Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Wow

October 22, 2022 at 9:32 am by Claudia

Houseplant shadows.

Well. Yesterday was quite  an interesting day and I have some of you to thank for alerting me to what had just happened. I was starting to write my blog post when I saw comments from a couple of you that Jim Parsons had mentioned me on CBS Mornings. What???  I never watch morning television, so I had no idea. I knew he was doing an interview, it was on the show’s schedule, but that was it. By the time I got your messages, the interview was over, so I had to wait about an hour until it popped up on the website for CBS Mornings.

Oh my heavens! Dialect coaches are almost never mentioned publicly. We do our work quietly, behind the scenes. I have heard a couple of awards acceptance speeches where the dialect coach was mentioned, but that’s all  – and I’ve been coaching for 35 years.

I was calling out to Don “Jim just mentioned me on CBS!” and he was shouting back, “What???” and then, when I finally saw it posted on their web site, I took my laptop into the living room and we watched it together.

I heard from so many people that they’d seen it. When I posted about it on Facebook, all of my longtime friends and theater colleagues were so supportive. They know how rare that kind of mention is.

He could have just said, “I have a coach who is helping me and the rest of the cast.” But he didn’t because that, my friends, is Jim. He is such a good person, so kind, loyal, and true. I’m working on this show because of him. I worked on the movie because of him. In each case, he suggested me and then I had to interview and get the job, but without his input, I wouldn’t have been considered.

The last thing on my mind is getting more work from this. I really don’t care about that. It’s simply an unexpected joy that came out of left field.

It made my day. And it really made Don’s day!

The interview in on YouTube and you can find it here.

Or, you can go to the CBS Mornings website here.

The director asked me to come to the show one more time to take notes, so I’m going in tomorrow for the matinee. I’m glad I have the opportunity to be of service one more time.

Thanks to all of you who alerted me! You’re great.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: coaching, Jim Parsons 60 Comments

Frost, Plants, and Brown Eyes

October 21, 2022 at 8:56 am by Claudia

I call this “Still Life of Plants, Cow, and Ukelele.”

When it warms up in the late morning, I’ll move everything back outside. So far, there are no frost advisories for tonight. In the next several days, the lows at night won’t be nearly so cold.

There are two more large plants in the den and one of the planters is sitting on the stool in front of the egg cup cubby.

There’s not that much room around here to begin with!

Don felt very achy and flue-y last night and is still feeling it a bit this morning. That’s the reaction he gets to the covid vaccination. I’m fine now, save for the usual allergy/sinus crap, but that has nothing to do with the shot. My arm is still a wee bit tender, but much better on the whole.

I spent some quality time with two of the girls yesterday when I changed a couple of their eye chips. Maeve had one set of chips that were what I would call ‘fantasy chips’ and I never showed them because I didn’t like them at all. And Sophie’s blue eye chips that I installed a month or so ago were too intense in color, so I replaced them. Sometimes, eye chips are very difficult to remove; that might be because the maker used a certain kind of glue, I’m not sure. Maeve’s fantasy chips were a pain in the tush to remove and it took me over 2 hours and several tries to get them out.

Here are my brown-eyed girls:

Maeve has the slightly lighter shade of brown eyes. Sophie’s are darker. I think they look very good in brown. I’d love to replace one more set of chips on Maeve because she has three sets of blue chips and I think a redhead needs some green eyes. But I don’t have any on hand.

These were made by AmaFlickerDolls, who lives in Ukraine.

I’m enjoying these little tweaks to the two girls that started this collection. They have neck joints now and some new eye colors. I just need to trim Maeve’s bangs a bit and they should be good to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, garden 32 Comments

Boosted, More Frost, and Imogen

October 20, 2022 at 8:26 am by Claudia

Another  frost last night. And another tonight. The coleus didn’t make it, nor did the morning glories. This morning, the zinnias are looking pretty brown. After having put all the plants back out on the porch yesterday, we had to bring them all back in last night. They’ll stay here until tomorrow morning when the weather will get warmer. Unfortunately, the gardens will be dead. Depressing.

We got our boosters yesterday and the drive to and from the neighboring town was gorgeous. I don’t know if we’re at peak color yet, but we’re awfully close. Mountains in the distance, leaves drifting down, color everywhere. It was sunny and beautiful. Then the weather turned cloudy and windy after we got home. But we sure appreciated the drive.

As for the shots, late in the day my arm got really sore and I was tired, but I only took a brief 5 minute nap. I conked out for an hour after my previous shots. Don’s arm is also sore and he feels minor flu-like symptoms, but that will go away after today. We’re taking it easy today.

When I’m a bit tired or down, I dress a doll.

No, Imogen hasn’t turned grey, that’s sunlight reflecting on her hair.

She’s taking Bertie for a walk. I made both of the hats. Bertie’s hat was the result of a crochet experiment that didn’t work out. But it did work out for Bertie, who can now take a walk without his ears getting cold.

If only I had the wardrobe these girls have! Although, I don’t think I’d look nearly as cute as they do.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, garden 42 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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