Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for what I believe

Civil Disobedience, Flowers & A Dove

June 23, 2016 at 8:44 am by Claudia

In this house, more often than not, these words are spoken: “There’s nothing  on TV!”

Last night, however, we were glued to the television as House Democrats, led by one of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement, John Lewis, took over the House floor, staging a sit-in. Paul Ryan gaveled the session and ordered the cameras that C-Span uses shut off.

Ah, but this is the age of social media and tech-savvy Representatives used Facebook and Periscope to broadcast what was going on and C-Span tapped into it. It was real, it was raw and it was incredibly powerful.

I just checked. They’re still there and they’re still broadcasting.  They’ve been at it since 11:30 am yesterday morning. I tweeted my support to them last night and tweeted my disgust to Paul Ryan (more than once). It’s a simple request: a vote on two relatively mild measures, one to close a loophole in background checks and one to prohibit the selling of guns to anyone on the No-Fly List. I mean, really, what could possibly be problem here? It’s a no-brainer.

Watching this civil disobedience in action is inspiring. There are times I feel that no one in Washington DC is listening to us. These brave Representatives are. And John Lewis has more moral fiber in his little finger than Paul Ryan and all those who pander to the NRA combined.

They’re taking a stand.  #HoldTheFloor #NoBillNoBreak

See? I’m using hashtags.

Moving on.

6-23 aroundtheporch

The spirea, hydrangea, roses and clematis are in full bloom.

6-23 beebalm

The bee balm is just about to pop.

6-23 elsiemay

Pretty roses.

6-23 newdawn

And just-about-to-open roses.

6-23 yarrow

Yarrow self-seeds and plants itself right in front of the chicken-wire-fence-garden, tall and strong and beautiful.

We are desperate for rain here. The rivers are low, the grass is getting brown, and we didn’t have much snow pack this winter. Everyone around here has a well that needs to be replenished.

It was supposed to rain today, but the forecast changed overnight. No rain. Maybe some on Monday. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday, I saw two mourning doves on the driveway. A pair. I wondered if my ‘lonesome dove’ had found a mate or if this was an already established pair. Later on in the day, I saw the dove on the edge of the birdbath:

6-23 lonesomedove

Such a gentle beauty.

Tomorrow is the big day. Will you stop by and leave a birthday wish for my sweetheart? I promise to shoot a little video of his reaction when he sees the Top Secret Project and I’ll probably share it with you on Saturday. I’m also putting together some photos of the whole project and I’ll write a separate post with all the sources and other pertinent information.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: birds, flowers, garden, gun control, what I believe 43 Comments

Tuesday (That’s All I Could Come Up With)

June 21, 2016 at 9:18 am by Claudia

When 71% of Americans favor some sort of gun restriction, even if it is simply background checks, and over 90% of Americans supported the measures being voted on yesterday, yet our representatives continue to vote down any legislation that would make that possible, well, I sit here once again, disillusioned, disheartened, and becoming more and more cynical by the minute. Shameful.

And that’s all I’ll say about that.

To maintain my sanity, I’m going to concentrate on my garden (as of yesterday.)

6-22 rosesandspirea

6-22 hollyhock

6-22 LEMrose

6-22 ALrose

6-22 spiderconeflower

It was so hot yesterday that photograph taking was kept to a minimum! But watering? That was ongoing. It should be a bit cooler today – not much – but a bit.

I made a little something for the TSP:

6-22 TSPdonotenter

I thought mini Don would like a little something to warn those well-intentioned friends who might open the sliding door without thinking, thereby ruining a recording.

6-22 TSPwelcome

The other side. The sign is hanging on a white knob, which is the head of a quilting pin that’s been cut down to about a quarter of an inch.

Some dusting and minor tweaking and we’re good to go for the big day.

Cross your fingers that Don likes it. I’m worried I’ve overhyped the whole thing and when he sees it, he’ll think, “That’s it?” 

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, garden, roses, Top Secret Project, what I believe 63 Comments

A Love Letter to the Theater

June 14, 2016 at 9:12 am by Claudia

A love letter to the Theater:

On Sunday, after a day of shock and despair and grief, we watched the Tony Awards. I’ve watched them since I was very young.

I’m in the theater.

If we needed anything life-affirming on Sunday, and we did, the Tony Awards did that. The pitch-perfect opening where James Corden stood on an empty stage, facing the back wall of the stage with the audience behind him, and spoke about the events in Orlando:

All we can say is you are not on your own right now. Your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and loved. Hate will never win. Together, we have to make sure of that. Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.

I’m in the theater.

I have been blessed since I first started acting and working in the theater to work in an environment that is inclusive, that is multi-cultural, that celebrates diversity in every form. For me, because of my upbringing and because I was embraced by the theater at a young age, none of these – race, creed, sexuality, or gender – has ever been an issue. Ever.

Oh, how lucky I am, how lucky we are, to work in the theater. And I have never been prouder to be part of that community than I was on Sunday night, when the love, compassion, acceptance and tolerance I see everywhere in the theater, wherever I work, be it in a big city or a small town, filled the Beacon Theater, reverberated throughout the room.

From Frank Langella’s acceptance speech for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play:

…I urge you, Orlando, to be strong. Because I’m standing in a room of the most generous human beings on Earth, and we will be with you every step of the way.

From Lin-Manuel Miranda, the brilliant, brilliant creator of Hamilton, who wrote a sonnet as his acceptance speech:

…We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they’re finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised, not one day.
This show is proof that history remembers
We lived through times when hate and fear seemed stronger;
We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music, love, and pride.

(Vanessa is Miranda’s wife.)

“And love is love is love is love is love is love is love.”

I’m in the theater.

I’ve been in the theater for over forty years. So has Don. Those who work in the theater are my ‘tribe.’ I read something yesterday from one of my friends who is an actress. She used the word ‘tribe.’ And she’s right. This community, this everyone-is-welcome-and-equal, loving, and caring group of artists has sustained me throughout my adult life.

I’m so proud to be ‘in the theater.’ I’m so blessed. Thank you for teaching me that everyone is equal, no matter their sexuality, creed, ethnicity or gender. Thank you for allowing me to work in an environment that speaks tolerance, that speaks inclusivity, that speaks love and not hate.

6-14 newdawnrose

Your pretty picture for the day. The first New Dawn Rose to open.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: theater, what I believe 44 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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