’s for sure.)
I’m so glad you can finally see your physical therapist, Vicki. That should really help.
I’m just sorry they haven’t caught the guy.
I’m so jealous. Have a great time. xo Laura
Thank you, Laura.
So glad for you! Have a wonderful time! We’ll all be waiting to hear the details.
Thanks, Dottie!
A multitude of good things! The peony is gorgeous. I can hardly wait for the buds on my peony plants to appear. Henry is always an amusing sight. Hamilton…what can one even say? You’ll have a fabulous time. Looking forward to that post.
I’m really excited about the chance to finally see it.
So jealous of your great luck! That show is probably the best of the century. Enjoy!!
So far!
It is definitely groundbreaking and different than anything we’ve seen before!
It is time that you had a perfectly wonderful week! Enjoy.
Thanks, Dottie!
Oh, I’m so glad that you will get to see Hamilton! My kids saw it, last year, I think, and totally loved it…as everyone does. And Henry always makes me smile. So glad he has a friend, too cute!
I just had to paint that peony, it was so perfect. That variety is different than the ones I have, and I’ve always wondered what kind they are. It seems that I once found them described as a Chinese or Asian variety, no?
I have no idea what kind of peony it is as it was planted by a former owner of this property. I think I looked it up when we first moved here but I can’t remember now!
I decided to answer my own question of why I never see peonies where I live in Southern California. Like tulips, they require HOURS (like hundreds of hours) of chill and, you see, we never really get that here; we haven’t even had a hard freeze in several years. We certainly, where I live, never get snow on the ground except in the mountains. The word is that common garden peonies here, in my zone, will fail. It’s a cold climate flower. The advice is to try for (I guess get seeds, or go to some sort of specialty garden center?) hybrids or one of the Mediterranean species but it’s all a very unknown thing to me at the moment. Glad to know it’s not just me who can’t find them here (and know little about them). Someone wrote in on one site that they found a peony that would actually grow in Houston, Texas. “Itoh” peonies are apparently having some luck in SoCalif – – again, IF you can even find them in a nursery and I read they don’t ship well. I’m going to get to the bottom of this because you East Coast (and Midwest) folks seem to be growing some beautiful peonies, and I feel left out! Just a stunning photo, Claudia; SO pretty…
Peonies and lilacs need a hard freeze and a winter. There is not that kind of winter in Southern California, unfortunately!
Oh, what a week!! My daughter has seen Hamilton and she said it was beyond fantastic. She has listened to the music since it was first released. I know you will have a wonderful time. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
We have a few peony bushes which are in bloom. We live in the house my husband’s parents built in 1938, and our bushes are quite old. One bush, since I first visited here about 46 years ago, blooms all pink and 2 white flowers every year. It is quite interesting. I absolutely love the scent they give off. My husband whacked one off when he was weed-whacking, so I brought it in the house, and it fills the entire kitchen!!
Hope you had a great day, Claudia!!
The scent is heavenly!
That is such a beautiful peony photo! I’ve looked at it several times now – it just so pretty!
Enjoy Hamilton! I’m so happy for you, Claudia!
Typo – I meant it’s :-)
xo
Thank you, Lily!
Claudia I am so excited for you….Hamilton!! Wow and how lucky can you get. Can’t wait for your post! Hugs!!
I’m very excited!
Have a good time . Enjoy “Hamilton”. The weather should be nice for a trip to Broadway. Henry is a cutie.
Marilyn
Yes, earlier it was thought that Saturday would be rainy but that forecast has changed!
Glad you’ve had a great week! A few of my friends have seen Hamilton in Chicago – they all loved it, of course.
Thanks, Melanie!
Yay……Have fun, Claudia!!!
I just love Henry.
I do, too! I’m glad he’s been showing himself lately!