Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Remembering

May 4, 2023 at 9:09 am by Claudia

Sorry I didn’t get around to answering your comments yesterday. I was tired from mowing the day before. If you’ll forgive me, sometimes – but rarely – I just can’t do it. I’ll be better today.

I worked on the puzzle quite a bit, we went grocery shopping – Don came along so he could get out of the house – and then we listened to Gordon Lightfoot the rest of the day. It was so emotional for both of us.

“The Minstrel of the Dawn” reminds Don of the time when Winston died, when he kept playing it over and over to deal with his grief. It brought tears to his eyes.

“Too Late for Praying” always makes me cry. It is one of my favorites. During the night, I woke up coughing and couldn’t get back to sleep and that song kept playing in my head.

“Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Sundown,” “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Beautiful,” – the list goes on and on. I distinctly remember seeing him in concert when he had just finished writing “Beautiful.” None of us had heard it before. He walked to the grand piano, sat down, and with only the piano accompanying his incredible voice, we heard it for the first time.

His voice. How singular and beautiful it was.  There was no one like him.

As Don says, “His songs break my heart.”

We are immersing ourselves in the glory of his words and music. From my dorm room in college to now and beyond, his music was the soundtrack of my life.

I’ll say it again: Rest in Peace, dear one.

Update from Brenda:

I am fine now
Long story
Problematic trying to post responses
I have stopped reading and getting to post on blogs for now
Maybe later

So we know Brenda is okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: Gordon Lightfoot 15 Comments

Outrunning the Rain

May 3, 2023 at 9:12 am by Claudia

I have yet to respond to your comments but thank you so much for your thoughts on Gordon Lightfoot. We played his music for much of the day yesterday. He will be deeply missed.

My goal yesterday: trying to outrun the rain in order to mow the front lawn. After so much rain it was still very wet in places. And we have more coming.

So, in the afternoon, when I thought enough time had passed to lessen the soggy patches, I got the lawnmower out and mowed. I did it at a faster pace than I usually do because I could see clouds darkening on the horizon. I ended up taking a short break when it started to rain, then I was back at it until I got to the lower third, where it was so wet I could no longer continue.

Needless to say, I’m tired today. But I am conscious that I am the only one who can mow this week and the grass is very, very long. So I had to make a start. Rain today. Rain tomorrow. And then, finally, a break. I’ll go back at it on Saturday after we’ve had a day to dry out.

Let’s not mention all the weeding and pruning that has to be done, all of which has been neglected due to the rain. It feels overwhelming.

Pip is wearing a new outfit that I got from a seller in Spain. Since she already had a yellow barrette in her hair, as well as yellow shoes on her feet, she was chosen as the model.

I still haven’t heard from Brenda, which I find very concerning. It’s not like her. Send some prayers her way, please.

Today I have to buy some more groceries. Don doesn’t have a follow-up appointment until Monday and he’s getting frustrated. Restless. I don’t blame him. Hopefully, in six more days, the bandages will be removed and he’ll have more mobility.

He talked to Adrian yesterday and he sounds like his old self. Our mantra here is “Think of Adrian” – we invoke it whenever we are tempted to complain too much about hand surgery or sinuses or allergies or sore joints.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Pippa, rain 13 Comments

Mourning a Treasure

May 2, 2023 at 8:45 am by Claudia

Impressionist paintings turned into jigsaw puzzles are always a bit more difficult. And I’ve been really slow with this one because of coaching, being sick, the whole thing. I got back to it this week, so we’ll see how it progresses.

My heart broke a little last night. While Don and I were watching an old movie, my sister texted me that Gordon Lightfoot passed away. Meredith remembers spending time in my bedroom listening to his albums when she was little.

I was a steadfast fan for over 50 years. I saw him in concert several times in the Detroit area and I saw him again about 14 years ago with Don. I had the honor of meeting him backstage at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit. (Those were the days you could just wander onstage or backstage and no one tried to stop you.) My dear friend Becky, who reads this blog, and I attended many a concert.

He was from Orillia, Ontario, the town where my mother was born. And her mother. So I always felt an extra-special kinship with him.

I remember the very first time I heard “If You Could Read My Mind” – I was spellbound. I had never heard anything like it. The beauty of the songwriting, that voice, that vibrato – it captured the love and longing of that song perfectly. I remember everything about that moment in time. From that point forward, I gobbled up everything he had done. I bought every album. I have photos of him that my friend Scott, who accompanied Becky and I, took backstage.

He was a troubadour. And beloved everywhere, but especially in his native Canada.

Oh, how I’ll miss him. Thank you, Gordon, for years and years and years of your beautiful songs and your voice, a gift from the angels. Rest in Peace.

That’s all for today.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: jigsaw puzzles 31 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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