I hung on to my porch plants for dear life this year. Countless cold evenings found me dragging them all indoors for the night. One by one, the impatiens are fading but I have 2 pots that are still blooming. The hanging plants lasted until yesterday when I forgot to bring them in for the night. Actually, I most likely forgot on purpose as the realization that it was almost December hit me. It ain’t going to get warmer, Claudia (I said to myself.)
I have this problem. I can’t let anything die if there is a way of saving it. Bug, spider, potted plant – you name it. I am Chief Rescuer here at the cottage. But this year, more than any other year, I hung onto those plants for dear life. It gets harder and harder for me to leave summer behind and move into the dark days of winter and besides, I love my potted plants. I guess this means porch life is officially suspended until spring. Sob.
Colder weather means more indoor life. More nesting. More scarf making. I don’t mind telling you, I have been on a roll with the scarves. Lots and lots of crocheting. I’m trying to add more stock to the Etsy shop for your Christmas-present-buying-pleasure. Speaking of Christmas:
Do you see that volume of George Bernard Shaw at the top of the photo? Pygmalion and Three Other Plays? Don is going to be playing Alfred Doolittle in a production of Pygmalion out at our old stomping grounds, The Old Globe. He leaves in December. Before Christmas. We’ll celebrate early, of course, but this will be the first time we haven’t been together at Christmas since the year we met (when I went home to Michigan to visit my parents and coped with knowing looks exchanged by my mother and father when I would leave the room for yet another long phone call with that mysterious ‘Don.’)
It will be strange. And bittersweet.
And for those of you have been kind enough to check in, Scoutie is back to her old self again. We’re so thankful. She’s feisty, naggy, funny, and full of herself. The antibiotics are doing their magic and my girl with the poodle-like front legs is once more the Princess of Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
Don has a friend who has a Border Collie who is 18. Scout will be 14 in January. So, you see, I plan on another 4+ years.
I am totally in love with my girl. And I miss my Riley. Christmas won’t seem right without him.
It promises to be a very different holiday season this year.
If you check in on my blog roll, don’t panic, it’s still here. It’s now on the navigation bar at the top of the page under “Blog Love.”
I’ll be back at 8:00 EST for A Favorite Thing.
Happy Friday,
I understand your feelings about the garden – this year was my first garden and it really hurt to say goodbye to my beautiful flowers! Isn’t January rough with the darkness and all, glad you have a plan to stay busy, I’m trying to come up with a plan, too! So glad to hear your girl Scout is doing well!
Yes, it is really rough – it gets dark too early and I miss my garden!
Claudia, I see lots of yummy scarves…you’ve been busy. I know you miss your other dog. Hope Scout is much better.xo, Susie
She is much, much better, Susie.
Glad to hear that Scout is feeling better, it’s wonderful what the proper medication can do for them…..
Have you thought of growing some forcing bulbs, or Amaryillis for Christmas, that should nurture your green thumb over the dark winter.
Jen
Yes, I’ve thought of it – haven’t done it, but I’ve thought of it.
Hi, Claudia, Congratulations to Don for being cast in Pygmalion. What a great role–Dolittle is my favorite character in that play. Is this one of the auditions that you and Don went to NYC for a couple of weeks ago? I am sure Don must be so pleased and excited, although it is really a bummer about the Christmas separation. How cool to be working with Robert Sean Leonard, though! Your blogger friends will help you through the season, ok? So glad to hear Scout is better, what a relief. xxoo, Martha
No, Don is an Associate Artist at the Old Globe – he’s had a long relationship with them, since he was 19. He was cast without having to audition – after over 40 shows there, he should be!
Oh Claudia, I’m thrilled I might have a chance to see Pygmalion, as I live in San Diego and love the theatre. Crossing my fingers that our budget will allow it! My daughter Lauren and her fiancée Ryan are actors living in New York and I so wish they would find work out here. I feel for you having to stay behind while Don is gone during the holidays…will you be visiting out here at all during that time? Lauren performed on a Disney cruise ship for most of 2012 and she REALLY missed her fiancée who worked in NYC most of the time while she was gone. Kinda rough when you’re newly engaged. Oh, the life of “actoors”! I hope to meet you and Don someday, I read your blog every day and love your stories and day-to-day goings on :)
I would love to visit, we’ll have to see! I hope you can go see it, Maria. Lots of great actors in the cast, including some of our longtime friends and colleagues.
Having your work to do is a blessing but being away from home on Christmas to do it! Sounds like a Christian blessing alright. Years ago I was reading a book and I always quote this passage “I have been a Christian so long I can no longer tell my blessings from my trials.” Wish I could remember where it was from. Hopefully I will come across it again. But I thought about it when I read your posting. My husband is a retired airline pilot so we spent many, many holidays, birthdays and other celebrations apart. I was just thankful he had work because my father rarely had work and growing up was difficult with that. You and Scout will have a wonderful Christmas and I am sure you and Don will have many phone calls. Not the same as being there, but we’ll take what we can get.
Yes, and thank goodness for Skype!
woo hoo! As an Old Globe subscriber, I’m excited that I’ll be seeing Don in a play! It’s too bad that he can’t come home for a few days at the end of December though….
Oh, wonderful! I’m so glad you can see him!
So glad Don is going to be using his talent, but sorry it’s during the holidays. CROCHET, CROCHET, CROCHET!! You’ll be stocked for the winter. Glad Scout is back to being her precious self. Have a great weekend. It’s suppose to be in the 70s here. Crazy, eh?
Love,
Judy (your adopted kin)
And quilt, quilt, quilt!
Christmas via Skype. How the world has changed.
Glad to hear that Scout is feeling better!
Thanks, Steve!
I know exactly what you mean about our plants. My blog post yesterday was about how my rosemary plant has survived (THRIVED) outside. It is bigger and healthier than the summer. I can’t let it die!
