Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Monday Craziness and Prayers for Texas

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The hollyhocks that are growing at the base of the tall hollyhock I bought this year are blooming. Lovely!

I love me some morning glories!

I haven’t had a chance to check anything else out yet. I arrived here around 7:30 last night. Remind me not to drive home again on a Sunday night. Or a Friday night. Backups everywhere.

I’m getting ready to move my car to my neighbor’s driveway so that I can get in and out today. Once Stella is delivered, there will be guys here helping Don uncrate her and get her in the house. Lots of instructions as to uncrating from Marco at Antique Stove Heaven and lots of instructions as to the use of the refrigerator dolly from our local hardware store and lots of instructions from Raymond at Antique Stove Heaven as to NOT lifting her by her handles.

Yikes. This is why I didn’t want to be here!

Anyway, keep an eye on Instagram today. I’ll try to update when I can. In the meantime, I have to get my car inspected at 11:30.

I wrote a big long text message to my neighbor this morning, explaining in detail how crazy it’s going to be here and finally ending up by asking if I could park in her driveway. After all of that, I got this response. “Of course! We’re in North Carolina!”

I laughed out loud. Had no idea they weren’t there.

The news from Texas and Houston is devastating. My heart is breaking for Southeast Texas. I encourage everyone to donate to the Red Cross or any other organizations that will provide much needed relief. Prayers for Houston.

Happy Monday.

In The Park

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I took another walk yesterday morning before I had to be at rehearsal – through the park and up to the Capitol steps and back again.

The lovely carousel. I haven’t been there for a couple of years (because I was working here during the winter). This is a new entrance marquis and, I believe, a new gift shop through that doorway on the right. It really is magical and no, I haven’t ridden it yet. It’s only a dollar so I think I can swing it. Maybe during tech week when I have some time?

It’s really beautiful. There were children on the horses, getting ready for their ride on the carousel, but I don’t like to take pictures of children without their parents’ permission. The internet can be a scary place. So I walked around to another window to take this picture. The horses are gorgeous.

This is the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch and it serves as a gateway into the park. It honors the citizens of Hartford who fought in the Civil war and those who died fighting for the Union. George Keller, a Hartford architect, designed it and his ashes, along with his wife’s, are buried in the east tower. Those are the angels, Gabriel and Raphael, on top of the towers. The various statues on the arch represent the residents who left their homes to fight in the war; among them, a freed slave. The carving are scenes from the Civil War.

It’s one of my favorite sites in Hartford.

A run-through (our first) of the play today and then I will head for home. Not quite enough sleep last night as I woke up early for some reason and couldn’t get back to sleep. But I’ll see my sweetie tonight, Stella will arrive tomorrow, my car will get inspected a mere three days before the deadline, and we’ll eat takeout tonight because we currently have no stove!

I’m not sure if I have to head back tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday morning – that will depend on Tuesday’s rehearsal schedule. The propane won’t get hooked up until Tuesday, so any photos you see of Stella will be of her perched in the kitchen, but not quite in place yet. I’ll be back home on the following Saturday because the show moves onstage that day and I don’t have to be there for the first few days of tech. That’s good because it gives me a few more days with my husband before he heads to NYC on September 10th to begin rehearsals for the tour of Margaritaville. And I can finally bake some biscuits in that oven!

Happy Sunday.

A Blip and Some Thoughts

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Poor Don. The last two days have been all about “Hurry up and wait.” And then, as in yesterday’s news: nothing. Stella was in Newburgh, which is the site of Stewart Airport, so she must have been flown from Ohio to Newburgh. So she did make it to NY in 4 days, but what we didn’t realize is that another company loads her on a truck and brings her to the cottage. So, there was Don, having made all the arrangements, on the receiving end of a phone call from the shippers who wanted to arrange delivery on Monday. At first he tried to push for yesterday but then he realized it would cost more money, so he went for Monday. Then he had to call his friends to let them know, call our propane guy to rearrange set up for Tuesday and take back the refrigerator dolly he had rented and that he’ll have to rent again on Sunday.

Secretly, I was hoping NOT to be there for the unloading and unpacking and bringing into the house. I’m too nervous about all of it, so I was happy that I wasn’t going to be there for that part.

But now I am going to be there.

However, in a world of serious problems and hurricanes and constitutional crises, pardons of racist sheriffs and the banning of transgender soldiers, contempt for the rule of law and corruption, along with the reemergence of white nationalism and anti-semitism, this is a minor blip on the screen. It’s only a stove.

All that news, combined with the stress of the last 8 months – since the inauguration – took yours truly down last night. Too stressed. Too disheartened. Indigestion. Discomfort. And utter bafflement as to how anyone  can defend him for one second longer. If you still do, please don’t leave a comment here. Leave that comment on a blog where the blogger agrees with you. You’ll be happier and I’ll be much happier. Tolerance is admirable but not in the case of racism, discrimination, corruption, treason, birtherism, “grab ’em by the p**sy”, bigotry or white nationalism.

If you’re ‘disappointed’ in me, so be it. To be perfectly honest, I’m fine with that.

SO. I’m taking a break from the news for a couple of days, except to keep an eye on the path of Hurricane Harvey. My heart goes out to everyone who has been dealing with this devastatingly powerful hurricane. Stay safe. I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through but know that I am praying for you.

I’ll be sure to take pictures of Stella’s arrival on Monday but I also have to get my car inspected on Monday morning (I’ve left it very late and it has to be done by the end of this month!) Between the two of us, the arrival of Stella will be well documented.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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