books — Page 23

Sketching

February 1, 2023 at 9:52 am by Claudia

I don’t mind saying that the Sparks/Hill household is a little down at the moment. A round of well below freezing temperatures is in store starting tomorrow and that doesn’t help. We’ll be listening to the sound of drips from the kitchen faucet again. I really can’t complain about that as we’ve had warmer than average temperatures this winter.

Let’s see, a positive…it’s sunny today. There’s still a little snow on the roof of the shed and on my windshield – that will be gone later today when I drive to the post office to turn in our PO BOX key. I completely forgot about it yesterday.

A quick little sketch from the other day.

These are nothing to write home about, but they’re fun and they provide a very much needed creative outlet. Of course, my biggest supporter, Don Sparks, raved about it and insisted on taking a picture of the page. God bless him. He’s the best guy in the world. He said it reminded him of a New Yorker cartoon/sketch and I suppose he’s right.

The idea is to do a quick sketch, maybe 10 minutes max. I use the same pen I use in my planner – it’s an excellent Pentel Arts Hybrid Technica .05. I first ran across one of these at a local art supply shop. It has a very fine point and I love a fine point, especially when writing in my planner. But I suspect it’s used as sketching tool more than a planner tool. During the middle of lockdown, I purchased a big box of pens so I wouldn’t run out, but there are only a few left. So, the other day, when we were in a neighboring town, I bought another one and advised a woman who was checking them out to buy one. She was looking for a sketching pen for her friend who is in a nursing home. At the age of 93, he wants to sketch. Bravo! I also bought some Tombow markers, another tool that I use frequently. I’m not ready to haul out the easel, but I am ready to do some sketching. There’s a whole category of sketching called Urban Sketching and I run into those accounts on Instagram. The detail is extraordinary! The skyline, a street, a building, detail on a building – all of that is included in this category. I am really just a doodler, if that.

Not quite finished yet with The Dictionary of Lost Words, but I’ll finish it this morning.

We have a free trial of HBO Max going at the moment. I have to tell you, a series called The Last of Us, is – to my mind – a must-see. It’s based on a video game, which would normally make me yawn and say “No.” But we didn’t know that when we started watching it. We just knew that a lot of people were raving about it. It’s about the world after a fungal disease takes over and kills most of the population. It’s beautifully done, but last night’s episode, with Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett, may be one of the finest things I’ve ever seen. Episode 3. Extraordinary. I can’t stop thinking about it.

They’re releasing new episodes on a weekly basis and we watched the first three episodes on Monday and Tuesday.

When I’m down, one of these cuties usually lifts my spirits. Yesterday, it was Madeleine.

Keeping me company on the sofa.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

More Snow, Please

January 31, 2023 at 8:50 am by Claudia

Just a dusting overnight. It will be gone by the end of the day. Still, it’s a nice thing to see a little snow out there this morning. I never thought I’d be saying that I miss snow, but I do. We also need it. But here we are, on the edge of February, and we’ve really only had one significant snowfall and that was in mid-December. The rest has been rain that turned to a wet snow and melted the next day. The kind you see here, where you can see the grass (still green, by the way) through the snow. When I look at the 10-day forecast, I see some snow showers here and there and that’s it. It’s also warmer than usual.

Now, one can say, this is great, Claudia, you don’t have to shovel or plow the snow! Yes, that’s true. But we need a snowpack. Our wells need a snowpack. Our lilac bushes and peonies need cold temperatures. I see a significant difference in a bush or plant when we don’t get those very cold temperatures and a lot of snow. Of course, there’s more to February than the first two weeks and we have March and the beginning of April to go. Here’s hoping we see a change.

My best friend just lost her mother-in-law last night. I’ve known Barbara since the early seventies and she was such a wonderful, fiercely intelligent, and kind woman. Laural is the first person to say that how much she was blessed by marrying into that family. Laural’s mom was like a second mom to me (along with my godmother) and she died many, many years ago. But Laural still had a wonderful mother in Barbara. This is very sad news. Rest in Peace, Barbara. You are loved.

We ran some errands yesterday. Today, I have to make an appearance at the post office to cancel our PO Box. I am NOT paying that much for something we don’t use all that often. So there, Louis DeJoy. By the way, now that the USPS Board has changed, why is DeJoy still there??

I’m just about to finish The Dictionary of Lost Words – I’m not crazy about it, but I’m enjoying it. And then…drumroll…I’m ready to start the latest Louise Penny. I always delay gratification on the newest Penny but now, two months after publication, it’s time. And of course, a chapter a day of War and Peace.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

What Day Is It?

January 20, 2023 at 9:29 am by Claudia

This morning.

I keep thinking it’s Saturday but it’s Friday. I have no idea what day it is!

It rained all day long yesterday. New York in the rain isn’t like in the movies; it can be a pain in the tush. Nevertheless, I slogged my way to rehearsal and back. It wasn’t as bad early in the day, but by the time I headed back to Port Authority, walking south, the rain was coming right at me and I was soaked. I used to do this sort of thing routinely when I lived in Philadelphia and Boston, so I got used to it (and I was decades younger, but we won’t mention that.)

I watched the first run-through of Act One, then after a quick lunch break, I worked one-on-one with 4 of the actors. My brain felt a bit foggy, just like the weather, but it went well. Today is a day back home and then I’m pretty sure I’ll be going back tomorrow for a run of either Act Two or the whole show. One more day next week – most likely to take notes on a run-through – and the job will be over. I’m very grateful I have a recovery day today. As it was, I left the house at 8:30 am and returned home at 8 pm. A long day. Darko, by the way, seems very happy with how the whole thing is going and that makes me happy.

Last week on one of my walks back to Port Authority, I purposely turned left on 47th St. between 9th and 10th, which is where Don was living during Margaritaville. Covid and lockdown were very hard on NYC, and so many restaurants and shops eventually had to close. They just couldn’t handle very few customers and the ridiculously high cost of rent in Manhattan. Sure enough, the little grocery store just across the street from Don’s apartment (lots of natural foods) is now a nail salon. Like Manhattan needs another nail salon. They’re everywhere. And the little Mexican restaurant that was right next to the entrance to Don’s building is no more. It’s something else entirely. Don really loved that little restaurant and ordered from them frequently. (He grew up in San Diego and he loves, loves, loves Mexican food.)

I’m just about to finish State of Terror. I’m less than thrilled with the inclusion of Three Pines in the last chapters. It’s a bit of a gimmick and one that Penny and Clinton didn’t need. It pulled me out of the story, which shouldn’t happen in the late stages of an already gripping thriller. It was self-indulgent. I suppose they were trying to meld the worlds of Clinton and Penny, but not every person who reads this book will have read Penny’s novels. As it was, I found it disappointing and it ticked me off.

Just my opinion, of course.

I need to read two more chapters of War and Peace today and find another book to read. There are plenty on my TBR pile, but it must be a paperback because I need something lightweight for my trips to the city.

Bless my husband who came to pick me up last night and had a nice hot dinner waiting when we got home. Eating at 9 pm is something we don’t do all that often!

Tomorrow, most likely no post. Back again on Sunday.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Sketching

More Snow, Please

What Day Is It?

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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