Life in our little cottage in the country
I’m taking a break today. Frankly, I’m so disheartened and sickened by what happened yesterday to our democracy and the rule of law that I can’t see beyond that. Posting a pretty picture isn’t going to work today, my friends. I just need to step away. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I urge you to get up to speed. The future of our country and our democracy may just come down to us.
And who wants to read a post full of profanities? Right?
I’ll be back.
I’m sitting in the den, sipping my second cup of coffee, listening to classical music and feeling grateful that the sun has made an appearance.
Actually, I’m feeling grateful in general. I miss Don and wish I was with him this weekend, but we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s winter out there and visits will be decided by weather conditions. And coaching conditions. I work on Anastasia on Wednesday and Thursday this week, so I’ll most likely go in on Wednesday morning.
Taking a brief break.
I’m back. Don called and we chatted for a while. I love our morning phone calls. They sort of ground me for the day ahead.
Does this ever happen to you? You’re reading an article in a shelter magazine or even on a site like Houzz or Design Sponge and you become captivated by someone’s home and the way he/she has decorated it and then, as you’re about to finish the article, you read that they no longer live there and you’re incredibly disappointed?
That happened to me this morning as I was looking at a home in one of those special editions of Country Home magazine (which, it turns out, is a reprint, but since I didn’t see it the first time, I’m okay with it.) The house is in upstate New York and it was so individual and quirky and charming. And none of the furniture or pictures or accessories are there any longer. Makes me sad. Of course, with the time that elapses between photographing the space and actual publication, many things can and do change. I get it. But I always feel a wee bit let down.
I think I’m going to tackle the closet in the den today. It’s a black hole that has never been used in an efficient manner and since storage space is lacking in this house, I need to address it. I have some ideas, which include dumping all the VHS tapes that are stacked up on the top shelf. Really, Claudia? When is the last time you watched one? Why are they still there???
Happy Saturday.
Yesterday morning – Stella in light and shadow with Don’s “lost shaker of salt.” That was a gift from the producers. The other three sides have the names of the cities on the tour; Chicago, New Orleans and Houston.
Oil was delivered. (Side note: it’s jumped in price since the last time we ordered, a mere month ago.) We are relieved. Right now it’s about 20 degrees out there, which seems positively balmy compared to the last 3 or 4 days. Tomorrow will be warmer. But we’re due for some snow showers later in the day, so it’s cloudy.
The den late in the afternoon yesterday with the usual hodgepodge of books, papers, remotes, and more books. Do you remember the sign I found at Vignettes several years ago? It’s the Miss Keyboard’s School sign above the window. I feel in love with it and it hung above the piano for a couple of years until we found the lithograph of the Aquitania, which we quickly realized was a better choice for that wall. So I moved the Miss Keyboard sign to this place, which is rather perfect.
Don hit on the idea of collecting skeleton keys that we can hang from the little hooks on the sign.
The light that pours into this room from three sides makes it difficult to take pictures, but nevertheless, I keep trying. There are little hooks on each key, made to hold something or other that taught the young piano student about keys and octaves and sharps and flats.
I found three skeleton keys when I was antiquing right before Christmas. They are the beginning of our collection. We aim to search for them on our travels so that each new key tells a story – because you know we’re fond of a good story
The new leaf on the rubber plant has opened and it looks as if another one is coming up right next to it.
The peperomia has been doing a bit of acclimating, which necessitated the pruning of some leaves. I think – fingers crossed – it’s finally settling down.
I find I watch award shows less and less and the Golden Globes are usually a big old No. But we watched them last night for some reason. The fact that three female directors who were at the helm of three highly acclaimed movies were not nominated for Best Director is indicative of an industry that is still male-dominated. Patty Jenkins directed Wonder Woman, which was truly stunning and a huge, huge box office success. Dee Rees directed Mudbound, also highly acclaimed. And Greta Gerwig directed Lady Bird, which won some major awards last night. Note: Both Mudbound and Lady Bird should be in our mailbox soon, as they are SAG screeners, and I’m so looking forward to watching them.
Inequities exist in every profession and the film industry is no different than any other. But in the wake of disturbing allegations about men in power in Hollywood (I’m looking at you Harvey Weinstein and Brett Ratner and Kevin Spacey and James Toback and Bryan Singer) it’s no longer a dirty little secret that women are paid less, are sexually harassed (as are some men) and are still not on equal footing.
When I was teaching at Boston University, the President of the university was John Silber, who routinely paid women professors far less than male professors. It was a culture that was shocking in its male/female salary disparity. That’s part of the reason I left that position to take one in San Diego.
It still happens everywhere.
So hearing Oprah’s clarion call to women and men was simply stunning in its power and truth. I’m so glad I watched it. It was a cry from the heart. (If you haven’t seen her speech, make sure to catch a replay of it somewhere. It isn’t long and it’s totally worth your time.) Yes, indeed: #TimesUp.
Okay. Have to get moving. We’re headed over to Rick and Doug’s to see two dear friends who are coming for lunch. Trish and Colin are both actors and I first met Trish when I was living in Boston. She’s had a long career and was a part of Laurence Olivier’s acting company when she was just starting out. Imagine! She worked with Olivier!
Happy Monday.
