Mockingbird Hill Cottage

I’m rather edgy this morning so I’ll keep this short. I finished most of my work yesterday, so I’m going to try to take it easy this weekend.

I haven’t worked in so long that my level of confidence is low. I know that I’m good at what I do, but I’m officially older than anyone else in the company and there have been no offers for over a year and a half, so that lack of confidence is real.

And there are lists to be made, questions still to be answered about the mechanics of this whole thing, and all of it is too much for a person who loves being home with her husband in her ‘safe place.’ I don’t want to be away from Don but of course I have to be. He doesn’t like it either. I used to be fairly cool with it all because going away to work happened fairly often. But now I’m out of practice. And my life here with Don is more important than ever.

Once I’m there and working, it will be better. I  will be better.

And, of course, I know I’m lucky to have this job and I am very grateful. It goes without saying, but I’m saying it anyway.

I have some chores to do around the house today and that should keep me occupied.

This is brief, I know, but it’s to the point!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

A photo I took the other day just to show you how huge the limelight hydrangea is! Soon it will be taller than the porch roof. (That’s where the catbirds had their nest.)

It does make a statement, doesn’t it?

That’s the front lawn after I went crazy and mowed it all – Don helped a little, but it was mostly me. I also mowed the secret garden because it was as dry as I’ve ever seen it – usually it’s so wet that any attempt to mow it is a messy and yucky experience. That dryness tells you how little rain we’ve had this second half of summer. We had a brief thunderstorm the other day, but really, no impact whatsoever. The rivers are quite low. This is exactly what happened last summer.

I’m working on the dialect/script and finishing off our deductions. I’d like to have the weekend free of anything other than being with Don and making a list of what to pack. I’ll be driving down to the theater in New Jersey on Tuesday. Wednesday is the first rehearsal. I’ll most likely be there through Sunday’s rehearsal and then I’ll drive home that night or Monday morning, depending on how late I’m at rehearsal.

Don will get instructions as to his ‘watering schedule.’ I will walk him through everything. And you can bet I’ll be checking in to make sure he’s doing it!

In the back and forth with the theater about lodging, etc., I noticed a sentence saying that some accommodations would have to be double occupancy. I immediately let them know that was not going to happen for me. And I used the age card with “I’m 72!” I clarified that I was not feeble or anything like that, but after doing this all over the country for 40+ years, I felt I had earned my own space, not shared with anyone. They were great about it. I’ll be an in apartment next week, and then, when I am there for two days at a time, I’ll be in a hotel. That’s fine.

That would have been a deal breaker. Very thankful it didn’t come to that.

Okay. Time to make the second cup of coffee and return to the script.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

We’ve been going through a couple of days with air quality warnings because of the wildfires in Canada. It’s also been extremely hot, so we’ve been staying inside – except to water all the plants, of course. And in Don’s case, to take a short walk in the morning.

I’m going to try to mow a bit this morning before it gets too hot. We’ve been leaving the lawn alone because of the heat and the lack of rain but the front lawn in getting too long, so it’s time. I also have to do some work on the play, and finish our deductions to send to our new tax person. Our former tax preparer retired last year and we miss her! We worked with her for 26 years.

Please say a prayer for my best friend, Laural, who has been going through several health crises over the past months. We had a long talk on the phone yesterday. My heart goes out to her. She is such an incredible person; we met when I was 12, so that makes 60 years of friendship. She has had more than enough health issues to battle in her lifetime and it’s time for that to end. I want to see her healthy and thriving once more.

I thought Miyoshi looked too hot in her kimono and I wanted to see her in a dress. (Don misses the kimono.) Isn’t she pretty? I find myself looking at her a lot during the day. I love this customization – Maiko created a perfect doll. Don’t worry, she’ll don her kimono soon; most certainly for Christmas as that red color is perfect for the holidays.

She has the rosiest lips of any of my Blythes.

Heavens, I love looking at her!

Okay. Gearing myself up for mowing later this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.