Escape to Margaritaville

The Winter of Extremes

February 23, 2018 at 10:38 am by Claudia

A late start today. I was, along with millions, up late watching the Women’s Figure Skating and, unfortunately, woke up way too early this morning. BUT, I made myself get back in bed and I slept until 8:30! Hallelujah!

Then, as I was about to make my second cup of coffee and write this post, Don called via FaceTime. Another delay.

What a 24 hours! 71 degrees on Wednesday. Rain and sleet and snow on Thursday. It’s insane. Very, very strange winter weather this year. I call it The Winter of Extremes – and it’s been completely unpredictable.

And may I just say that despite the fact that February is the shortest month of the year, it seems to be moving at a snail’s pace? I keep expecting it to be the end of February and then I look at the calendar and see that it’s the 22nd or the 23rd. I’m ready for March, thank you very much.

Just thought I’d show you Don’s name on the CD for Escape to Margaritaville.

I’m chuffed.

I wrote yesterday about Don being recognized on the street and how fun it was. The reality is that’s it’s not a new thing for us. He is always being recognized for something or other, especially the amount of television work he’s done throughout his career. Some people still stop him and say they remember him on Three’s Company, and that was a long time ago. I’ve grown used to it, though it’s always a pleasure to see it happen. He was stopped on the streets of New Orleans many times. Of course, he’s rather distinctive these days with the grayish hair and beard and his over 6′ 4″ height.

But it was fun to see it happen for the first time in NYC for this Broadway show, right in front of his apartment building.

My monstera is getting a new leaf. They emerge in a tightly curled sort of appendage and then they slowly unfurl. Watching it happen is like having a front row seat for a nature documentary.

I don’t have much on the docket for today, I’m just going to hang out at the cottage and endeavor to resist sweets. I’m on a diet.

Happy Friday.

Back at the Cottage

February 22, 2018 at 8:55 am by Claudia

Seen in the city. Aren’t these tiles charming? I loved it so much I had to stop and take a picture!

We got back to our neck of the woods around 12:30 yesterday – after picking up adorable Sam from boarding. Many face licks later, we arrived at the cottage with its muddy, muddy, muddy driveway.

I unpacked, watered plants and collapsed on the sofa. I hadn’t had enough sleep the night before, so I was drooping. When I learned that the Ladies Figure Skating Finals were not last night but tonight, I was so relieved. That meant I could take a bath and go to bed early, which I did. I slept well and feel much more rested today.

I stopped at Trader Joe’s in NYC to buy some flowers. These tulips were for the apartment. Aren’t they lovely?

And these were for the cottage:

I’m suffering from spring fever.

So. It reached 72 degrees yesterday. Today, the high will be 40. Hello. A drop of 32 degrees! And it’s going to rain, then snow, then rain again tomorrow, so yours truly is going to buy some groceries this morning and settle in for the next 36 hours.

So unseasonably warm here, unseasonably cold in California, and too much rain and flooding in the Midwest. But it’s a hoax, right?

I opened all the windows when I got home yesterday and wouldn’t you know it? I immediately had bugs – even though I have screens. While we were out in front of the apartment waiting for Doug to pick me up, a bee kept buzzing Don. A bee. In February.

By the way, as we stood there, a lady came up to Don and asked if he had been in the show she saw the night before. Yes, he said. She loved it and said that he was her son’s favorite. She picked a good day to see the show as Jimmy came out during the curtain call and sang Margaritaville.

Happy Thursday.

Escape to New York City

February 19, 2018 at 9:10 am by Claudia

I never tire of the building facades in New York City. This one, with its painted bricks and green trim, was charming.

I got to the apartment around 3 pm and my husband was there to greet me. After some late lunch, we took a walk around midtown. It was lovely.

When I first saw this sign, I assumed this was a company that makes rubber stamps. It’s a large building, so it was presumably their factory. Or so I thought.

But no! It’s for stamp collectors! I felt like I was transported back to my childhood! Isn’t that amazing? They had beautiful stamps on display in the windows. Right in the middle of Midtown – a shop devoted to stamp collecting.

I love New York.

Would Don and I look silly driving around town on twin Vespas? We rather like the idea.

We had dinner at the apartment because Don has but one day off and he’s tired. We just wanted to chill out. And then we cuddled on the sofa (which we do every night we’re together) and watched Ice Dancing.

I didn’t have time to watch CBS Sunday Morning when it aired because I was, sadly, shoveling snow. But we saw it later in the day. A very nice profile of Jimmy. I’m glad you saw it! I had messages about it throughout the day on this blog and Instagram.

Don said the cast will be performing on one of the morning shows in March. I’m not sure which one (maybe Today?) or when, but I’ll alert you when I do know.

As I left the cottage yesterday, the snow was already melting. I have a feeling that when I return on Wednesday (a 70 degree day) it will have all but disappeared.

Happy Monday!

The Winter of Extremes

Back at the Cottage

Escape to New York City

claudiahillsparks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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