Moody Monday Morning Sheep for you today.
One of these sheep is a gift from Lori, the owner of Vignettes in Ocean Beach/San Diego. The last time we were out there, during Don’s run of Margaritaville, I stopped by the shop but Lori wasn’t there that day. She collected putz sheep and she was selling some of her collection in the shop. I purchased a couple. A couple of months after I was back home, this arrived in the mail for me. She’d had it decorated. That’s an Eiffel Tower hanging from the neck.
It’s priceless.
And of course, The Lamb with the Party Hat, the symbol of this blog. I found him in an antique shop (Country Roads) in Orange, California – most likely in 2009. By the way, if I could think of one shop I’d choose to visit again, it’s that one. Simply extraordinary.
It’s darkish in the studio right now, hence the moody look of the photos.
No two of these sheep are alike. (I might need more…) I have 20 of them at the moment.
Oh, and remember the big box of putz sheep that Helga sent me from Germany? One of the biggest surprises ever! I think there were seven of them, but I could be off on the count. Helga has a very large collection of these sheep, beautifully displayed. And she has a Beacon Hill dollhouse that she has decorated beautifully. Note to self: visit Helga’s Instagram feed today.
There they are! Yes, seven.
Once again, I am captivated by the whimsical. I can’t help it. The more whimsical, the better.
It’s a gray day here today. We’re back to the 30s and 40s for daytime highs, though today it will hit 50.
Now, after last night’s delightful and moving finale for this season of All Creatures Great and Small, we have to wait another year for more. It was beautifully done by one and all.
By the way, in rereading the blog, I am reminded that the surprise package from Helga came on the day that we received our very first Covid vaccination. What a day that was – the vaccination appointment had been so hard to get and we were so ebullient after we got our shots. Then the sheep arrived later that day!
I often do a search on this blog so that I can verify when something happened. I love writing in a journal/planner/calendar as well, but this blog has a search box and I don’t have to rifle through page after page to find the information I want. It comes up immediately. Quite handy.
Okay. I don’t know what I’m doing today. Right now, I’m going to finish my coffee.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
I thought of you today as I was reading an article in the Feb. 6th edition of the New Yorker magazine. It was about Sweeney Todd which is heading to Broadway again starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. They speak of the Cockney accent she needs to use and right away I thought, “They need Claudia to help them with that!” It made me wonder how you keep track of all of the different local accents needed by actors?!
Sorry, my comment is off topic but I was curious!!??
There are lots of dialect coaches out there. I’m sure they’ve got someone coaching her.
I’m not sure what you mean by your question, Ellen.
Stay safe.
Oh, I guess I mean, do you have a catalog of dialects that you know or do you have to do lots and lots of research to prepare? You must have very good hearing to detect the nuances needed. :)
Not a catalog, but I’ve been doing this for nearly 40 yeas and I have an excellent ear. A lot of dialects I know like the back of my hand, but if it’s new to me, I research it, listen to tapes and recordings and transcribe it phonetically, so I can teach and coach it.
xo
those sheep are all super-darling!
and what a sweet gift from helga!
and i like the old tape display piece. you have so many cool things, a great eye/knack for finding and putting things together!
i have a long list of things to do today, shortened by one for it being presidents day. i need to call the internal revenue service (which will be closed today) because i still have not received my refund for 2021. i made a mistake when i did my taxes, they sent me a letter, i sent my reply (after checking it was legitimate) and they said i would have my refund in less than two months (which was up over a month ago … i’ve been trying to be patient). i want my money … and can’t do 2022 taxes until this problem gets fixed, either … ugh!
other than that, the sun is shining and i get to spend time with members of my family and i am happy about that. first, off to do other things.
hope today is a good and happy day for you, don and everyone else, however you spend it!
kathy
In my experience, IRS refunds always take longer than they say it will. Hopefully, you’ll get it soon!
Stay safe, Kathy.
thanks, claudia. :)
kathy
xo
Kathy, so sorry. This seems to happen. I used to do my taxes, but my son is a corporate attorney/accountant…he does them in a few minutes. ONLINE. I usually have to pay, but once a refund came within a week. Keep contacting them please.
hej, brenda. :)
glad your son can help you … and more easily do his own taxes, too!
thanks for your encouragement.
i made numerous attempts to do my taxes last year online (as i have for several years), but the program repeatedly wouldn’t get past one question so i finally sent in my taxes the old-fashioned way … on paper. no response for eight months, plus about three more months of waiting since they got my reply to their notice last fall. am sure it will work out, but i am tired of waiting and want my money now! also am sure i will use a tax preparer in person for 2022 taxes … because of this last problem and for having three weeks of unemployment pay, four-plus months of employment, getting my pension and then social security … fun? not to me, but it will work out.
anyway, hope you and your loves are safe and well, happy.
hugs from iowa. prayers, too.
kathy
AARP does taxes free for seniors in some states. They did mine free for three years plus just because of my age
Not sure if you are old enough
thanks for the tip, brenda.
and 65 next month.
kathy
Too cute. What a charming item to collect. Just the perfect nudge toward spring. At least the sun is shining here in Metro Detroit this morning. Winter warning tonight. Can’t wait for this strange season to end.
