Greetings from the cottage.
To say I am wiped out is putting it mildly. On Thursday, which was a day off for us, I grabbed some stuff, threw it in a suitcase, and took the train home. Yesterday, I drove to the set, which took about an hour. Honestly, it’s a toss-up whether I should stay here or in the city because it takes about the same amount of time to get to the set. The only difference is that I have to add in travel time from Brooklyn to the van pick-up point in Manhattan. Plusses: I get to see Don, although briefly. I get to drive and ‘you don’t have to wear a mask’ (Ben’s quote.) Minuses: In the van, I don’t have to drive and I can take a nap. Plus, upending things in the middle of my established routine in Brooklyn throws me off. And I’ll miss two weekends in Brooklyn. But my birthday is next weekend, and I can spend it here with Don before I return to the city.
From a night shoot in Greenwich Village.
From a night shoot in Queens, looking across the East River to Manhattan.
The 59th Street Bridge aka Queensboro Bridge.
If you’re not already doing it, keep your eye on my Instagram account because I often post photos from the day. I can post quickly and you can get an idea of where I am and what I’m doing.
Honestly, most of it is a blur. What we filmed on Tuesday? I have no idea.
A new girl has joined our little Blythe family. I ordered her more than 2 months ago and she just arrived on Thursday – the day I got home. She journeyed from Moscow – getting out of Moscow took forever, then she was transferred to Poland, then to Germany, where she seemingly sat inside her box for about 5 weeks. In reality, some of that time was spent on a ship crossing the ocean. We lost all sense of where she was – the seller was also checking on her – and then, on Wednesday, the seller wrote me to say she was in the USA. Except she didn’t show on the any USPS tracking, so I didn’t fully believe it. But on Thursday, it showed she had arrived at my local post office and, because she was a registered mail package, they delivered the package despite the fact that it was a holiday.
A quick photo this morning of Maeve.
This is how she arrived. She also had an adorable bow in her hair but I removed it in order to get her hair to ‘unkink.’ The bow had been there a long time!
The girls. Sophie is holding a hedgehog on a cart, made by Gifts by Loubilou who has an Etsy shop. I’ve had the needle-felted sheep for a long time. The little Boston Terrier was found in a toy shop in Brooklyn.
More pictures later. Once I knew that Maeve was about to be delivered, I packed a dress for her to wear.
I’m crazy about these girls!
Today’s irony: I packed about 6 books to read while I am in Brooklyn and I have no time to read! But I did start the newest Louise Penny and I’m going to devote some time to reading a chunk of it this weekend.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
Oh. My. Gosh! A redhead! Half of my dolls are redheads. I do love my dolls. My mom got rid of all my dolls from childhood, so I started adopting more. Then I started getting redheads. Some will come out for the holidays. I have too many for them all to come out. Years ago my husband built me some chairs and a table for a tea party. That always happens at Christmas. The tea table is always near the Christmas tree. And when children come over (boys and girls) they all love the tea party. Welcome home Maeve!
It sounds absolutely charming, Tana! A tea party is perfect.
And I love this redheaded girl. (I secretly always wanted red hair!)
Stay safe.
good to hear that you could get home for a bit, spend time with don and try the commute from home to the set.
and that maeve arrived. you two can commiserate about long journeys.
am sure you are glad to be home (i’m glad for you). have a wonderful, restful weekend with don and a book!
very cold and windy here over the past few days, then we had snow for much of yesterday. thankfully it didn’t add up to anything for being flurries. i used to look forward to winter for its beauty and ability to muffle sounds and stress, also ice skating and sledding (no longer possible for having broken my back). that love of winter changed when people in my family fell on ice, had very bad injuries and one required surgery. :(
did a lot of clearing out and cleaning yesterday despite a runny nose that i don’t want to turn into bronchitis or anything else. missed seeing members of my family, but didn’t want to take a chance and won’t take a chance with their health. i am getting a slow start today and am okay with that. i might start reading a book from some family members (the memoir of artist ai weiwei) or take a nap or both. :)
stay safe and warm!
kathy in iowa
It turned very cold and windy here today. Plus, we had a thunderstorm! I also have a runny nose, as does Don. Seasonal change can do that.
Enjoy your day, take time to relax.
Stay safe, Kathy.
These varying weather things are always a surprise to me. Here out West in Southern Calif, we’re in a heatwave, and each day reaches to the mid-90s; just too, too hot. For the past couple of nights, it has been hovering near 70 degrees until only briefly a respite in the earliest-morning hours!
xo
dear Claudia — so good to hear from you — what a BUSY schedule, don’t envy that, haha!! I love Maeve — am partial to redheads–in my past life, I was one, had 2 redhead daughters and all 4 of our grands have some shade of red hair, from very dark auburn to strawberry blond. hope you/Don can celebrate a good b/day together. stay safe/healthy
I love her red hair, Linda.
