Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Bits of News

December 22, 2022 at 9:41 am by Claudia

• Today we start in with rain, snow, sleet and everything else under the sun. It will be dangerous out there for the next few days. Tomorrow’s high in the mid-fifties will drop almost 50 degrees overnight. High winds, also (you know how much I dislike that.) Insane. Lots of rain predicted, more than 2 inches. Yikes. And frigid temperatures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If we get any snow, it will only be a bit. And that seems highly doubtful. I know the same storm is dumping lots of snow on many of you. I’d much rather have the snow.

I guess I’ll have to blare Christmas music to mute the sound of wind.

• We watched The Bishop’s Wife  last night. Love that movie.

• Don only needs 8 more subscribers to his YouTube channel to qualify for his own URL (a unique address on the web.) Thank you to those of you who graciously subscribed! Brenda, give a listen to “Nova Scotia” – I believe Don left you a message. He loved your comment yesterday.

• I received a lovely package from reader Kathy yesterday. In it were two lovely holiday plates from Target (we’re going to use them for the Linzer Tart Cookies I’m making this year.) And also included was this:

To Kill a Mockingbird  published in Estonia! It’s the hardcover version with a copyright of 1964, just two years after it was first published in America. This is the original dust jacket and the illustration/artwork is stunning! Oh my. Thank you so much, Kathy! This is amazing. I wrote you a note in yesterday’s comment, but my question is: Where, oh, where did you find this???

• Update on my job offer – The woman who is coordinating the workshop managed to come up with some more money from the producers, so I will be paid my normal fee with a little extra money to cover six days of commuting back and forth from here to the city. It worked out! And, once I got out of the way, it was effortless. A lesson I have to learn over and over again. It turned out better than I had even hoped. So, that’s taken care of and I can work with dear Darko again. Hurrah!

• And finally, the last sweater-ornament-turned-into-Blythe-sweater. This one is modeled by Madeleine.

It’s been fun adapting these sweaters to fit on my girls. I, of course, will be looking for even more of these next year. I have 8 of them and goodness knows, all 12 of my girls should have one.

• Okay. Don is baking a pie this morning. I am baking cookies tomorrow. I have to run to the library at noon (they don’t open until then) to pick up a book that has arrived – Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman. I could try to do it tomorrow, but the weather will be horrendous. As it is, I will be trying to get there and back before it starts snowing/sleeting/raining. The only other option is Tuesday and who knows if it will still be icy around here? This subzero weather that’s on the way is supposed to last through Tuesday or Wednesday.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: books, Christmas, coaching, To Kill a Mockingbird 26 Comments

Rainy Monday

October 24, 2022 at 8:12 am by Claudia

This is the best I can do for you today – a quick photo of the coffee table. I’m exhausted and it’s raining outside and very dark inside, so photo possibilities are very few and far between.

These days in NYC are very tiring. It’s not the actual work, that’s not at all tiring. It’s – as Don calls it – the logistics. Driving to the train station, the hour and a half journey on the train, the subway, endless sets of stairs in Grand Central and the subway stations, maneuvering through a sea of umbrellas in the rain, running to get some lunch before the matinee. Then, a matinee that started late for some reason,  which required a speed walk to the subway station after the show ended so I could go up and down stairways again before I caught the #6 train, stopped at Grand Central (more stairs) and just made it to my train home. I didn’t get the chance to drink enough water, and the water I would have purchased at Grand Central was an impossibility because I had to catch the train. We won’t mention the runs to the bathroom. So I was dehydrated, which didn’t help.

When I was working on the movie, I faced much the same situation, but since I was there for 6 weeks, I built up my stamina and was in great shape by the end of my time there. Now, I do this sporadically, so every time I go in it’s like I’m doing it for the first time. It’s always been a tiring process, but I certainly feel it more at this age. Now, just imagine, Don used to have to do all of the same things for a 5 minute or less audition. Much worse.

All that is to say I’m tired today.

As I remind my husband on a daily basis, I don’t need the problem solved, I just need to talk about it.

At least I got to see the show again! It’s delightful and funny and moving.

I have to type up my notes this morning and send them to the actors. And then I’m going to do nothing. Maybe I’ll start my new puzzle. I read a lot this morning while sipping coffee. Very nice indeed.

We’re due for rain for the next three days. Sigh.

I know. There was a time this summer when I yearned for rain. Now, we’re getting too much – not really, of course, our water table needs it – but “too much” for my state of mind.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: coaching, New York City 25 Comments

Sunday in the City

October 23, 2022 at 7:25 am by Claudia

I finished this puzzle yesterday morning – Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. I have another one on the way and it should arrive while I’m in NYC today.

I mowed several sections of our extended lawn yesterday. It felt good to get out there and mow but pushing through all the leaves took a bit more “oomph.”  There’s still quite a bit to mow and then…we’ll see if we have to mow again. We’re getting rain for the next couple of days so we might well have to.

The other day, a woodpecker flew right up to one of the windows in the den and looked in. I said hello. Then he flew up into the maple tree.

I’m writing this early as I have to get ready to head on into the city for a 2 pm matinee of A Man of No Importance. I’m looking forward to seeing it again because I love this production so much and also because the director, John Doyle, makes a lot of changes during previews and it’s been almost two week since I’ve seen it. It will be exciting to see those changes.

Another day of wearing a mask for 7+ hours. But I’m happy to do it.

Thanks for all your lovely responses to the interview! I really appreciate each and every one.

Okay. I have to start getting ready.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

 

Filed Under: coaching, New York City 5 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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