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You are here: Home / Archives for To Kill a Mockingbird

Flowers, Seasonal Changes & A Gift

August 29, 2019 at 10:14 am by Claudia

One of my hostas – one I planted under the kitchen window last year – is just now blooming. What a lovely late summer surprise! It’s very, very shady back there, so I suppose that might be a reason for the late bloom.

The butterfly bush is blooming. But the flowers are very small. It, I think, needs more sun than it’s getting in the side garden bed, which has become increasingly shady over the past couple of years. I may move it in the spring. I think it would do a lot better in the big garden bed.

The air, the light, the leaves – autumn changes are in the air. Just like that. I’m not quite ready for summer to be over, but I find myself welcoming the golden light and the cooler mornings. Funny how that happens – our bodies and minds start to anticipate and adjust to the change in season and we find ourselves welcoming it.

I see leaves on our roof and on the ground. I hear some birds, but not nearly as many as earlier in the summer. That always makes me sad, as I miss their songs. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a robin lately. I still hear the mourning doves and the catbirds and the wrens and sparrows and the Canada geese.

For example, right at this moment in the morning, 10 am, there is not a sound in the air.

School starts next week. The University just started classes this week. Change is in the air.

We just finished watching Trapped (an Icelandic mystery series) last week. Now we’re on to Dark, which comes out of Germany. Both are excellent. Trapped  is on Amazon Prime, Dark  is on Netflix. But I have to tell you, the finest series we’ve ever seen is Babylon Berlin  on Netflix. It is beyond anything else, on every level. We’ve watched both seasons twice and are looking forward to the third season which should come around after the first of the year. Oh, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel  is coming back the first week of December. Can’t wait!

Reader Kathy did it again. I went to the Post Office to send off our monthly bill payments and checked the PO Box. Much to my surprise, a package was waiting for me.

To Kill a Mockingbird  in Latin! Oh my goodness! I had no idea there was such a thing! Needless to say, I screamed a little bit. So did Don when he saw it. Well, maybe not a scream from Don, but a definite “Wow!”

Thank you, dear Kathy. It will now join my other TKAMs on the shelf in the den. What a beautiful addition to my collection!

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: autumn, books, flowers, garden, media, To Kill a Mockingbird 34 Comments

In the Mail

August 9, 2019 at 10:03 am by Claudia

Friday. I find that half the time I have no idea what day of the week it is. Though I’m constantly aware of how quickly the weeks fly by. This summer, especially. This summer has definitely had its challenges, but I’m not ready for it to end. This morning I realized I can see changes in the light, changes in the look of the gardens, and the sun comes up a bit later and sets a bit earlier. All signs of the seasonal change to come. Sigh.

I mowed yesterday and did it slowly, constantly monitoring my back. Though, frustratingly, I did feel a twinge in my left lower back when I pulled the cord to start the mower. That hurts a bit today, but my original injury is much, much better. Don took over the mowing when he got home and will finish it up this weekend, so I’ll rest. But it was so good to DO something! My endorphins kicked in, which is always a satisfying feeling.

Two packages arrived in yesterday’s mail:

Cara (a reader of this blog) sent me her copy of Colleen Moore’s Dollhouse – a dollhouse I didn’t get a chance to see when I was in the Chicago area. Thank you so much, Cara!

And Kathy from Iowa (also a reader of this blog) sent me this:

To Kill a Mockingbird  in Spanish! I was completely surprised.

I’ve written before on the blog about my desire to collect as many copies of TKAM in foreign languages as I can. When Don was in Prague several years ago to film for PBS, he looked everywhere for one in Czech, but couldn’t find one. Last year, while in Paris, I found an edition written in French. I also found a copy when we were in London. It’s not in another language, but it is a special edition that was printed and published in England and it’s quite lovely.

Now I have one in Spanish! What next? German? Italian? Russian? Greek? Portuguese?

Thanks, Kathy!

The nicest people read this blog! I’m blessed.

It’s a gorgeous day today. I plan on sitting on the porch – carefully – and watching all the birds and bees and insects. I saw a hummingbird yesterday. And I saw Henry the day before that.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: blog, friends, gifts, To Kill a Mockingbird 14 Comments

Hey, Boo

January 10, 2017 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I slept in this morning – thankfully – after being jolted awake during the night by the sound of snowplows on the street below my apartment. Gosh, they’re loud! I guess it snowed a bit last night, though when I look out the window, the amount of snow seems minimal.

Tell me this isn’t crazy – the temperature here tomorrow will reach 50° and Thursday? 55°. What the heck? I read about that gorgeous redwood with the tunnel toppling in the storms out in California. Oh, how sad. Such history and beauty – gone in a second.

These came in the mail from our friends Lynne and Sean, who live in Toronto. I don’t know where she finds them, but Lynnie always finds unique treasures. And could these be any more perfect for Mockingbird Hill Cottage? I’m thrilled with them! In fact, I had some hot chocolate in one of them on Sunday.

And they capture one of the most beautiful moments in that book. “Hey, Boo.” That particular line of dialogue brings tears to my eyes every time. Thank you, Lynne and Sean. We love you.

I’ve started another Elizabeth George – one I purchased before I came to Hartford in December. Just in case. You understand. I always have this particular conversation going on in my head:

“I’m enjoying this book by this author. But what if I finish it and I love it and I don’t have any other novels on hand by this author? If I’m in the mood for more, I won’t want to start a book by another  author…hmmmm…I’d better buy this book also written by the author. Just in case.”

This particular Elizabeth George happens to be the book that follows Believing the Lie, so I clearly lucked into picking the right one.

Today, I’ll wander over to the theater, where the initial tech rehearsal continues. Tech started on Sunday – it’s a slow process – and will go on through today. And maybe part of tomorrow. By tomorrow night, we should be able to have a run-through of the show. And Thursday night is the first Preview for audiences. See how quickly it goes? Once we start Previews, I’ll be sitting in the house every night, taking notes on what I can hear and not hear, what needs to be articulated more clearly, and any other Voice & Text issues that arise. Previews will go on through a week from Thursday and then we will open on Friday, January 20th (boy am I glad I have something joyous and happy to watch that  day, otherwise I might be slitting my wrists!) and I will return to the cottage the next day.

Today, I’ll check in and see how the show looks with the set, costumes, lighting and sound.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: On The Road, reading, Shakespeare, theater, To Kill a Mockingbird 20 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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