crochet — Page 2

Back Home

September 11, 2022 at 9:09 am by Claudia

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.

Rain!

September 5, 2022 at 8:06 am by Claudia

It rained for about an hour yesterday. And, drum roll, it rained during the night for several hours. When we woke up this morning, we could hear the rain on the roof.

You know how wonderful that is after the dreadful drought we’ve been having? Oh my goodness! It’s stopped now, but more rain is due late this afternoon and, supposedly, all day tomorrow.

It’s too late for some of the already brown maples. They’re not brown because of autumn color – it’s too early for that. It’s a result of the drought. We have a lot of leaves on the ground in the back forty and it’s only September 5th.

I sat here sipping coffee in the still-dark morning, listening to the rain. Heaven.

Just one more thing on this holiday morning. Yesterday, I crocheted a hat for the girls. I was sitting with the heating pad on with nowhere to go, so I made good on my promise to try a pattern I’d seen. You remember several years ago I was crocheting throws and lots and lots of scarves, which I sold on Etsy. I eventually stopped because I had been crocheting so intensely that my wrist was impacted. So, it’s been 7 or 8 years since I’ve done any crocheting. I had to brush up on my skills. Thankfully, I have a little book that I didn’t give away, so I referred to it as I worked on this pattern.

Here it is. It’s a slouchy kind of beret. Sophie has a flair for wearing hats, so she got to model the finished creation. Plus, it coordinated with the outfit she already had on.

I ordered a bit more yarn in a different weight and I’ll play around with it this week. Wednesday and Thursday will be coaching days for the A Man of No Importance. Friday, I travel to Rochester, returning home on Saturday.

My back is sore, but it could have been much worse. I’ll feel much better in a day or two.

Don is making a sugar-free apple pie today.

I hope you have a peaceful labor day. My dad and brother were union members. My husband belongs to three unions.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Greenery, Crocheting & Remembering

March 25, 2016 at 8:59 am by Claudia

3-24 Chineseevergreen

My trip to a local nursery resulted in this: a Chinese Evergreen that doesn’t need a lot of light and is therefore perfect for the den. The den has been sadly lacking in greenery. I just plopped the pot inside the McCoy jardiniere.

It’s sitting on the floor in front of the dollhouse.

3-24 Chineseevergreen2

Lovely.

I love the way the various shades of green pop against the creamy McCoy.

3-24 scarfinprogress

I’m crocheting one last scarf for my friend, Lynn. Lynn worked at the Old Globe for years and when she asked me if I could make her a scarf from one of her favorite skeins of wool, I said yes. It’s taken me a good long while to get round to it and for that I apologize, Lynn! I had to let my hands rest after crocheting more scarves than I can count last Fall.

Cindy, if you’re reading this, I finished the other scarf you ordered and it’s listed on Etsy.

We are mourning the death of two colleagues and friends who have recently passed away. Larry Drake, a wonderfully fine actor, passed away last week at the age of 66. Larry had a long career on the stage, but you probably know him best as the character Benny on L.A. Law. I was fortunate to coach him on two different occasions; in a play at the Old Globe and in another play in NYC. He was such a kind and lovely man and he died much too soon.

And now we are reeling at the news that Garry Shandling has passed away. Garry was a friend of Don’s. They first met when Garry was a writer working on the short-lived The Harvey Korman Show. Don was a member of the cast of that show, recruited by Harvey himself. A few years later, after Garry had started working as a comedian, Don was on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show. Though many years had passed, their connection remained. Not all that long ago, Garry and Don were chatting online about their memories of the work they did together. Garry was brilliant and his shows were groundbreaking.

Don tells me that Garry was a truly nice person. Gone at 66.

Both actors were extremely gifted; both have left us much too soon.

May they rest in peace.

My mom used to make us sit quietly between the hours of 12 and 3 on Good Friday. We couldn’t go outside or talk loudly. I think this happened more to my brother and I than to my two sisters. As often seems to be the case, my parents were much more relaxed in bringing up my younger sisters than they were with the two oldest.

So, it seems strange to say Happy Friday on Good Friday, but Happy Friday nonetheless.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Back Home

Rain!

Greenery, Crocheting & Remembering

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives