Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Don, Storms & A Wee Rant

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A look at the living room on this about-to-be-stormy day.

And it’s going to hit 85 degrees! No wonder we’re getting storms.

All tax info is now at our accountants. I had a good coaching session with Ben yesterday and we’ll do it again tomorrow.

I’m planning on taking it easy today, with the usual vacuuming, etc. But the thing I really want to do today is finish my Roseville painting. I’m determined. I’ve had a lot of other things going on, all of which kept me from painting. I don’t know if I’ll do more. I do have two other vases that could be the subjects of a painting. If I paint them, I’d have twelve paintings in this collection. We’ll see.

Don is too wonderful for words. This morning, during our second cup of coffee, the subject of Blythe dolls came up. He didn’t understand the concept of customizing the dolls, so I explained it to him. Then he asked if he could see photos of some basic dolls and customized versions, so I went to Etsy and he looked through several listings. He said, “I can see why they’re collectible – they’re art dolls. I think they’re really neat.”

What did I do to deserve him?

Thank goodness for the results of the ridiculous California recall election. What a waste of millions of dollars because a small minority of Californians didn’t like the Covid restrictions Newsom put into place. I’ve had it with these people. Truly. Howard Stern said something this week that really resonated with me. “When are we going to stop putting up with the idiots in this country and just say it’s mandatory to get vaccinated? F*** ’em. F*** their freedom. I want my freedom to live. I want to get out of the house already. I want to go next door to play chess. I want to go take some pictures. This is bull****.

That’s exactly how I feel. These people are holding us hostage. They’re also contributing to the unnecessary deaths of others. They’re clogging up hospitals, which – though they renounce science – they seem to be perfectly willing to run to when they’re sick with the very thing they didn’t want to get vaccinated for. One man with heart problems died because so many hospitals were full up with Covid patients and couldn’t admit him. That’s heartbreaking.

Enough, already. Either get vaccinated or stay in your house for the rest of your life. Those are your options. Of course, I am not including those who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons. They have no choice. However, if everyone got vaccinated, we could end this virus and those who cannot get vaccinated would be free to live their lives again.

I don’t know how many years I have left, but I sure as hell want to live them. I want to travel. I want to work. I want options. I don’t want to have to worry about yet another variant.

I’ll stop there. End of rant.

Sigh.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Walking and Painting

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Lately, I’ve been walking a lot more. It’s good for me, of course, but I also want to get in shape for NYC, where I’ll be walking a lot, jumping on the subway, and walking some more. The pace in the city takes some getting used to – and you have to be in shape. Since it’s been more than a year and a half since I’ve done anything in the city, it’s time to take it up a notch.

Sometimes I walk by myself, but my favorite walks are with Don. Some photos from yesterday’s jaunt:

The creek and the river are back to normal.

There is an old grist mill across the street from us. It was in continual operation from around 1780 until not long before we moved here. It has since been converted to a restaurant under several owners. It looks like it didn’t recover from the pandemic as it’s closed. These hydrangeas are outside the entrance.

Standing on the grist mill deck. Our house is on the other side of those trees, just across the road. Hello, handsome!

I have a coaching session this afternoon with Ben.

I painted for a while yesterday afternoon and it was very calming. My anxiety has been flaring up again, so I’m seeking out activities that keep me grounded. Painting is one of them. Walking is another. As is mowing the lawn.

As is not watching or reading the news, which both of us – within reason – have vowed to do.

Hanging in there.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Shutting the World Out

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It’s a rainy Sunday morning, which is a relief. After lots of mowing yesterday that left us feeling very tired, we decided to take today off. It’s as if the universe is supporting that decision. Don mowed even longer than I did and I had to force him to stop. We still haven’t finished but we’ll get to the rest of it tomorrow or Tuesday.

Of course, I do have to work today as I have a Zoom session with the actor I’m coaching in the movie. But that’s only an hour or so and he’s delightful, so it will be fun.

And laundry. And dusting. And….

But still, no yard work!

It’s a quiet day. We’ve been talking a lot lately about our preference for Lockdown Mode. By that, I mean a bit more cut off from “the world” with a feeling of being snug and safe in our cottage. Turns out, we prefer it – at least for now. I guess I’m thinking about it a lot because I have to go out into the world for work in October, November, and December and that makes me uneasy. I would never turn down either opportunity, I’m grateful for them, and I will be masked in the rehearsal room for Anastasia, as well as on the movie set. The safety protocols for film are rigorous. But – I’ll be commuting around NYC, going to various locations, I’ll be around lots of people. After more than a year and a half of only working via Zoom, turns out I actually have to go out there to really do my job(s) and get paid. Who knew?

Also, of course, is the fact that world seems more insane by the moment. People are more insane. I’m so tired of it all and I know you are, too. There was a brief moment there, around the Inauguration, where I thought we might be relatively home free. Silly me. I’m tired of willful stupidity and ignorance. Tired of a barrage of misinformation. Tired of liars and cheats and those who want to overturn everything we hold dear. Tired of natural disasters. Tired of white men trying to tell women what we can or can’t do with our bodies, with the added bonus of putting a bounty on us. At times, I’m enraged.

Self care. That’s what we all need to do and that’s what I plan to do today and tomorrow. No news. N0 24 hour a day barrage of talking heads. Yesterday helped, as mowing the lawn, doing something physical, vacuuming, watering plants, etc., are all great ways to lose myself in the moment and shake off the world.

None of this is new, of course, It’s just what we’ve been confirming in the course of several conversations. Shutting the world out isn’t a bad thing.

Wanted to add that we’ve been watching a great French series on Netflix, Black Spot. It’s a mystery/police/detective series, set in a remote area of France, including a fair amount of magical realism. Beautifully captured on film, it’s full of wonderful actors and nifty plots. So far, there are two seasons. It definitely reminds me of Twin Peaks  in its humor, otherworldlyness (I think I made up that word) and dense forest setting full of mystery. We love it. And we’re due to finish it tonight and then I’ll be sad.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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