My newest piece of McCoy – I found it about 3 months ago.
Feathers.
The view from the porch.
Cosmos as seen from the den.
More Chief Inspector Gamache. (I can’t get enough.)
Potted pothos.
The porch in autumn.
On the kitchen table.
My girl.
It’s a dark and rainy day here, with more coming tomorrow. Wet leaves are everywhere. Scout is snoring on the sofa. Don is still sleeping. I’m on my second cup of coffee. We watched the Red Sox/Tampa Bay game last night (we won!) and then we watched World War Z. Ironically, we had just watched Night of the Living Dead the night before. In all honesty? Night of the Living Dead, filmed in black and white with a minuscule budget, was better. World War Z was overblown, overdone and became monotonous. How many scenes can you watch with zombies attacking people en masse? All the younger actors in the Rep were thrilled with it, which is why I thought it might be worth watching. I guess they’re more into the idea of zombies I am.
Did you know that Don worked with Brad Pitt when Mr. Pitt was but a young lad? They did an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares (I’ve seen it.) Brad was just starting out and I asked Don if he had any idea then that Pitt would turn out to be the actor/star/celebrity that he is today. No, was the answer. He was young and sort of green and a very nice guy who was model handsome. That’s it. Ah.. ..I’m one degree of separation from Brad Pitt. And from a lot of other famous actors. In some cases it’s Don who’s one degree of separation away from a famous actor or two because of my work.
Yes, we positively vibrate with ‘celebrity.’ Oy.
Scout continues to improve. So grateful.
Happy Sunday.
Love your pictures. My favorite is your porch! Isn’t it nice to putter around when all the wold seems quiet?
How fun that Don worked with Brad Pitt. It is amazing how someone who seems just “another someone” translates to the big screen. Have a wonderful day. xo Diana
It’s so true. It’s all about how the face translates to the screen. His face obviously translated very, very well!
Great new piece of McCoy, don’t have that one but I do have the bubble flower pot next to it.
Scout looks like she is happy and feeling better!
She is, Ann. Thank goodness! I am so relieved.
Claudia,
As you know I love the McCoy as well. However, I was enthralled with your new tea cups and ordered 4 for soup! You find the neatest things. We are back in Florida and I am unpacking boxes. When all is put away and organized, I shall work on Maggie.
Happy to hear Scout is better.
Carol
Oh good! Can’t wait til you get those cups!
Lovely photos round and about Your home,so pretty.I love McCoy products : ) I have several but My favorite are the fan shape,that I collect.You both must have very interesting fun jobs to work with celebrities.A good morning to You-Denise
I love the fan shape, too, Denise. I think this is my first fan shaped piece.
Who knew I was 2 degrees of separation from Brad Pitt! Perhaps our blogging acquaintance does not quality as a full degree, but it does go to show that the world may not be as large as it sometimes seems.
The rain is falling here too and I’m down to being 3rd in the queue for the first Inspector Gamache; here’s hoping those ahead of me are rapid readers.
I truly enjoy your Sunday around the house photos, Claudia.
-Karen
-Karen
I hope those readers are so engrossed that they finish in record time!
So, let me understand this…as a reader of your blog, because I’ve communicated with you, am I three of four degrees of separation away from Brad Pitt? Or Jim Parsons, for that matter? Or am I presuming too much? Love your new McCoy piece! ;)
Presume away! You know me, I know Jim. There you go. You kind of know Don, so you are about 4 degrees of separation from Brad!
Oh, goody! Scout looks great btw! ;)
Isn’t that wonderful? She’s feisty and crazy once again and I couldn’t be happier.
I just love seeing pictures around your home Claudia..I am so glad you are done traveling for work for a while..Scout is looking much much better..Amen for that..By the way I haven’t found a Vernors case like you wanted but I continue to search for one at flea markets.. yard sales..antique malls..etc…I believe I would prefer to meet Don than I would Brad Pitt..These spoiled..rich..actors who are handed everything they want don’t impress me much..I would much rather talk to an actor who remains down to earth and not full of himself..
