Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Cold Mornings & The Booster

October 2, 2021 at 9:27 am by Claudia

Another very cold morning with the heat kicking on. It’s only October 2nd!

We got our booster shots yesterday. As I did with the very first shot I back in March, I came home and, a few hours later, fell asleep in my chair for an hour. It was one of those drugged-like deep sleeps where you can’t wake up and feel groggy the rest of the day. I went to bed early last night and slept for almost 8 hours. That, and a very sore arm, seem to be my consistent side effects from the Pfizer vaccine. Don’s arm is very sore, as well. Actually, I think my arm is even sorer now than it was back in March.

But it’s done and we’re grateful. Since one of our favorite grocery stores is across the road from Walgreen’s, we did some shopping afterwards. Came home, had lunch, did a couple of loads of laundry and then…major nap.

I head back in to the city tomorrow. Same hotel for just one night this time, and then a run-through to watch and take notes. Then back home on Monday night. Then…barring having to go out to fix something when they’re on the road (which could happen – it has in the past) I’m probably done with Anastasia. I started working on the very first production in Hartford in 2016, so I’ve been a part of the Anastasia  creative team for 5 years. It has been a joy from start to finish.

I’m taking it easy today as I still feel tired from the booster. I think some reading for pleasure is in order, maybe a quick vacuuming downstairs, a bit of straightening up in my section of the office…we’ll see.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: autumn 35 Comments

Wildflowers, Booster Shots, & Sophie

October 1, 2021 at 8:04 am by Claudia

It is so cold here this morning that the heat kicked on! We always wait as long as we can before we turn it on for the season, but I guess the boiler decided for us this morning. And it’s still cold! I just made our second cup of coffee as we need to get going this morning. Booster shot time!

After that, grocery shopping and then we do another self-tape audition for Don.

We finished Goliath’s  fourth and final season last night and let me tell you, we were blown away. It is brilliant on every level. Completely brilliant. I haven’t seen anything this good come out of American television/streaming in years. We’re going to watch it again in a week or two. I don’t know what we’ll watch tonight – Goliath  is an impossible act to follow.

Yesterday, a little parcel arrived in the mail with some new shoes for Sophie.  Of course, I had to find an outfit to match them.

Adorable.

The dress is by Moshi Moshi Studio. Hilary lives in England and has her own website.

The shoes were made by Crafty Cora, who is on Etsy and lives right next door in Connecticut. I say this because much of what I order for Sophie, in fact, 98% of it, is from Europe or Asia. The shoes are leather. This is the second pair I’ve purchased from her and her work is amazingly detailed.

You’ve seen the tights before. They’re from PommePomme on Etsy – based in Ohio.

Gosh, I love dressing her up!

Sophie, by the way, is half English, half French. Her dad is from Great Britain and her mom is from France. She lives in England during the school year, but she spends summers at her family’s home in Provence.

Lucky girl!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Sophie, wildflowers 14 Comments

The River and Books

September 30, 2021 at 9:38 am by Claudia

The Hudson River from the train.

I’ve slept in a bit the last two days which tells me my body needs some rest. It’s become very fall-like recently – much cooler mornings, along with cooler days.

I did some cleaning and straightening yesterday. I wasn’t gone long enough to have to do any major cleanup, but I can’t guarantee what I’ll come home to when I’m living in the city. Don is good about straightening up; he has a little OCD so he has to have some order. But the cleaning that I do (and heaven knows, I’m hardly a clean freak) is not what he does. I’ll just have to let it all go and do what I can, when I can. But, for a girl who likes to be in control, this kind of thing is hard.

Frankly, what I seem to do a lot of is wash masks! Yesterday, I washed 4 of them. I’m determined to buy enough masks to get me through 8 or 9 days before I run out, as I won’t have time, or a washing machine in my apartment, to throw something in the wash any old time like I do here.

We went to get our boosters last night, but we didn’t get them. Turns out that though the Walgreen’s site let us sign up for an appointment, since our last shot was on March 31st, it’s not exactly 6 months until tomorrow. We were disappointed, but we understood. They told us to come by on Friday morning, so that is the plan.

We’re watching the final season of Goliath  on Amazon Prime. It has a stellar cast, headed by the great Billy Bob Thornton, and this season is brilliantly done. Excellent.

I’ve started The Stone Circle  by Elly Griffiths. I have so many new books to read. I’m saving them for NYC. Louise Penny, of course, the new Anthony Doerr – Cloud Cuckoo Land – which I preordered, the new Amor Towles – The Lincoln Highway – will arrive before I leave, the new John Connolly, and several others. They’ve been piling up because I’ve been in Elly Griffiths mode. Anthony Doerr wrote All The Light We Cannot See, which has to be one of my favorite books ever. And Amor Towles wrote A Gentleman in Moscow, which I have repeatedly raved about on this blog. I’ve read it twice and will reread it again and again. On my Top Ten Books I Have Ever Read list.

I love knowing I have all these treats saved up to read.

Today? Rest. Reading. Paying some bills. Checking our bank account because I’ve had to shell out quite a bit of money for cabs and Covid Testing and I have no idea how much is in the account. I’ll be reimbursed for all of that but it will take a few weeks.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: books 21 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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