birds — Page 45

A Story

February 21, 2017 at 9:05 am by Claudia

Still feeling crappy. A cold? A sinus thing? I’m not sure, but I’m coughing a lot and sleep was elusive last night. I must feel better by tomorrow as I have to go into the city for rehearsal. So I’m ordering this ‘thing’ to leave my body by tonight.

I’m going to share a little story with you. Some of you may have seen it on Facebook yesterday.

Don went to a local protest yesterday in the neighboring college town. (Obviously, I couldn’t go.) The idea behind the protest – on President’s Day – was to erect a ‘wall’ made of boxes. Everyone brought a box, and soon after the protest commenced, the wall was built. At the end of the protest, several children were going to knock down the wall.

As the band played, out of nowhere a bald eagle appeared.

As more and more people in the crowd noticed the eagle, the cheers grew louder.

That beautiful eagle – a symbol of our democracy – circled three times and then moved on.

Then they knocked the wall down.

I’ve seen bald eagles before, but not in this neck of the woods – though I’m sure they’re out there.

You can’t tell me that wasn’t a message. Don told me everyone remarked on how spiritual the experience was.

The bald eagle has spoken. Time to take back our country.

Happy Tuesday.

Potpourri on Saturday

February 4, 2017 at 9:59 am by Claudia

Just because:

You haven’t seen Monty in a long time. He patiently sits on the blue bench, watching, observing, and dare I say, protecting us. We’ve had Monty since shortly after we moved east. We found him in a little shop near the Hudson River.

I love that face.

Can you spot the bluebird in this picture? He’s there.

The mail came yesterday and with it, not one, but two pink hats! One for me and one for Don.

Not especially enamored of large pictures of myself on the blog. But I wanted to share this with you, indeed, I promised to share it with you. Meredith is the best! I have to say, this is the most comfortable winter hat I’ve ever worn! And that’s saying something.

In fact, I put it on yesterday afternoon (to take this picture) and didn’t take it off until almost bedtime. I love it. I have it on again as I write this because it’s very, very cold out there and the house is freezing! It’s taking forever to warm up. We’re in the middle of a cold snap.

I would have worn pink lipstick, but I don’t have any. Mom would be happy. Happy that I’m wearing the hat with all that it represents, and happy that I’m in pink, as she called me her Pink Bunny when I was a little girl. Pink for you, Mom. Miss you.

The view out our window yesterday evening.

I’m absolutely reveling in the joy of reading A Gentleman in Moscow. Such beautiful, evocative prose! Between this and All the Light We Cannot See, the reading gods have blessed me of late.

We watched The Birds last night on TCM. I simply love Alfred Hitchcock movies. We both agreed that this was a movie that could have been a tacky mess if the special effects/birds hadn’t looked real. But it isn’t. It’s amazingly powerful, even after seeing it many times.

I’m going to try to get through this weekend in a peaceful manner. That means I’m avoiding, as well as I can, unsettling news. Two day without undue stress isn’t too much to ask is it?

See if you can give yourself that gift as well.

Happy Saturday.

Camera Therapy

February 3, 2017 at 9:41 am by Claudia

As I sat in my chair, shawl around my shoulders (it’s very, very cold outside) reading A Gentleman in Moscow, blinds shut, lamps lighting the room, I thought how lovely it would be to shut out the world, stay in my chair and read all day long. No news, no emails, no fights – just escape.

That isn’t me, as you know. But for a few hours this morning, it was a lovely fantasy.

I am really enjoying A Gentleman in Moscow. The author, Amor Towles, is a beautiful writer. He has created a world within the walls of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in the year 1922 and I have completely embraced it. I can’t wait to get back to it.

Perhaps I can do the same thing here, never leaving, never having to admit that there are threats upon the horizon. Sigh.

We ran off for a half hour or so yesterday – only that as it was so windy and cold that we had to retreat to the car – to take some photos of the spectacular landscape that is part of our town. I took my new lens, which meant I had to use the iPhone to get a distance shot, but it was fun to play. Freezing, but fun.

Apple orchard against a changing sky.

Our mountains off in the distance. Don says that he loves the clouds in the Hudson Valley. They are always changing, almost always spectacular in their way. Yesterday’s clouds were no exception. Changing by the second, big swaths of mist moving in and out of the horizon, it was a wonder to behold.

Via my iPhone. On the top of one of the mountains, you can just make out the lookout tower that is part of the property belonging to the famous Mohonk Mountain House.

And I saw a woodpecker from the kitchen window – way off in the dead ash tree that is now surrounded by a maple tree. He’s shadowy in these photos, almost as if he wanted to hide from me.

I’m doing my best to find pockets of creativity in my day. Sanity savers: books, the daily NY Times Crossword, my camera, and Don Don Don Don Don. Oh, and vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Imagine how my heart soared when I saw that in the supermarket!

Thank you so much for yesterday’s discussion and for sharing your challenges and the ways in which you strive to achieve balance in the face of worry and despair. Your thoughts helped so many. There is a coming together here that surely provides solace for the soul. I certainly feel that way as I read your thoughts.

Much love to all of you. Peace.

Happy Friday.

A Story

Potpourri on Saturday

Camera Therapy

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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