Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Wednesday

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Nothing much to report, my friends, but the fact that I’m working longish hours and loving the cast and this production.

Don messaged me this morning with pictures of a vintage looking timer for Stella. He’s so darned cute. Needless to say, it is now on its way to the cottage.

I did not watch the rally in Phoenix last night. I choose not to listen to that man. But I read most of the transcript this morning.

He’s unhinged. Words like this: “They’re trying to take away our history and our heritage.” are code for “white” history and heritage.

I will stop there except to say that there are not enough words in the English language to say how much I detest, loathe and abhor that man and everything he stands for.

Dear Robert Mueller: I know you’re coming for him. And I know you’ll get him. But, if you can speed it up a bit, a grateful nation would be most appreciative.

A glimpse at my place at the table in the rehearsal room.

Stella officially left Los Angeles yesterday and we’re tracking her journey. Fingers crossed she arrives on Friday or Don’s plans will have to be quickly changed. We’re donating our current stove to the Salvation Army.

Happy Wednesday.

Back On The Job

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And in the blink of an eye, I’m back in Hartford.

Well, not exactly the blink of an eye…when I realized that I had to make a few stops on my way back to Hartford, I decided to leave a bit earlier. I’d even considered driving back this morning, and I could have done that, but I knew I had to stop at Whole Foods and buy groceries and I have a 12:00 rehearsal call and, with the traffic on I-84, I knew I’d be pushing my luck.

So, I arrived here around 4:30. Too soon, considering I’d been happily ensconced at the cottage. But, duty calls. And I’ll be back there on Sunday night.

Sigh.

I think coming back to Hartford resonates more this time around since Don will be headed off to NYC before my time here ends and we’ve spent a fair amount of time apart this year. With the tour and next year’s extended time in NYC, we’ll be apart a great deal of the time. We’re grateful for our blessings but they don’t override the hardship of being separated.

Sigh again.

Anyway. That’s the way it is now and will be for a while. We’re working – both of us – and that’s always exciting and rewarding.

We were sitting on the porch yesterday, having coffee, and we started to talk about the fact that both the eclipse and our stove were starting their journey across the country at the same time. So, we grabbed our phones and started googling ‘goddess of the sun’ and ‘goddess of the moon’ and the word for ‘eclipse’ in other languages. Don reeled off more than a few but I interjected that if the name is so difficult for us to pronounce that we can’t remember it, it’s a no-go.

Finally, after about 10 minutes of this stuff, Don came up with Stella. We looked at each other and said “Yes, that’s it!” So, Stella, it is.

I bought these shoes in LaJolla and I haven’t worn them yet! The fabric looks rather like satin, so I’m not about to wear them when I’m slogging around our property. I tossed them in the car when I was packing up to return to Hartford. Today? Rain. But I’m going to wear them soon.

They make me happy.

Happy Tuesday.

Making My Home-Away-From-Home

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I rose early, drank my coffee, took a shower and then started packing up anything I hadn’t already packed. Then the loading of the car. Believe me when I say that every available space is taken by the time I head out the driveway!

The usual construction delays on I-84, with a stop at Trader Joe’s for fresh flowers – a must when I’m headed to Hartford.

I arrived around 12:40 and it took precisely one hour to unload the car. This involves me grabbing what I can carry, walking across the parking lot, entering the code for the building, going up the elevator, walking to the apartment, dumping the boxes/bags and then doing it all over again. About 15 times. That’s part of the reason I leave as early as I can. I just know that it will take time.

And, being who I am, I have to arrange everything and get settled before I can relax.

I took photos of the empty apartment but for some reason, they never registered on my iPhone. Hmmm. Anyway, here are photos of the apartment with everything I added to make it like a home.

As always, I bring two quilts that I made and hang them on opposite walls. You might remember there are two bizarre small, square canvases hanging on the wall just above the quilt. Rather than stare at them and contemplate ripping them from the wall (can’t do that) I hang the quilt as a distraction. It works.

I also bring lamps from home because the lighting is never enough for me and lighting is everything. The gray lamp on the table is from our office at home. The lamp at the far end of the sofa is one I’ve had for ages (originally from IKEA).

Fresh flowers in a mason jar on the coffee table, along with some books and magazines.

The basket is also from home. It’s holding my glasses, Carmex, and some chargers.

This time, I brought along a houseplant from home. I have these great window sills that are very deep, so why not put a plant there?

The desk. I brought that lamp along with me as well. Also added from MHC, framed photos, a piece of Roseville pottery, various notebooks and agendas.

The piece of painted wood is something I bought when we were in Cambria, CA. It’s from the oldest house in Cambria and the lovely junkers that owned a shop there added the vintage ladle. I think we’ll eventually hang it in our kitchen but it provides a nice splash of weathered color here. The copper mug is engraved with ‘Anastasia’ and was a gift from Christy (our very own Anastasia.)

The photo is of Don and me on the beach in CA celebrating our anniversary.

What’s the only item currently on the bulletin board?

A photo of our stove! I like to remind myself of its beauty.

I brought along the McCoy pot that was a gift from Tina and Noble. While at Trader Joe’s buying flowers, I noticed this plant. Hmmm. As I thought it might, the plant pot fit perfectly inside the McCoy. And now it’s in the other window.

This yellow lamp has been here as long I’ve been using this particular apartment, which is the one I always request. When I arrive, I find it in various places. This time it was on the desk. I promptly move it to the kitchen counter.

There’s the other quilt, currently covering up some mirrored squares that are inexplicably about 4 feet apart. This looks much better!

More flowers from Trader Joe’s in a vase I brought from home. And I always throw some fabric scraps in my suitcase – usually vintage barkcloth. I like this particular pattern here on the table.

In the morning and evening, I plop myself on the sofa and man the remote and/or read.

There you have it! I have a full day of rehearsal today and I’ve got to start getting ready.

I really like these apartments which are, to me, really high up there on the company housing scale. Tall, tall ceilings, a loft-like feel and shiny laminate floors, plus a very nice kitchen. It feels like home away from home. By the way, I also did an Instagram Stories last night which shows much the same thing you’re seeing here, only with my voice added.

(Don and I have already face-timed twice and I’ve been gone less than 24 hours.)

Happy Friday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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