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You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

Porch Club

January 31, 2011 at 7:12 am by Claudia

I’m joining my friend Jill of Gypsy Brocante at her first Porch Club. I grew up in a very small bungalow that housed our family of 6. Thank goodness it had a porch. Summer evenings were often spent on the porch, saying hello to neighbors, reading a book or watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. I then spent many years without a porch – in dorms and a series of apartments. When my husband and I rented a house in San Diego that had a porch, I realized how much I had missed having one. So when we finally bought our first home – this cottage – a big selling point was the porch that wrapped around 2 sides of the house. It’s a sizeable porch and it becomes another room in the summertime. The floor is made of bluestone.

Our old, rusty glider is covered in cushions and you’ll often find me there, reading or playing with the dogs.

There are hanging plants and potted plants everywhere.

It’s one of my favorite places and I like to sit there and watch the world go by.

As I look at these photos, I am only too aware that our 8th major snowstorm is on its way later in the week.  It’s hard to believe that it will ever look like this again. I pondered the idea of posting a snowy photo of the porch…but I think I prefer to think of it this way.

I’ll be gone all day Monday working in Manhattan – it promises to be a 13 hour day! So I will be a little late visiting everyone. But I’ll be around, I promise.

Filed Under: porch 38 Comments

Gifts and Snow

January 28, 2011 at 11:14 am by Claudia

A package arrived in my mailbox the other day – from Italy! Dear Monica, of The White Bench, had a giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners.

It was wrapped in this lovely handmade bag. The image is so beautiful it breaks my heart. The words “Tendre Souvenir” are stamped on a piece of fabric attached with two buttons. Utterly charming.

Inside were 3 beautiful examples of Monica’s photography and a lovely handwritten note. The present was wrapped in tulle with a little bundle of dried lavender. And here is the treat that was inside:

One of Monica’s beautiful hearts. Oh, that girl is talented!

I’ve hung it on the hutch in the kitchen. I think we need a little pink in that corner. Thank you, Monica. I treasure it.

My pal, Rizzi, sent me an email recently. In it she asked if I wanted some dollhouse hutches that she’d had around the house for a while. Of course! Yesterday, a package arrived in my mailbox.

That cutie wrapped everything in Valentine’s Day paper, along with a sweet card and some candy hearts. Here’s what was inside:

Wow! I’m going to have some fun with these. Thank you, Rizzi! By the way, Rizzi is Frog Hollow Farm Girl’s aunt. If you remember, FHFG sent me some of her late mother’s embroidery supplies a while back. Generosity clearly runs in that wonderful family.

Speaking of the dollhouse, I put the first coat of white paint on it the other day. Today I’ll do the second coat. I was hoping some of the supplies I ordered would arrive in time for me to do some more work this weekend – but alas, they aren’t going to arrive until Monday. Monday is the first day of rehearsal. Darn it!

Snow. It has taken over our lives and the lives of many, many others in the Northeast. I’ve spent most of my life in the upper Midwest and in the Northeast and I’ve never seen a stretch like this one. Seven major snowstorms in a month’s time and snow as far as the eye can see.  Please cross your fingers for me. As I have to start traveling back and forth to the city next week, let’s hope the snow only falls on those days I don’t have to be there. Or better yet, how about no more snow???? I think we’ve had enough.

“Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation” – Sinclair Lewis
Have a great weekend!

Filed Under: Fellow bloggers, gifts, giveaway, snow 32 Comments

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

January 26, 2011 at 10:57 am by Claudia

It’s now official. I have taken over every available surface with my various projects. Yarn for an obsession scarf on a chair…

Dollhouse, paint, brushes, and other supplies in a corner of the den….

Script and all Shakespeare research materials on the kitchen table.

Yes, I have a studio upstairs, but none of these projects can fit in that tiny space. So I guess you could say my studio space has expanded to include the entire house.  There is relief in sight: I have one more act to research in The Merchant of Venice and then the books can be removed from the table. Speaking of MOV, as it has been dubbed in all rehearsal correspondence, I officially start rehearsals this coming Monday. My days will be long, but exciting, for about 5 weeks.

Yesterday, I needed to catch an early bus to Manhattan. When I woke up there were 2 additional inches of snow on the ground. If you had driven by MHC, you would have been treated to the sight of me shoveling snow in a parka and pink flannel pajamas. Oh, what blackmail photos could have been taken! Upon seeing me out there, Don yelled out the window and berated me (kindly) for not waking him up to help. Can’t help it…I just get a notion in my head and I start in.

It was a snowy bus ride to Manhattan and as I walked around Greenwich Village with big, fat snowflakes falling, I fell in love with the city all over again. Though there are some taller buildings in the area, the predominant style is a 2 or 3 stories. You aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers. It has much more of a cozy, neighborhood feeling. Very picturesque yesterday and very photo-worthy. Alas, when I am toting a bag full of the books I need for my work, the last thing I need is the additional weight of my camera! Once we get into the rehearsal space, my books can stay there and I will once again have my camera in hand. It will be fun to share some shots of the city with you.

Where did I stop? Do you have to guess?

The Magnolia Bakery, of course. As you gaze upon these lovelies, say a fond farewell. This is the last hurrah – at least for a while. We have been indulging in way too many sweets this winter. After the last cupcake has been consumed (and two of them are already gone) it’s lights out for sugar. This winter is one of the toughest we’ve had in a long time – more snow is due tonight – and since we have at least 2 more months of it, we’ll really be packing on some pounds if we continue at this rate.

I will miss you, pretty and delicious cupcakes. Sob.

Filed Under: crochet, dollhouse, new york 37 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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