Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 952 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Hey, Boo

January 10, 2017 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I slept in this morning – thankfully – after being jolted awake during the night by the sound of snowplows on the street below my apartment. Gosh, they’re loud! I guess it snowed a bit last night, though when I look out the window, the amount of snow seems minimal.

Tell me this isn’t crazy – the temperature here tomorrow will reach 50° and Thursday? 55°. What the heck? I read about that gorgeous redwood with the tunnel toppling in the storms out in California. Oh, how sad. Such history and beauty – gone in a second.

These came in the mail from our friends Lynne and Sean, who live in Toronto. I don’t know where she finds them, but Lynnie always finds unique treasures. And could these be any more perfect for Mockingbird Hill Cottage? I’m thrilled with them! In fact, I had some hot chocolate in one of them on Sunday.

And they capture one of the most beautiful moments in that book. “Hey, Boo.” That particular line of dialogue brings tears to my eyes every time. Thank you, Lynne and Sean. We love you.

I’ve started another Elizabeth George – one I purchased before I came to Hartford in December. Just in case. You understand. I always have this particular conversation going on in my head:

“I’m enjoying this book by this author. But what if I finish it and I love it and I don’t have any other novels on hand by this author? If I’m in the mood for more, I won’t want to start a book by another author…hmmmm…I’d better buy this book also written by the author. Just in case.”

This particular Elizabeth George happens to be the book that follows Believing the Lie, so I clearly lucked into picking the right one.

Today, I’ll wander over to the theater, where the initial tech rehearsal continues. Tech started on Sunday – it’s a slow process – and will go on through today. And maybe part of tomorrow. By tomorrow night, we should be able to have a run-through of the show. And Thursday night is the first Preview for audiences. See how quickly it goes? Once we start Previews, I’ll be sitting in the house every night, taking notes on what I can hear and not hear, what needs to be articulated more clearly, and any other Voice & Text issues that arise. Previews will go on through a week from Thursday and then we will open on Friday, January 20th (boy am I glad I have something joyous and happy to watch that day, otherwise I might be slitting my wrists!) and I will return to the cottage the next day.

Today, I’ll check in and see how the show looks with the set, costumes, lighting and sound.

Happy Tuesday.

Heading Back

January 9, 2017 at 9:47 am by Claudia

I just finished Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George. I was determined to finish it this morning as, at over 600 pages and in hardcover, to boot, I didn’t want to lug it back to Hartford. Excellent! The complexities of the characters and the plot are George’s strength. The mysteries are always character driven and aren’t necessarily tied up neatly at the end of the book. As in real life, things can get messy, remain unresolved. I love that about her writing. I’m officially on an Elizabeth George catch-up binge now, so it’s on to another one later today.

The horizon last night. Pretty dramatic!

I’ve had a lovely time here at home with the love of my life. Being apart means, for us, a greater appreciation of what we have between us. That we are fortunate and blessed we know. That we don’t take it for granted is a daily truth. As I get ready to head off to Hartford for the next 14 days, I am so grateful I got a little time here at the cottage.

We watched Sherlock last night – how can it get even better? How is that possible? It is simply extraordinary. One more episode next week. I hear rumors this might be the last season. I hope it isn’t. But the producers and writers seem very wise, so if they feel it’s time to end it, I understand.

The newest Squint Box full of minis arrived while I was away. This one is all about winter and nesting and comfort. There’s a tray with a vintage travel poster (come to think of it, it could also work as art to hang on a wall), a kit to make succulents (isn’t that neat?), a tray with candles, a loaf of bread and knife on a cutting board, and…a Slinky! Boy, does that bring back memories! I remember trying to get my Slinky to come down the stairs just as they showed it on the commercials. I was only moderately successful.

Very, very cold here today. Soon, I have to get ready to head back to Hartford. I love my work, as you know, and I can’t wait to see what the production looks like onstage.

Don will be back at the ranch, taking care of things. By the way, he has done an excellent job of watering the plants! I’m quite pleased. I’ll be back home for at least two months before I head off again to Hartford, but Don will be off to the West Coast even before that – at the beginning of April. Busy times ahead for both of us. We don’t take that for granted, either.

Happy Monday.

Home For A Brief Visit & The Chair

January 8, 2017 at 9:53 am by Claudia

Oh heavens, it’s cold here! This morning it was 15 degrees, but it felt like 2 degrees. I’m sure it’s the same in Hartford. It’s supposed to hit 50 degrees on Wednesday. Go figure.

I successfully dodged the snow yesterday and made it home by about 11:30 am. There were snow showers along the way, but no accumulation. Don was here when I got home and after I unloaded the car, I saw a large box in the den containing…my new chair! When I ordered it from Pier One, I had it delivered to our local store, rather than pay the addition $150 to have it delivered. Cripes! No way. I figured that if it was too big for the CR-V, Don could borrow a friend’s truck and bring it home. It arrived on Wednesday and I got the message from the store while I was in rehearsal. I called them back to tell them Don would be picking it up in the next couple of days, but Don, that good guy, surprised me and picked it up the same day.

So we unpacked the box. But first, we took the chair it was replacing out of the den and managed to drag it upstairs to the studio. That chair is vintage and it’s very, very heavy. (I am determined to get it reupholstered because the lines are really lovely – I’ll take a photo of it sans ill-fitting slip cover later today.) It would be the perfect chair for Don to use downstairs in the living room.

We then attached the legs and I vacuumed the floor, and there it is:

Taking a photo in the den is somewhat difficult, as there are windows on three sides of the room. This was taken late in the afternoon yesterday. Isn’t it pretty?

And with the lights on. It’s very firm and for me, that’s good, because it gives great back support. It also sits a little higher than the other chair – interesting, because I was worried it would sit lower – and I really like it. Of course, my back has been having to adjust lately to two different beds, two different sofas in the apartment, neither of which has any support, and chairs in the apartment that are not meant for lounging, so it’s been complaining a bit.

Here is the profile of the chair:

That’s a sort of faux leather on the side.

Gosh, I’m crazy about it!

Today, there is laundry and cleaning to be done. And I have to take down our pretty white Christmas tree, which has been up a bit longer than usual due to the fact that I’ve been out of town and Don doesn’t want to mess with it. I brought the Christmas decorations I used in the apartment home with me, and I’m going to store them in the cupboard under the stairs.

We watched the documentary about Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds that premiered on HBO last night. It was lovely. But it was so bittersweet and poignant in the face of their deaths within a day of each other. The whole thing doesn’t seem real.

Tonight, Sherlock with my husband and then tomorrow, it’s back to Hartford for tech rehearsals.

Happy Sunday.

Hey, Boo

Heading Back

Home For A Brief Visit & The Chair

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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