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Meanwhile, Down By The Road

September 2, 2016 at 8:57 am by Claudia

9-2 goldenrod

9-2 cornflowerroad

9-2 loosestrife2

9-2 goldenrod2

This time of year, the little strip of our property that borders the culvert and the road is full of wildflowers. And it’s not just on our property, but everywhere in these parts. I really love seeing the purple, lavender, and bright yellow flowers. It’s like having another garden bed without all the work.

Am I crazy or is there a subtle change in the light already? I thought so yesterday and then I said to myself, “Claudia, you’re imagining this because it’s September 1st.”

I noticed it on our trail walk yesterday. And I see it again today.

Speaking of light, I grabbed my phone and captured this little bit of morning light:

9-2 morninglight

A little Preston Sturges is always good for the soul and we watched one of his best, The Lady Eve, last night on TCM. Just what the doctor ordered. I would have watched Sullivan’s Travels as well, but I was too tired. I love, love Barbara Stanwyck, especially in screwball comedies where she’s smart and sassy and sexy.

I turned to Don in the middle of the movie and said “Barbara Stanwyck is so sexy.”

His response: “Oh, yeah.”

Next up in our Inspector Morse viewing – the final episode, which I’m dreading. That means we’re done, for one, but I’m also well aware that it’s going to be very, very sad.

What else? Shanna has finished the portrait of our first dog, Winston, and it’s on the way here. Here’s hoping it arrives at our post office box today.

I’m reading A Great Reckoning  and taking my time with it because I know I’ll have to wait another year for a new Louise Penny. I’ve also got to fit in a book slated for review on September 12th. And a few more to be reviewed in October. Along with everything else in my TBR pile!

Nothing all that exciting, my friends, but we’re content.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, movies, reading, wildflowers 40 Comments

Hidden Surprises

May 13, 2016 at 9:05 am by Claudia

5-13 hiddenviolets

As I was mulching the garden beds on the side of the house, I saw these violets tucked under my spirea. What a lovely surprise! Later, I found a white violet in the garden bed.

I love garden surprises.

5-13 hiddenwhiteflowers

Hidden under the hosta: surprise Star of Bethlehem flowers. This plant was already up and running when we had the big freeze/ice, so I didn’t think it was going to bloom this year. There are a couple of other flowers completely hidden under the leaves at the left.

5-13 hiddencatmintflower

And tucked away in the back of the big garden bed, hidden from view, the first blooms on the catmint.

Since we’re in the midst of what has turned out to be a late spring  (no matter what the calendar says) and green is the theme – green shoots, green baby plants, green leaves – encountering these little blooming surprises makes my day.

Mulching is done for the time being. We scattered grass seed on some bare patches in the big corral. I weed whacked.

Today, I’m going to start potting impatiens for the porch. And I’m going to plant some morning glory and zinnia seeds in the Chicken Wire Fence Garden. Rain is on the docket for this afternoon and tomorrow, as well.

And we have to buy a new kitchen trash can. Isn’t that exciting?

Just finished reading The Travelers  by Chris Pavone. I’ll review it next week on Just Let Me Finish This Page. I’ve read his other books – boy, can he write a spy novel! Excellent.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, garden, reading 26 Comments

Oh, Rain…Go Away

May 2, 2016 at 9:34 am by Claudia

Rain. Dreary. Dark skies.

For the entire week.

I’m trying to stay upbeat in the face of dreariness. I need to plant my morning glory and zinnia seeds and weed the garden bed so I can put some mulch down. Doesn’t seem like that’s going to be on the agenda this week.

So, all I have to share with you are these photos I took rather hurriedly the other day.

5-2 hosta

The hostas (and there are many) are really growing. This one, in the sunniest bed, is the furthest along. I never tire of hostas. There are so many varieties and they’re so dependable.

5-2 hostas etc

More hostas, along with coneflowers, daylilies, and sedum Autumn Joy. They will eventually fill out the entire bed.

Now I hear thunder.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading – both fiction and nonfiction. I just finished That Darkness  by Lisa Black, which I will be reviewing today on Just Let Me Finish This Page. Now I’m reading In the Clearing  by Robert Dugoni (I’ve reviewed the other two books in his series and I’m a fan.) I’ve got several eGalleys in the queue on my Kindle, as well as the slew of books in my TBR pile, including the next two books in Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole Series.

I also just got to download the eGalley for John Connolly’s next book, which doesn’t come out until August. That makes me very happy!

I have to go to Hartford later in the week to watch a run-through of  Anastasia.

And of course, ongoing work on the TSP. I tried making a sound board yesterday and I ended up not liking the final result. I haven’t trashed it yet, but it’s definitely been shoved off to the side. As much as I’d like to make one, I well remember Don recording and mixing all his compositions via Garage Band, which is on all Macs. So the computer monitor that is on it’s way from Thailand via the post office just might do the trick.

Okay. Have a good day, despite the rain. And if you’re not getting rain and the skies are sunny, I’m jealous.

And stop by Just Let Me Finish This Page to read my review of That Darkness. It’s awfully good!

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: books, garden, reading 31 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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