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You are here: Home / Archives for reading

Sunday Morning

November 27, 2016 at 9:26 am by Claudia

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I read quite a bit of Night School  this morning – Lee Child’s latest – and I’m finally getting into it. That’s good news. It took a while, but now I’m immersed in the part of the book where things are ramping up. In fact, I had to force myself to put it down in order to write this post.

I’ve took some pictures in the late afternoon yesterday, when the sun pours in the front of the house. Instead of trying to avoid a reflection on the glass in a picture frame, I went with it.

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You can see the windows and the blue ice cream maker that holds the dried hydrangeas reflected on the glass.

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Same here – the reflection of the window, and yes, that’s a crack in the window that we haven’t yet repaired. I love this Norman Rockwell print. We got it years ago up in the Berkshires.

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More of that golden glow from the sun, which, by the way, never showed itself until very late in the afternoon.

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The big pots filled with impatiens came inside with me the other day. They were budding and in pretty good shape, so, being someone who can’t abandon anything, I brought them in. There’s a little pot on the kitchen windowsill, one on my dresser, and one in the office. They need a little pinching back, but so far, so good.

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Of course, this means more watering for Don when I’m in Hartford, but what the heck? It gives him  something to do! See? I’m always thinking of him.

Today seems to be a day for reading; finishing the Lee Child, reading the New York Times, starting another book (to be determined.) And doing the crossword puzzle, of course.

On the docket for the week ahead: Starting my text research on Comedy of Errors. 

Happy Sunday.

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Filed Under: flowers, reading, Wallace Nutting 22 Comments

Reading As Escape

November 16, 2016 at 9:27 am by Claudia

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I try to get good photos of the moon. I do.

But I don’t have the right kind of lens, don’t have a stretch of level ground on which to plant a tripod, and it gets so dark around here that the ‘night’ setting on my camera really doesn’t do it. Ah, well.

Yesterday was a rain-filled day and it wasn’t the drizzly kind of rain we’ve been getting, but a very good soaking rain. It was dismal out there, but much appreciated. I drove to the bookstore for reading therapy. Though I am vigilant and am doing everything I can right now to stay energized for the fight, I also need to escape, always hoping that when I come out of Reading World, I’ll find it was all a bad dream.

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I’ve already read the new Flea Market Style. Loved it.

Country Living, Christmas edition. I’ve never been too crazy about Christmas issues of favorite decorating magazines. I’d rather see any interior sans holiday decorations. I find them distracting. But I caved because I need…you guessed it….an escape.

The newest Lee Child – Night School. You knew I would buy it. I’ve read them all and cannot resist a new Jack Reacher mystery. Jack Reacher, as written by Mr. Child. Not the Tom Cruise version – I don’t want my image of Reacher to change from the picture I have in my head.

I know I’m rather firm about all of this, but that’s how I feel. I won’t watch Bosch  either – the series that centers on Harry Bosch, as written by Michael Connelly. Nothing against Titus Welliver, who is a fine actor and, in this case, looks rather like Bosch as written by Connelly. But I have a picture in my mind and I guard it.

And I’ll be doing the same thing when there is a series – or is it a movie – of Robert Galbraith’s (J.K. Rowling) series centered on Cormoran Strike. She is so specific in her description of Strike that when I saw a photo of the actor cast in the role, I thought, what??? Producers and casting people always seem to go for the more handsome and marketable version of a character. In Cruise’s case, about a foot shorter and 60 pounds lighter, with a completely different hair color.

The last book is a collection of speeches, essays, and articles written by the late, great Pat Conroy – A Lowcountry Heart. It just came out. I can’t wait to read it.

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Look who arrived in yesterday’s mail. Another Big Boy. This one is holding a Double-Decker. I haven’t had any red meat in well over 30 years, but I do remember loving a Double-Decker. My mom and I would sometimes go shopping and eat lunch at Big Boy. We always got a Double-Decker.

That makes three Big Boys, which, I told Don, now makes a collection. They’re behind me as I write this, staring at me.

And, because I miss them so, so much and I ran across this photo the other day:

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Scoutie and Riley in the den. Scout in the “tunnel.” I miss them in my life and on this blog. I long for them, especially during this last week, where their presence would have been enormously comforting. I miss taking care of my babies.

Read Susan Branch’s latest post: We Have to Believe We Are Magic. Bravo, Susan.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, collecting, Don, reading, Riley, Scout 65 Comments

Frost, Flowers, Leaves & Horses

October 15, 2016 at 9:26 am by Claudia

We had frost last night. And, if you remember, we had frost a few days ago. My moonflower and morning glory vines are toast.

Sob.

I had a good run with the morning glories, but the moonflower and I were just getting into a rhythm of beautiful blooms.

Last night, I covered the geraniums, brought some of the porch plants in and covered the others with sheets. Fingers crossed. This is so frustrating given the fact that the weather is getting warm again in the coming week with – get this – a high in the 80’s on Thursday.

October frosts: I really, really dislike you.

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The limelights are turning pink. In anticipation of the frost, I clipped several of them and brought them in the house to dry. They may or may not be in the vintage ice cream maker that sits on the café table. Perhaps I’ll take a picture or two for you today.

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The sedum Autumn Joy is looking particularly beautiful.

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I took this picture yesterday and posted it on Instagram. The colors of the autumn leaves are particularly vivid this year. Those reds! Is it because it was so dry this year? I have no idea.

We went on a trail walk yesterday and brought along some carrots for the horses, who now eat out of our hands. We love that.

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Ashley (the mom).

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Pliers (the son).

This little ritual of stopping by to say hello and give them a treat makes us happy.

I just finished Missing Presumed  this morning. How lovely to read and read and read, sipping coffee made for me by my husband, with a shawl around my shoulders. For those of you who missed it, I have a book giveaway going on (see yesterday’s post) and I also asked the readers of Just Let Me Finish This Page to share what they are reading. Stop by and share your current reads with us. We all love these posts because we can compare notes and learn about authors who may be new to us.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: animals, books, flowers, reading 32 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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