Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Seasonal Shift

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I started a new puzzle the other day but I never got to it yesterday.

It was a full day, with a first read-through of Jane Eyre in the morning and 3 hours of coaching in the afternoon. I’m tired.

I have more coaching to do later this morning.

The actors are very nice and eager to figure out the dialects.

It takes such concentrated effort to coach one-on-one. But when you’re in the same room as the coachee, it’s easier to pick up on facial expressions or frustration or whatever mood the actor is in. It’s much, much harder to do when coaching via Zoom. With Jane Eyre, I was coaching actors sitting in a board room and they were quite far away.

By the way, after I finished for the day I told Don I was absolutely sure I was speaking too loudly the whole time I was coaching. Not on purpose, of course, but I think that “They’re far away and I have to talk loudly” feeling crept into my voice. I’ll try to do better today.

On my break between the read-through and coaching sessions, I ran outside to water everything, folded clothes that had just come out of the dryer, and made a quick lunch. Don had gone out to take some pictures.

I’m coaching for two hours today, so it won’t be quite as tiring.

Then Jim again, later in the week.

The theme for this week is Zoom Dialect Coaching.

Don mentioned that it’s dark now when he gets up. And we both keep mentioning that it’s getting darker much earlier in the evening now. Sigh. Summer, you’ve been a huge challenge, but I’m not sure I’m ready for you to go. I think it’s fortunate that I’m coaching now, just as I was last year around this time when I coached during September – December. I’m so busy that I won’t have the time to be sad for very long..

And the light is different. You can tell that we’re heading into Autumn.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Over It

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Paris puzzle finished. Finishing off the trees was tedious. But I love this puzzle and, though I can barely imagine begin able to visit Paris again, this sure makes me want to.

I have had it with the heat. Yesterday, the heat index was 105°. Once again, I spent a long time watering everything in the morning, then I stayed inside for the rest of the day. The weather forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon – a 90% chance. I watched the radar and was so happy to see that we were going to get some rain. The wind kicked up, so much so, that Don went outside and took down the umbrella and I put the hanging plants on the floor of the porch. Storms were supposed to arrive by 7 pm.

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

Dumbfounded, I looked at the radar and there wasn’t a storm in sight.

This has happened EVERY TIME a major storm has been predicted. We are desperate for rain. The grass is brown, the plants are suffering. The humidity is high and my allergies are out of control.

Okay. Thanks for letting me vent. This has been a depressing summer and it looks like it’s going to continue.

Pippa and and the girls are sick of it, too.

Short of going naked, this is the coolest outfit we’ve got and Pip won out. They’d like to run in the sprinkler, but we don’t have one. Maybe we should walk over to the river?

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Sunsets, Trees, & Flowers

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Last night.

This morning. The David phlox are blooming. They have a pretty heavenly scent.

We’re definitely at peak garden level. After this, everything will start to fade away. Slowly, but it will happen. That makes me feel sad. It goes so quickly, doesn’t it? And once I hit August, I’m less apt to weed or clean out the beds.

I start work on one show in August and another in September, so my gardening time will be limited. The second production is a musical version of A Man of No Importance. It was originally a movie, starring the great Albert Finney and it’s one of my favorites. It’s being done at Classic Stage in NYC and will star Jim Parsons – which is why I’m a part of it. He recommended me and after some negotiations, I think all is set to go. I’ve zoomed with the Director, chatted with the new Artistic Director and done some research. Their budget is limited, so my days of work will also be limited.  In the ‘small world’ category, the music and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty who wrote the glorious music for Anastasia. So, Jane Eyre  in August and into the beginning of September, and A Man of No Importance  in September and October.

Finished tree puzzle. This one was difficult, but it’s so beautiful that it was worth it.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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