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You are here: Home / Archives for Don

On V-Day

February 13, 2015 at 8:06 am by Claudia

2-13 sunset

It’s February 13th and we are already in the midst of FRIGID in all caps. I was glancing at our local weather forecast and Sunday night? Wind chills of more than 20 below zero. Hello. So, if you’re expecting lots of photos of Brooklyn, you might want to let go of that idea. The weekend might go like this: tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals, preview, lots of note taking, grabbing some food to go and running back to the apartment. This will not be a sight-seeing weekend.

Although there is a bookstore nearby…

And of course, as often seems to be the case, Valentine’s Day will be spent apart from my husband. We had planned to attend an gig that Don is doing on that night, but the opportunity to work calls, so that isn’t happening.

Actually, we laugh at the whole V-Day thing, which was more of a big deal for us (if it ever was) when we were first dating, but is hardly on our radar nowadays and hasn’t been for years. I tend to balk at what I call Hallmark holidays and run in the opposite direction. No Valentine’s Day decorations here – but then again, I am sadly lacking in the special occasion decorating gene.

We are quite the romantic pair, as you must have gathered if you’ve read this blog for any length of time. We say “I love you” to each other several times a day, every day. We cuddle together on the sofa every evening. We really like each other. We never take each other for granted. We are more in love than ever.

So…dare I say that every day is Valentine’s Day here at the cottage? Or would that sound too sappy?

That being said, I wouldn’t mind some chocolate truffles.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Don, life, On The Road 29 Comments

Early Morning at the ‘Infirmary’

February 5, 2015 at 8:10 am by Claudia

I woke up this morning, noticed that Don was already up (it’s very rare when he rises before me) and thought, I’d better get a move on. It was dark outside, but okay, I figured, it’s probably around 6 am.

It was 5:15.

What the heck?

We are on alert, now that Scout is a senior. We keep track of the frequency of her ‘bodily functions.’ If, like last night, we go to bed thinking she should have peed one more time and didn’t, well then, we check on her during the night. Don woke up early and decided to get up and check on her and then he just ended up staying up.

An early morning for MHC. But Miss Scout took care of everything outside and that’s a good thing. We are well versed in this because we went through much the same thing with Riley, only much more intense as his spinal disease really took a toll on his independence. I miss that boy. Every single day.

2-4 scout demand

Yes, this is a look I see frequently during the course of a day. This is the “I want you to do something, Mom” look. “Put that laptop down and get me something to eat.” “Stop reading that book and let me outside.”

All in all, our girl is doing very well. She’s pretty lively, she still pounces now and then, she loves to walk near our local library, and gallop down the long driveway there – the same gallop we re-discovered in the park in Hartford. She may be a little sore the next day and we’re careful about how often we let her do it, but oh my goodness, she loves galloping. It makes her very, very happy.

And that makes us happy.

2-5 bluebird

My two feathered friends appeared again yesterday, along with a beautiful woodpecker who proved too elusive for me to capture with my camera lens. Just as with our cardinals, the red head of the woodpecker is strikingly vivid in the snowy landscape.

I’m afraid I’ve passed on my cold to Don, who says that it feels like an infirmary here. I lovingly donated my big box of kleenex to him. It’s the least I can do. That, and maybe shovel a bit today, as we’re getting a bit more snow. And more snow Sunday through Tuesday. Tonight, it’s supposed to go down to 10 below zero.

What???

More links to share with you – all of them about Harper Lee, the ‘new’ book, and some interesting thoughts on the subject.

From The Atlantic: Harper Lee: The Sadness of a Sequel.

Also from The Atlantic: How Harper Lee’s Long-Lost Sequel was Found.

From Book Riot: Uncollected Thoughts on the new Harper Lee Novel. The comments on this are interesting, as well.

I have a review of sorts up on Just Let Me Finish This Page – my thoughts on Howard’s End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home  by Susan Hill. Click here.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

Filed Under: birds, Don, Harper Lee, life, Scout 34 Comments

Scenes From The Cottage: The Bedroom

January 22, 2015 at 9:33 am by Claudia

I’d say the “Master” bedroom, but really, let’s be honest here. We have two bedrooms. One functions as a guest bedroom/office/studio. The other is the one we sleep in. So I’m not going to use the somewhat grandiose Master. Come to think of it, Master of what? Of his domain? Of his lands?

And why not Mistress? Or Master and  Mistress?

