Yet more snow. And we haven’t been able to shovel the top of the driveway (the parking area) because we’ve been too sick to do it. Looks like my car will remain in place for a while.
February has been a nightmarish month and I will be glad to say goodbye to it.
I’m starting to feel better. I’m still pretty weak and I get tired easily, but I’ve been doing a few things around the house. I just have to pace myself. Still have chest congestion. But I’ve finished my antibiotics. Don is not feeling at all well. He’s about one week behind me in this process, so I’m urging him to stay in and just rest. I’m pleased to say that he did just that yesterday. All day long.
I don’t know when – if ever – I’ve been through something like this. I’m into the start of my fourth week and I’m still not entirely well.
We lost two great actors recently: Albert Finney and Bruno Ganz. You may not have heard of Bruno Ganz – he was Swiss by birth and worked primarily in German film, though he did do English language films as well. He starred in one of my favorite films, Wings of Desire, directed by Wim Wenders. I don’t know whether you’ve ever seen it, but Ganz plays an angel, part of a group of angels who watch out for human beings. But he falls for a beautiful trapeze artist and finds he wants to be human. It’s a beautiful film; profound and moving and simply lovely. It’s on Amazon Prime, should you want to see it. Bruno Ganz gives a hauntingly beautiful performance.
Rest in Peace.
Albert Finney you know, of course. My favorite Albert Finney film is The Dresser, where he and the amazing Tom Courtenay play opposite each other – both actors brilliant and at the top of their game.
Last night, however, we were looking at viewing options on Amazon Prime and we came across a Finney movie we had never heard of, let alone seen: A Man of No Importance – made in 1994. It’s an Irish film, and filled with wonderful character actors, including the gifted Brenda Fricker and Michael Gambon.
But Finney. Oh my god. He is simply brilliant.
I cannot get it out of my mind this morning. Neither can Don. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but it takes place in 1963 Dublin and Finney plays a bus conductor.
Watch it if you can. You’ll see an actor who is simply one of the best there ever was. Fearless, stunning, and heartbreaking – what a gift he was. What an incredible legacy he left us.
Rest in Peace.
I’m just going to say it: February has sucked. Lots of snow, lots of sickness. And every snow event has involved ice. Enough already.
I would say I’m yearning for spring, but I don’t quite have the energy for that! I know March can be a pain in the tush, but it is also that much closer to April and the beginning of green. Bring it on.
Don has fallen asleep in the living room. I can hear him snoring, bless him.
Starting my 12th year of blogging today.
Happy Monday.
Happy Blog-aversiary!!
Thank you, Tana!
Very Happy Blogging Anniversary Claudia! Thank you for all your wonderful stories through the years! Please do go on! I wish you both a very quick recovery and happy spring time. By the way, Bruno Ganz was Swiss and he really was a wonderful angel!
Leena
Oh, I got that wrong! I’ve just corrected it in the post, Leena. Thanks so much.
He was a wonderful angel and now he’s a real one!
Congratulations on the twelve-year milestone! I’m sure it’s hard coming up with something to say every day, but I’m sure glad that you do it. Sick time is certainly your due—and you’ve had a doozy this time around! I feel for ya. Both a yas. Come on, Spring!
Really an 11 year milestone in terms of the anniversary, but starting the 12th year.
We’ve really had it with all of this. It’s a wonder we haven’t killed each other!
Hang in there with the illness. I had this in the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It migrated from sinusitis to bronchitis. After it finally passed, I was very low energy and tired for a couple more weeks. Thank goodness it passed before our January warm up. I have been able to get the yard in order using the good weather days that we have had on and off since.
Thank you for blogging. I check in every day to see if there is a post.
