Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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La Jolla and an Anniversary

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Hello, all. After one extremely long travel day, about 11 hours total, I’m in La Jolla with my sweetheart. He greeted me with these roses and a vegan chocolate bar.

We’re going out to breakfast soon at his favorite place, Harry’s Diner, and then we’re going to mosey on over to Ocean Beach, where we met 23 years ago on this date. It’s the 23rd anniversary of that fateful day! Sort of perfect that I happen to be out here at this time, don’t you think?

The wi-fi here is dreadful. I have to figure out how to deal with it. I won’t be posting every day, but I will be posting, so if you don’t see a post one day, don’t worry.

Right now, Don is playing the ukulele and I’m at the computer. It’s a very small apartment, typical actor digs, and there’s ‘stuff’ everywhere. But it will be my home for the next several days so I will have to surreptitiously “rearrange” things when Don is doing his show. Ssssh! Don’t tell him.

One of the things that happens when you’ve been apart for 3½ months is that you get into your own routines. I’m already screwing up his routines and when we get home, he’ll be screwing up mine. And then we’ll readjust and all will be well.

Happy Fourth.

Happy Tuesday.

Our Celebratory Day

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Thank you for wishing us a Happy Anniversary yesterday!

It turned out to be a lovely, picture-perfect Autumn day and we decided to drive to Woodstock to celebrate with a meal at one of our favorite vegetarian restaurants.

Hop in the car and we’ll take you along with us. (All photos captured on my iPhone.)

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Further down the road from us – fall colors on display.

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The mountains we can see from our front porch. This, however, is the best view – so good that we stopped the car so I could take this picture.

We took the back roads all the way to Woodstock; a leisurely drive that brought more than a few gasps at the beauty surrounding us.

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Those are the Catskill mountains in the distance.

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A Little Free Library around the corner from the restaurant.

We love The Garden Café, but we hadn’t been there for a while. They’ve expanded into the adjoining space and the whole place has been redecorated and I fell in love with the new look.

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There are vintage mirrors, almost all of them round in shape, on all the walls. I’m now inspired to start collecting small round mirrors for the bathroom walls. I also loved the hanging lights.

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Can you imagine how thrilled I was to see this niche? Vintage pottery with dried flowers. Perfect.

I have to show you the bathroom.

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The bathroom door, which made me swoon a little. I would like this in my house, please.

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The coatrack right outside the bathroom door. Yes, of course, I’ll take it. (I wish.)

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Love, love this sink. Reusing these vintage porcelain sinks is such a great idea. And then there’s the vintage looking faucet and handles.

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Don went outside to take this picture.

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I love this man.

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Yours truly. My freckles are back.

Lunch was scrumptious. We met a couple visiting from England (Eleanor and Mike) and had a delightful conversation with them. They told us that after observing us at our table, they thought we were on a date. (Love that!) I guess we were  on a date.

We exchanged email addresses and we’re going meet for tea when we go to London.

After lunch we took a walk and Don, who was carrying a mysterious bag, steered me toward one of our favorite places in Woodstock – this covered bridge:

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He pulled out two long-stemmed white roses. Back story: the man who married us eighteen years ago included the exchange of two white roses in the ceremony, and he urged us to do the same thing on every anniversary. We haven’t always been able to do that – sometimes we just plain forget to – but Don snuck out yesterday morning and bought two roses. So we stood on the bridge and gave each other a white rose, taking a moment to share our feelings and renew our vow to love and support each other.

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See? There they are.

We did a little window shopping (I actually bought a dress!)

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Thought you’d get a kick out of this sign in a shop window.

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And this addition to the stop sign made me happy.

It was a perfect day. Slow, meaningful, beautiful, and full of laughter.

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The obligatory selfie, taken by the bridge.

Thank you again. We love being married to each other and we are blessed by your friendship.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Celebrating Eighteen

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weddingday

We’re celebrating 18 years of marriage today.

I was blessed the day I met Don. Blessed and transformed. Transformed from a woman who was afraid of commitment, hesitant to give up her independence because surely that must be the toll taken when one marries, to a woman who realized, thankfully, that a healthy relationship only makes things better. Independence isn’t lost, it’s enhanced. When someone loves you unselfishly, you’re encouraged to fly.

And that’s the heart of our marriage. We encourage each other to fly, to be the best we can be, all the while knowing that we will be there for each other no matter what. A healthy and whole love doesn’t come with chains. It sets us free.

To Don:

Thank you, dear love, for the years of love and cuddles and wisdom and silliness. Thank you for your constant support, your listening ear. Thank you for music and food and long talks and laughter. Oh, thank you so much for the laughter! Thank you for being a wonderful dad to our beloved dogs, for being a wonderful son-in-law to my parents and brother to my sister. We lost our brother many years ago and Meredith needs a brother. You are that to her.

Thank you for being the finest man I have ever known, always working to be a better person, always kind, always compassionate, always quick to say I’m sorry, always a beautiful human being.

Thank you for putting up with me on those days I’m worried or scared or insecure or harried or short-tempered. Thank you for never judging, always accepting. Thank you for helping me to be a better person.

We’ve gone through a lot together, you and I. We’ve lost your father, our beloved dogs, my father and mother, and we’ve mourned the loss of friends and mentors. We’ve moved across the country, with very little in our bank account, just the hope and dream of a new life.

Life is an adventure. You’ve said that many times. Here’s to more adventures, dearest one.

Happy Wednesday,

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Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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