Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1047 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Easter

March 27, 2016 at 9:26 am by Claudia

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Happy Easter for those of you who celebrate this holiday. Happy Sunday for everyone who reads this blog.

It’s a gray morning. I’m hoping the sun comes out at some point. Yesterday was simply gorgeous. Don and I went on a trail walk. I’m determined to lose some pounds in the next month or so.

I used to put bunny ears on Scout every Easter and I briefly considered posting one of those photos on this post. But I find I’m not ready to do that yet. Maybe next year.

My Little Z, however, does have bunny ears on and we received an Easter message from him this morning. He’s adorable.

Enjoy your day. Eat some chocolate!

Happy Sunday.

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It was so warm yesterday that I was able to run errands in jeans and a t-shirt. Oh, joy! It’s sunny today. You know there’s nothing I love more than seeing the sun pour through the many windows of the cottage. It’s good for my soul.

I’ve been coloring.

Frankly, I can’t remember whether I loved coloring or not when I was a child. I remember doing it, and like everyone else, I loved a new box of crayons, preferably the Crayola box of 64 crayons with the built-in sharpener. I suppose I liked coloring as much as the next kid. Unlike most kids, I didn’t particularly care for cartoons. I still don’t!

When we were down in Florida, Mere gave an adult coloring book and colored pencils to Don. She had originally purchased it for her husband – I was with her, so it must have been in August – but he had no interest in it. Don took a stab at it, coloring while sitting out on the lanai near the pool.

I thought I had absolutely no interest in coloring, but I succumbed the other day at Barnes & Noble. After looking at many adult coloring books (I wish they’d find a different term; it sounds vaguely smutty!) I chose Johanna Basford’s Enchanted Forest. The drawings are incredibly detailed and perfect for a nature lover like me.

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This is what I’ve done so far. Yesterday morning found both Don and me coloring – he, in his chair in the living room, me, in my chair in the den. I did a bit more around dinner time.

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I didn’t feel that I had enough variety in the colors available, especially in the shades of green, so I went to our local art supply store and purchased a few more colored pencils. They’re made by Prismacolor.

Don has his own set of pencils, though we’re not averse to raiding each other’s stash.

It’s a meditative thing to do. I put it in my own personal category of things that help me relax: reading, doing a crossword puzzle, crocheting, working on miniatures, and now this – coloring.

I know that many of you have been doing this for a while. Do you have a favorite coloring book? (I stayed away from the ones that have thick black outlines, but that’s just my personal preference.) The best sharpener? If you have one, please share!

I hope you’re having a lovely weekend.

Happy Saturday.

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Greenery, Crocheting & Remembering

March 25, 2016 at 8:59 am by Claudia

3-24 Chineseevergreen

My trip to a local nursery resulted in this: a Chinese Evergreen that doesn’t need a lot of light and is therefore perfect for the den. The den has been sadly lacking in greenery. I just plopped the pot inside the McCoy jardiniere.

It’s sitting on the floor in front of the dollhouse.

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Lovely.

I love the way the various shades of green pop against the creamy McCoy.

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I’m crocheting one last scarf for my friend, Lynn. Lynn worked at the Old Globe for years and when she asked me if I could make her a scarf from one of her favorite skeins of wool, I said yes. It’s taken me a good long while to get round to it and for that I apologize, Lynn! I had to let my hands rest after crocheting more scarves than I can count last Fall.

Cindy, if you’re reading this, I finished the other scarf you ordered and it’s listed on Etsy.

We are mourning the death of two colleagues and friends who have recently passed away. Larry Drake, a wonderfully fine actor, passed away last week at the age of 66. Larry had a long career on the stage, but you probably know him best as the character Benny on L.A. Law. I was fortunate to coach him on two different occasions; in a play at the Old Globe and in another play in NYC. He was such a kind and lovely man and he died much too soon.

And now we are reeling at the news that Garry Shandling has passed away. Garry was a friend of Don’s. They first met when Garry was a writer working on the short-lived The Harvey Korman Show. Don was a member of the cast of that show, recruited by Harvey himself. A few years later, after Garry had started working as a comedian, Don was on It’s Garry Shandling’s Show. Though many years had passed, their connection remained. Not all that long ago, Garry and Don were chatting online about their memories of the work they did together. Garry was brilliant and his shows were groundbreaking.

Don tells me that Garry was a truly nice person. Gone at 66.

Both actors were extremely gifted; both have left us much too soon.

May they rest in peace.

My mom used to make us sit quietly between the hours of 12 and 3 on Good Friday. We couldn’t go outside or talk loudly. I think this happened more to my brother and I than to my two sisters. As often seems to be the case, my parents were much more relaxed in bringing up my younger sisters than they were with the two oldest.

So, it seems strange to say Happy Friday on Good Friday, but Happy Friday nonetheless.

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Easter

Coloring

Greenery, Crocheting & Remembering

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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