Happy Sunday to everyone!
One play has opened – 3 more to go. Whenever I start to talk about how hard this schedule is, I stop and think about the actors who are in all 3 plays and the stage managers who work such long hours. Then I shut up.
I got out of rehearsal a little early yesterday and took the opportunity to visit the Urban Barn. For those of you who have been reading this blog since last year, the monthly barn sales at La Maison Rustique are now in a new location – The Urban Barn. The shop is open Wed – Sun, but the special monthly sales continue. Of course, I took photos for you. I will share them with you on another post.
Keeping to my budget, I only bought 2 small and inexpensive items:
I fell in love with these on the spot. The packaging, the graphics, the sweetness – how could I resist? Each of the sides of the box has a little message: ‘For Dolly’s clothes,’ ‘Useful in Travelers Kits,’ ‘Useful for Stockings, Handkerchiefs, Lingeries, etc. etc.’
I collect figural egg cups – but this non-figural cup caught my eye. I don’t need to hint as to why. This is my favorite color combination. Isn’t it sweet?
You might be thinking, ‘Why the tree photos, Claudia? We all have them.’ When I left home these trees had only little tiny buds on them. My husband sent me some photos today of all the new growth. That’s the Catalpa on the left and the Sugar Maple on the right.
Be still my heart – what do I see?
My peony buds! I’m starting to get sad that I won’t see them for the third year in a row. However, my husband just said this in a phone conversation: ‘Don’t get sad. I didn’t send these to you for you to get sad.’ Okay. I won’t be sad.
What have I been doing when I’m alone and bored in this apartment? I’ve been going back to old posts (I have over 450 of them) to change the HTML on all the photos to make them larger. The smaller photos I was posting really look weensy on the new template. The very first photos I posted were even tinier. In the course of doing all of this, I realized that I blogged for quite a while with 1 or 2 comments – sometimes 0. I’m glad I didn’t let it get me down. There are new bloggers out there with 1 or 2 or 0 comments. When you come across one, leave a comment. Remember how it was for you when you first started out. We all need encouragement, don’t we?
Have a wonderful day.
By the way, please stop by Kelee Katillac’s blog. Her post today is terribly important. The oil spill is a major catastrophe and we need to use all of our energy to come up with a solution.
Absolutely we all need encouragement! I wouldn’t know how to change the photos on html. But yesterday I was thinking I want to make my photos larger. I’m sorry you won’t see the peonies. Don will take pics for you. I love those little pretties you picked up!
Brenda
I love your new little treasures! And your tree and peony photos are GORGEOUS!
That is a good idea about enlarging the photos on old posts. I am not sure I could handle how time-consuming that would be – and I’m not even sure I could easily find all my old pictures, but I THINK I know how to enlarge them (not even real sure about that!) Your blog looks so lovely.
YEs, I remember only getting 1 or 2 comments and sometimes STILL have days like that! When I come across a blog that is new, sweet and delicious, I give them a shout out on my blog. Sometimes that can make all the difference for them and it’s such an easy thing to do for someone. *smiles*
Enjoy your Sunday, Claudia!
Di
Wow~ sounds like you are really busy. Would love to come down for a play. I’m only 1-1/2 from you and looove san diego!
OMG I had a ginormous Catalpa tree in Connecticut…the fragrance of the huge blossoms was so lovely…then they fell…and oh my, they were shriveled and brown and yuky…but I thought it was quite worth it. I must go further into your blog to see why you are in an apartment and all that you love is far from you….must be a story there!
xox Rella
Oh, you sure are sounding homesick Claudia. I’m so sorry and wish that I could make things feel better for you. One thing that will be nice, is that you will feel a bit less stress with the way things are with our economy, once you return home. That will be a good feeling, and hopefully will make this time away, feel worth it.
Love those sweet little clothespins. You’re like me. I’m so often attracted to graphics, colors and textures.
Take care,
Lena
Claudia, your yard at home is looking beautiful, i am sorry that you are not there to see it…that is so sweet that your hubby is sending you pics…i love your egg cup, i just bought some tea cups that look a good bit like it…i love those colors too!!!
Claudia, the clothes pins and the egg cup are great finds! I love those color combos, too.
