Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Jasmine, Darcy & Stitching

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Certain scents evoke a strong response – a sense memory so strong that you are instantly transported to a place, an event, a time in your life. For me, Jasmine is one of those scents. You find it everywhere in San Diego. Night Blooming Jasmine reminds me of walking my dogs in the evening in my old neighborhood here in San Diego and walking through Balboa Park on my way to a performance. It reminds me of meeting my husband and stealing a kiss as we walked to our cars along the back road behind the theater. It is such a heady, glorious scent. It is one of my favorite things about being in San Diego.

We have finished our rehearsals in the rehearsal hall and will move onstage Tuesday for the beginning of tech rehearsals. Monday night is the memorial for Craig Noel, the founder of the theater. Several hundred people are expected. I look forward to seeing many old friends.

I see Darcy most every day. Here is a photo from my walk home today:

Awwww.

For the first time since I arrived here, I did some stitching. This is my project based on Theresa McFayden’s Freestyle Embroidery EZine. Since I will have more free time in the coming weeks, I hope to add more to it.

By the way, as I was yet again sitting on the sofa, I experienced another earthquake yesterday. This time I was talking to my husband on the phone and I told him it seemed worse than the last. It was. It was a 5.3 earthquake with a 4.5 aftershock.

I think 2 earthquakes are enough, don’t you?

They’re Here

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My favorite time of year at Trader Joe’s is here.


The peonies have arrived! I made a quick stop there today, hoping they would be there. I love, love peonies. If I can’t be home to see our two peony bushes in bloom, this surely is the next best thing.


Aren’t they the most gorgeous, lush flowers? And the scent! This is a necessary indulgence for me – and photographing them is such fun.

Those of us on the creative staff for a production always get a rose on opening night. Three of these beauties are in a vase here in the apartment. Two of the designers had to leave before opening, so I got their roses.


There were so many great name suggestions for the koala:

Dundee, Kolby, Martin, Diego, Toby, Dennis, Sydney, Blinky Bill, Romeo, Clip, Darcy, Sleepy, Ichabod Crane, Mate, Sheila, Brisbane, Kiki, Sweet Pea……

I love them all. My sister insists on Darcy (we both love Pride and Prejudice.) So Darcy it is, but Darcy’s nickname will be Sweet Pea. I see him/her most every day. He sits on a metal bar and hugs the fence. His eyes scrunch shut and he is absolutely adorable. Norma from Australia tells me that they sleep a great deal of the time because their diet of eucalyptus has almost no calories. I would be happy to supply a nice soft sofa for Darcy to sleep on – really!

I’ll post photos from the Urban Barn sale in my next post.

Beauty on the Page & Tulips

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Warning: these publications contain so many beautiful images, so much eye-candy, if you will, that we recommend reading them in several short sessions, spread over several days.

Actually, it isn’t far from the truth! I so look forward to these issues and when I finally have them in my hands, I find myself reading little bits at a time. There is so much to take in and I find that I can only handle a little before I come down with a full-fledged case of ‘Beauty Overload.’ I suspect I also want to take my time so that I don’t get to that final page too soon.

I’ve started reading Where Women Create – some of my favorite bloggers are featured, including Karen Valentine and Elizabeth Maxon. I’m so happy for them both! I know that Beverly and Pink Saturday are featured in Artful Blogging – a well deserved recognition of all the work Beverly does every week in her role as hostess of this event.

Back to rehearsals today. Last night I attended a lovely tribute to Raul Moncada, friend and colleage of many years when I worked here full-time. He was just 64 when he died. But what a lesson he taught us – grab life by the horns and live it fully. He had such an amazing life; born in Cuba, eventually making a life in the United States. He was an actor, a translator, a playwright, a stage manager. He traveled the world. He was loved by many, including Don and me.


New tulips from Trader Joe’s. I always love flowers around my home, of course, but especially so here in this temporary lodging. They add life and beauty to the apartment. They make me smile. And you can’t beat that morning light, can you?

Have a wonderful day.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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