My sister had it, too, and she said it lasted 3 weeks for her. I’m very low energy, but each day is a wee bit better. Thanks so much, Brenda.
oh, bother (said just like pooh). hope you’ve “turned the corner” from this illness and that don soon will, too, that you both feel much, much better quickly and get your energy back, too. also that you haven’t run out of groceries/other supplies and that you will be spared any more ice or massive snowfalls.
happy blog anniversary, too, and many more! thanks much for all you’ve shared over the years through your thoughtful writing and beautiful photos! you’ve opened up new worlds to me by sharing about the work you and don do (including behind-the-scenes stuff), the books you read and movies you watch, recipes like the cloud biscuits … thank you very much for that and for taking time our of your days to write and post photos!
i find snow beautiful, love how it muffles lots of sounds (except for those of snowplows) and to go walking in it, but now i am ready for spring … we’ve had nearly 40 inches of snow in just the last month, over nine of them saturday night and all day yesterday … and another eight inches are forecast for tomorrow night. hurry up, spring!
keep healing!
kathy in iowa
Yeah, I’m over snow. Especially with a topping of ice. More than ready for spring, Kathy. Thanks!
Ah…the start of another blogging year. Congrats and thank you! You have brought me many hours of interesting reading…not only in book recommendations, but in introducing me to the world of theatre and all that that encompasses. I’ve travelled with you…dined with you…gardened with you….laughed and cried with you…funny how all that is possible without ever meeting…isn’t it?
Hope you will be feeling better this week. As far as the snow goes? What are we gonna do? We choose to live in this climate. Come on Spring…come to momma! ;)
We choose to live here but that doesn’t make us want winter to go away! Thanks, Donnamae!
Thanks for the film recommendations, Claudia. I knew both those actors and was sad to hear that news this weekend.
Equally sad to hear the plague is still alive and well at Maison Mockingbird but glad you are at least on the upswing. It’s been a bear, hasn’t it. Hang low and honor the healing!
It has been a bear and a half, Jeanie. Truly unbelievable! Thanks!
Congrats on your blog anniversary. I’ve been here for six of those years & look forward to clicking on the link in the e-mail I get every day. I don’t suppose there’s any way for me to read all your posts from the beginning, is there? I’m guessing that only so much gets saved to the site, so many months or years – right? If there is, please tell me how – I’d love to read your very first post & the early years. And continue to feel better. Whatever’s going around this year sure seems to hang around tight, doesn’t it? Which sucks. Anyway, lots of fluids & citrus & rest. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
They’re all there. You have to go down to the bottom of the blog and click on archive. And then you start at the beginning.
Thanks, Janet!
Congrats on the beginning of your 12th year! I not only enjoy the post you write, Claudia, but also the comments from your readers.
After what seems like weeks of rain but was probably only two or so, the sky is blue and the sun is out, and will be at least until next weekend. The temps are still cooler in the mid-50’s, but the tree branches are already swelling with buds. The wacky weather of which we seem to get too much is confusing the natural rhythm of nature. We just had hail Friday. I don’t think the trees have enough of a resting period between losing their leaves and then growing them out again. Oh well, at least it’s easier to do the taxes when the sun is out than under the gloom of gray skies and rain. Of course, a sunny day will tempt me to go out and ignore the taxes!
It’s been sunny here, but not today. The remnants of yesterday’s snowfall, I guess. We just went out and shoveled part of the driveway – we’re officially exhausted. Or more exhausted than we already were. But then, right after that, the oil company came with a delivery (which is why we shoveled.) All is well.
Rest for the remainder of the day.
Get well; stay well. The same wish goes to Don. Thanks for the Finney recommendation. I’m heading to Amazon Prime right now. -18 Celcius here so a good time to watch a movie.
Very good time to watch a movie, Brenda! Enjoy.
Albert Finney was such a gift. I will watch the movie you mentioned tonight. I will also watch the Bruno Ganz movie. I do love learning about actors and films from you both. So so sorry you are both so ill. I had a flu like that once and I didn’t think I would ever get well, but of course I did. Rest is your best medicine but it’s hard to do for weeks on end. Life goes on while we are sick. So happy you are starting your 12th year of blogging. Reading your blog is like visiting with a friend each day you post. Hugs and hope that snow just goes away soon!
