Hudson Valley — Page 2

A River, A Book & A Movie

June 27, 2019 at 10:13 am by Claudia

From our morning walk, which, even though early, was pretty humid.

Literally just down the road from us. The same river that is also just across the street from us.

We live in a beautiful place.

88 degrees and humid today. And tomorrow. And Saturday. Yikes. I do my best to refrain from turning on the air conditioner until it becomes unbearable. It’s nice to get some fresh air in the house before we have to close it up.

I guess we went right from rainy spring to hot and humid.

We watched a foreign movie last night on Netflix: Todos lo saben – or Everyone Knows. It stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, two extremely talented actors who happen to be married to each other in real life. I won’t give away the plot. It’s terrific – beautifully filmed and a gripping story line. It was so powerful for us that we talked about it for an hour this morning over our second cup of coffee and we’re going to watch it again tonight. The cast, most of whom I’m unfamiliar with, is uniformly excellent. There’s something about watching a foreign film, where most of the actors are unknown to you, that allows you to sink into the plot. Not that American actors aren’t talented, they are, but there’s so much ‘image’ and ‘celebrity’ larger-than-life stuff that you already know about them and you can’t help but be aware that it’s Julia Roberts, say, or George Clooney, playing a role. It’s not fair to them, of course. It’s just the way it is.

Anyway, it’s quite well done. Excellent.

I’m about midway through The Diary of a Bookseller and I’m really enjoying it. The author is slightly irascible in a wonderful way and his observations about the book trade, customers and the looming threat of Amazon are edifying. I find myself chuckling out loud frequently.

Happy Thursday.

Camera Therapy

February 3, 2017 at 9:41 am by Claudia

As I sat in my chair, shawl around my shoulders (it’s very, very cold outside) reading A Gentleman in Moscow, blinds shut, lamps lighting the room, I thought how lovely it would be to shut out the world, stay in my chair and read all day long. No news, no emails, no fights – just escape.

That isn’t me, as you know. But for a few hours this morning, it was a lovely fantasy.

I am really enjoying A Gentleman in Moscow. The author, Amor Towles, is a beautiful writer. He has created a world within the walls of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in the year 1922 and I have completely embraced it. I can’t wait to get back to it.

Perhaps I can do the same thing here, never leaving, never having to admit that there are threats upon the horizon. Sigh.

We ran off for a half hour or so yesterday – only that as it was so windy and cold that we had to retreat to the car – to take some photos of the spectacular landscape that is part of our town. I took my new lens, which meant I had to use the iPhone to get a distance shot, but it was fun to play. Freezing, but fun.

Apple orchard against a changing sky.

Our mountains off in the distance. Don says that he loves the clouds in the Hudson Valley. They are always changing, almost always spectacular in their way. Yesterday’s clouds were no exception. Changing by the second, big swaths of mist moving in and out of the horizon, it was a wonder to behold.

Via my iPhone. On the top of one of the mountains, you can just make out the lookout tower that is part of the property belonging to the famous Mohonk Mountain House.

And I saw a woodpecker from the kitchen window – way off in the dead ash tree that is now surrounded by a maple tree. He’s shadowy in these photos, almost as if he wanted to hide from me.

I’m doing my best to find pockets of creativity in my day. Sanity savers: books, the daily NY Times Crossword, my camera, and Don Don Don Don Don. Oh, and vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Imagine how my heart soared when I saw that in the supermarket!

Thank you so much for yesterday’s discussion and for sharing your challenges and the ways in which you strive to achieve balance in the face of worry and despair. Your thoughts helped so many. There is a coming together here that surely provides solace for the soul. I certainly feel that way as I read your thoughts.

Much love to all of you. Peace.

Happy Friday.

Random on Friday

November 4, 2016 at 9:16 am by Claudia

It was quite warm yesterday, actually a little too warm. But after a rainy morning, the skies turned blue and it was quite lovely.

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Driving home from running some errands, I passed one of the seemingly hundreds of apples orchards around here.

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Apple trees and the mountains in the distance.

It’s a good 20 degrees cooler today and – yes – I will have to bring the porch plants in tonight. It’s going down to 31. I’ll do it again on Sunday and then it looks like there will be a stretch of days where they can stay outside. If the weather pattern doesn’t indicate a long stretch of freezing temperatures, why rob myself and others of seeing pretty flowers? Right?

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The view from the hallway into the studio/office (I will never figure out what to call this space!) This cabinet serves as our linen cabinet. We got it for $20 at auction when we first moved in here. But, let’s face it, I could use a larger cabinet. Hmmmm. I’ll keep my eye out. The quilts are stacked on top – not very elegantly, I’m afraid. Most, but not all, of them were made by yours truly.

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On the door leading into the studio/office: a chalkboard with a quote from Leonard Cohen, and my dad’s golf hat. It was hanging on a hat rack in the entrance hall of their condo. I like it here. It’s as if he’s guarding my space.

A big story today in Newsweek, by respected journalist Kurt Eichenwald: Why Vladimir Putin’s Russia is Backing Donald Trump. This is about as alarming as it gets.

Oh, except for the rogue faction in the FBI getting involved as well.

And Wikileaks and Julian Assange.

How can this election be any more insane?

The stress level in the Hill-Sparks household is through the roof. To be fair, the stress level is a little higher with me. I am obsessed with Twitter, DailyKos, Huffington Post, MSNBC. I can’t stop. I know my sister is just as obsessed. We talk about it all the time.

I need a break. Calgon, take me away!

Happy Friday.

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A River, A Book & A Movie

Camera Therapy

Random on Friday

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Lambs Like to Party

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