Well gosh, I have to stand up for 99.9% of the actors out there, including Brad Pitt, who is a nice guy who does an incredible amount of work for charity, donates his time and his money and uses his fame to make a real difference in the world and who worked very hard to get where he is today. I don’t think he is at all full of himself. He strikes me as pretty down to earth. I understand that when you see photos of actors on the red carpet or at premieres, it’s easy to think that, but that is a very, very small portion of their lives. Most actors I know struggle, worry, raise families, are very shy, live a fairly normal life aside from the rare glitz and, like any actor, worry about where their next job is coming from and worry that the work available has dried up. It’s actually a very hard life to live. Because the work can suddenly dry up – whether in regional theater, NYC or in Hollywood. And actors have no control over that. I’ve seen it firsthand, believe me, and I’m not just talking about Don. Of course, there are the few that are vain and self-indulgent, but I see that in everyday life, as well!
I was going to add a line in the post that said, “I’ve found that most famous people I have met in the theater and film and television are just people like you and me. I can talk to them the same way I can talk to all of you.” but I forgot to. It’s true. xoxo
Well then my dear..maybe it is just all the publicity and TV hype that makes them seem that way..Thank you for letting me know this!!
I think it is. There’s so much hype out there and it gives a skewed picture of an actor’s life. Just like the 24 hour news constant hype gives a skewed version of current events! Overkill, I think. xoxo
I think you’re so right, Claudia. Before retiring, I worked as a classroom teacher and then in university administration and I saw the same “I’m entitled…” and “aren’t I just too special?…” attitudes in numerous people with whom I worked. What is it about we humans that makes it so easy to dismiss an entire group based on the 1-2% of them that behave badly? I have to remind myself all the time that the vast majority of ANY group are decent, honest, hard-working people who have the same worries/concerns – and joys/pleasures – as the rest of us? The unfortunate few who do develop that “the world revolves around me…” view are more than likely surrounded [and spoiled] by toadies, sycophants and a whole lot of really bad advice.
I agree. We tend to generalize about groups of people based on one or two bad apples. I fall prey to this myself! I have to remind myself not to do that.
Ohhhhhhhhh – McCoy! Beautiful pieces. Love that photo of precious Scout – she looks content. So glad she’s feeling better.
Judy
She is getting better every day, Judy!
I enjoyed this time around your house with you.
Zombies. My fourteen year old grandson is really in to zombies. Me? Not so much.
Yes, I guess zombies are the in thing now. Go figure!
Glad you gave your view of World War Z. I am a Brad Pitt fan having enjoyed many of his movies and I admire his generous charity work. I also like the actress that plays the lead. I liked the series she has been in on AMC called The Killing. But zombies? Really? Just not interested. While I won’t be seeing this movie of Brad Pitt’s, one thing I really like is that he doesn’t make the same type movies over and over like many famous actors do. One of my favorites was Seven Years in Tibet. I’ve seen it many times.
Yes, Mireille Enos. I coached her in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Central Park a few years ago. She is a simply lovely person and very, very talented. I’m so happy for her!
I, too, am a fan of Brad Pitt. But the zombie thing…not so much!
Scout looks bright-eyed today. A good sign!
Love your porch. The orange cosmos fit right in with the season!
I thought WWZ was much too long, and that any body could have played Brad Pitt’s part.
Boy, was it ever long! I kept saying to Don, “When is this going to be over???”
What a joy to see Scout’s ‘smiling’ face:)! Also,having finally,on your recommendation, read my first Inspector Gamache novel i am with you on this! Maybe you’ll accept an imaginary invite to the bistro in Three Pines as a thank-you!?!
Oh gosh, don’t you wish a bunch of us could meet up at the Bistro? That would be wonderful!
I love the view off your porch, your leaves are really turning much more quickly than ours. In fact, there is nothing on the ground here! Do you use your leaves as mulch around your plants? It works well. Our rain and humidity is over and now it’s a brisk 60 degrees. My spring bulbs came yesterday and I’m anxious to get them in the ground and put away my garden tools for the year.
I wish I could sit down and properly watch a movie but that’s so difficult with my hearing. I did have Reindeer Games on in the background last evening and it was a paradox of good, evil and violence. I’m all set to choose a new book today…I may just check out the first of Louise Penny’s novels, I need to get away from these tear jerkers I’ve been reading!
