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You are here: Home / Archives for Don

Memo to Rain: Please Leave

June 13, 2013 at 8:38 am by Claudia

thurs-sky

I’m leading with this shot of the beautiful, fluffy cloud-filled sky I took yesterday because today we are getting heavy rain.

Again.

All day.

All night.

thurs-creek

(the creek across the street from our cottage)

I’m sick of it. Our overloaded creeks and rivers are sick of it. My peonies, who have been rudely snipped, taken from their home and brought inside because of the rain are sick of it. My catalpa that keeps losing flowers because of the heavy downpours is sick of it. Scout, who has to have her paws wiped every time she comes in from the rain, is sick of it. And mostly, the ceiling in our bedroom, where there is a leak, is sick of it.

Okay. I got that out. Now if I can just scream a few times, I’ll feel better. But Don’s still sleeping, so that’s a no-no.

We mowed yesterday in anticipation of the coming rain.

thurs-agirl&herdad

Here’s Scout greeting her dad after watching him mow through the openings in the porch railing.

Most of the time she likes the porch. But when she is there alone and we are on the other side of the railing doing something or other, well, that’s another story. She barks.

thurs-bark

Outraged barks. I mean, why would we even consider doing something without including her?

thurs-cutie

She’s thinking: maybe I should use my abundant charm…

daylily

My first batch of daylilies has opened. This particular plant always blooms first. Lots of blooms for a day or two, then nothing else the rest of the summer.

Thurs-daylilies

Our little kissing boy and girl seem to be hiding behind the plants, hoping they can’t be seen.

Thurs-rose

thurs-newdawnbud

Is that a New Dawn rose bud I see? Only one of the buds has opened and I decided not to include it in a post. Why? Because it opened during another in a series of torrential downpours. It wasn’t as pretty as it was meant to be.

Rain, rain, go away. Don’t come again another day.

So, it’s dark and gloomy and here we be. I suppose I can get through two acts of Much Ado today. Might as well take advantage of being stuck inside.

What’s the weather like where you live? And if it’s sunny and beautiful, please be kind.

Happy Thursday.

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Filed Under: Don, garden, rain, Scout 32 Comments

Wednesday at the Cottage

June 12, 2013 at 8:33 am by Claudia

What’s happening around the house on a Wednesday:

wed-clematis

The clematis is unfurling its blooms.

wed-moth

A beautiful moth stops for a rest.

wed-shakespeare

Time for research.

wed-shakespearetable

I’ve taken over the kitchen table.

wed-spirea

The spirea is blooming.

wed-yarrow

As is the yarrow.

wed-catalpa

Second week of June? Like clockwork, the catalpa is full of gorgeous, fragrant blooms.

wed-catalpaclose

But it’s been so windy, that many have fallen. Stop, wind.

And stop, rain, please. We’ve had long, torrential downpours for the past several days. The little leak in our bedroom has reared its ugly head again. I think it has to do with the chimney flashing, which has been replaced before and will have to be replaced again. Today is sunny, very breezy and I can see that some of my daylilies have bloomed.

I’m immersed in Shakespeare in preparation for my meeting with the director in NYC, which will take place next Monday. The table is covered in books and papers.Whenever I cover that table with something – be it my dollhouse project or reference books and legal pads, Don always says how much he likes it. I’ve noticed he very much likes to see creativity in process and what I might see as clutter, he finds stimulating and artistic.

Love that man.

By the way, for those of you interested in downloading selections from Don’s new album, Out Beyond the Breakers, we have the all clear from Paypal now. Everything is in order. If you’re interested, click on this link to Don’s website and then click on Store. You can download the entire album or single songs.

I normally wouldn’t have mentioned all of this again, but we did have a technical snafu, so I want to give you the latest news.

Don’s really good. His word and music are soul-stirring. As is his voice.

There. That’s all I will say. Except…thanks.

Now I plan to finish my coffee, go outside to see what is blooming, sneeze for the millionth time (my allergies are so bad this year!) finish my current Deborah Crombie novel, work on Act 2 of Much Ado About Nothing, and buy some more allergy medicine.

What do you plan to do today?

Happy Wednesday.

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Filed Under: Don, flowers, garden, life, Shakespeare 39 Comments

Meredith Knits for Maggie, Music and Roses

June 9, 2013 at 9:36 am by Claudia

After 36 hours of constant rain, courtesy of the most recent tropical storm, we are sunny and dry. At least for today. Friday afternoon consisted of heavy rain but the atmosphere here was considerably lightened by the sound of guitar, dobro, mandolin and banjo – along with my husband’s voice.

rehearsing

That’s Dan on the left playing the dobro and Don on guitar. Just on the other side of the table, you can see Scout’s ear. That girl never left the living room. It was as if I didn’t exist. She loves people and music, so I can’t blame her.

maggie1

Friday’s mail brought something from my sister. Meredith recently ordered her own Maggie Rabbit kit, as well as Alicia’s new pattern for a knit dress for Maggie. Since Meredith is a far better knitter than I am, I asked her is she would make a knit dress for Maggie.

Let’s see if we can get Maggie to stand up.

maggie

There! She needed to hold on to the wrought iron. Okay. Now we’ll put her in her new dress.

maggiedress

Hello! Could that dress be any more adorable? Maggie likes the layered look.

Meredith also sent along something she designed; an apron. After all, Maggie works in the garden and in the kitchen and all around the house. She needs an apron.

maggieapron

Be still my heart. She looks so cute.

Every time I put something over Maggie’s head, I have to rearrange her whiskers. I clearly forgot to when I took this picture.

Meredith is quite talented, you know. Thank you, sister!

newdawnbuds

Lots of buds on the New Dawn roses.

newdawnbuds2

And the Julia Child roses, which were originally a pale yellow but now have reverted back to red, are really taking off.

redroses

I love all my roses, but (shhh!) I love the New Dawn roses the best. They are in the side garden, so you can’t see them in this picture. I did plant another New Dawn rose bush at the end of the summer last year. It’s several feet to the right of this area of the garden, which is in front of the house. I’m hoping it takes off.

I have to start work on the text for Much Ado About Nothing. I’ve got a two-day gig in mid-July – I will be working with the cast of an upcoming production of that play being produced by the Barrington Stage Company (situated in the lovely Berkshires.) But our work will be in NYC. And then, not long after that, I will be once again coaching at Hartford Stage. This time it will be Macbeth and a French play, La Dispute.

I think I’d better tear myself away from the garden.

Umm….tomorrow. Because today is sunny and tomorrow will be rainy.

By the way, if you tried to download any of Don’s music and had a problem, we hope to resolve that within a few days. Just a glitch with Paypal that will soon be cleared up. I’ll give you the all clear when everything is resolved. Thanks for your patience!

Happy Sunday.

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Filed Under: Don, garden, Meredith 27 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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