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Wednesday Thoughts

July 6, 2016 at 9:18 am by Claudia

7-6 babybunny

Let’s start the post with our adorable baby bunny. There’s nothing quite as sweet as seeing that little white cottontail as he/she jumps around the yard.

7-6 dreadedjapanesebeetle

• Then the not-so-adorable – the dreaded Japanese Beetle. This one is perching on one of the wildflowers that pops up on the far side of the house. Their timing is particularly ominous. Two of the rose bushes have already bloomed, but the New Dawn (which happens to be my favorite) is ready to bloom when they arrive. So the buds end up being eaten by the beetles and I go into mourning. If I used the language I actually use when speaking of them, some readers would be offended. You’ll have to leave it to your imagination.

• Speaking of ‘offended,’ I’ve lost some readers – looking at my stats, probably quite a few – over my not-very-frequent writings about this election. That, of course, affects my ad income.

But you know what? I don’t care. Of course, I don’t like losing ad income, but the truth here is that I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t speak out. This blog isn’t just pretty flower pictures or pretty little miniatures. This blog is mine and it’s about my life and my life is far more than a series of pretty pictures.

So, I’ll continue to speak out when I feel moved to do so.

Curious Side Note: Why is that people who disagree with me write comments that scream at me in CAPITAL LETTERS??? Or call me or people who feel the same way as I do, names? Don’t get me wrong, I’m tough, but I do find it fascinating. I just wish those who scream things that aren’t true would simply do some Googling to find out the real story. Or go to politifact(dot)com, a nonpartisan, Pulitzer Prize winning fact checking organization. Perhaps the falsehoods have become so second nature to them that they are fearful of actually learning the truth?

Ah, well.

A fascinating article, should you be so inclined.

• And may I just vent for a second or two more? Don was supposed to do three episodes of Mr. Robot. He’s done one. And as we waited and waited to hear when he was next going to be called and noticed that the time left for filming was dwindling, I urged him to ask for some clarification. It turns out he’s only doing one episode and no one told us.

Listen, I know things change all of the time and scripts are rewritten and storylines changed and, in this case, we know that they lost one of their locations, which I think might have been Don’s house on the series. I don’t know that for sure. But we were counting on the money that would come from those three episodes and on Don getting to work on that set more than once this season. Why the heck no one told us things had changed and that there was only going to be one episode rather than three, I don’t know.

It has nothing to do with his work because everyone there really likes him and the actress who plays his daughter loves working with him. Usually these things are not about the actor, and are more about logistics and writing and time.

It’s not the first time this has happened and any actor who has worked for a number of years will be able to regale you with stories of just this sort. But it’s disappointing – especially at a time when funds are very tight. Another reason to remember this maxim (at least in this business): Don’t count on it until it happens.

I cried a bit last night over this one.

But, we move forward.

7-6 beebalm

• We seem to be in a humid stretch here with air quality warnings each day. The air conditioners are humming and I’m staying indoors except to venture out to water my plants.

• And I’m still wrestling with NY State of Health and MVP Health Insurance to get a refund. As per usual, NY State of Health moves at a snail’s pace and I have to keep calling them to get an update. Did I ever tell you about the time I didn’t have health insurance for four months because of a computer glitch that no one at NYSofH could explain? I’m justifiably wary of them.

Okay. This post is a bit on the complain-y side. Sorry!

Let’s end with something positive. I love bunnies, birds, Henry, my husband, my sister and her family, and all of you.

Is that better?

Edited to add: Maybe I wasn’t clear: Don did one episode for this new season, so you will  see him. You just won’t see him in three  episodes.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: blogging, bunnies, Don, flowers, garden 72 Comments

A Quiet Sunday (and a Birthday!)

July 3, 2016 at 9:28 am by Claudia

A quiet Sunday morning. Birds calling, crows cawing, the occasional car or motorcycle on the road. Lovely. Some lawn mowing is on the agenda today. We didn’t do it earlier in the week because it had been so dry, but after two torrential storms, I think it needs our attention today.

Let me vent for a brief second: I hate Japanese Beetles! I hate bugs eating my plants!

But if you’re a gardener who won’t use pesticides, you’re up against it, I guess. Sigh. I’m doing what I can and I’m thinking of ordering ladybugs but then I read conflicting advice. Some say that those ladybugs can bring disease to indigenous ladybugs. Others say it’s perfectly okay. I have to make a decision in the next day or two.

