Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Horses and Books

January 25, 2017 at 9:19 am by Claudia

We took a little walk down the trail the other day to visit two of our favorite horses. They board at the farm that initially took in Pliers and Ashley. We’ve come to know the owner, who loves that we stop and feed them carrots. Don has been visiting more than me. Of course, I’ve been away, but even with that, Don just loves being around horses and he is devoted to them. I hadn’t seen them in a while.

They are the sweetest beings.

This is Emby, or MB, or Embee; I’ve never thought to ask how it is spelled! He is gorgeous and funny and feisty. Both horses were a bit muddy from all the rain we’ve had.

And this is Sissy. She’s much smaller and the older of the two. One of them is a Peruvian breed.

Emby looks like he’s chewing on some straw.

Both of them have thick coats for winter. They love being petted and eat right out of our hands.

Elsewhere, the weather was just plain yucky for the past two days. Sleet, snow, ice, and rain. Don couldn’t even get all the way up the driveway yesterday afternoon. It should all melt today, as the temps are rising into the forties.

I’ve been taking it easy, cleaning here and there, getting used to being back home again. My sleep schedule is still off; now I get to sleep earlier, but I’m awake much too early. It’s a little like a sleep roller coaster.

The horrors that are coming out of the oval office just keep on coming, don’t they? The first executive order raised our mortgage payment. (I’m sure you can imagine the words I used when I heard that bit of news.)

I’m finally reading this book, which was given to me by reader Barbara, gosh, it must be over a year ago! It was very chilly this morning, so I wrapped myself in my throw and read for an hour. I’m about 60 or 70 pages in, so it’s early days, but I really like it. What a beautiful writer Doerr is.

I completely forgot about the book giveaway! I was so busy last week that I neglected to pick a winner. Here we go…the winner is Judy Ainsworth! Judy, I’ll send you an email. Congratulations!

What are you up to today?

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: books, horses, reading 39 Comments

Some Notes and Some Minis

January 24, 2017 at 10:08 am by Claudia

Two quick notes:

• My host has been having a bit of trouble with the server. Yesterday, for example, it was down for about an hour or so. It’s maddening, but it happens. So if you tried to visit and couldn’t, that’s why. It’s out of my control.

• I’ve likened this blog to my cottage. It’s the online version of my home. Most everyone is welcome, but I expect visitors to behave with maturity and respect. If someone came to my home only to try to have an incendiary conversation, I would ask them to leave. Not acceptable. The same holds for the blog.

Yes, I often talk about the state of our nation nowadays. But, far more often, I don’t. That means that most of the conversations here are about something other than politics. If the only reason you come here is to agitate or be rude, never having participated in any other constructive way, then you are what is called a troll and you are not welcome. You will be blocked.

I haven’t visited any blog where the writer has a different political viewpoint than mine and left a comment when I’ve never commented in the past or had some sort of give-and-take relationship with the author. I may be disappointed, I may disagree; however, I simply move on.

This isn’t the Op-Ed page or a place on the web where anyone can leave a comment, no matter what is said, and it isn’t Twitter. This is my home.

Over and out.

• Okay. On to something entirely different.

Every time I think I might stop my subscription to the monthly SquintBox (simply because I want to save some money) it arrives in the mail and I’m charmed all over again.

This month’s box arrived yesterday. The theme for February is A Little Romance. This was a fun one, with actual packages to open! (Photos taken with iPhone, late in the day.)

This little package had a perfume bottle inside.

A plate of cookies and a terrarium with a butterfly on top. (Cookies from Sharon Harbison. Terrarium from Judy at Butterly Nature.)

This little case was sealed (I had just opened it when I took the photo.)

Inside: Jewelry! (Made by Jen from MiniMakes.)

This box had lovely wrapping paper and ribbon. Inside:

Something wrapped in tissue paper with a flower embellishment.

Inside the tissue paper, this lovely handmade book, which opens to:

A designer stationary kit. Isn’t this amazing? It’s made by María de Hoces, a miniaturist and bookbinder.

Darrin, who created SquintBox, does such a lovely job of coming up with a theme and sourcing wonderful miniatures. Thanks to Darrin and the miniaturists who created these treasures.

• I will have a book review up on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. It’s for Robert Dugoni’s latest – The Trapped Girl. I’ve reviewed his books in the past – he’s a wonderful writer. I’m off to write it now, so stop by, if you can. Here’s the link.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: blog, blogging, books, miniatures 55 Comments

Working, Not Working, Marching

January 23, 2017 at 9:25 am by Claudia

I’m still doing a little bit of clean up as I sort through all of the paperwork and receipts and lists that I brought back from Hartford. I must say it’s very nice to be back at my desk here in the studio/office – a space, by the way, that is getting cozier by the minute. I really love it up here.

My body is still on theater time, so I’m not getting as rested as I’d like. It takes me a couple of hours to get to sleep and then I wake up early – when Don wakes up. But that will all even out in a few days. Harder to deal with – but also inevitable when you freelance – is waking up and realizing there is no job to go to. Transitions are a part of this life and I have to remind myself to be patient as I navigate re-entrance to my life in the country.

I start work on Anastasia, the Broadway edition, in a few weeks. I’m still waiting for a contract, but that should be taken care of this week. After that, I start work on Heartbreak House  by Shaw, back at Hartford Stage. It’s a blessing, having work for the first 5 months of the year. Believe me, that’s a rarity. And Don leaves at the end of March or beginning of April for LaJolla to start work on Escape to Margaritaville.  The Hill-Sparks household is gainfully employed for the first half of 2017.

So many of my friends and family and readers marched on Saturday. I am so proud of all of you! I think we’ll be talking about this march for a long time; the power of the people, the rebuke to that man’s agenda, the peaceful and non-violent assembly of millions all over the globe. Our voice is stronger than ever and now we have to keep that momentum going.

I am particularly proud of this activist:

There he is. Handsome devil, don’t you think?

One of his pictures from Saturday. A sea of pink hats, men, women, children with the dome of the Capitol in the distance. Oh, these photos inspire me! We looked through all of them last night.

My sister is making me a Pussy Hat. Because you know I’ll be marching somewhere soon.

I’m trying to persuade a certain someone to do a guest post. What do you think? Shall we band together and talk him into it?

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: Broadway, Don, protest 83 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

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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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