Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Another Early Morning & Vignettes

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This morning I bounded out of bed, so happy that I had slept until 6:30 am.

It was 5:30 am.

And so the adjustment to the time change continues. Another sunrise for you – each morning view has been very different.


I drove out to the beach and dropped in on my favorite store yesterday – Vignettes. No sooner had I arrived then my friend Joy appeared. What a happy coincidence! And then Lori, the owner, appeared. And then we talked non-stop. I took a few photos but since so much chatting was going on, I didn’t get as many as I had planned. Plus, my camera batteries conked out half-way through the visit.



I also lost my favorite sunglasses and no amount of retracing my steps through Rite-Aid, the antiques mall and Vignettes uncovered them. I’m sad. I really loved those sunglasses.

On my way back home, I got a call from the company manager saying he was at the apartment complex. I hastened home and began my search for the board. I spoke about it yesterday – I need a board under the sofa cushions or I will be hobbling around like a very old lady. Last year’s board wasn’t there. I found another that seems to work just as well. As I watched 24 last night (why oh why was it canceled – what am I going to do?) my back thanked me for the support.

I’m homesick. When I’m home, I talk to the dogs constantly. They are always there. Here: it is just me. Today I begin rehearsals and that will help. The director is still stranded in England. I’m sure I will have much to share with you as the week progresses.

Have a wonderful day.

Early Riser & Decorating the Pad

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I was able to snap this photo of the sunrise because I was awake at 5:00 am – again. It always takes me a few days to adjust to the time change. Beautiful sunrise, isn’t it? The weather forecast calls for rain the next few days…that doesn’t seem fair, does it? I just left the rainy weather back home.

Last year, I bought a slipcover from IKEA on the hopes it would fit this chair:


Have you ever seen anything more hideous? (I’ll spare you the large size photo of this – it made me cringe.) The slipcover was packed, shipped back out to San Diego and, upon arriving, I put it back on the chair as fast as I could.


Ah….much better.

The sofa in the apartment has the sort of foam cushions that are incredibly cheap and offer no support to my poor old back at all. Last year, I bought a board and put it under the cushions which seemed to help. The board is missing. I will be on a search mission later today, combing through things in the storage area here, hoping that it is still around. Because of the back problems, I bought this inexpensive wicker chair from IKEA last year and left it in the apartment when I returned home. It is still here – though it looks like a dog chewed one of the arms. The cushion I left with it is missing. What is with the actors who stay here??? Can’t they leave anything alone? All the sharp knives I bought last year are also missing and I had to buy some more yesterday at…you guessed it, IKEA. But I digress. Here is the wicker chair with a new cushion and a vintage pillowcase draped over the back. Oh, and a vase I bought yesterday for $4.00 at IKEA.


I feel better already.

On the work front, there is already chaos. The new director of the Shakespeare Rep is stranded in England because of the problems with volcanic ash. His shows are the first up this week in rehearsal. All the actors (except one) are here, ready to start tomorrow. No director.

As for the actors, last Friday an actor playing 2 major roles – major roles – canceled. Just decided not to come. Of course, if he is ill I would totally understand. But otherwise….how unprofessional. Quite a bit of intrigue and I haven’t officially started work!

Today I plan to drive out to the beach and visit my favorite shops. I can’t wait to see Lori at Vignettes and take lots of eye-candy photos for you.

Have a great day.

From MHC West

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The view from my balcony on this foggy morning.

Hello dear friends. I arrived safely in San Diego yesterday afternoon. I was going on 2 hours of sleep (for some reason I lie awake for hours when I know I have to get up very early!) and the journey was long. By the time I got to the apartment, I was definitely dragging.I’m in the same apartment I was in last year. When I returned home last summer, I left some things behind. Some of them are still here…and others are missing. Hmmm. I had to rearrange things like they were last year so that I could feel more at home. I shipped two boxes here and they were waiting for me in the apartment – things like my own bedding, a pretty shower curtain and some little things to make it more like home. Since I stayed here for 6 months last year, I knew exactly what was needed. Believe me, the bedspread and the shower curtain that are normally on display at the apartment are ugly. I have to have some prettiness around me if I’m going to stay here for 10 weeks!

I walked to Trader Joe’s (oh, I love that place) and carried two bags of groceries back to the apartment. I have a rental car here but past experience tells me that it is impossible to park there on a weekend. So I walked. The bags were very heavy (remember, I had only 2 hours sleep) and I thought I might not make it back! But I did. I settled in as best I could and then I just watched television until 9:00 (midnight back east) and went to bed. I woke up at 5:30 this morning and I feel much better.

I’m catching up on blogs and then I have to walk over to the theater to meet with a director. Then I plan to go to IKEA and pick up a few things. I am on a much stricter budget than I was last year….so I must be frugal.

I’ll be back with more news and photos soon.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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