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You are here: Home / Archives for McCoy pottery

The Movie and McCoy

December 30, 2022 at 8:57 am by Claudia

We watched Spoiler Alert  last night – one month to the day since the premiere. Don can’t stop talking about it. He really, really loves the movie and, of course, he’s my biggest fan. I have a little distance on it now and it is truly a beautiful, warm, heartbreaking and funny movie. Michael Showalter is the bee’s knees as a director. And Jim and Ben, my heavens, how wonderful they are in these roles. The thing I love about it – something Don and I have discussed a lot this morning – is that it’s a movie about life and love and heartbreak that has two central characters who just happen to be gay. It’s a healthy step forward, I think. And a necessary one.

I finally got to really see my scene. Believe me, I’m just a little blip on the screen, but the night of the premiere I was so surprised that some of my lines that I thought had been cut were back in the movie, that I didn’t really take in what I said or how I said it. So we rewound the scene a couple of times. I was an actress for many years but I was a stage actress. Film acting is very, very different. You have to pull it back, you can’t get away with the largeness of onstage acting. Don keeps going on about how real I am in the scene and how well I adapted to film acting in that scene. I listened to the director when he told me to be a bit quieter, for one thing. And I think that because I had been watching so many scenes being shot – watching Jim and Ben and Sally and Bill and their approach to the camera – that some of it rubbed off on me. Anyway – dare I say it without sounding egotistical? – I’m proud of the way it came out. It’s a pivotal moment in the film and it paves the way for the next few interactions. Of course, no one really likes the way they look onscreen, myself included, but that is beyond my control; heck, I was 69 when it was filmed.

Anyway, I will admit to a little thrill when I see it. And I will definitely admit to an even bigger thrill when I listen to Ben playing an American character. He really aced it and boy oh boy, was it a pleasure and honor to work with him.

Sigh of happiness.

I decided to pack the little putz houses away because I had been thinking of doing this. (I’ll take a distance shot soon.) We were moving the pew back to its usual home and I hesitated about placing the McCoy under it once again. So, now we’ve got this, which I’m still tweaking, but I like it. I especially like the way it cuts through the dark mahogany of the piano. Mahogany is not my favorite finish, but it was a big deal when my grandparents purchased this piano.

I finished the Herron, returned it to the library and picked up another book that had come in. We ran some errands. Don is making black-eyed peas for the new year and I found some coconut cream, so I’m going to try another batch of Linzer Tart cookies.

I’ve started Desert Star, the newest Michael Connelly. It’s like having a reunion with an old friend. He’s a wonderful writer.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: McCoy pottery, Spoiler Alert 26 Comments

Moving Things Around

January 6, 2022 at 10:27 am by Claudia

It’s sunny today! I don’t think it will last, but I’m happy to see it. We’re supposed to get some snow overnight – maybe an inch or two. Since it will be our first real snowfall, we’re looking forward to it. That will change come February, of course.

I moved some things around yesterday because trying to display the girls and my turquoise/aqua McCoy 0n the same small surface had become problematic. As you well know, display space of any kind is limited here and it’s all in use.

But then, I came up with this idea:

Since it was late in the day and darkish when I put them there, I wasn’t sure it was such a good idea. But this morning, I think it’s perfect. It adds some color to this area of wood floor and wooden pew. And nestled under the pew, they’re safe.

The girls are now displayed here:

I grabbed an old sewing machine drawer and placed it on its side to make a platform. This also provides a bit more space for another girl. Ahem.

I asked Don to come look at both this and the McCoy under the pew and he enthusiastically gave it all a thumbs up. Then he stared at the girls and said “They’re works of art.” He especially likes Pip.

How thankful I am that he gets it.

Thank you for all your supportive comments about the girls. It’s good to know that you enjoy seeing them.

In that vein, here’s Imogen in another outfit from LenaLittleDress that arrived while I was away in NYC.

With the yellow shoes!

She looks rather pleased with the ensemble.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Imogen, McCoy pottery 26 Comments

Pottery and Laughter

March 4, 2020 at 10:08 am by Claudia

How many times can you post a photo of pottery and make it look fresh? The answer? Zero. But I keep trying. Frankly, in the non-gardening season, it isn’t easy to come up with new ideas for a photo. Only if I happen to have something new to display, like the kitchen island.

I’m tired today. The winds have been very strong all night long and today. I didn’t sleep well because the wind kept waking me up. So I feel sort of edgy – strong winds do that to me – and I keep shouting at the wind to ‘Cool it!’

It isn’t listening to me.

At least it’s sunny. There’s that.

We watched another episode of Babylon Berlin  last night and then switched over to coverage of Super Tuesday. Very, very interesting, don’t you think? I will admit to being very excited about the next several months, though I will do my best to maintain some distance from the 24 hour news and social media coverage. Sanity remains my top priority.

I’m reading Year of the Monkey  by Patti Smith. And, since I’m tired, perusing magazines, which are the best thing for me when my attention span is somewhat limited.

Thankfully I have a husband who is one of the funniest people I know and last night, in the midst of the results when my energy was flagging and the wind was beginning to howl, he had me laughing so hard that I started snorting. He was relentless. I can’t begin to describe to you what he was saying but it was a long running monologue and I finally had to beg him to stop, just so I could breathe.

When I was younger, but not so young that I wasn’t already wise about this sort of thing, I was often asked what I considered to be my number one requirement on my list of qualities in a future mate. The non-negotiable requirement.

I would immediately answer, “A sense of humor. He has to make me laugh and laugh a lot.”

Bingo. I got my wish. He can make me laugh so hard that I have to rush to the bathroom because I’m going to pee in my pants.

I’m not bragging…but maybe I am – I can also make him laugh just as hard. Nothing makes me happier than making my husband laugh.

Where would we be without laughter?

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: Don, McCoy pottery 24 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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