Me too. I wanted snow, but now I don’t.
Stay safe!
Your sheep certainly are cute…and whimsical…even that word is fun to say! And yes, you just might need more sheep! I’m sure they are fun to collect, when you can find them! Enjoy your day….
They’re very delicate so finding them in okay condition is tricky. But they don’t take up much space.
Stay safe, Barrie.
Enjoy your day and your puzzle, your books, your home, your darling husband. I love his music. prayers for your friend
Thank you, my dear!
Stay safe, Brenda.
Talk about happy mail – 🐑 putz sheep all the way from Germany. They’re in lovely condition. “All Creatures Great and Small” made me cry as I knew it would, especially Tristan’s Christmas speech and him saying goodbye to Siegfried at the station. Really looking forward to Season 4. The sun is shining here but we’re in for some snow and much colder weather mid-week. It’s Family Day here in Canada 🇨🇦 and President’s Day for you. Good day to make Don’s apple pie. Hugs, Elaine
No pie today. But soon!
Stay safe, Elaine.
Well, I love anything ‘putz’ and the sheep are delightful. It’s the time of year I start thinking of bunnies, lambs, baby chicks; Easter eggs; SPRING of course!
I resisted watching All Creatures in this last couple of years. I know it’s a well-done/beautifully-shot series. But I was very into the original BBC series of it in the late 1970s which I believe I watched via my local PBS-TV station. I had either read the books first or afterward, and one of the first gifts my first ‘real’ boyfriend ever gave me was a non-fiction, coffee-table book on the beautiful English-countryside landscapes of Herriot locales. (It’s the only thing I kept of that era with that guy!) Anyway, I somewhat stubbornly didn’t want to have any ‘update’ on the show/tales to dilute my memories of the first series which I just loved. (I’m sorta NOT into remakes.) I’m sure one of these days, I’ll catch up to this newer series but I just haven’t been ready yet. I need to be open to it. I’ve only heard the best reviews; so, so far, it’s my loss!
All I can say is that Don watched the original series and was a huge fan. He says this is just as good, if not better. He was hesitant at first, but it’s truly excellent.
I’m not into remakes either, but I don’t consider this a remake. It’s just been updated in terms of film quality, etc. and obviously recast because it had to be.
Stay safe.
Oh, I’m very glad to hear Don’s opinion; thanx for sharing that with me!
Wow, an aside; heard some scary weather reports that my part of Southern Calif may be INUNDATED with rain again Weds-Sun. Yes, we need more snowpack; we need more rain; and we’ve had more than a month to dry out from the last damaging storms, but my husband and I started planning today, like what needs to be brought in from the grocery, what errands to get out of the way, checking drains around the house, etc (the usual). Big wind to come with it, too (ugh). And COLD. We might have a 25-degree drop in daytime temps (but who’s complaining as we’ve been nudging 70s the past couple of days; my husband and I just got back from soaking up some sunshine since we know it’s going away for awhile!). The one meteorologist I really like (L.A.) said that, four days in, he feels more comfortable with forecasting to start having us take a pause, maybe change a few plans; says people should try to stay off the roads if they can. Easy enough for us retirees here to do, at least this next couple of weeks anyway; so grateful I can tuck in if the weather gets challenging.
Vicki, it’s okay to like both of them. We watched the original series before we started watching the current series. The biggest difference I found was that the role of Mrs. Hall was a much meatier one in the new series. Watch the first episode and then decide.
Okay, I’m listening to you and Claudia! I don’t know why I feel so loyal to the BBC series of the 1970s; I think it was 1978.
Dear Claudia!
How lovely that you mention me in your blog today! I’m making an Instagram post from my little showcase today. A few putz sheep were added to my house last year. I now have 106 plus 1 putz dog and a goat. In my showcase at the bottom there are a few other vintage sheep. Each one differs a bit from the other. Many are over 100 years old.
I am currently working on the details for the artist studio at the beacon hill dollhouse. Posts coming soon.
Your blog is still one of my daily rituals.
xoxo
Helga
So glad you saw this post, Helga. I saw your showcase today on IG! It is amazing. How I wish I could visit and see your sheep and your dollhouse and your wonderful studio!
xoxoxo
Stay safe!
You (and Don) will be always so very welcome!
Stay safe!!!
xoxo
Oh, the sheep. I love sheep — always have. And your collection is fabulous. And even more so, because of the stories and people that go with them. I love them all!
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
Stay safe.