I’m back in Hartford. My trip back included a stop at the post office to mail the green scarf to its new owner, a stop at the gas station to fill ‘er up, a stop at my local supermarket to buy some Peet’s FR and Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa as well as fresh vegetables, brown rice and other essentials, and a stop at Trader Joe’s for a couple of things, but mostly fresh flowers.
I pulled into the parking lot at the apartment building at 4 pm. Perfect. I like getting back in time to relax, have dinner, take a bubble bath and get a good night’s sleep so that I’m fresh and ready for the next day’s work.
As I was taking my trash bag to the trash room, I saw this (I ran back to the apartment to get my iPhone.)
Sunset over the Capitol Building.
More flowers.
And more flowers. I now have three vases full of beautiful flowers and oh, what a difference it makes in a temporary living space.
I also grabbed couple of smallish potted plants at the grocery store, loaded them into my cart, and they are now sitting in front of the windows. I’ll get some photos of them today.
I’ll be here for another month, so the more I can do to make this space home, the better. But I only purchase things I’ll also use at home. The plants will probably end up in the shared office space back at the cottage. (I said a brief hello to it yesterday. Sob.) Everything else that I’ve added to this space has been brought from home. I’m fortunate in that I can load my car up and drive everything here. But even when I was spending ten weeks or six months coaching in San Diego, I managed to do the same thing. I sent a couple boxes of things from home that I wanted around me and I filled in the rest with a couple of visits to IKEA. Everything I purchased there has since been used in the cottage. No waste. If it won’t work in both spaces, I don’t buy it. (If the job is less than three weeks, I’ll usually refrain from bringing anything, though I’ve been known to pick some wildflowers and put them in a jar.)
One other addition:
Wayfrum Holmes. After apologizing to him profusely for actually considering being here without him, I nestled him in the car and here he is.
For those of you who are newer readers, several years ago – in 2009 – I had to work away from home for six months. Don gave me this little bear so that I’d have someone to cuddle when I was missing the dogs and him. When I mentioned that he needed a name, Don came up with Wayfrum Holmes. Usually Wayfrum is accompanied by Maggie Rabbit and a little lamb, but this time, I decided that Wayfrum and I needed some quality time together – just the two of us.
Thank you for your kind words yesterday. It’s a tough time right now, with some good days and some bad days for our girl. Yesterday was a wee bit better for her. Lately, the stuff of life has been a bit too much for yours truly.
But, I’m very grateful for my work and the opportunity to work here on this beautiful masterpiece of a play. That is a blessing. As is my supportive and incredible husband.
Happy Tuesday.
Yes he is.
Sue
No argument from me!
We are all in this together….we are never alone.
Thank you, Mamey. It sure helps to know that.
Glad you made it home and back with no problems Claudia. Wayfrum…what a wonderful name!! And a cute bear to boot. Also, a gorgeous picture of Hartford. We ended up with 24+” of snow from the storm. My funny story – I drove to work yesterday only to find out we were closed – lol. I never check work e-mail from home and I didn’t bother checking our “weather” phone line. Oh well, I got through all my e-mails and then left. Tried to help my husband with a bit more shoveling, but the piles of snow are too high for me to swing another shovel-ful on top of them (and I’m about 5’10”!!). Hope Dame Scout is doing ok.
Lesson learned: Check the weather phone line! You’re a real trooper, Vera! I remember the snow piles being way too high for us to swing the snow shovel last year. I had no idea where to put any new snow!
Claudia, that photo took my breathe away. So pretty. I love those moments! I am going to go to the grocery store today. I didn’t get out yesterday but must get some supplies and I think I’ll throw in some flowers also. I finished ‘The Girl On The Train’ and it was a good read but not 5 stars. I hope you have a good day.
hugs,
Linda
I hope you’re feeling better, Linda! Darko (the director, loved Girl on the Train, but he also loved Gone, Girl – which, as you know, I detested!) I think I’ll check Girl on the Train out of my library at home. I’ve seen it in the new books section. Don’t want to spend any money on it.
