Life in our little cottage in the country
He just can’t take a bad picture.
No double chin, sagging jowls, wonky smile, messy hair. He always looks good, our Chippie.
(All photos taken from inside the house, of course. Anything else would have scared him away.)
Another rainy day here in the Hudson Valley. I’m feeling a bit less than tip-top, so I’m going to take it easy.
Happy Saturday.
Endless rain.
That’s all I’ll say about that.
Another Henry sighting yesterday. (Side note: my climbing hydrangea is starting to bloom. If the sun would come out and stay out, it would be in full bloom.)
Don and I have decided that Henry (and this is Henry) is like a crotchety old guy who looks around and grumbles. Here, he’s looking toward the street.
“Damn traffic!
“Tell these birds to get off my lawn!”
Though this cropped version is somewhat blurry, I wanted you to see the claws on his feet.
Eventually, he looked even more disgusted and went back to his little home under the shed.
In yesterday’s mail:
Not one, but two Nancy Drews! This is the very first book in the series, The Secret of the Old Clock. I’ve been trying to nab a copy of this one for a long time. Love, love her cloche hat, the jaunty scarf, the dress and the shoes.
And this, The Secret of Red Gate Farm. It’s number six in the series. I’ve never read this one and I’m intrigued by the spooky hijinks that Nancy is secretly observing. A cult? People dressed up like ghosts? Ku Klux Klan?
This one is in as-good-as-it-gets condition. Excellent.
The titles I’m seeking now, including these two, seem to be the hardest to find. If they’re in good condition, they often go for a lot of money. Heck, I’ve seen tattered covers which still sell well. So I have to be patient and snag one when I see a good deal. Only five more to go before I have my complete set of Russell H. Tandy covers.
Some of them, like The Secret of Red Gate Farm, have mylar covers, which protect the book jacket. I’m going to buy some of them from a supplier and cover all of the uncovered Nancy Drews, as well as the dust jacket for my autographed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. They’re pretty inexpensive, and the books are worth it.
Rain or no rain, I have to recycle today.
Vicki, a reader of this blog, was rear ended by a hit-and-run driver the other day. Her car is totaled and she appears to have a neck injury. Understandably, she is very shaken up. Despite the shock, she managed to memorize most of the license plate number on the other driver’s car. The police are involved. If you read yesterday’s comments, you’ll see Vicki’s story. Let’s keep her in our thoughts and prayers.
Happy Wednesday.
A sunny, lovely day today, which I will take full advantage of, since Saturday and Sunday will be rainy. I did a lot of weeding and mulching yesterday. There’s still a bit to go but the bulk of it is finished. I think I’ll hold off on potting the impatiens until the weekend and Monday’s winds are over.
Or maybe not. We’ll see.
A big old Julian apple pie arrived via FedEx yesterday. Ordering one to be sent directly to your home on the other side of the country is expensive, as Katheryn mentioned in yesterday’s comments. That’s why we rarely do it. Since Don is working at the moment, we are indulging – just a wee bit.
Also in the box? A T-shirt for me! Red, long-sleeved, with the logo on the front and the back…I love it! Don’s message on the note enclosed with the pie was “Sugar for my baby!”
Ain’t he the cutest?
His show is in previews now and he’s having fun. First preview was full of Jimmy Buffett fans and that made all the difference. They get the jokes, they sing along, it’s a great evening for all.
The leaves on the sugar maple.
And the forget-me-nots are getting ready to bloom.
Finally, for yours truly, there’s not much that’s cuter than a chipmunk. This little chippie has been seen in the back forty, on the porch, in the area behind the kitchen – always busy – and yesterday I saw him in the memorial garden, so I took some pictures of him.
Some adorable cuteness for your Friday.
Happy Friday.