We just got in from shoveling part of the driveway because we knew we were scheduled for an oil delivery today. We did it just in time! We’re really tired, but we feel good that we got it done and that we have enough oil.
Rest is on tap for the remainder of the day. We’re low on food but we’re going to be creative. I don’t want Don going out again today. Thanks for the kind words, my friend.
Good to hear you got the driveway shoveled. Now rest up and yes creative cooking.
Yep. Don’s watching Netflix on his laptop and I’m messing around online. Doing laundry. And that’s about it.
I think I have been a follower for about 7 or 8 years now. As Donnamae said, it is a new world where we have “friends” we have never met. I feel like I have come to know several of your other followers in their daily replies, as well. A unique and wonderful community you have grown! Just like your flower gardens.
Oh, I hope you both start to feel better! I think it is harder to throw off our illnesses as we get a wee bit older, as well. This weather doesn’t help. We had about 5 inches more yesterday and more is predicted for Wed with a grand flourish of freezing rain to top it all off with – the cherry on top, I guess. ugh. Take care ~~ lots of rest and plenty more fluids! May you both feel even better tomorrow! ♡
I think you’re right. A bit harder to shake the illness off and this one was a doozy!
The freezing rain is what gets me the most. We shoveled a bit today and we had to chop through the icy top coat on the snow.
Thanks so much, Chris.
Congratulations on 12 years with your blog!
Re Albert Finney, don’t know whether you saw this, but I did and found it interesting. Like you, the author names “The Dresser” as his favorite Finney movie, so maybe you’ll find this piece interesting.
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/stop-that-train-rip-albert-finney-by.html
Thanks so much for the link, Maizie!
Your’s was the first blog I stumbled on that I truly loved and has held my interest for years now. Thank you, Claudia, for the gift of your blog.
I’m so glad you’re feeling a little bit better and I pray the both of you will be feeling back to normal as soon as possible.
Take care,
Lily
P.S. I forgot to say I originally took a look at your blog because I adored the name of it!
xoxo
Thank you, Lilly!
Glad you are feeling better and hope Don does soon. it is sad to hear of so many actors passing. Julie Adams was a good actress as was Kristof St. John. Kristof was so young and a tragedy. They all will be missed. Rest in Peace.
Marilyn
Apparently, the loss of his son broke his heart. So sad.
Congratulations on 12 years of blogging. You have given me much pleasure.
Sorry you are both still sick. I hope for a quick recovery. The only thing good about being sick is that it reminds us how lucky we are to be healthy. I had a bad toothache and thought about how do people with chronic pain manage. I am so lucky.
I know. This has been very hard and I look forward to feeling healthy again!
So happy to hear that you are feeling a bit better…so sorry that Don isn’t…I don’t know of Bruno but I do know that Albert Finney was amazing!
Bruno Ganz was an amazing actor. A great loss, as is the loss of Albert Finney.
Congrats. One of my favorite films happens to have Albert Finney in it: Two for the Road. It’s more a forite because I love Audrey Hepburn & I thought the overlapping transitions to different times in the couple’s’ relationship was interesting.
Finney was wonderful ii The Dresser. I also have an album he made of songs he wrote & sang.
I like Two for the Road, as well. But The Dresser? Incredible.
Hope you both recover soon! Love your blog! Reading it is like haveing a wonderful conversation with a dear friend. (And thanks for the movie reveiws. It is so wet and cold outside, we look forward to a good movies).
We really need good movies at this time of year, Lottie!
Oh, I love A Man of No Importance! Saw the musical that the film was based on maybe ten years ago at the Irish Classical Theater in Buffalo. The cast recording is a favorite of inse. Now I have to look for it on Netflix.
Oh, you must see the movie. Finney is brilliant!