I snapped this very quickly yesterday morning as I made my way to my car and a trip to the city. Two beauties! Today, as I look out my kitchen window, I see another bloom. They started blooming very late, but I must say that lateness has turned into a blessing. Beautiful new flowers every day as I see everything else slowly fading. And falling. I can’t tell you how many leaves there are on the ground. Leaves that I have to rake today.

I had a very good day yesterday coaching dialects on a production of Shadowlands, which is a play based on the unexpected meeting and marriage of C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham. It’s a lovely play and the cast is terrific. I’ll probably go in again later in the week to finish some work with the actress playing Joy. My rehearsal was only a few city blocks from Don’s. Don is rehearsing in the same studios where Anastasia  rehearsed and where I’ve worked more times than I can count on various productions – it’s perfect for musical theater because of the large rehearsal rooms.

I had no idea when he was going to be released and as I walked out of the rehearsal studio at around 4 pm, heading toward the bus terminal, I texted him. Turns out he was finished and just about to leave, so we met up on 42nd Street and had a quick bite to eat together. After all these years, when we see each other in the course of a work day, in a place other than our home, we’re surprised and delighted. Then I headed for the bus (managed to catch one just about to leave) and Don headed for his bus.

And there we are.

Today I plan on raking and mowing and running to the grocery store. Exciting, right?

Oh. The other day I looked out the living room window and who did I see?

Mister Henry, dining on some of the grass near the Funky Patio. I’m always delighted to see our friend, so I grabbed my iPhone. One of the windows was open and as I snapped the picture, from several feet away and inside the house, Henry heard it and ran for cover. That boy can hear everything. I cursed myself for not muting the phone before I took the picture because I don’t like disturbing him when he’s brave enough to get that close to the house. I’ve been known to delay something for a half hour or more when I see him out there.

Anyway, I’m always comforted that he’s alive and kicking and happy in his home under the shed.

Happy Tuesday.