I’m sorry you’re missing the peony buds, but do you know, I’ve never seen peonies in bloom? They don’t grow here. Maybe Don could dry the blooms in the microwave, and you could add scented oil to them to keep as potpourri.
Hope you’re having a good Sunday. I have been very concerned about the oil spill, too.
XO,
Sheila
Love the clothespins, Claudia!!!
With over 700 followers/subscribers to my blog I only get a handful of comments on my posts :)
xxoo
I try to leave a comment for the newbies also, honey, as I DO know how it was when I started and no one dropped by.
I didn’t go back and change my photos when I switched to the larger photos. I have almost 900 posts and couldn’t possibly do it unless I wanted to die at this computer!
xoxo,
Connie
Thanks for your encouraging comments!! And I’m thrilled with each new follower. It’s nice to see others’ collections of the things I also love…like pottery.
hi claudia,
your finds are just the sweetest.
even now when i publish a blog post, i wait for that first comment just like i used to when it was only my husband and friend who would leave me jokey comments just so i’d have 1 or 2.
i hope you are having a :) sunday.
xo
elyse
hi claudia,
great finds. and sorry you’ll be missing the peonies. so sad.
you are so right about the comment thing. i remember the day i got my first comment. it is amazing that we don’t all give up!
~janet
A lot of time I still get 1 or 2, I am so happy when I know someone is interested in my blog. If you had told us about your blog earlier I would have commented all the time.
Had a great time with Jeff and Raina, I wrote about them tonight.
Love and miss you sister,
Mere
Claudia,
Your egg cup is so sweet. I love that color combination too.
Bethany ♥
Really great finds!! I am so glad you found an egg cup to add to your collection!
I think it is neat you are changing your photos! You are a good computer person to change it all. I did figure out one day how to change the font size in the one I was using. It was in there 50 times but I did it and I am so pleased!
Have a great week♥
Hugs, Lisa
Your peony buds… ahhhh the flowers will be gorgeous! One of my all time favorites. I have got to get to the new location of the Urban Barn soon!
Have a great day.
Holly
Hi Claudia, i just love your egg cup! I’m always looking for them, and your peony is going to be beautiful….Kathy
Claudia,
I’m not sure how to change HTML either…..
Love your little treasures.
Carol
With all the rain we have been getting, things are very green. It is nice to see. My peonies have been in the same bud stage for a couple weeks. And all this rain is making then fall over as I neglected to set up their ‘cages.’ I checked for ants and they are on the buds so in time, there will be blooms!
Hope play #1 is off to a good start. I’m sure it is exciting and satisfying to see everyone’s efforts come to fruition.
Have a great week!
Those little clothespins are adorable!! I like the egg cup too. I will stop by Kelee’s blog. I am very concerned about the oil spill too!
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
I love your Catalpa tree so much- it brings back so many memories for me. Lovely finds at the Urban Barn–I so agree with your thoughts on new bloggers- I remember how kind people were to me when I first started blogging-yourself included Claudia ♥
Claudia, I don’t know how I missed your last post! That is some awesome pottery!
Your post today is fab. I love those tiny clothes pins in their package, as well as the beautiful egg cup.
I am so glad you are able to get out here and there and do your treasure hunting.
That is very sweet of your husband to send you photos of the garden. It is at least one way you can see how it is growing.
Hugs,
Terri
Hello Sweet Claudia! You found some sweet treasures! Sweetness to take home when you leave CA. I live just 1/2 hr. from the Urbun Barn! Next time call me! I think you need to met me at Old Town Temecula someday soon! Lots of fun shops & food there!
Hugs,
Maryjane
Hi Claudia,
Just realized that I have been missing you and thought I better hop over and say hello.
I’m so glad that you get a chance to get out and take a breather.
I would have loved to be at that big sale. I like your vintage clothespins and the egg cup. Cute.
hugs
Sissie
I can’t even image how much you miss your garden and sweet cottage.
Your work is hard. I bet they love having you on staff.
I love to go shopping but same as you keep myself on a budget. Love you two finds.
Sweet thoughts to you.
Hugs, Dogwood
I loved you from the first time I found your blog! AND the peoneys (did I spell that right?) oh so beautiful. Our neighbors have them planted like a hedge all around their carriage house. They are gorgeous right now. xo rachel