I’m starting a movement to cease and desist using the term “Master Bedroom” unless you have an estate in the country with servants in the house and serfs working your land.

The bedroom is tucked under the eaves, which makes furniture placement a challenge – to put it mildly. But it’s cozy, that’s for sure.

Corners-bedroom 8

It’s impossible to take a picture of the entire room. I’ve tried.

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will remember the new California King bed we ordered last year and the delivery saga that ensued. We ended up having to sleep in the full sized bed in the other room for about a month. To say we were in tight quarters is an understatement. But the new bed has been with us almost a year now and we love it. LOVE IT.

Corners-bedroom 2

No, I don’t iron my pillowcases, not even for a photo shoot. I can’t be bothered. I do make my bed every day, though. I cannot handle an unmade bed unless I’m sick.

Corners-bedroom 14

A couple of years ago, when Don was away working, I went on a mad painting spree. The furniture in the room had a variety of wood finishes, many of them darkish. We have two small windows in this room, so I decided a creamy white was in order. It looks much better, though I worried it would be a bit feminine for Don. He assured me that he didn’t care because he was only in the bedroom when it was time to sleep.

A practical guy.

The dresser was found on a street in Cambridge when I was living there. Free. My friend and I carried it for about four city blocks and then up four flights of stairs. I’ve had it for about 23 or 24 years. It’s been painted gray, then yellow, and now aqua and cream.

The vintage rocker needs some repair and I plan on attending to that shortly. I love that rocker. I crocheted that throw and made the quilt, as well.

Corners-bedroom 4

A vintage tea towel as dresser scarf, assorted jewelry, a silver pillbox from Tiffany’s given to me by my late mentor and his partner, my grandmother’s lamp, my great-grandmother’s tea chest, and a photo of my late brother and me.

Corners-bedroom 6

A photo of me when I was teaching at Boston University (oh, to be that young again), some McCoy and Roseville pottery, and Don’s head shot (which I took).

Corners-bedroom 5

A pansy print that I bought while working in Owensboro, Kentucky. I love the print and the vintage frame. A D hook from Anthropologie which holds my necklaces (most of which I never wear). D for Don, by the way. I also had the C, but I couldn’t find it when I was putting this up. So the D won.

Corners-bedroom 9

I coveted and salivated over this painting for over a year. It was in a shop in San Diego – Vignettes – and as I went back and forth to SD to coach a few shows, I would see it and gaze upon it and then I would walk away because it was too expensive for me.

Finally, I took a picture and sent it to Don, talked it over with him and got his approval, and then drove to Vignettes where Lori, the owner, told me that she had wrapped it up for a customer and was getting ready to put the sale through when the customer changed his mind. All the while, she had been thinking that I was going to be so upset when I saw it was gone.

That clinched it. I bought it. I always knew it would go on this section of the wall that surrounds the chimney.

Corners-bedroom 3

Impatiens brought in for the winter.

Corners-bedroom 10

Egg cups. And a Christie Repasy print.

Corners-bedroom 13

Beautiful Japanese wood block prints on rice paper. These are Don’s. He bought them when he was courting me and living in the company housing provided by the Old Globe. He wanted something to personalize his living space.

On my side of the room:

Corners-bedroom 11

Books and lots of ’em. There are books behind books – two layers deep.

The black and white photograph of a rose was taken by my late brother, there’s vintage mirror my mom bought me when I was visiting them in Michigan, another parakeet lamp that I found (!) that needs some rewiring, photos of Winston and Riley and Scout.

The lone wolf print was purchased while we were living in San Diego.

Corners-bedroom 7

My traveling pals: Maggie Rabbit, Wayfrum Holmes, Little Lamb. They’re sitting on a vintage hatbox I found many years ago in the Berkshires. And that’s Home, by Edgar Guest. I found it in a local antique shop last year.

Corners-bedroom 12

More books. A bit blurry, but you get the picture. They’re everywhere.

There’s also a cabinet to the left of my dresser that our old behemoth of a television sits on, but I didn’t get a photo of it, though there’s one elsewhere on this blog.

On a sunny day like today, the bedroom is filled with a lovely, rosy glow. And though I’d love more wall space, instead of the half-walls, there is something wonderful about being tucked under the eaves in an attic bedroom.

Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments section.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: bedroom, decorating, DIY, Don, Edgar Guest, egg cups 56 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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