Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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An Ongoing Crush

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The other day, while waiting for the repairman to arrive, I snapped this photo of Don. He was supposed to be looking at the camera, but in that split second, he looked down. It’s turned out to be one of my favorite photos of him.

Heavens, I still have a crush on him.

That landscape is now covered in snow. And we’re due for another storm on Friday and I’m hoping the forecast is wrong because I just read 8 – 12 inches.

I see. We’re getting the entire winter in one week. I could insert some curse words here, but I try to refrain from that on this blog. In person? Another story.

Today, I have to do some laundry. I will be keeping an eagle eye on that first load, that’s for sure. I’m still waiting for the newest Deborah Crombie, but it turns out our local library branch was closed yesterday because of the snow. This is the longest time any book I’ve ordered has been ‘in transit’ between library branches. But we’re in the middle of winter and we live in the Hudson Valley and Mother Nature has her own ideas.

Lord, this puzzle is slow going! And the hardest part is yet to come; the areas of deep blue and the patterned edges. Oh, and all the leaves – it’s virtually impossible to differentiate between them. I’m just about finished with all the flowers. After abandoning this puzzle once before, I’m determined to finish it.

And that’s about it. Happy March. It is definitely coming in ‘like a lion’ in my neck of the woods.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday (which I keep thinking is Sunday)

Tuesday Thoughts

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This morning:

I’d say we have about 6 or 7 inches so far and it’s still snowing. It started snowing about 8 pm last night and we woke up to this loveliness. The last time we had any sort of significant snowfall was December 13th and it was still autumn. We might get more snow on Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday was a stressful day for me, only because I’m my worst enemy. I was nervous about heating oil. I was nervous about the washer. Right after I initially posted, I took a shower and when I emerged from the bathroom, Don told me our oil company had confirmed a delivery for that day. Hurrah! We kept the temperature down, conserving whatever we had left until whenever they could get here.

The technician arrived around 1 pm and we explained the problems with the washer, including the fact that it was working just fine until Don did a very small load – one pair of jeans. Then the water came. We had removed the doors and the molding before he came so he could get to the washer. Turns out we probably didn’t need to because he was able to remove the front panel of the washer quite easily. (What do I know?) Anyway, he was in there for a while. By the way, Don met him outside when he arrived and asked him if he would wear a mask, which he readily agreed to  – we supplied the mask. We’re still very careful here at the cottage. After a while, I heard the sound of water! Long story short, this is an older washer/dryer and the shocks aren’t in tip-top shape so when Don did that small load, it was very unbalanced and the knocking caused a hose to become unattached. Hence, the water going right to the floor instead of inside the tub. I have to say that my initial reaction when it happened was that it might be a hose, but of course, I had no idea how to confirm that or if it was even true.

He was able to fix it on the spot, it cost less than $250.00, and he couldn’t have been a nicer guy. Huzzah!

He left and about 20 minutes later, the oil truck arrived. We are so grateful!

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I want to mention my old friend Tom Sizemore, who is a wonderful actor. He was my classmate in graduate school, We went through 3 years of school together and as in any intense acting program, you become very close to your classmates. You really get to know them. After we graduated, both Tom and I were cast in a groundbreaking production of 1984 at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, which went on to a run at the Kennedy Center. Tom was sort of a live wire, a bit of a rogue, and it wasn’t until we did that show together that I got to know him a bit more deeply. I saw his vulnerable side, the part of him that was usually covered by bravado. He was a good guy. He went on to work in Hollywood; he’s been in lots of films, including Saving Private Ryan. His drug use and self destructive tendencies were well known and well publicized. But all that time, I would remember the real Tom, hoping he would find some peace.

Last week, he suffered a brain aneurysm and has been in a coma since then. This morning, one of my classmates sent me an article from CNN – doctors have said there is no hope and his family is now making end of life decisions. It’s all so terribly sad and heartbreaking. He’s only 61.

Thinking of you, Tom. Praying for you. Remembering all the good times and laughter – remembering the real you.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

More Snow, Please

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Just a dusting overnight. It will be gone by the end of the day. Still, it’s a nice thing to see a little snow out there this morning. I never thought I’d be saying that I miss snow, but I do. We also need it. But here we are, on the edge of February, and we’ve really only had one significant snowfall and that was in mid-December. The rest has been rain that turned to a wet snow and melted the next day. The kind you see here, where you can see the grass (still green, by the way) through the snow. When I look at the 10-day forecast, I see some snow showers here and there and that’s it. It’s also warmer than usual.

Now, one can say, this is great, Claudia, you don’t have to shovel or plow the snow! Yes, that’s true. But we need a snowpack. Our wells need a snowpack. Our lilac bushes and peonies need cold temperatures. I see a significant difference in a bush or plant when we don’t get those very cold temperatures and a lot of snow. Of course, there’s more to February than the first two weeks and we have March and the beginning of April to go. Here’s hoping we see a change.

My best friend just lost her mother-in-law last night. I’ve known Barbara since the early seventies and she was such a wonderful, fiercely intelligent, and kind woman. Laural is the first person to say that how much she was blessed by marrying into that family. Laural’s mom was like a second mom to me (along with my godmother) and she died many, many years ago. But Laural still had a wonderful mother in Barbara. This is very sad news. Rest in Peace, Barbara. You are loved.

We ran some errands yesterday. Today, I have to make an appearance at the post office to cancel our PO Box. I am NOT paying that much for something we don’t use all that often. So there, Louis DeJoy. By the way, now that the USPS Board has changed, why is DeJoy still there??

I’m just about to finish The Dictionary of Lost Words – I’m not crazy about it, but I’m enjoying it. And then…drumroll…I’m ready to start the latest Louise Penny. I always delay gratification on the newest Penny but now, two months after publication, it’s time. And of course, a chapter a day of War and Peace.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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