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You are here: Home / Archives for Don

Blooming and Growing

January 2, 2018 at 9:22 am by Claudia

Oh, heavens, it’s cold. From the comments I’ve been receiving on Instagram, many of us are locked in this deep freeze. Seems a bit early for that sort of thing, doesn’t it? On Friday and Saturday, the temperature is not going to go above 7° – What the ????

I start my car every day – thank goodness I just had the battery replaced!

All of the paperwhite blossoms have opened and the scent is so heady!

I just finished reading the Person of the Year edition of Time. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it highly. The cover story is an in-depth look at The Silence Breakers – women who are standing up and speaking out about sexual harassment. It’s long past time for it to stop. We all have stories. I’ve certainly had to deal with my share of this crap, but none of it comes close to some of the horror stories I’ve read since the Weinstein scandal broke. Equal pay, equal rights, and no more sexual harassment and objectification – starting with ousting the predator in the Oval Office. There’s no justification for it. None.

Two new leaves on the monstera (split-leaf philodendron) have opened. I love that spring green color of the new growth. This one was a rescue, if you remember, from Terrain. I found it in the Sale area and it was extremely root bound. Scarily so. It seems to be thriving now, which makes me very happy.

Here are the flowers on the sansevieria. There are two more on the side of the plant facing the window. Don was putting trays away last night and he exclaimed, “The scent is amazing! Is it coming from the flowers?” Yep.

Thanks, Mom and Dad.

Also from Don this morning: “I’m not ready for the tree to be taken down yet.”

Good. Because I’m not either. I love coming downstairs in the morning and seeing the glow of the lights. (Don usually gets up before me.) So we’re going to let it stay until we feel it’s time to take it down. There aren’t any rules about this sort of thing and if there were, I’d break them.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: Don, houseplants 36 Comments

A Little of Everything on a Thursday

December 21, 2017 at 8:57 am by Claudia

Yesterday’s sky as I was about to set off on some present buying. I love a moody sky.

And so far, fingers crossed, it looks to be another sunny day. My mood likes that. My plants like that.

I bought the last present for Don yesterday, and it turns out, the most expensive. But it will make him very happy and I confess I was happy at the prospect of seeing him open it on Christmas morning. Up until that point I was sort of ‘meh’ about my choices for him. But now? I’m excited.

Today, I’m going to try out a vegan recipe for Linzer cookies. It’s from the Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s chef. I gathered up the ingredients when I stopped at Whole Foods the other day. We’ll see how they turn out! Then, after the holidays, we’re cutting way back on our sugar intake. We’ve sort of begun already, but as it’s the holiday season, we know we’ll indulge a bit.

The new leaf has opened on the maranta. I’m so tickled when I see new growth on my plants.

Just want to say again how much we love our little table in the kitchen, which was going to be a temporary solution for removing the sideboard-turned-kitchen-island. It turns out it’s not temporary at all! It doesn’t block Stella (a must) and that aging and weathered blue paint makes me smile.

Finally, I took a picture of a picture. This gem is on Mere’s Christmas card this year and we think it’s one of the best pictures of Little Z we’ve ever seen. (Meredith is the photographer.)

Sweet but full of sass and vinegar, I tell you. Our phone conversations with him are such fun! Oh, I love this little boy. Love, love, love.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: baking, Christmas, Don, Little Z 42 Comments

Better

December 8, 2017 at 8:47 am by Claudia

Since the den has been my ‘home’ for the past several days, I’m looking at it with fresh eyes. It’s cozy and quirky. I really love it in here.

I’m feeling better. By mid-afternoon yesterday, I felt a change coming on and, though I’m still coughing, it’s nothing like it was. I’m not one to run to the doctor for meds when I’m dealing with something that just needs to take its course. I think there’s too much overmedicating going on as it is. Luckily, I didn’t need to be anywhere, wasn’t working on a show, and had the luxury of time. And Don, of course.

All iPhone photos because I’m too lazy to get up and get my big girl camera.

My new ringtone on my phone is the theme from Sherlock. It makes me happy. It also makes me not want to answer the phone because I want to listen to the whole thing! I just wanted something different from the same sounds I hear coming from every phone, everywhere. Don’s is Sweet Home Alabama.

But not the Alabama of Roy Moore, let’s be clear on that.

In honor of Benedict Cumberbatch, we watched Dr. Strange  last night on Netflix. It’s based on one of the Marvel superhero characters and it was a lot of fun; special effects driven, because that’s what fuels all those movies. Benedict was sporting an American dialect and I missed his deep and dulcet British tones. Hey, I’m an American and I coach dialects for a living so I appreciate our sounds, but I will admit to being a sucker for a British accent. Especially when uttered by Benedict Cumberbatch.

That dracaena that sits on the floor next to the dollhouse is about 14 or 15 years old. I bought it in a grocery store when we first moved out East. I moved it downstairs because I kept forgetting to water it. The pot is Bauer pottery from California. I bought it many years ago when I lived there.

The other Zz plant, which sits on the table next to the sofa.

Don says he’s going to take me for a drive today. Doctor Don’s orders.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: decorating, den, Don 54 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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