Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Daunting Task

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This has been a challenge. The majority of the puzzle is white with various lines and squiggles. I knew that when I purchased it, of course. The part yet to be finished is the most challenging. I worked on it a lot yesterday and I finally had to force myself to stop. That’s the NY Public Library, by the way.

I have to find something to wear to the premiere today. This pushes all my buttons because a) I hate shopping in a mall or a big store but I have to be able to try things on, and b) I’ve gained weight and I’m not the skinny thing I was for most of my life and facing that fact in a dressing room is extremely unpleasant, and c) the whole thing can be very depressing and tiring, and d) I don’t want to spend a lot of money on this. The suggested dress is Business Casual. Hmmm. So it’s not very dressy, thank goodness, but I have to look put together in a group of people who, believe me, will look extremely well put together.

Add to that that I am an introvert and the thought of the premiere fills me with excitement and dread. At the same time. So many people, so much talking, so much being ‘on.’ And for us, the trip in and out of NYC, finding a place to park, trying to grab a bite to eat before the start of the movie, is a bit overwhelming. It makes for a very long day that will find us getting back home in the wee hours of the next morning.

That’s what I’m dealing with this morning. I’m blessed to be able to go, I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I’m shopping today because I sure don’t want to shop right after Thanksgiving, which would be insane. If I can’t find anything, I’ll go out again on Monday, but I’m hoping it will all be taken care of today.

Okay. I won’t post tomorrow as it is Thanksgiving here in the States and most of you will be very busy with meal prep, family, etc. We will cook our usual vegetarian fare.

Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Wednesday.

Officially That Age

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Thank you for all of the lovely birthday greetings yesterday. Between the blog, Instagram, and Facebook – goodness, I heard from everyone! I am blessed.

The day was low-key which was just the way I wanted it to be. Don, being Don, wanted a little celebration even though I’d said ‘no gifts.’ Bless his heart, he is such a sweetheart.

Of course, he made the dinner I requested – Crabbiless Crab cakes – and it was so delicious! We hadn’t had it in a few years, so we both really appreciated it. And then, we had a little celebration. Don managed to find a banner saying Happy 70th Birthday, and he bought crepe paper, so streamers were everywhere. I was so touched. He found sugar-free cupcakes in our health food store and we both had one. No apple pie, he said, because he makes them all the time, so he wanted something special. And I made a wish and blew out the candles.

He gave me a lovely card. And since he’s giving me the new Louise Penny, which won’t be published until a week from today, he gave me a little package and this was inside:

I love him.

Then, a little surprise that he found in an antique shop:

A little Limoges candy dish. The pink flowers are reminiscent of the Limoges I have from my great-grandmother, though I don’t think he realized that. He broke a favorite dish of mine last week and he felt very badly about it, so he searched for something he thought I would like. And I do, it’s lovely.

He’s the dearest man.

As far as the crab cake recipe goes, the last time I spoke about it here on the blog, I hesitated sharing it because it’s in a recipe book written by Deirdre Imus and the sales of that book went to her charity. As always, I suggest the book because there are lots of great vegetarian recipes there. It’s called The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys.  But Shanna tells me that she found the recipe online, so you could probably Google the name of the author and ‘crabbiless crab cakes’ and you would find it. I’ll leave that up to you. The book might be hard to find at this point as it was published several years ago.

Thanks again, dear friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

A Bit of a Milestone

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Anniversary of my birth. Natal Day. Birthday.

Whatever you call it, I’m 70 years old today. Actually, not quite yet, as I was born around 5:30 pm. I like to delay the actual year count until that moment, futile as it might be.

Lucky for me, Don is always about a year and a half ahead of me, so he helps me through it. And he assures me 70 is just fine. He asked me if I wanted some sort of party or celebration, but I really want a quiet day at home with him. I used to love celebrations and lots of excitement, but that part of me has faded and the quiet, introverted Claudia has taken over. Actually, not all that quiet around here, as I’m frequently making a joke or going for a laugh. Nothing makes me happier than to say something unexpected to my husband or do a silly walk or sing a funny song I just made up, or speak in a funny voice (and I have a lot of them) to get a reaction from him. I would say that he definitely feels the same way. We laugh a lot around here and for that I’m so, so grateful.

I wish my parents were here. And my brother. Mom was 25 years older than me, so she’d be 95. Dave was 5 1/2 years older than me, so he’d be 75. And Dad would be 99! What would they think of me turning 70? Mom would have a funny and slightly sarcastic response, of that I’m sure. But I’ve already heard from my beloved sister and youngest nephew. That makes me happy.

I have much to be grateful for and believe me, I am. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life. Whatever goals I had long ago, I think I’ve surpassed. But always, always, it’s the people I’ve met and worked with and grown up with and taught and played with and have come to know online that are the best. That I’m blessed by my family is a given.

Don is making my favorite meal – crab cakes without the crab. Honestly, I can’t tell the difference! I’m sure he’s got a few things planned but, because money is rather tight, I asked for no gifts. He pressed me on that, so I said he could give me Louise Penny’s new book, which comes out a week from tomorrow. That will be the perfect gift.

Thanks, friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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