The hollyhocks that are growing at the base of the tall hollyhock I bought this year are blooming. Lovely!

I love me some morning glories!

I haven’t had a chance to check anything else out yet. I arrived here around 7:30 last night. Remind me not to drive home again on a Sunday night. Or a Friday night. Backups everywhere.

I’m getting ready to move my car to my neighbor’s driveway so that I can get in and out today. Once Stella is delivered, there will be guys here helping Don uncrate her and get her in the house. Lots of instructions as to uncrating from Marco at Antique Stove Heaven and lots of instructions as to the use of the refrigerator dolly from our local hardware store and lots of instructions from Raymond at Antique Stove Heaven as to NOT lifting her by her handles.

Yikes. This is why I didn’t want to be here!

Anyway, keep an eye on Instagram today. I’ll try to update when I can. In the meantime, I have to get my car inspected at 11:30.

I wrote a big long text message to my neighbor this morning, explaining in detail how crazy it’s going to be here and finally ending up by asking if I could park in her driveway. After all of that, I got this response. “Of course! We’re in North Carolina!”

I laughed out loud. Had no idea they weren’t there.

The news from Texas and Houston is devastating. My heart is breaking for Southeast Texas. I encourage everyone to donate to the Red Cross or any other organizations that will provide much needed relief. Prayers for Houston.

Happy Monday.

Do you remember this pair of earrings?

You might remember, then, when I lost one of them last December while doing something in the kitchen and Don and I tore the house apart trying to find it and this went on and on as I completely moved everything in the kitchen the next day, cleaning as I went, until a reader said I should check the silverware drawer (which I was sure wouldn’t work) and then I opened the drawer the next day and there was the earring nestled under the forks? You can read about it here.

I’ve had these earrings for a long time.  It must be twenty years now – I suspect even longer than that. They’re my favorites as they are long and dangly but simple in design.

At the end of Saturday’s rehearsal, I walked back to the apartment and spent the evening answering comments, reading, watching tv, talking to Don on the phone – the usual. Then I prepared to take a bath, which is sort of a nightly thing for me when I’m in Hartford. After I pulled my t-shirt over my head, I reached for my earrings.

There was only one. I immediately did what you would do. I pulled up the cushions on the sofa, I looked under the sofa, the coffee table. I looked in the kitchen. I looked at the t-shirt, shaking it in case the earring was caught on it. I looked in the laundry basket. I looked in the bathroom. Nowhere to be found. Just to be sure, I did the whole thing all over again before I got in bed.

Calm down, I told myself. Maybe the Universe is telling you it’s time to let them go.

But I love  them, I stubbornly said.

But, perhaps due to a lavender scented bubble bath, I remained calm. The next morning, I checked the elevator and the lobby, where there are tables that sometimes hold items that have been found in the building. Nothing.

I decided I would retrace my exact route home Saturday night when I walked to the theater on Sunday morning. Which I did. Imagine me walking slowly, staring at the cement, all the way to the theater. Of course, I found nothing, and I was thinking that even if it had been there, somebody would have picked it up.

I walked into the lobby of the building where the rehearsal rooms are. Nothing. The elevator? Nothing. The long walk down the hallway to the rehearsal space? Nothing. Thinking I’d check the green room and the bathroom after I set my bag down in the rehearsal room, I turned to walk through the doorway.

In the corner between the wall and the doorway, just inside the room – there it was.

Perfectly protected from someone stepping on it, it was tucked into that corner and the silver flashed in the light and I shouted out, “There’s my earring!” thereby shocking the stage management team and Darko, who were already in the room. I guess it decided to spend the night in the rehearsal space.

Amazing. That’s twice now. Since then, I’ve been using those plastic things that slide up the shepherd’s hook on the earring but I need smaller, snugger backs (is that the word?) The ones I’m using work perfectly with another pair I brought along, but not so well on this one.

The Universe is clearly telling me to get some backs and use them.

In the meantime, I check my ears about a thousand times a day.

My nephew went home from the hospital yesterday evening. We are very happy to know that the healing process can continue at home.

Happy Tuesday.