These two traveled with me to New Jersey.

I was only gone a couple of days and the work itself was easy. I saw a run-through of the play (it’s wonderful!) and took notes. The next day I spent some time with the actors to give them notes. Then I headed home. I was supposed to stay there Saturday night as well (in a hotel) but it became clear that I would be able to leave early on Saturday. I let the theater know and they were able to cancel the reservation for Saturday night.

The hotel was nice, but they had the worst tap water ever. I couldn’t believe how bad it tasted! I went downstairs to buy a bottle of water and the woman working at the front desk gave me some empty bottles to fill up from a water dispenser in the lobby. The next morning, I had to pull on some clothes, go downstairs, and fill them up again so I could make some coffee in my room.

Then, the kicker: I headed home as a line of dangerous storms was set to hit NJ and the Hudson Valley. I had made it to the NY Thruway when a deluge came down and it lasted for about 30 miles. I could barely see the car in front of me. Everyone slowed way, way down. I was clutching the wheel and my body was so tense I could barely stand it. I haven’t been through a storm like that in years. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I arrived home.

This particular gig is a lovely one. The cast is so talented and fun and kind. Darko, as always, is a dream to work with. I’m very grateful. The hassle is in the logistics – the travel back and forth, the insane drivers in New Jersey, the Garden State Parkway, the toll booths that pop up at an exit requiring “Exact Change” when you had no idea that was going to happen. And you have very little change.

I could tell you stories all day long about this particular commute. And I have to do it again this weekend. I will be there until Sunday this time, because I’m watching and taking notes on evening performances. But then, I’ll be done.

Don’s gig went well, but he was going through the same kind of thing. His friend, who lives about 45 minutes north of us, drove to our house and picked Don up. Then they drove to the friend’s house where Don dropped him off and left from there to go to the performance site. He was driving his friend’s old truck that required the use of a stick. After the performance, Don drove home. And then on Saturday morning, he drove to his friend’s house, took him out to lunch, and then said friend drove Don home. He was exhausted from worrying about the stick. Thankfully, he didn’t grind any gears. (We are so grateful for the generous use of the truck and his friend’s time.)

We were both wiped out on Saturday night.

I had to stop the ads on the blog temporarily because ads were suddenly appearing where I didn’t want them. BIG ads. Hopefully, my ad company will fix this situation today.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

A little tour of the porch today. I took these photos this morning. You can see the autumn sunlight in some of the shots. It was cold out there!

The view of the seating area and the morning light coming through the trees.

You can see how much the calibrachoa has grown.

Facing in the other direction; the maple tree and a couple of the hanging plants, the picnic table and potted impatiens.

The impatiens are huge!

I’ve had this Boston fern for 8 years now. It overwinters upstairs in the office/studio, eventually looks bedraggled and dry, then it moves outside and recovers.

Most of these plants will hang on through October and into early November. The setup is basically the same every year. These plants work well with our climate, and the little microclimate on the porch.

Makes me happy.

I leave on Friday morning for New Jersey and I’ll come back home on Sunday. I’ll be back with you on Monday.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

The purple loosestrife that grows by the culvert. It’s supposed to be invasive, but it’s never been invasive here. It usually appears in damp places, near water. The culvert is where the rainwater flows, so there it is. I love it. Even Don remarked on the beautiful color.

I should have said “it’s never been invasive here in the 20 years we’ve lived here” as we celebrated 20 years of living in this cottage on Saturday. We moved in at the same time Hurricane Katrina hit and we had no idea of the impact and damage because we had no cable for several days. Such happiness for us and such devastation for Louisiana. Forever linked in my mind.

I go back to NJ on Friday, so I won’t be blogging Friday and Saturday. I’ll head home on Sunday morning. There will be one more Friday/Saturday the following week, and then I’ll be done. I love the coaching; it’s the driving there and back that’s a bit of a drag. But I’ll be reimbursed for the mileage put on my car.

The Mets are imploding at the moment. We just couldn’t watch yesterday afternoon – it’s so frustrating! I suppose they could still pull off a wild card bid, but it’s looking less and less likely.

Modern Art Barbie. She arrived around 9 pm on Saturday. I had given up on her but the FedEx driver was dealing with a lot of deliveries. She’s really beautiful! This is a doll and dress that was issued in the 1960s and she’s been recreated for this Silkstone Barbie. I love her curly bubble cut and the combination of her red hair and green dress.

The two Barbies – both Silkstone reissues. The painting came with Modern Art Barbie. This Barbie is an artist and she signed the painting. I’m keeping them on the desk as they look too small next to the Gene Marshall and Ellowyne Wilde dolls – they’re 16 inches tall and Barbie is just under 12 inches. (I filmed a little video and it’s on my YouTube channel.)

Don is extremely good natured about the various dolls popping up all over the house. I have rules; no dolls on display in the kitchen or the living room or the bedroom. And not in Don’s area of the office/studio. But he’s a good guy – he really likes the newest acquisition.

Okay. I have to do some work on the script. There have been lots of changes and I have to record them all so I’m not thrown during the run through on Friday.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.