Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Rinsing, Wringing and Bailing

September 13, 2014 at 9:01 am by Claudia

Do you remember my words in yesterday’s post? I was going to ‘lay low’ for the day.

The gods heard that and laughed out loud.

I was working on Hamlet and stopped to throw some sheets in the washer. After some time, I went to the bathroom (where our stacked one-piece washer and dryer lives in a closet) to throw them in the dryer. But the load wasn’t done. The cycle had stopped midway through the wash. Thinking it might just be a problem with the permanent press cycle, I moved the dial to Normal. Nothing. I tried Rinse. Nothing. I tried Spin. I tried Gentle. I tried everything. For a moment or two, Normal worked. Then it stopped.

The only thing the washer would do was fill with water, which I certainly didn’t need as it was already full of water. Soapy water.

The damn thing was broken.

So this is how I spent my morning and much of the afternoon: pulling out wet sheets (which, of course, spilled water onto the floor) and then holding them under the bathtub faucet as I rinsed them out by hand. Then I wrung them out and dried them. One by one. There were wet sheets in the bathtub. There were wet sheets in the bathroom sink. There were wet sheets in the washer.

And then, joy of joys, I methodically bailed out the washer – scoop by scoop.

Guess how long that took?

There is still some water in the bottom of the washer that I just can’t get out of there, so I’m trusting it will eventually evaporate.

The bathroom was a mess. I ended up washing the floor. The rugs dried outside on the Funky Patio chairs.

In this time of planned obsolescence, I wonder if nine years is the most we can expect from a washer? (The dryer still works.)

Since I’m leaving town in about five days, I am going to hold off on calling in someone to look at it. We’ll deal with that when we get back. Why do I have this sinking feeling the whole darn thing is going to have to be replaced?

And that’s a whole other kettle of fish. Getting that washer and dryer in there involved taking off the door to the bathroom, taking off the door to the closet, and removing the molding.

Crap.

Let’s change the subject and look at a neat picture of Scout.

scoutie & orb

I was shooting into the sun and this orb appeared on the image. Reminds me of Glinda, the Good Witch, in The Wizard of Oz.

And to further take my mind off the washer, how about some pretty morning glories?

morning gs & rusty wire

morning gs & leaves

Sigh. That helps.

Act Three? Check. Today I work on Act Four.

By the way, I’ve been hit with a ton of spam in the last 24 hours that looks like a legitimate comment, but isn’t. It will take a bit of time for my spam plug-in to identify and filter this stuff, so I am temporarily moderating comments. I check in all the time, however, so your comment will be approved rather quickly.

Don’t people have anything better to do than this? Really? They can’t do something more constructive with their time?

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: life 49 Comments

Back Home, Gifts and Scout

September 12, 2014 at 8:29 am by Claudia

Left the house at 9:30 am. Pulled up in the driveway at 7:15 pm, with Scout’s face visible in the window as she kept one eye pealed for the car from her “Where’s Mom?” perch on the loveseat. Thank goodness for my neighbor who cheerfully dropped by a couple of times to let her outside. I’d left food out in her dish, which my neighbor informed me had been ‘nosed’ by Miss Scout to a spot under the kitchen island.

That scamp.

I asked my neighbor to please put the food back in its original position on the rug. When I got home to an ecstatic, jumpy, pouncey Scout, I discovered she’d eaten it all. Good girl!

We had a loving reunion with lots of “I missed you!” and “What a good girl you were!” and then it was time for more food. For Scout, first.

Then I ordered a pizza. Just for me. It was 8 pm and I was starving.

Scout was like a hyped-up little kid for the next 3 hours until she finally crashed.

I’ve been in Efficient Mode for a few days now, but I think today I’m going to be in Lay Low Mode. Especially since I woke up at 5:30.

Nevertheless, I have to finish Act Three of Hamlet. I’m on a schedule. Here’s the current view of the kitchen table:

FRIDAY Current state of kitchen table

Filled with research books and scripts and notes for our taxes and books due back at the library and some mail.

Attractive, isn’t it? And not at all pin-worthy.

I want to share a few surprises that have arrived in my mailbox lately – all from generous and lovely readers of this blog.