Luanne
I understand.
I am so very glad that Scout is so much better! Thrilled for Don’s part, but so sorry you have to be away from each other for the holidays. I so relate to not killing anything, if a cricket, spider, whatever, gets in my house, I catch them and put them out, I can’t bear to kill them! I always try to save my potted plants, but they seldom last long. At least we know that spring will return, and what a blessing it will be when it does. Hugs and blessings.
Thank you, Sandra.
Seeing that I live in northern IL, my outdoor plants are long gone. I always hate that transition time of year, too. Looks so barren out there without my plants and flowers. Glad to hear that Scout is feeling her usual, frisky self!
PS – Meant to tell you that I’m sorry Don will be gone during the Christmas season. My hubby will be working during the day on Christmas Day this year, so it’ll be strange around here during the day without him. At least he’ll be home by 4:00 though.
Yes, it will be very strange here, as well!
So happy to hear Scout is doing well! I love the color of the calendar/planner on your desk. Would you mind sharing what brand it is?
Blessings,
Kim
I can’t find the brand, Kim, but I got it at Barnes & Noble. It’s called a Family Planner.
I hate the time change. That is when my winter reality sets in. I live in an apartment and usually have one potted plant and a plant I tucked in the front corner where the neighbor’s bedroom juts out. I protect the plants from frost for a while then pitch them in the dumpster. I don’t know why, but I cope better if I throw them out before they freeze!
It’s too hard for me to throw them out. I have to feel ruthless and I very seldom feel that way!
I’m so happy to hear the good news about Scout! She’s a trooper. I hope you get those 4+ years and more! She certainly had us all worried. I’m happy for Don as well, he must be thrilled although the two of you will not be together for Christmas. That’s hard and there’s no advice coming from me…it’s plain and simple hard. My husband is having major surgery on the 11th and won’t be home for more than a week. Then we will probably have a visiting nurse. I don’t think he is really going to “be here” either. Probably very much like you I’m thinking of the timing but there is no negotiating this…Christmas isn’t about me. I will be thinking of you.
Sorry about the plants. I brought 4 plants home from the lake with me to live indoors for the winter. Can you believe the darn rose tree is blooming like crazy?!!
XO,
Jane
Your poor husband, Jane! I will keep both of you in my thoughts.
I’m so glad Scout is back to her old self!
Your scarves are so lovely and cozy!
I saw Pygmalion in London with Diana Rigg as Eliza in 1974 (eons ago!), and enjoyed it so much! Break a leg, Don!
He will be perfect as Doolittle.
So happy to hear that Don’s getting another role…sad it has to be right before Christmas. I’ve saved four plants in my garage…we’ll see if they make it! So, I know exactly what you are saying. Scarves look gorgeous…happy Scout is well again! Enjoy your weekend! ;)
I wish we had a garage! That would be the perfect way to store some of my plants.
Sighhh the days of warm are officially gone. I am so thankful for our wood burning fireplace. LOOOVE it! I’m glad Scout is doing better!
Oh for a fireplace!
Congratulations on Don’s getting the part in the play. Bittersweet though he has to be gone, and especially over Christmas. Something tells me you might be coming out west though. So great that Scout is doing better.
We’ll see – we’re on a tight budget. I’d love nothing more than to see him perform this role and see some of our old friends….who knows?
Claudia, I’m glad to hear Scoutie is better and that our prayers were, indeed, answered. What a relief! I’m so happy for you.
On the flip side, I’m glad that Don will be in a play, but I’m so sorry it will take him away from you at Christmas. I wish you were our neighbor, and I would invite you to join us.
Sending you hugs across the mile, my friend.
XO,
Sheila
Hugs right back at you, Sheila.
I have one co-worker who knows HOW to crochet.
I have on co-worker that was thinking of either trying to learn crochet or quilting.
I took HER onto your site to show her your scarves and guess which won ? Yep, crochet won over quilting…..she’s now trying beginning crochet with the person who knows how to do it coaching her :) But your scarf set her off :)
Happy for you that Scout is back to” normal”.. Your quilt will be lovely..Lot’s of work..
Hooray for scout’
I love your yarn work!
Hi Claudia, Congratulations to Don!!! I’m so happy to hear the good news about Scout, too. Nellie is showing her age a little in the cold weather–arthritis the vet says. Her spirit is still that of a 2 year old though! I took in all my plants when the hurricane hit, and replanted those I could so they would live indoors. I keep them in the master bath along the side of the large tub, where they can get some humidity. When I transplanted one I found a small tomato plant which had apparently grown from a seed left there by a squirrel or bird. It has grown tall and has a small green tomato now. We are hoping it ripens. Again, congratulations to Don. I listened to his CD samples and he has such a dreamy voice. Maybe the play producers can add in a little song for him. :) Linda
I was away from home so much this spring, summer and fall that I didn’t have but a few plants and they are gone now. Not a good year for me and my garden. I’m shocked at how early it gets dark now! So happy that Don will be working but hard to be away from home for Christmas! Sweet story about those ‘long’ phone calls. Thrilled that Miss Scout is better! Crochet away my friend! Big hugs, Linda
Oh, Claudia, I sympathize with you about the plants. I spent weeks trying to nurse my potted herbs, hoping they might last the winter in a kitchen window and I could keep a little of my garden alive; but I had to ‘harvest’ the sage and rosemary and now the thyme is hanging by a thread. We’ll see how much longer before that has to be harvested and dried as well! All of your scarves are so beautiful, the colors you use are just so rich. And what wonderful news about Don’s role in the play — Alfred is such a colorful character and can really steal the scenes he’s in. I’m sorry you won’t be having Christmas together but I hope you get to have a nice long telephone call!