Glad to see that Scout is doing better.
XO,
Jane
The sugar maple always changes before any other tree and drops its leaves before any other – maybe because it’s older? Who knows? I hope you like Louise Penny’s novels, Jane.
Forgot to add in my earlier comment that I’m so glad to see Scoutie’s “smiley” little mush here – and that she is HUNGRY! Such a good sign. My mom once told me she never got too worried about us when we were little and got sick – UNLESS we couldn’t eat. Then she knew things were serious. “When you can eat, you can cope with just about anything…” she said. I’ve pretty much found that to be true too.
PS – I love “degree of separation” stories. Please consider this topic for another post someday. It would be fun to hear about all the people you’ve worked with that we might “know” as well. I bet there are – at the very least – dozens!! I even had my own brush with fame – twice! I’ve met WILLIAM SHATNER – his one-man show was booked on my campus when I was in college in the 70s – and JAY LENO – who performed a 2-hour, no-breaks, no-profanity wonderful show at my university in the 90s. Both of them were so gracious and friendly. They gave the term “celebrity” a very good name.
How nice that those two were so friendly and kind!
So glad Scout is getting better. I guess none of us bounce back as fast as when we were younger. Beautiful views from your house!
Scoutie considers herself a puppy, Tana!
Happy Sunday Claudia!!!!
Scout looks WONDERFUL!!!! You are over the hump!!!! She appears to be smiling!!! I am so happy for you.
Don’t tell me you found the “McCoy” at a yard sale…is that still even possible?….. If so I am green with envy!
I didn’t have a chance to write yesterday, but we are really “sisters” from another mother!!!! In looking at the pics around your cottage, we share SO many of the same things. I thought I was the only person to collect wedding cake toppers!!! I also have old sheet music with my name on it on my sewing room bulletin board!!! We both love dogs, Vernors, gardening, reading, crochet, sewing, McCoy and so much more of the same!!! I could easily move right into your cottage and feel like I never left home!!!!…and you could do the same here!!!
Have a great day…..God bless!!!!
Addie
No – I found the McCoy in an antique mall. I have hardly ever found it at a yard sale, though I know others have!
Perhaps we are twins separated at birth, Addie? I bet I would love your home.
Great pictures Claudia! Glad your girl continues to improve. This is the extent of my celebrity associations. I went to a Conway Twitty concert once and it was really great. We saw Annette Funnicello walking right by us at Disney World before she got sick and Valerie Harper in a parade there once. They were both just beautiful and very friendly to everyone. And oh yeah, my neighbor had a bit part as one of the dancers around the car in “Grease” and as a gate keeper at Nasa in “Armageddon”. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was that time I saw your Don on a rerun of Law and Order. Felt like I knew him because of how you write about him. Hope you have a good Sunday!
Oh I loved Annette Funicello! I wanted to be like her when I was a kid. And one of my former students did a play with Valerie Harper about a year ago, actually that was the play she was doing when she became ill, and he told me she was a simply wonderful person.
Hello Blogging Friend…Isn’t it nice to have cooler weather now that ‘Fall’ is here. The changing season isn’t the only thing happening in Blogland. Here on CollectInTexas Gal, I’ve done a bit of a ‘MakeOver’ and added a BlogShop. I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you over for a ‘LookSee’. Just click on the signature link below…hope to see you there.
Sue CollectInTexas BlogShop
I will come over and visit, Sue!
Morning Claudia, I am so happy that Scout is feeling so much better and alot of his healing would be from the love that he gets from yourself and Don. I enjoyed the pictures of from around your cottage, my husband asked me what I would like for Christmas. We only buy one small gift, I told a set of coffee mugs that you had bought. He looked at me and said “Why?”. I told him that I love your blog and like me small simple pleasures mean more to me than all the tea in China! I am a tea drinker, so guess what I am getting for Christmas. Perhaps one day you could post a picture of you and Don in your wedding day:-)
Yay! What a great present that will be Janine!
Great news about Scoutie, boo hiss for the Sox. Come on Rays you can do it!