Then again, the are part of the ecosystem and they also have the right to be and eat. Since I try to ‘do no harm’ I may just have to accept things and send my love to all beings. I’m not afraid of bugs and every being has a purpose.

7-3 annabellehydrangea

This is the hydrangea that is next to the porch railing – Annabelle hydrangea. It’s pretty big nowadays and very lush.

7-3 hydrangea

This is the Endless Summer hydrangea I planted a couple of years ago. It’s growing very slowly, but it’s awfully pretty. My other hydrangea – a limelight – is at the other end of the porch, but it doesn’t bloom until later in the summer.

7-3 balloonflower

A lovely balloon flower in the Memorial Garden.

7-3 hollyhocks

Oh, my heavens! Can I just say how fabulous these hollyhocks are? Yesterday, I came home from running an errand and I was struck by the height and gorgeous color and how wonderful they look next to the kitchen door. When this plant self-seeded, it (or, the bird carrying the seed) graciously decided to plop that seed at the end of the raised bed, thereby avoiding the window and the air conditioner. It’s as if it knew. Perfect.

7-3 bumblebee1

In that same raised bed – lavender. And a bumble bee.

7-3 bumblebee2

I am particularly fond of bumble bees. They don’t bother me and they hover nicely and stay in place so that I can take a picture.

The most important thing to tell you today is this: It’s my sister’s birthday! You all know how I feel about my sister. I adore her. We are incredibly close. There is an eleven year age difference between us but that has never been an issue. We are sisters. We are best friends.

She is one of the finest people it has been my privilege to know. These past few years have been tough ones, with both my parents in her charge because they lived nearby. She was the rock during their illnesses and my mom’s time in the nursing home. She was there for both mom and dad in a way I couldn’t be. All the while she was raising her boys and working full-time. I cannot tell you how much I admire her and how grateful I am for her presence in my life. My brother died in 1991. My other sister has disappeared from our lives. My parents have passed away.

It’s Meredith and me.

Don adores her. How could he not?

Do me a favor? Will you go and visit her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday? She has a new post up and there are some wonderful photos of her oldest son (home for a visit) and Little Z. Here’s the link.

She deserves everything that is good and wonderful in life.

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: birthday, flowers, garden, Meredith 32 Comments

The Back Forty

July 2, 2016 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Before the thunderstorms and torrential rains of yesterday afternoon and evening arrived, I visited the back forty. The back forty has a central grassy area that we mow, but the rest of it is wild, including the woods. The edges of the grassy area are filled with all sorts of wildflowers and berries and herbs, as well as mullein and milkweed – and the ubiquitous poison ivy, of course.

7-2 mullein plant

This is mullein. It’s a member of the snapdragon family, with fuzzy leaves and a long spike that can grow very tall. This particular plant is about 5 feet tall, but we’ve had mulleins that were almost as tall as Don (and he’s 6’4″.) It has long been used herbally; sometimes as a tea that helps with respiratory problems, and with its anti-inflammtory properties, it was often made into leaf poultices for the treatment of various illnesses.

7-2 mullein flowers1

Pretty yellow flowers appear just about this time of year and last through most of the summer.

7-2 mulleinflowers2

7-2 mulleinbeforeflowers

I counted at least 14 mulleins growing around the perimeter of the back forty – more than I’ve ever seen before. I also saw a lovely mullein on our trail walk the other day.

7-2 milkweed

We also have milkweed, which, as you know, is the only plant on which the caterpillar that eventually will change into the Monarch Butterfly lives. This year, the milkweed is tucked further back in the wild part of the property, so I could only get a photo from a distance. I did, however, look closely at the milkweed that was nearest to me, hoping to see a caterpillar. I never have, darn it!

7-2 blackraspberries

Lots of black raspberries everywhere. When they are red, like these, they aren’t ripe enough to eat. When they turn ‘black,’ they are. We picked a few the other day and they are delicious!

7-2 yarrow

I found another yarrow.

And this guy:

7-2 bug

7-2 bug2

Don has a gig this afternoon, but otherwise, we’re laying low this weekend. As you know, I’m not one to do much in the form of holiday decorating. I don’t fly the flag or hang bunting or decorate in red, white, and blue. (Although I miss watching the Boston Pops and the fireworks over the Charles River – that was always so moving.) But this time of year does bring some very special dates: tomorrow is my dear sister’s birthday, the 4th is the anniversary of the day Don and I met, and the 5th is my brother-in-law’s birthday.

Of course, I’ll try to find a new way to share the story of that Fateful Fourth, 22 years ago. Tune in Monday for that one.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, woods 30 Comments

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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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