FRIDAY crochet

Tammy sent me this lovely crocheted mat. I love, love the colors, which are not quite true in this photo. That’s because it’s early in the morning here and the lights are on. The bookmark was also in the package – those are pressed flowers. Thank you so much, Tammy!

Yesterday I stopped off at the post office to mail something and check the contents of my post office box. Whoo hoo! There were three packages waiting for me. One was a book for a future review.

FRIDAY eggcups

One was a box that contained these. Oh my! Generous reader Sandra sent these vintage egg cups that are also salt and pepper shakers. Sandra said that one of the things she loved about my egg cup collection is that each one of them has a story. Then she went on to say that this set wouldn’t have a wonderful story like the others, but that they were ‘sent fondly.’ Hold on there, Sandra! They do have a wonderful story: they were sent to me by you. You discovered them at an estate sale and you took the time to package them up, along with a lovely note, and send them to me.

I’d say that’s a pretty neat story. Thank you, Sandra!

And the other box contained these:

FRIDAY minis

Oh my! Lovely reader Lee sent me these minis. They were given to the attendees of a NAME convention (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts.) That’s a beautiful tray with letters, a letter opener, pen and ink, books, and a cup of tea on a doily. And a tin of Earl Grey. Beautifully done. Yes, my friends, it will definitely be going in the dollhouse, which has been untouched for a while now. That happens every summer, as my thoughts turn to gardening and the great outdoors. Soon enough, I will be finding myself back in the thick of it.

Thank you, Lee!

I am continually amazed by the thoughtful and generous gifts that are sent to me by you, my readers and friends. I don’t think I am nearly that thoughtful or generous, to be perfectly honest. I wish I was more like you. You set the bar pretty high, my friends.

Bless your hearts!

A new post with some interesting links is up at Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Adding to The List: Forgot about Hilary Swank in P.S. I Love You (movie) and Robert Sean Leonard in Pygmalion. Oops!

Oh, and if you’re occasionally not getting a post in your email, it most likely has to do with your email provider and there’s really not a thing I can do about it. I subscribe to this blog through AOL, Gmail, and Yahoo and I’ve been getting every post. Remember: you can bookmark the site and visit it directly. You know that I post every day.

And one more thing: I’m getting a lot of spam today – somehow it’s getting past my filter, so for the time being I am moderating comments.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: gifts, On The Road, Scout 14 Comments

And…I’m Off!

September 11, 2014 at 8:15 am by Claudia

Today, I drive to Hartford for an afternoon rehearsal and then back home again. Four hours, round-trip, in what increasingly looks like rain and thunderstorms. I’m leaving Dame Scout at home and my neighbor is going to look in on her. Since we have to travel together again a week from today, keeping her at home in her familiar surroundings seems like the best option.

I finished Act Two yesterday. Then I mowed the dog corral and the whole front yard.

After that, I collapsed.

THURS autumnal zinnia

This zinnia just opened. I planted it in one of our barrels by the Funky Patio. The colors are quite autumnal!

I did some editing on yesterday’s post as the day went on and I remembered more details. Beah Richards played Sidney Poitier’s mother in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and she and Don worked together in an episode of The Practice, not L.A. Law.

I also worked with Robert Hays, Don’s longtime friend, in a production of Mister Roberts at the Old Globe.

And I believe that Don worked with Elinor Donahue in an episode of Get A Life, starring Chris Elliott. It’s a very funny episode with Don playing a cop who always wants donuts. In that same episode was Chris’ father, Bob Elliott, of the comedy team, Bob and Ray.

THURS M Glory & Candy Stripes

Of course, not on the list are countless wonderful actors and actresses and directors that the general public wouldn’t necessarily recognize, but who are every bit as talented as the ones on I mentioned yesterday. They work in theaters throughout the country, on Broadway and off-Broadway. That list, my friends, is just as important to us as the one on the blog.

THURS newishzinnia

I received my pre-publication copy of Deborah Crombie’s newest book, To Dwell in Darkness, yesterday. Though I was already reading another book, I started it last night. One is on the Kindle, one is in hardcover. Since I was charging my Kindle, I used that as an excuse to start the Crombie.

Makes sense to me.

I’ll be reviewing it on this blog at the end of the month.

Okay. Have to jump in the shower and get ready for a long day.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, coaching, Don, flowers, On The Road 18 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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