Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Wednesday

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The light is changing. Autumn, though not officially here, is here.

And boy, do we need to mow. Maybe in a few days. Fingers crossed.

We’ve been fairly immersed in the coverage from the UK. Utterly fascinating. My favorite thing is to hear stories about the Queen. This morning, Sir David Attenborough shared one and it made me chuckle. What a tremendous loss to the country and to the world. What an admirable life!

I’ll be watching again today until I have to coach at 2 pm.

My back is still troublesome, but I was especially good yesterday at following my own advice to REST YOUR BACK! And I did. I get bored and I want to be outside working or walking or even cleaning inside, but I can’t. It’s frustrating, but I want my back to heal and the only way it’s going to do that is if I stop all unnecessary bending over, etc.

So I crochet hats for the girls. Yesterday I completed another one. Olivia is today’s model.

I named this “Flower Child.”

She looks like those girls in the sixties who wore crocheted cloche-like hats. I remember it well. She’s awfully adorable.

I sometimes feel guilty because I’ve suddenly indulged in this new collection at this point in my life. It’s interesting; I have no desire to add anything to my other collections, knowing that I’m of a certain age, and I really don’t need any more china or pottery or vintage furniture. That desire has basically faded. But it’s different with these Blythes. There’s something about them that I hope you get a glimpse of when I post my photos. I never  would have expected to have anything to do with dolls at this point in my life, or any other point in my life, save childhood. Who knew?

But they make me happy. Don sees that they make me happy. (Actually, they make him smile, too.) I have limited space, thank goodness, and I believe – never say never, of course – that I’ve hit my Blythe limit. There are a couple of customizers whose dolls I’d love to have. But I’m very happy with the ones I have.

I’ve ordered neck joints for Sophie and Maeve and when they arrive, I’m going to install them (I’m nervous about that) so that they have more mobility. It will make an enormous difference – much easier to photograph, for one, but also letting them show some personality.

And I’m comforted by resale value. If I need to, I can sell some of them – though, honestly – it will pain me to do so.

I’m sentimental, you see.

Okay. I have to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Hats

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I’m going to make this quick because the server that hosts this blog keeps going down and it’s a pain in the tush. I’m sure they’re working on it, but what the heck?

I had such bad back pain last night when we were going to bed that I couldn’t stop groaning. I think it was due to back spasms. But I kept saying to Don, over and over, “I should never have driven to Rochester.”

I didn’t think I had a choice and I would have lost a chunk of my fee, so I did it. But boy, am I paying for it.

Some recent pics of the girls:

Harper, Wren, Olivia and Bertie.

While watching the events in the UK, I made another hat. Imogen kindly consented to model it.

Another way to wear the hat:

I really love crocheting this little pattern: it’s fairly simple and it’s awfully cute. I have to find more yarn in this weight because I’ve nearly exhausted my color options for this particular yarn.

Crocheting on a small project is very calming and it gives me something to do. No more big projects, thank you very much, they took a toll on my right wrist. This sort of endeavor, however, doesn’t bother me at all.

I zoom coach tomorrow and Friday.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Back Home

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Good morning!

I’m back home. I’m so glad I do not have to make that trip again! I will say that all four trips to and from Rochester were beautiful. Beautiful scenery and beautiful weather. I’m grateful for that. On the return home, Google Maps sent me on a different route for the last leg of the journey and that helped perk me up. I came home to a big hug from my husband, who was concocting a new recipe for dinner as a welcome home.

I drove directly to the hotel this time as I had a few hours before I needed to be at the theater. This time, my room was smaller but faced the Genessee River, so I had a lovely view. So much nicer than facing the parking lot, like my last visit.

At the last minute, I decided to bring Holly along for the ride because I had also packed some yarn to crochet another hat and I needed a model.

She liked the view, too.

My husband made the most wonderful dinner for me. The cooler worked beautifully, by the way. (I had no idea what was in the containers as they were supposed to be a surprise.) The contents: fried potatoes, thinly sliced, which is one of my favorite Don creations, and a vegetarian stir-fry full of tasty favorites. Oh my goodness! It was so appreciated after the long drive.

I headed to the theater to watch the final Preview. There were so many technical problems earlier in the week. These things happen. So a couple of previews had to be cancelled. I have to say it’s in great shape, despite all the stress earlier in the week. The cast is wonderful. The actress playing Jane did it in Hartford, as well, and she’s such a powerful and heartbreaking Jane. The actor playing Rochester is simply wonderful. They have terrific chemistry. The audience loved it and stood up immediately. I’m glad for the cast, but my side note is that standing ovations are a dime a dozen nowadays. In my earlier years in the theater, they were rare, so their impact was powerful. Now? People just stand up no matter what. Sigh. I’m not saying this cast didn’t deserve the ovation, just that if ovations always happen, they lose their power.

I took notes, talked to Elizabeth (the director) and Fiona (the dramaturg) and then got back to the hotel around 10:45. I called Don to let him know I was safely in the hotel, and took a bath, as my back was very painful after the drive.

The next morning, I finished crocheting the hat. I left a little later than planned because I didn’t want to leave any stitches still on the hook, so I crocheted like a madwoman. Hat? Finished.

I’ll let Holly model it for you (picture taken in the hotel.)

I’ve figured out the kind of yarn I need to use, so this one turned out perfectly.

I left Rochester around 9:40 and arrived home exactly 5 hours later at 2:40.

I regret to say that my back suffered from all the hours in the car, so I was in pain last night and am this morning, as well. It will get better. I have a few days free before I coach again and I’m going to baby it.

Coaching on Jane Eyre  is complete.

I’m happy to be home. It’s raining outside!

I write about 9/11 every year. This year, I’m simply going to acknowledge the date.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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