Just one more reminder that the email version of this post is no longer consistently delivered and it can go out any time – usually much, much later than I publish it. Please consider getting in the habit of just coming to the blog directly. I always published the post by 11 am, usually by 10 am.

That’s your public service announcement for today.

It is VERY cold here. For some reason last night, I couldn’t get warm when I went to bed. So I didn’t get as much sleep as I would have liked. Maybe it’s the sudden change from relatively mild temperatures to very cold weather. I’ll eventually get used to it.

Friday’s forecast has changed from 3-5 inches of snow to 1 inch. We have some rain coming Wednesday and Sunday, but no snow in sight on the long range forecast which goes to January 18th. We did not get hit with the snow that the coast did – that storm went right up the coast and we’re inland so we were spared.

One of Don’s birthday gifts to me:

He had a mug made for me with a picture of my director’s chair from the movie set. I did grab the canvas with my name on it. (We all did.) It’s on the wall in the office.

I’ve started the Jane Austen puzzle, but I didn’t start it until late in the day yesterday, so I just got all the edge pieces in place. More today. I’ve been experiencing some anxiety lately and working on a puzzle is a pleasant way to make that go away.

It’s sunny today. I can’t tell you how much we need it!

And finally, these arrived in the mail yesterday:

Yellow! They’re made by CraftyCora. She lives in Connecticut, which is refreshing since most of the stuff I order for the girls comes from other countries. There just isn’t a whole lot available here – based on what I’ve discovered so far. Cora does impeccable work. I have the same pair in green and I suspect I’ll order more.

I don’t know how she does it!

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Unexpected delights. It’s foggy this morning and as I looked out the kitchen window, I saw mama robin’s nest, now abandoned. What an unexpected pleasure it was to watch this single parent build the nest, lay her eggs, and feed her babies – all of which must have been exhausting without her partner. Another unexpected pleasure – watching the Carolina wrens build their nest and feed their babies.

Discovering I could paint in oils. (Who knew?)

After nearly two years of no work, starting work again with the 2nd national tour of Anastasia.

Coaching a movie.

Discovering Blythe dolls in August.

I’m sure there’s more.

Grateful.

Here’s to new delights and discoveries in 2022. To nature and all its beauty. To health and happiness and peace and solace and love and joy for all of you.

I am so grateful for your presence in my life. Thank you.

Happy New Year, my friends. (Taking the day off tomorrow, but I’ll be back on Sunday.)

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

How is everyone doing?

Since our Christmas is fairly low-key, we’re fine.

We are laying low today. I have some things to do, as does Don, but mostly, we’re going to listen to holiday music, read, eat, and watch It’s a Wonderful Life  tonight.

I spent some time trying to get all the girls lined up on the music cabinet in order to take a picture. I was worried one of them would fall off. But I figured it out and here they are:

Sophie, Maeve, Imogen, Olivia, Pippa, and Zoe.

They now live in the den – and they’re still in this position. If I put them upstairs in the office, I’d barely see them. Better here, where I can look at them while I’m writing this blog post.

I’m finishing up a Maigret mystery – Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses. I find Simenon’s rather short mysteries are perfect when I’m not ready to commit to a long novel. They’re a little apértif.

We watched The Kennedy Center Honors last night and I cried several times. Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Berry Gordy – music that I have loved most of my life. Hearing that music, seeing them honored, hearing their stories, was a perfect way to spend an evening. For several years recently, the Honors were not what they used to be. The choices made by the producers resulted in a rather shallow production, instead of a grand salute to talented and brilliant artists who have performed and created and innovated over a lifetime. Some of the honorees were far too young, in my opinion, to have earned an Honor. This time, they got it right. Fingers crossed for the future.

Okay. Time for our second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.