I’m back in Hartford. My trip back included a stop at the post office to mail the green scarf to its new owner, a stop at the gas station to fill ‘er up, a stop at my local supermarket to buy some Peet’s FR and Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa as well as fresh vegetables, brown rice and other essentials, and a stop at Trader Joe’s for a couple of things, but mostly fresh flowers.

I pulled into the parking lot at the apartment building at 4 pm. Perfect. I like getting back in time to relax, have dinner, take a bubble bath and get a good night’s sleep so that I’m fresh and ready for the next day’s work.

As I was taking my trash bag to the trash room, I saw this (I ran back to the apartment to get my iPhone.)

Sunset over the Capitol Building.

More flowers.

And more flowers. I now have three vases full of beautiful flowers and oh, what a difference it makes in a temporary living space.

I also grabbed couple of smallish potted plants at the grocery store, loaded them into my cart, and they are now sitting in front of the windows. I’ll get some photos of them today.

I’ll be here for another month, so the more I can do to make this space home, the better. But I only purchase things I’ll also use at home. The plants will probably end up in the shared office space back at the cottage. (I said a brief hello to it yesterday. Sob.) Everything else that I’ve added to this space has been brought from home. I’m fortunate in that I can load my car up and drive everything here. But even when I was spending ten weeks or six months coaching in San Diego, I managed to do the same thing. I sent a couple boxes of things from home that I wanted around me and I filled in the rest with a couple of visits to IKEA. Everything I purchased there has since been used in the cottage. No waste. If it won’t work in both spaces, I don’t buy it. (If the job is less than three weeks, I’ll usually refrain from bringing anything, though I’ve been known to pick some wildflowers and put them in a jar.)

One other addition:

Wayfrum Holmes. After apologizing to him profusely for actually considering being here without him, I nestled him in the car and here he is.

For those of you who are newer readers, several years ago – in 2009 – I had to work away from home for six months. Don gave me this little bear so that I’d have someone to cuddle when I was missing the dogs and him. When I mentioned that he needed a name, Don came up with Wayfrum Holmes. Usually Wayfrum is accompanied by Maggie Rabbit and a little lamb, but this time, I decided that Wayfrum and I needed some quality time together – just the two of us.

Thank you for your kind words yesterday. It’s a tough time right now, with some good days and some bad days for our girl. Yesterday was a wee bit better for her. Lately, the stuff of life has been a bit too much for yours truly.

But, I’m very grateful for my work and the opportunity to work here on this beautiful masterpiece of a play. That is a blessing. As is my supportive and incredible husband.

Happy Tuesday.