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Potpourri on Tuesday (I’m All Over the Place)

September 16, 2014 at 9:18 am by Claudia

As Thursday draws nearer, I find I have lists and more lists all over the cottage. Errands to run. Things to pack. Phone calls to make.

And I’m more than a bit spacey. The other day I posted a photo on a blog post that I realized – several days after the fact – I had already used in a post last week. After rereading yesterday’s post, I worried that it was sort of the same thing I’ve said before. And it is. Ah, well. Sorry.

Forgive me if I’m a bit stressed. Packing for five weeks is always hard, but now I’m also taking Scout. And, unfortunately, for the first two weeks, we have to be in a hotel. After that, we will move to an apartment. It’s sort of a pain in the tush. I like this hotel. I’ve stayed there before. Everyone who works there is really nice. But how will Ms. Scout adjust? I don’t know. It’s a bit further from the park and Scoutie has a limp these days, so I worry about her.

Oh lord, I’m all about worrying. I’ve been that way since I was a wee girl.

If Scout doesn’t adjust to the hotel, she’ll move to her dad’s for a week or so. Hopefully, she’ll weather the change and be okay.

beatles sign on piano

Remember the sign I got Don for his birthday? We temporarily propped it up on the piano until we could decide on a good place to hang it. Eventually, we realized that we like it where it is. So, for the time being, it’s staying right there. I added a photo I took of Don when we were in Boston – he’s doing his best to recreate the famous Abbey Road picture.

beatles sign on piano 2

Stepping back. I am still so in love with that lithograph of the Aquitania.

Yesterday was gorgeous. Today is rainy. I took advantage of yesterday’s beautiful weather and took at least a hundred photos of the gardens and the flowers and bugs and things like that. I’m stocking up on photos for future blog posts. Rehearsals are pretty intense for the first week and I might not have time to walk around Hartford and take pictures. And when I do walk around Hartford, I will often have Scout with me, so there’s that.

Don, my love, more of your zinnias:

for don

for don 2

We miss you.

We’ve talked about the ad income I receive (believe me, it’s minuscule) from this blog before, right? That’s the only income I receive. I say this only because a sweet and lovely reader assumed I was getting paid for my book reviews and I wondered if other readers thought the same thing? I never thought about it before, but I can see where someone might think that is the case.

I do not get paid for my book reviews. I receive the book in exchange for my honest review. If I got paid, I wouldn’t be able to be completely honest in my reviews. Now, if I worked for a newspaper or journal or something like that, I would expect to be paid because I would be working for an entity that is neutral as to the books being reviewed. But, since I get the books from the publisher and/or author, accepting any pay would be tantamount to writing a post in which I would feel pressure to give it a thumbs up. That’s why I include that statement in every review that thanks either TLC Book Tours or the publisher or NetGalley for a copy of the book “in exchange for my honest review.”

Just wanted to clarify that.

I’m off to read my lists and make a plan for the day.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: blog, books, Don, flowers, Scout 24 Comments

And…I’m Off!

September 11, 2014 at 8:15 am by Claudia

Today, I drive to Hartford for an afternoon rehearsal and then back home again. Four hours, round-trip, in what increasingly looks like rain and thunderstorms. I’m leaving Dame Scout at home and my neighbor is going to look in on her. Since we have to travel together again a week from today, keeping her at home in her familiar surroundings seems like the best option.

I finished Act Two yesterday. Then I mowed the dog corral and the whole front yard.

After that, I collapsed.

THURS autumnal zinnia

This zinnia just opened. I planted it in one of our barrels by the Funky Patio. The colors are quite autumnal!

I did some editing on yesterday’s post as the day went on and I remembered more details. Beah Richards played Sidney Poitier’s mother in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and she and Don worked together in an episode of The Practice, not L.A. Law.

I also worked with Robert Hays, Don’s longtime friend, in a production of Mister Roberts at the Old Globe.

And I believe that Don worked with Elinor Donahue in an episode of Get A Life, starring Chris Elliott. It’s a very funny episode with Don playing a cop who always wants donuts. In that same episode was Chris’ father, Bob Elliott, of the comedy team, Bob and Ray.

THURS M Glory & Candy Stripes

Of course, not on the list are countless wonderful actors and actresses and directors that the general public wouldn’t necessarily recognize, but who are every bit as talented as the ones on I mentioned yesterday. They work in theaters throughout the country, on Broadway and off-Broadway. That list, my friends, is just as important to us as the one on the blog.

THURS newishzinnia

I received my pre-publication copy of Deborah Crombie’s newest book, To Dwell in Darkness, yesterday. Though I was already reading another book, I started it last night. One is on the Kindle, one is in hardcover. Since I was charging my Kindle, I used that as an excuse to start the Crombie.

Makes sense to me.

I’ll be reviewing it on this blog at the end of the month.

Okay. Have to jump in the shower and get ready for a long day.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, coaching, Don, flowers, On The Road 18 Comments

An Adventure

September 7, 2014 at 7:44 am by Claudia

Crazy morning ahead with Don packing his things, trying to get out the door by 9:30. Isn’t Sunday supposed to be a day of rest? Ha! Not for this threesome. Travel to New Haven, then squeezing in some coaching in the middle of the day while Don and Scout go to the local park, then back to New Haven. Scootie and I are staying the night as sort of a test. We want to see how she does there because when Don and I are both working out of town, there will be some days when she stays with him.

sedum & bee

The Sedum is turning pink; a sure sign of fall.

How will Dame Scout react to all the adventures that are ahead of her for the next two months? Let’s hope she isn’t so set in her ways that she can’t adapt. No matter how old she is, she does have an adventuresome spirit. Today and tomorrow will be interesting!

This will be short. Have to get ready.

One more photo.

hanging plant

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Don, flowers, On The Road, Scout 12 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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