Mere
Yay for the Sox!
Great news about Scout! …and your home is so warm and inviting..
And I adore Brad Pitt, but I was very disappointed with WWZ… as you said…it was one big superfast zombie chasing humans movie, and the “meaning” behind the original novel is lost because your’e too busy looking at the too fast moving zombies. And I thought Brad’s performance was flat.
Me too. He’s a good actor but I think the movie overwhelmed any subtlety in his performance. He looked uncomfortable.
She looks BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!
janeintx
She sure does, Jane. My girl is much, much better!
Very happy Sunday!
Thank you, my friend.
I have to agree with your opinion of World War X. The size of the budget has nothing to do with the quality of the film. Some of my favorite films were made with very little money.
By the way I left you a comment the other day on the wrong post so I dont think you got it. I suggested you do a search on
Filofax on Pinterest. I was amazed on the number of Pins on the subject. I also had to tell you that Scouts face is so cute it’s almost painful, I love her pink ears. I sometimes feel that I can see more soul in the face of animals than I do with a lot of people I know. I honestly believe that animals have souls just like we do. Love comes from deep down in your soul and animals are capable of great love. I argued this point with some “religious” people the other day and they looked like I had lobsters crawling our of my eyeballs. Do you think I’m crazy?
Oh, I totally agree with you, Janice. I absolutely believe that animals have souls. I think it’s preposterous to think we (human beings) are SO special that we are the only beings who have souls. Ridiculous! One only has to look into their eyes to see they have souls, that they feel, that they experience joy, that they suffer. Since I believe they were created by a Higher Power, same as me, I have to believe – no, I know – that they are my equals and that they have souls.
I think the view that some hold that animals don’t have souls is a very, very conservative one and, may I say, a smug and superior-feeling view of the world. Most animals I have been lucky enough to know and love are far better and more loving beings than man is. xoxo
Rainy days are great days for putzing. Six degrees of separation is a great theory. So I’m related too because even though I haven’t personally met you, I feel as though I know you from reading your blog for a couple of years. I admire Don’s work (what I’ve seen on the videos you share) I adored Riley and love Scout and Don is one hell of a guitar player with a great deep singing voice. Many of the thing you do resonate with me. How cool to have worked with Brad Pitt when he was starting out! Man he is one great looking guy and he seems like he would be really nice. I know he and Angeline do lots of charity work and are very giving of their time and money. I met a local guy from my community who is sort of a celebrity. Claudia, have you ever driven down Michigan Avenue to the City of Wayne, MI? They had a movie premier of the Infiltrators. They wanted to do the opening in a small town community (where Greg Jbara) grew up. He also plays in the tv series Blue Blood. I showed up camera in hand and had a great time meeting everyone. They posed for me and everything. There were quite a few so called celebrities there and they were warm and friendly. I also have been to the Purple Rose theater many times because my friend and co-worker has a brother who is an actor and grew up with Jeff Daniels who is very down to earth. This post is way too long-winded. Chatty Sandy at 12:30 midnight. Too much coffee this afternoon!
I have been in Wayne MI many times, Sandy. I know who Greg Jbara is – a good actor and at one time married to an actress that I coached in a production. I think it’s great that they had the movie premiere where he grew up. You know, the Purple Rose Theater was sort of new on the scene when I moved away from Michigan so I never saw anything there but I am a huge fan of Jeff Daniels in anything, but especially Newsroom. He won an Emmy! Yay!
I guess I am one degree away from Brad Pitt, also. My former sister in law was a teacher where he went to high school, in Springfield Missouri. I don’t remember if he was in her class. She taught “business” type classes. Can’t remember the official name for that either! She does remember him, whether he was in her classes or not.
That’s right! He’s from Missouri. I bet she and his other teachers are amazed and thrilled at his success!
PS: We almost always go for the black and white originals. We’ve introduced our granddaughter (age 9) to those wonderful old black and white films. She loves them as much as we do.
I love black and white movies, Pat!
Inspector Gamache is wonderful, Claudia, and so are your photos! A response to your dad’s email: No one is.
Thank you, Marianne!