Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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The Art Museum

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On Friday, I had a bit of free time before rehearsal, so I went to the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford’s beautiful art museum. It’s the perfect size, not so huge that you find it overwhelming. There is currently a special Andrew Wyeth Exhibition going on that shows some of his paintings along with the studies he executed of each subject. I saw the Atheneum’s collection of paintings and a Civil War Exhibition that included a letter handwritten by Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greely. That gave me goose bumps. I stand in awe of Abraham Lincoln.

This sculpted trapeze artist hangs from the ceiling of one of the rooms.

And this beautiful stained glass ceiling is in another room.

This is one of my favorites from this museum, “Two Girls with Oleander” by Klimt.

I included this because it’s “The Tempest” by Magritte. And that’s the name of the play I’m here to coach.

This is “Autumn in the Village” by Marc Chagall.

There were beautiful sculptures and antiquities. I had a lovely time and plan to go back again. Because I’m working at the theater, I get in free.

My schedule is filling up – so much so, that I can’t go home this week. I’m sad. However, it would be too hard to drive all that way for just one day at home. I broke the news to Don last night. I know he would like me there for a few days as we had a scare with Riley on Thursday night. He was bleeding from his mouth (the right side) and Don couldn’t get near him to figure out what was going on. It was very frightening. We finally decided that Don should take him to the Emergency Vet and, miraculously, on the way there Riley stopped bleeding and seems to be fine today. Thank goodness. There must have been some injury to the right side of his mouth – a cut or a sore of some kind. He was fine on Friday. He ate his food and he didn’t bleed. Keep our boy in your thoughts, okay? He’s had a hard time of it and I want him to be with us as long as possible.

Have a good Saturday.

The Stories They Tell

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In the middle of Hartford lies The Old Burying Ground. This little cemetery is next to a church. Many of the founding families of Hartford are buried there. The gravestones are old, faded and, in some cases, have fallen over. In the midst of the traffic and noise of a city, this little place of quiet and refuge tells a story.

So many markers are for women who died at the age of 30 or thereabouts. You know they died in childbirth. So many children, taken so young. Oh, it’s heartbreaking to read these stones.

How transient life! O then
be wise today,
tomorrow is not yours
this madness to delay.
Oh him reflect ye young and gay
And thus a solemn warning take
That though this hour ye sport and play
The next to God your light may take.
The carving on this stone is beautiful. I don’t think you’ll be able to read it clearly, but the deceased, Margaret Lawrence, died in 1778. She lies here “with 5 of her children by her side.” Heartbreaking.
One stone represented 5 children of one family, who died at various ages from newborn to teenager. How devastated these families must have been in a world where an illness that is non-life threatening nowadays could snatch their children away forever.

Every stone tells a story. Some are very simple, some are ornate. I don’t know about you, but I like visiting old cemeteries. I’m always quiet, doing my best to honor those who have departed. In a graveyard as old as this one, you really get a sense of what life was like in the mid to late 1700’s. Though there were many stones that told of untimely death, there were also many for people who lived into their 80’s. How must it have felt to be one of the original settlers of a town? How brave they all were.

Just a snapshot from my time on the road.

Blooms & Music

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Another glorious spring day here in Hartford:

Pink is everywhere in the park. As a certified pink lover, this makes me happy.

Yet another tree that looks like a human with arms outstretched.

My favorite part of the walk was encountering these two guys playing their trombones while sitting on a park bench. They had a pretty neat repertoire.

They certainly brought a smile to my face!

Happy Thursday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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