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You are here: Home / Archives for Don

Still Life

January 8, 2020 at 10:25 am by Claudia

This was my view as Don and I sat on the sofa for our second cup of coffee. A still life of our favorite things. Don is playing that guitar as I write this.

I read the script for Jane Eyre  yesterday and I’ll be speaking with Elizabeth, the director, either today or tomorrow to firm up what she needs and wants from me for this production. Looks like I’ll be spending a couple of days in Hartford next week. The first rehearsal is Tuesday and I’ll work with the actors a bit on Wednesday. I may go in on Monday evening so I don’t have to stress about trying to get there in the morning with the usual traffic jams on the Interstate. We’ll see.

Today I’ll be doing research on the dialects required for this production. That’s always fun!

I’m nearing the end of Jane Eyre  (the novel.) It’s a beautifully written and powerful story. Even though I knew the story going in, I have been enriched by the pleasure of reading Brontë’s prose. I suspect I started to read it when I was young but never finished it. So here I am, all these years later, finally  reading it! It was worth the wait.

Last night, we watched the first episode of the final season of Schitt’s Creek.  I love that show and will be so sorry to see it end. It’s simply wonderful. It’s on POP TV here in the States and on the CBC in Canada. Eventually, once this airing of the final season has ended, it will move to Netflix. The actors are brilliant and actor/producer/writer Dan Levy (son of Eugene Levy) is a force to be reckoned with.

I’m off to have some breakfast and then do some work.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: coaching, dollhouse, Don, guitar, miniatures 14 Comments

Sunday

January 5, 2020 at 10:26 am by Claudia

I moved my dad’s first attempt at painting in oils to this wall. Just to the right is the entrance to the downstairs bathroom. I like it here. I well remember that red vase which was always on the 3 shelf built-in bookcase in our living room. I think I remember him painting it, but I can’t be sure if that’s a reliable memory. (He made that frame, as well.)

Thank you for your compassionate and kind comments on yesterday’s post. Neither of us could conceive of ignoring an animal in pain, or leaving it on a dark road to be hit again and again by motorists who drive too fast and wouldn’t see it in time. Taking some sort of action is a must. I called the County yesterday to tell them about the body. Unfortunately, I’ve had to include their number in my contact list on my phone. Between last year and this year, I’ve had to call them several times.

I’m very proud of my husband.

Today, we’re just going to hang out at home. I’m going to continue reading Jane Eyre and work on the dollhouse. Don’s practicing his guitar. It’s been a tiring and emotional week for various reasons and we just need to chill.

We’re both hoping that the arrival of Monday will get us back on track. Maybe we’ll finally know what day of the week it is!

By the way, I changed the name of The Cabin to the The Lake House. The inside looks like a cabin but the outside doesn’t. So as Don and I were sitting on the sofa last night talking about the dollhouses, I came up with the new name.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: Dad, deer, Don 22 Comments

Imagining

December 29, 2019 at 10:55 am by Claudia

Part of our view when we sip our second cup of coffee together in the morning.

I was entranced by it this morning. One of my greatest pleasures when I lived in cities was walking by apartments and houses in the early evening. I would get a glimpse of the interior life and style of that particular dwelling. A flash of a red wall, or gorgeous drapes, or a glimpse of bookshelves – I wanted to know more about the people who lived there. I still have that curiosity about the way people live, which is why I like Instagram and design magazines and books like Hotel Chelsea  and The Maverick Soul  and Bibliostyle.

Back to the mini studio: I imagine myself walking by this dwelling, seeing the guitar on the sofa, the Beatles print on the wall, getting a glimpse of a fireplace, of records (what does he listen to?), a dog dish (!) and a comfy sofa and Eames chair. Who lives there? Who uses that space?

That is the lure of dollhouses. You get a glimpse of a life, a style, of the taste of the imaginary owner of that house. It’s also the reason I would never have dolls residing in my houses. I want to imagine the owner. I don’t want some doll that frankly never looks all that real lounging on the sofa. This is not to say that those who make and design 1:12 scale dolls aren’t enormously talented – they are. But, for me, they never look quite right. And also for me, I have a vivid imagination and seeing a doll limits my vision. For example, I have an idea of Caroline. I could tell you things about her. But, I don’t have too many ideas because I like to keep her ‘free-flowing.’

Since the mini studio was made for Don specifically, I don’t need a doll. I just imagine a mini-Don.

I’m not sure who the owner is of the vintage white dollhouse. That’s still to be determined. Same for the modern dollhouse and the ‘newest’ vintage dollhouse. Or my rescued-from-the-dump dollhouse. That makes a sort of sense as I’m still working on all of those dwellings.

Speaking of which, this afternoon I am going to go upstairs and start painting more stone for the exterior of the rescued-from-the-dump dollhouse. I’m thinking of naming it Dove Cottage, not be be confused with the famous Dove Cottage inhabited by William Wordsworth. “Dove” because I love doves – as simple as that.

To make the painting less tedious I’m going to listen to some podcasts. I’m very into podcasts about books and reading.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: dollhouse, Don, miniatures 20 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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