Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Books and Breakfast

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I finished The Dictionary of Lost Words  yesterday. About a quarter of the way through, I had this feeling of ‘meh’ – thinking that it just wasn’t doing it for me. But I stuck with it and I absolutely loved it. It’s beautifully written. I’m still thinking about it today. Recommend it highly.

War and Peace  is ongoing. I’m currently in Part II, and today I’m due to read Chapter 8. Don and I were chatting about Chapter 7 last night. Don said that Tolstoy writes in a very cinematic manner and he’s right – especially about the war, which is what we’re reading about in this section.

Started – but just – A World of Curiosities. I know it will be wonderful but I’m in the very first chapters where plot points are just getting established.

Don made breakfast burritos this morning and oh my goodness, they were good. Imagine my life without Don’s culinary skills: an endless series of bland meals, because yours truly does not like to cook. Anyway, I made the coffee, Don made the burritos, and now we try to weather well below freezing temperatures for the next few days.

I need a proper sketchbook, one without lines. But when I first had this itch, I was in the city and the only place there might have been one on my way to rehearsal  was Target. They didn’t have one, but they did have a lined Moleskine notebook, so that’s what I went with. I know there are unlined Moleskines, and I like the portability of that particular size. I’ll get one, eventually.

Kathy, you got me hooked on the Hershey’s No Sugar chocolates. I found some at a local grocery store a month ago, but they haven’t had any for a while, so I ordered through Amazon. They should be arriving today. I love good chocolate and I certainly love decadent chocolate. But my first love will always be Hershey’s chocolate.

Okay. Time to wash the sheets.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

The week ahead

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Monday morning, and rather dreary, but there’s hope for sunshine this afternoon.

We watched the first episode of All Creatures Great and Small  on PBS last night. So glad it’s back! I almost forgot about it. Except for Jeopardy, we rarely watch network television, but thankfully, I saw someone post about it on IG. It’s excellent, of course.

I found out yesterday that one of my former students is seriously ill. I have written a note to her and she is now in my daily prayers. She is one of the best people I know.

I’m prepping for my work in NYC starting on Wednesday and also trying to take care of things around here since I’ll only be here to sleep from Wed – Saturday. Then I’ll have two days off. And then two more days on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Then I’m done. Lots of rain in the forecast, always a pain when trying to navigate around the city. And the rehearsal studio is very far west – almost on the Hudson River – so it’s a long walk, as east-west blocks in Manhattan are much more lengthy than north-south blocks. It will probably take a couple of days to figure out the best route. If need be, I’ll grab an Uber because I cannot abide being late.

Thought I’d share a little Polaroid of me that Don took a couple of months ago. He was working with black and white film, light and shadow. It’s tucked away on the bulletin board in the kitchen.

I’m reading a bit more than a chapter a day of War and Peace, since I’ll not be able to read it Wed – Sat. I must say, I’m really enjoying it. It’s highly readable and the character studies are rich with detail. I’ll read a few more extra chapters today.

Okay. Not very exciting, but it is indeed a snapshot of this moment in time.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Saturday Morning

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A somewhat blurry morning photo of the living room where Don is currently composing a song. He told me once that he always has a song in his head, is always thinking about a song, is always thinking about the lyrics to a song. That explains why I often have to say something twice or even three times to him. He’s in another world. I love hearing the gentle sound of his voice and guitar on this New Year’s Eve morning.

We’re going to have some rain later in the day, so it’s rather dark and gloomy out there. The temperatures remain relatively mild.

Here’s a first. Most of this puzzle has been finished for five days. Then I put together the moon. And then…I could not get motivated to finish the sky. It’s in very subtle shades of pink and lavender and I would stare at it, look at the pieces, and walk away. Don said “Maybe you need a break?” He might be right. Except for the fact that this morning I had the thought, “You need to finish this before the New Year comes.” Sort of a superstitious thought – and I am not superstitious. We’ll see what happens. I just know I’m not motivated and I may decide that it’s done as is.

Last night around 9:30 I got a text from Annie. Annie is my former student from Boston University days. If you remember, I stayed in her brownstone last year during the filming of Spoiler Alert. She and her family had just watched the movie and they were so excited about it. Annie had taken photos of my name(s) in the credits and another of me in my scene. That made me so happy! Whenever someone tells me they saw the movie, I’m thrilled. Annie was one of the few people I told about my scene as Nurse Claudia. I knew she’d keep it quiet and because I was staying with her, I had to share! I think Don, Annie, my best friend Laural, and my sister were the only people in on it for several months because I wasn’t supposed to talk about it. I especially love hearing that no one would have believed Ben was British, since that was the bulk of my work on the film and the reason I was there in the first place.

Don said, “Just think, years from now people will be watching you in this film.” Theater is ephemeral; that’s the joy and wonder of it. Film is a different story.

For those of you who live somewhere else in this world, keep your eyes open. The only thing I’m fairly sure of is that it will open in Great Britain in January. If I hear more details, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Okay. It’s New Year’s Eve. Have a happy one. Ours will be quiet and we’ll be in bed long before midnight. We do have some sparkling apple cider to toast in the New Year. I suggested watching It Happened One Night, and Don quickly agreed. (One of our favorite movies ever.)

I’ll take the day off tomorrow and I’ll be back on Monday.

Happy New Year!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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