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April Showers

April 4, 2018 at 9:59 am by Claudia

It’s that kind of day where the lamps remain lit all day long. So was yesterday, a day in which it rained all day and into the night. I have no idea what the forecast is for today; however, looking out the window indicates gray skies and general yuck.

April showers, right?

I’m just about to finish Avid Reader, which has been a complete pleasure to read. Do I try for fiction next, or more non-fiction? I have a copy of Russian Roulette  by Michael Isikoff and David Corn and I haven’t started it yet. But the contents of that book will make me angry, as they should, so I’ll have to read it in fits and starts, if only to maintain some sort of equilibrium.

This succulent has been a part of Riley’s dish garden ever since I planted it, not long after he died. Other succulents have come and gone, but this one has remained and much to my surprise, it really took off this winter. Constant new growth. I think it likes its new position at the center of the kitchen table, as well as its buddies, the monstera and the rubber plant. I do know that houseplants often thrive when placed in a group with other plants and I think that’s the case here.

Or maybe Riley is speaking to me. I hope so.

The tulips are winding down and, like all flowers, there is a beauty in every stage of life.

I’ve been nursing a sore back, brought about, I’m pretty sure, by having to sleep propped up for several days when I had the cold/flu/whatever-it-was. It’s getting better.

Gosh, I’m ready for some work outside. And I still want to paint the remaining unpainted wall in the kitchen. It’s never been the right time, but I have to do it soon before spring starts to bring in more bugs. Maybe next week.

I have a whole list of things to do outside, including cleaning up the garden beds, raking the gravel that was snowplowed onto the grass back onto the driveway, picking up falling branches, and cleaning the side of the house and the porch railings. None of those tasks excite me, but they have to be done before I can attend to the gardens.

I saw a big rabbit sitting very still yesterday afternoon. He was up in the back forty. First rabbit sighting – a good sign!

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, rain, spring 26 Comments

Patience and Balance

April 3, 2018 at 10:46 am by Claudia

I’m currently reading this book.

That’s a big deal to me, since I haven’t been able to concentrate on any reading other than short magazine articles. Books? No. And this is a memoir, not something I usually read. But fiction seems to be a problem at present, so I thought I’d try this and I’m 2/3 of the way through it.

What a relief! The very fact that I’m reading anything of some length is a comfort.

I wanted to buy this when it was in hardcover, but I didn’t. When I was at Three Lives and Co. bookstore in Greenwich Village a month or so ago, I saw it in paperback and I grabbed it. Robert Gottlieb is probably the most famous book editor of the past 50 or so years. He worked at Simon & Shuster, Knopf, and also edited the New Yorker. Well into his eighties, he still  edits. This is such a fascinating read. It’s chatty; you can imagine yourself sitting with Gottlieb in his study while he regales you with stories about his career and the authors he worked with. Such a pleasure to read. Since I’m drawn to books about books and bookstores and reading, this is right up my alley.

It’s part of the ongoing battle I’m waging with the need to be informed, to stay in activist mode, balanced with allotting myself only so much time with twitter, etc. Reading, projects, soon, hopefully, the garden, listening to music that makes me happy – all of that helps.

Of course, yesterday’s snow managed to disappear in record time and Don and I were left feeling sad that we didn’t go for it in terms of travel. But hindsight is always 20/20 and we had to make the call right in the middle of a heavy snowfall. It is what it is.

Spotted in my peperomia: two more white flower stalks coming up from the soil. Hurrah!

It’s a gray and rainy day today. Dang, I wish spring would make a spectacular appearance! I know the birds are back, I hear the peepers at night, the daffs are coming out of the ground. The temperatures, however, are on the cold side today. I just have to be patient and know that in a couple of weeks, winter will be long gone and we’ll be well and truly into spring.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: books, houseplants, reading 28 Comments

Disappointed. Ah, Well.

April 2, 2018 at 10:08 am by Claudia

This is happening right now, smack dab in the middle of the chunk of time in which Don would be traveling home for a 24 hour visit. It’s snowing in the city as well. Even if he tried to get home later, the visit would end up being so short that it wouldn’t be worth it. I had – foolishly – thought it would just be a dusting of snow that would make no difference, but we got more than expected.

So we made the decision to forego the visit.

I am so over this stuff. It’s been nothing but a pain this entire winter. I know it will melt quickly, but I would have preferred it happening on another day. Who am I kidding? I would have preferred it never happening to begin with! And I wanted to see my husband.

Ah well. And there are bigger problems out there. We’re just disappointed.

I had a quiet day yesterday, with nothing much happening. I finished watching the third season of Broadchurch  on Netflix. If you are a fan of that series, watch the newest season of 8 episodes. Truly excellent. I also watched Easter Parade  on TCM because I love it. I’m not a fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, so I didn’t watch it except for the last 20 minutes. But that last 20 minutes makes me want to watch the whole thing, so I’m hoping it’s eventually available On Demand. The guy who played Judas is the same actor I saw play Aaron Burr in Hamilton. He’s amazingly talented.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: Don, snow 38 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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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.

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Lambs Like to Party

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