Thanks so much. Birthday isn’t until a week from tomorrow.
Stay safe.
What a Joy it must be to be home for a few days. Long days and nights on this job. Love the new girl, and her red hair is adorable! I hope you enjoy some time resting, reading and snuggles with your hubby! hugs!
It is a joy but it’s also an adjustment. We’re both used to being on our own and now we have to adjust to each other and then we’ll have to adjust again to being apart. It’s crazy.
Stay safe, Linda!
Happy to hear you are home for a break. I have enjoyed the photos and your posts. Your new friend is simply adorable! I’m sure the girls will welcome her with open arms. They all look sweet together. Enjoy your time with Don and the girls!
The girls seem to be happy together, April!
Stay safe.
The girls are all cute, but, oh, that sweet Maeve!!!!!! She is just adorable.
So glad you are able to be home for a few days! Might have pros & cons, but truly, there is no place like home. Take care.
She has a beautiful face, little Maeve. Currently, she’s hanging out on my side table so I can get to know her.
Well, it’s sure nice to eat Don’s homecooked dinners when I usually just grab a quick something from the catering truck – there’s no consistency there. And then to be able to snuggle with him on the sofa is heaven.
Stay safe, Chris.
I bet you are exhausted! It must be so nice to be home. Okay, I love the new doll! I like how now you have 3 different hair colors. I just can’t get over how cute their outfits are🥰. Enjoy your time at home. Love all the pictures!
Deb
I don’t know if I’ve been this tired. It’s completely and utterly exhausting, but also exciting at the same time.
Thanks so much, Deb.
Stay safe.
I’m glad you can be home but I think it may be hard to switch from city mode, to back home but still have to work mode, and then back to city mode again. At least it would be for me.
Maeve is adorable! I’ve always wanted to have red hair. There are lots of red heads in my extended family. I got dishwater blonde. Oh well.
I’m glad you can spend your birthday with Don. It sounds like a good plan.
Take care
It’s hard, but I’ve done it many times before. I’ve came home on breaks when I was coaching in San Diego. And I did the same thing when I worked in Hartford. But it’s always an adjustment.
Isn’t she pretty? We’re so glad to have her here – safe and sound – after her long, long journey!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
Growing up as a redhead with brown haired parents always got strangers winking and commenting about the mailman, milkman, etc. Maeve is a great new addition!
Thanks so much, Jen!
Lucky you – I always wanted to be a redhead.
Stay safe.
Just sent Hillary and Penny book to a friend
Enjoyed it
Hope you have a nice birthday
And enjoynyiur books
My birthday isn’t until a week from today, Brenda.
Thank you!
Stay safe.
I love redheads too! Isn’t it funny how each girl seems to have her own personality? Yours are truly world travelers, which seems to be perfect for you, Claudia.
I’m not a city girl, but even I have to admit that the city looks lovely at night! As the holidays approach, I would imagine that there is even more magic to be found? I do remember my parents taking us to see store windows when I was a kid, as well as the illuminated street decorations in one of our larger California cities. Holiday lights are still my favorite part of these increasingly dark evenings.
I hope you enjoy every second of your homecoming, however brief. Carpe diem on both the home and work fronts! Do you feel like you can at least see the end and a return to normal?
Not yet. We’re only a third of the way through the process. Still a lot of work and time on the set left.
Yes, each doll really has a specific personality!
Stay safe, Roxie.
Claudia, I understand that “totally exhausted but exhilarated feeling”, and wish you all the best in keeping up, because I know this is a wonderful experience, great resume builder and you’ll be grateful for the adventure for the rest of your life. I’m very envious of your temporary NYC assignment and I’m so glad you’re sharing it with us. Hang in there…it’s all good.
Yes, it is. (And exhausting!)
Thanks, Beth.
Stay safe.
So glad you can be home for a bit. Love your new girl’s red hair!
Isn’t it gorgeous?
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe.
Glad you got to come home for a bit so you can sleep in your own bed and recover from your busy schedule. Nice photos of NYC – I haven’t been there since the 1964 Worlds Fair!
Rest and relax (and read!) :)
Back at it again tomorrow, Ellen!
Stay safe.
It’s a tough call but at least you could get home for a bit, see Don and remember what your home looked like. You’ll figure out the best thing! Maeve is really cute! What a trio!
I’ll probably stay here through next weekend and then back to the city.
Stay safe, Jeanie.