Here I am in Hartford. Same hotel as last year. Same room.

It’s like I never left.

That’s a bit unsettling.

As hotels go, this is a nice one. The staff is very friendly, this particular suite is nice and big, there’s a free breakfast every morning. But the sky outside, both today and yesterday, is gray. It was gray and wintry when I was here for a few days in December and January. Of course, the sky back home is also gray today, but somehow it’s easier to take in my cheery little cottage.

The bed has been transformed:

The duvet has been stashed in the closet.

I brought my little traveling Teddy Bear with me. Don gave him to me in 2009 when I was going to be working away from home for 6 months. He’s adorable and a good traveling companion. But it has just hit me: I’ve never given him a name.

Me, who names everything!

Look at that sweet face! Suggestions?

After doing this sort of thing many times, I’ve learned that living in a temporary space for an extended period of time is tolerable only if I bring along some things from home. When I stayed in San Diego for six months, I used a lot of inexpensive items from Ikea to brighten the space. I haunted my favorite antique shops for pottery and pictures that would personalized the space. If I’m working a long way from home, I pack boxes with pillows and throws and personal tchotchkes. I make sure I have some creative supplies, whether it’s for a quilt or some yarn. I take my camera. And lots of books to read.

I remember this checked sofa from last year. Not my favorite style. So I covered the back with a quilt I made. It helps a bit. And I brought a favorite vase from home and added some flowers from Trader Joe’s.

You learn to do what you can to make a temporary space your own. When I move to the apartments, this particular form of decorating will be easier. I won’t be in a sea of brown and beige, the predominant color scheme in this hotel room.

The selection available on the hotel cable is sparse but NESN, the channel for my beloved Red Sox, is available, so I can watch the Sox every night – something I can’t do back home.

And Mabel is sitting on the table, waiting for some action:

I have a long day ahead – we rehearse until 7 pm. So I’m writing 2 posts this morning, this one and A Favorite Thing.

It’s been a terrible week. My thoughts and prayers are with the city and citizens of Boston and the citizens of West, TX, who have suffered terrible loss. I won’t go into my feelings as to the shameful actions of our Senate this week, except to say that if you have to have a background check to work at Target – and you do – you should have to have an extensive background check to own a gun. Enough said.

Happy Friday.

The forsythia is in full bloom – inside and outside. I think spring has finally arrived. It was a long, long time coming.

I don’t like leaving my family to go away and work for 5 weeks. But today is the day – this morning, in fact – that Don drives me to Hartford, drops me off (after unloading a boatload of stuff) and goes back home to Scout and our little cottage and our garden.

I love my garden. Leaving it at this time of year is especially hard. Thank goodness I can visit my home in a couple of weeks and take some time to marvel at all the growth that has happened in the time I’ve been away. Thank goodness I can take a couple of days to mulch and plant flowers and seeds. There have been other years where I have been away from the garden the entire spring, with no chance to snatch a short visit home.

Yesterday I was outside prowling around with my camera. This evidence of new growth on a hydrangea that I planted just last year was a welcome sight. I tried to capture the tiny little bud and ended up getting this rather amazing shot with lots of bokeh. I’m sort of in love with it.

Most everything is packed. You’d think I was going away for a year. With the addition of two boxes of fabric and tools and an Ott Light and my iron, plus the sewing machine, along with the usual bags of books and research materials, a suitcase, and bags of groceries….my goodness, there’s a lot of stuff. Even Don, ever patient, will nonetheless be amazed at all the crap he has to load into the car.

How am I going to leave this girl, caught by the camera in the middle of one of her joyful pounces? Gosh, I love her.

This job marks the beginning of a six month cycle where, except for a few weeks here and there, one or the other of us will be working away from home. Happy for the work. Not so happy to be separated for long chunks of time.

Feeling ruthless, I had about 4 inches chopped off my hair yesterday. It just touches my shoulders. I like it.

Okay. It’s time to get going, to eat some breakfast, take a shower, finish up the last minute bits of packing. See you in Hartford.

Happy Thursday.