Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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What to Do?

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At the last minute, I went along with Don to a charming local shopping area where he often photographs people. He wanted to use up his film so he could replace the current Polaroid Back on his Crown Graphic with one that is easier to use. But he couldn’t change it out until he finished the film.

It was raining. Constantly. That made for a soggy day, but I have to say I saw first hand the attraction that camera has for passersby. So many questions about it. So much interest! And we had a great conversation with a guy who is a former model. He’s led such an interesting life. I told him he was a Renaissance Man. His photo is on Don’s IG feed.

Anyway, this little market has two antique shops that I have been visiting for years. Off I went. In the largest shop, which is housed in an old barn, I found a $10 vintage flower print.

I love these prints, circa 1940s – 1950s. I have one in our downstairs bathroom and I’m thinking of putting this one in the upstairs bathroom. It’s in great shape. The hanger on the back is for hanging it like this, but now that I look at the signature, I think it might be intended to hang horizontally.

Hmmm.

In the other shop I found…

More Neccos! There were only four rolls of the traditional Neccos left, so I snapped them up. Then I grabbed some chocolate Neccos.

The jar is getting pretty full.  But there is room for a few more.

And because I felt guilty about only buying candy (do you ever do this?) I threw in a $10 piece of McCoy.

It wasn’t marked as McCoy, but yours truly recognized it right away. It has crazing everywhere but no chips. It’s been a while since I’ve purchased any McCoy.

But the item that I haven’t been able to get out of my mind is this:

If you follow me on IG, you’re already familiar with it. I was gobsmacked by this one.

Wouldn’t this be the most perfect display piece for my egg cups? I counted the cubbies. There are 86 of them. I have about 60 egg cups.

But we really don’t have the room and I really shouldn’t spend the money.

But I cannot stop thinking about it, which is leading me to measure a couple of spaces in our house to see if somehow I could squeeze it in. The windows and light that we have in our cottage are wonderful, but they guaranteed we don’t have a lot of wall space. Add to that the slanted half walls in our attic-type rooms on the second floor and you see my dilemma. Plus, we have the dreaded baseboard heating which guarantees that every piece of furniture stands out from the wall.

This house is jam packed.

But will I ever see such an amazing piece again? I swear that it’s calling my name.

So I’m going to measure the wall in our office where the Nuttings are hanging. That seems like the best bet. Anywhere else would require changing another piece of furniture out and then where would we put that  piece?

I really feel like I will regret it if I pass this one up. I wish I could have photographed it head on but it’s tucked back into a corner of the store.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

Happy Tuesday.

 

Butterflies and Photos

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I was running around, trying to get a photo of this beautiful monarch who kept flitting from one milkweed plant to another. So sweet.

At the same time, I saw a black swallowtail on the limelight hydrangea, but he was too fast for me.

I had 3 inches chopped off my hair yesterday by my friend, Dawn. She charges $10 for a cut. (Do you believe it?) I always end up tipping her $10 as well because she works long, long hours and deserves it. The cut was overdue as I tend to let my hair grow until it’s out of control – not a good idea when you have baby fine hair. I feel much better. Then, because Don was off taking pictures with his Crown Graphic, I went to the bookstore for the first time in a while and bought some magazines and a few books.

It’s been rainy for a few days now and today is no different. I’m over it.

Don has been getting some great pictures. He has learned how to get the kind of picture he wants  in cloudy or sunny weather. He’s figured out framing. He’s honed in on his particular style. He has done great work for the past few days and I think he’s ready to start asking for a donation for each picture.

I’ll share a couple with you. What these digital pictures of his photos don’t show you is the luminous quality of the Fuji (Polaroid) film. It glows. It’s gorgeous. The digital camera can’t capture that, but let me tell you, when you’re holding that photo in your hand, it’s unlike anything else.

The film is expensive because it’s hard to manufacture and Polaroid stopped making it several years ago. Don has been investing in it, so he can hoard as much as possible until someone else comes up with an equivalent for Fuji’s version, which is still in stock, but will eventually be phased out.

Love this one.

We’re getting a little reflection from the iPhone lens, but you get the idea.

These are all a little lighter than what you’re seeing, but we were on the porch this morning and it’s raining. You can see more of his work on his IG account and in his stories.

I’ve never seen any film like this film. It’s beautiful.

So proud of his work ethic and what he has achieved in a few short weeks.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Having an Impact

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For those of you who are newer readers, I was a professor/teacher in two actor training programs for a total of 13 years; first at Boston University’s BFA program, then at the University of San Diego/Old Globe Graduate Actor Training Program. My focus was on Voice and Speech. I have mentored hundreds  of students over the years, many of whom I’m still in contact with (yay for social media!) and who have gone on to do wonderful things with their lives. There’s a whole contingent that lives out in Los Angeles, acting, directing, and producing shows like Modern Family, The Fosters, and Grey’s Anatomy. There are many who are based in New York City, and there are lots sprinkled throughout the country; teaching, acting, parenting, living good lives.

I met Rick at Boston University and we moved west when we were hired at USD. Together, we auditioned prospective students every year, traveling to New York, Chicago and San Francisco. We worked well together. We didn’t try to intimidate the actors like many programs did in those days; instead, we were warm and welcoming, quick to put the auditionee at ease. I like to think that warmth and our reputation for kindness helped to draw some of the best actors to our school.

Two days ago, I was tagged in an Instagram post by Brian Hutchison, one of the graduates of the MFA program. I clicked over to see it and this is what I saw:

On the left, Jim Parsons. Next to him is Jack O’Brien, who was the Artistic Director of the Old Globe when I was working there and a big supporter of the MFA program. Next to Jack is Brian Hutchison. And next to Brian is Aaron Krohn, also a graduate of the MFA program.

Up until yesterday when it closed, Jim and Brian were on Broadway in The Boys in the Band. Jack directed the current revival of Carousel. And Aaron is in The Donna Summer Musical. Three graduates of the program on Broadway – indeed, working just a block or two from each other – at the same time.

This little conversation ensued.

“…You chose us all!”

That’s right. I picked each of those guys out of hundreds of prospective students for the MFA program. Rick and I did that. We saw their talent, their creativity, and their good hearts and knew they would be the perfect fit for our small and intimate program.

I chose them all.

Now, I’m not one to talk about my career all that much and I definitely don’t toot my own horn. But I was so moved by Brian’s comment that I stopped for a moment and patted myself on the back. It’s easy for me to forget the impact that Rick and I have had on our former students, especially since I’ve been away from teaching for so long. And Broadway isn’t the be-all and end-all of a career – I’m very clear on that. But this? This is nice. This little moment in time, captured on Instagram, fills me with happiness. I love those guys and I’ve seen them all fairly recently. We keep in touch.

That Brian gets it, that he applauded us for choosing them and training them – well, I can’t imagine anything more satisfying.

Each of them was in a different year of the program but they were consecutive years, so they all know each other. I’m so proud of them. In addition to being talented actors, they are good people.

I haven’t taught for 17 years, but I see the impact of my work every day. And that’s not only as a teacher, but also as a mentor, as someone to talk to, someone who is always there to listen. Much of what I fondly remember is not the actual teaching, but the one-on-one time that I had with all of my students.

What a blessing. I’m feeling very grateful to have been a teacher – to see my ‘kids’ thrive in their careers. What more could I ask for?

Happy Sunday.

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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