Closing up shop, yet beautiful all the same.

Well, today begins the last week I am here in the cottage. A week from today, we drive to NYC – specifically, Brooklyn – to move into my temporary pièd-a-terre. I’m trying to drink in everything about my sweet nest here in the country while, at the same time, making lists, running errands, cleaning the house, renewing my driver’s license, showing Don what he has to do… and watching the Red Sox.

It’s a bit overwhelming, but it will all come together. I’ve done it before, many times.

Today, we drive across the Hudson so that Don can get his shot in the eye. I’m glad this appointment was scheduled for this week while I am still here. He can schedule his next appointment for December, after I’m back.

It’s a beautiful day today; cool and breezy. Lots of leaves to rake, but I will leave that to Don. I don’t have time!

You know I love my Blythe dolls and I tend to post about them on my other IG account. I am careful about how often I post about them here, as I know not everyone is into them. I’ve noticed that I’ve had less comments lately and that can be due to a number of things and is part of the ebb and flow of blogging. But I caught myself wondering if posting about the dolls had a negative impact.

But then, I smacked my forehead and said, “What are you thinking?” I’ve never been a blogger who posted based on what people might or might not like. I’ve never once asked my readers what they would prefer to see on the blog – and I see that a lot with other bloggers and on Instagram accounts. I’m not trying to build a readership. What you see is what you get.

So, I’m going to stop doing that.

Imogen in a sea of red checks.

I’m so in love with that face and the dimple on the chin!

Rest in Peace, Colin Powell. One of his daughters is our friend. She worked with Don in a production of Our Town  several years ago. A good man. A lovely family.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Morning Glory number two, taken early this morning.

I’m so grateful it’s relatively warm so these babies can bloom for a while. It’s going to get colder starting tomorrow, but no freezes in sight. And soon I’ll be in NYC (fingers crossed) so I won’t see the damage if there is a freeze. This will be the only fall I can remember where I’ll be so busy that all of things I normally do – bring plants in from the porch if it might freeze, mourn the loss of zinnias and morning glories and moonflowers because of an October/early November freeze – won’t be on my radar. I’m going to enjoy this season of “I have no responsibility for the survival of my plants.” Because normally, I absolutely feel I have responsibility for them, hence the many photos over the years of lots of potted porch plants sitting in our entryway.

Today we have a table read of the script. Happily, all I have to do is watch and listen. Then I’m going to tend to some things around here and RELAX, which I wrote in capital letters in my planner. I’m making Don do the same.

Late afternoon play with Imogen:

Imogen and Monty have become friends. Monty is a gentle guy and Imogen liked him immediately.

She likes to pet him.

Who wouldn’t?

Monty has been with us for almost 20 years. We found him in a little shop when we first moved out East. We named him Monty in honor of the little hamlet where we lived: Montrose. He has the sweetest expression on his face.

I pet him frequently, too.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.