Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Adventures in NYC

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I’ve just arrived back at my hotel after a long day: a dress rehearsal followed by a preview performance that went very well. I missed the first half of the Oscars but will be able to catch the last part of the show. Did you know I’m working with an Oscar winner in this play? F. Murray Abraham – who won for his brilliant performance in Amadeus. I even got to see and hold his Oscar the other day – boy, it is heavy!

I’m staying in the South Street Seaport area, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. I can see one of the towers from my window. I’m a block from the East River and a few blocks from Wall Street and Ground Zero. This morning I grabbed some time before rehearsal to take some photos for you:

The magnificent Brooklyn Bridge.
Clipper Ships at South Street Seaport.
Ground Zero. The World Trade Center Site where new buildings are being erected and work was being done even on Sunday.

This cross is made from beams found in the ruins of the World Trade Center. This is its temporary home – it will be installed in the Memorial Museum when it is finished.

This church, St. Paul’s Chapel, sits directly across from what was the World Trade Center. It is the oldest colonial church still standing in Manhattan. George Washington worshiped there and it provided continuous care to all the workers at the Ground Zero Site.

Tomorrow is my day off and I plan to visit a few of my favorite places – and I will have my camera in hand. Hope you had a great weekend.

Riley, Rehearsals, Skunks & Studios

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:: This is Riley looking longingly at the stairs, hoping that Dad will soon come down from his office. Riley loves his Dad. If he hears a sound coming from that general direction, he snaps to attention, all big brown eyes and tail wag. Riley’s favorite time of day is when Dad starts to prepare dinner. About 6 pm, he starts nagging. Then little whimpers. Then the pacing. He keeps this up until Don makes his move toward the kitchen. When that happens, this guy with bad hips practically leaps up the 2 steps leading into the living room from the den and trots into the kitchen.

Right now, as I write this, he is pacing back and forth, trying to see up the stairs. That’s because Don was just down here in the den and now has gone upstairs again. Soon he will begin worrying about when I am going to feed him. As if it just might not happen for the first time ever.

:: Last night we went to sleep with the delightful pungent smell of skunk throughout the house. This morning the smell is gone, thank goodness. When we looked outside, we could see tracks in the snow leading to our porch. Skunk tracks. All this, however, is a breeze compared to our skunk adventures when we were living in San Diego. Back then, they routinely got under our house and let loose with a smell that permeated everything in the house for days. Clothes, doorknobs – you name it. I lived in fear that I smelled like skunk. We tried everything to get rid of them. Nothing worked. And you know me well enough to know I would never consent to having them killed. No way. The little devils were very smart. We set out Hav-a-Heart traps and they never fell for the bait.

So last night, though annoying, was a breeze.

:: Yesterday was the last day in the rehearsal space. Now the cast moves onstage for tech rehearsals. I will be traveling into the city on Saturday for an 8 day stay while we are in the dress rehearsal/preview stage. I’ll be very busy with the play, but I will try to get out and about for some photo opportunities. It should be fun!

:: Thank you for all the wonderful comments about Don’s CD. I know some of you have downloaded the songs and others have written to request an autographed copy of the CD. We are very grateful for your support!

:: And thank you for all the lovely congratulations on my little studio’s appearance in Studios. I’m very happy. Another article to be framed!

Have a great day, my friends.

Adventures in NYC: View from Rehearsal Room

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This is what I see as I sit and watch the actors work through The Merchant of Venice.

The hustle and bustle of 42nd Street – along with the architectural beauty of the building in the center photo. Boy, they don’t make them like that anymore, do they? The wedding cake-like layers building up to the top with that fabulous glass globe. The clock(s) – I haven’t seen the other sides – I wonder if there is a clock on each side? The stone carving…I love these older Manhattan skyscrapers.

At the end of next week, I will stay in the city during dress rehearsals, preview performances and opening night. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t get home until 2 or 3 in the morning! Hopefully, I will be able to grab some time to take more photos for you. It really is an amazing city. After opening, I have a 10 day break until I fly to Chicago for 3 days. The play is touring in Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles. The theater in Chicago is much bigger than any of the other venues, so I will be along to make sure all the actors can be heard.

I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so I’ll sign off.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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