Treat yourself to some flowers! You deserve them!
I loved seeing the Capitol on our visits to Hartford when I was growing up; such a beautiful building.
It truly is, Margaret. Such a gorgeous piece of architecture!
Glad you got back safely. Just the other day I was thinking about your traveling buddies and wondered where they were in the apt. Good to see Wayfrum again!! I’m sure he is happy to be on the road again.
Linda mentioned the book above, and I am also in the middle of The Girl on the Train. It surely reminds me of Gone Girl in a lot of ways. I tried reading that book 2x and couldn’t get more than 75 pages into it. So far I am more engaged w/ the characters in Girl on the Train. In fact, Gone Girl is on HBO this AM and I started to try and watch it at 9:15 while I was working in the kitchen. By 10 I turned it off. There must be something I am missing that all the other many many people saw in that book. I have heard that they are also filming Girl on the Train.
Have a wonderful day, kiddo! I hope your sunset today is as lovely as the one you posted!
I cannot handle Gone Girl. That book seems to fall into two camps. People either LOVED it, or HATED it. I am in the latter group. I do not understand why so many people loved it. But when I wrote a post about my dislike for it, I was amazed at how many people wrote comments saying they felt the same way.
In fact, I disliked it so much, I literally threw it across the room!
Thank you for the beautiful picture of the capitol building. I’m a CT small town girl so I forget how pretty Hartford can be. I’m looking forward to Romeo and Juliet; we have discounted season tickets and that was one of the plays I selected!
Have a great day. The sun is coming out finally!
So glad you’re going to come see it, Betsy! Yay!
The photo of the Capitol building at sunset looks like a European scene. Very lovely. I love TJs flowers…they last the longest, longer than ones from an expensive florist. Wonder why? Hope you are recharged for work after time at home with Don and Scout. You’ll be done with this job before you know it and can spend a long stretch of time with them.
I don’t know why they last so long, but the alstroemeria I brought with me when I first moved in just bit the dust yesterday – they lasted two weeks.
The Capitol really looks like a beautiful building! Love that pic! There’s Wayfrum…I was wondering if any of your buddies had made the trip…now I know! Enjoy your day…flowers are lovely! ;)
Wayfrum was not happy with me leaving without him – so I had to fix that immediately!
Perfect sunset – wow. Just beautiful. It occurs to me that those marketing geniuses at Apple should sell a lanyard for the iPhone, so people can carry them around right in front all the time, always ready for a “sunset” moment like you had yesterday. I think I’ll pop off an e-mail to Tim Cook… LOL!
I’m surprised they haven’t made a lanyard. Get on it, Janet – and demand part of the profits!
I think it is wonderful that you make yourself feel so at home. Hugs! xx
Thank you, Amy!
The capitol building is lovely. I’m glad the trip and back was alright. Stay safe. Thanks for the reminder that some fresh flowers can be mood changing. I think I know what I will be needing this week.
Make sure you get some, Ellen. They really make a difference!
Glad you’re back safely Claudia, although I do feel bad that you have to be away from Scout and Don right now. The flowers are gorgeous as usual. I’m impatiently waiting for our Trader Joe’s to open up. We were told it epwould be last fall and then we were told the first of the year and now I don’t know what the updated time frame is. I’m glad you have away from Holmes with you. He will cozy up your apartment quite a bit. And that photo of the Capitol building is amazing!
Blessings, Betsy
I hope your Trader Joe’s opens soon! You’re going to be a regular there, I just know it.
Sunset over the Capitol is gorgeous – at first I thought you’d made a wrong turn and gone to some big European city, haha! Don’t recall Hartford ever looking that gorgeous!
Wow Claudia, you are going to be there a long time – glad you feel settled with flowers and your bits and bobs to make you comfy.
Hugs – Mary
The Capitol building is gorgeous, with a beautiful gold dome, as well. I’m as settled as I can be. And I’m busy with work and that’s just what I need!