It’s a cold, damp and rainy day here in the Northeast. Don’s in the living room reading. I’m in my blogging chair in the den. Scout, after shuttling between us for a bit, has finally settled down near her dad.
It’s the kind of day that makes you want to stay inside. No errands. Not even a walk to the mailbox. This is the time of year where the landscape looks rather bleak, all shades of brown and gray, with a bit of green grass thrown in. Though there is beauty in everything, I must admit that I find this particular view to be a bit depressing.
Thank goodness for our cozy cottage which provides the warmth and color that is sadly lacking outside our window.
A splash of color on a gray day: the aqua of the McCoy pot, the green of the pothos, the amber/orange of the bakelite napkin ring, the red on the books.
I had to cut back this pothos plant. It had grown so long that it was snaking behind the sideboard and was fast becoming out of control. I have one in the bathroom, and it needs some judicious pruning, as well.
Hamlet closed yesterday. It was a truly wonderful production and I am so proud to have worked on it. Hard to believe that the set is being taken down, all those sumptuous costumes are heading for storage, that world we created no longer exists. It’s always that way when a show ends. We felt the same thing last week when Our Town closed. It leaves me feeling a bit sad. (The two volumes of Shakespeare were a gift last year from my dear friend, Judy Clark of 20NorthOra. We had a lovely phone conversation yesterday.)
I’ve brought all the potted impatiens in for the winter. Dare I hope that they will survive another season to re-bloom in the spring? We’ll see.
Look who was outside my kitchen window:
Another splash of color on a gray day.
I’m off to write a quick post for Just Let Me Finish This Page and then I’m going to curl up with The Burning Room by Michael Connelly.
Happy Monday.
Good morning, Claudia. We have the same depressing landscape view as you do right now. And we just got a blast of Arctic air – it’s only 7 degrees. Unfortunately, I have to go out in an hour. I start lymphedema therapy for my arm today.
Brrr! 7 degrees is cold! Take care, Melanie.
Perhaps today should be a “day off”. You have been living life at a pretty frantic pace lately.
I started my Paperwhites and an Amaryllis yesterday. Even if they don’t bloom until Christmas, a bit of green will be welcome at the moment. The walk to work these days is almost eerie without the sound of the birds.
I can understand your feeling a bit wistful about the play closing – all that effort and energy and suddenly it’s over. But you will do it again and transform written words into something truly magical.
I think I have no choice but to take a day off, Barbara. Hot chocolate and a good book are on the menu.
It’s supposed to be sunny here today – but right now it’s only 23°! Definitely the kind of day for being cozy and warm inside. I love blue, so loved the bird photo.
I saw him on the maple tree yesterday. He’s definitely a presence in our yard.
Very rainy day here in Georgia but still a few colored leaves on the trees! I’m glad my home is full of color as is yours! I’m going to curl up and continue reading Lee Child’s ‘Personal’!! It’s a good day for it. So glad you got to chat with Judy. I hope she is doing well. Such a hard time in her life right now.
hugs,
Linda
She’s doing as well as can be expected, Linda. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this must be for her.
Snuggle with your dear ones…….winter is definitely in the air even here in the south.
Today will be wild – reaching 70 then plummeting way below freezing again tonight, a drop of 40 degrees expected – what we call ‘pneumonia weather’ – thankfully I’ve had a shot for that!!!
Our blue jays have disappeared lately but I know will be back. Yesterday, when I opened the potting shed door, I was rained on by peanuts. That funny red-bellied woodpecker had stuffed his stash from the feeder along the top of the door again. Don’t you love what birds do to surprise us – I think they really do have huge brains for their tiny size!
Stay warm – enjoy the day.
Mary x
I love that story!Isn’t that the best? That woodpecker has personality, for sure.
Such a pretty photo of the blue jay! Like you, Claudia, I enjoy life in my colorful home on these gray, gloomy, and cold days. Add in a cup of good hot coffee and it’s all good. Have a nice day.
Yes, a good cup of coffee (or two) is perfect on a day like today, Lily!
Well, lucky US,,,, we have about 2 inches of the “s” word to look upon outside our windows from Saturday eve. Yuk. And it might get up to 17* today. But, I guess, if that is the worst thing that happens today, it will still be a good day.
Love the Bluejays when they visit now because, even with the windows securely shut, I can still hear them! Makes me smile.
Have a peaceful day and enjoy that hot chocolate.
I know you guys have had more snow than us. We’ve just had a smattering of the dreaded S word. Hang in there, Chris!
Lovely blue bird pic! I haven’t seen one in a few weeks…mostly cardinals, and a variety of woodpeckers here. Our view this morning is white, brown and gray…it snowed, not much, but enough to cover everything! It’s really cold and windy here too…good day to stay inside, but I do have to go out into the real world for food! Glad you got to talk with Judy…I can’t imagine what she is going through. Enjoy your book reading day! ;)
I will, Donnamae. I’m eating some raisin bread toast at the moment and it’s perfect for today.
I love raisin bread toast! As long as I’m going to be out foraging for food…..might as well get some of that too! ;)
Same landscape here. Dull, duller, dullest. Every morning when my first graders were arriving at school I had a short poem or phrase on the chalkboard for handwriting practice, and this one, courtesy of Thomas Hood, was a perennial at this time of year. “No fruit, no flowers, no leaves, no birds… November!” Dull weather for sure, but the very best for cozied-up indoor reading. Enjoy yours today…
That’s the perfect quote for November. It says it all!
Mr Jay must have heard your request for color…We still have a lot left on the trees..At least it’s “warm” today..40’s !!! We get really cold tomorrow..
Yes, it’s warmish here today too. But soon….very cold.
November is starting to feel like January around here..expecting 20 degrees tonight..with the wind chill it will feel like 3 degrees..A high of 26 tomorrow which will feel like 11..I imagine your temps will be very low too as you are further north..I know it does no good to complain about the weather but sometimes it does feel good to let it out..lol..I just love that little Bakelite bird..love colored Bakelite..Those pothos vines can take over your house if you let them..when I was married my MIL had one in her kitchen that grew all the way across the tops of her cupboards which covered two walls..The Blue Jay is so pretty..I haven’t spied ours lately..I do imagine that the closing of plays is a hard thing..you put your heart and soul into them to make them so wonderful..well..I am getting long winded today so I will say it is indeed a great day to curl up with hot cocoa/coffee and a book..
Boy it’s very cold for this early in the season. Cripes, it isn’t even Winter yet!
Claudia, I love you blue jay picture…he’s some pretty color. I think what you said about it being bleak, is one of the reason I do not like winter so much. Not enough color. Even more coats are black…boring. I like wearing pretty scarves that helps. Blessings to your house, xoxo,Susie
I agree with you… I like to find color where ever I can, especially this time of year!
This morning… I looked outside and WHITE was the color of the morning. Not a lot, but just enough to be of interest…for November!
I have seen your little yellow bakelite ducky before I believe. But it is so cute, Claudia. Does it have a story…like most of your little trinkets and items of interest?
We brought our plants inside before the weekend…the first night of freezing temps last week. Like you, I wonder if they’ll continue to do well and hang on ’til Spring.
have nice evening, stay warm!
It’s actually sunny today where I am. Makes a pleasant change after all the rain.