It’s rainy today, but I find I’m not minding it at all. I’m sure this is because I got a lot done yesterday and the day before, and though there is more to do, I don’t feel so desperate for a rainless day.
It’s a gentle type of rain today; Don’s playing the guitar in the living room, we’ve had our second cup of coffee together on the sofa, I finished the Donna Leon this morning, and I meditated.
We watched Marty last night on TCM. Don hadn’t seen the movie version, just the live television version that aired in the early fifties with Rod Steiger. All I said to Don before the movie started – which I’ve seen – is that it will change the way in which you see Ernest Borgnine. If your experience of him is only that of McHale’s Navy, well then… But if you see his beautiful performance in Marty, well, that’s another story.
What a wonderful actor he was, pitch perfect in this role. And much better than Steiger, in my humble opinion. Steiger was a method actor and it sometimes showed in a bit or more than a bit of self-indulgence. Don’t get me wrong, Steiger was a fine actor. But I can tell the difference. Anyway, method acting is a topic for another day.
Betsy Blair, in the female lead, is also wonderful. It’s not an easy role to play; it requires no artifice, no excess. She is also pitch perfect.
It’s only about 90 minutes long and if you haven’t seen it, I hope you can someday.
I worked outside yesterday potting plants.
Eventually, the impatiens will fill out these pots and last until the first frost. I don’t have quite enough, so I’ll have to buy some more.
I also potted the coleus and vines in the antique pots I have out back in the Secret Garden, but it’s so wet back there with this rain we’ve been having, that I can’t get a good shot at the moment. Later this week, fingers crossed.
Nothing here yet; the plants I want for these pots aren’t yet in stock at the nursery.
There’s more weeding and mulching to be done, more pots to fill, more potting soil to purchase, as well as top soil. I will plant my seeds sometime this week. When all of that is done, I will sit on the glider and relax.
Happy Sunday.
What lovely plants and a good day to pot them. I have watched Marty with Ernest Borgnine and it was very good. He is amazing in this role. Remembering it makes me want to see it again. Great acting never gets old.
Exactly! xo
Your inpatients are lovely. I’m so jealous….the deer around here would consider them an invitation to dine….lol. So,I can’t have any in our shaded gardens.
I understand your not feeling rushed any more about the gardens, I think we get to a point, when most of the hard work is done, and all that’s left is the sprucing up. At least that’s the point where I am. Mulch got delayed yesterday, stuff to do for family came first. But, there is today. We had rain for about 2 minutes…now the skies are back to a pretty blue, and cloud free. Time to get back to work. Enjoy your day…and your newly planted pots! ;)
I don’t have them in my garden beds, Donnamae. They’re on the porch, safely away from deer, who are not about to go on the porch!
Oh, I love that movie – Marty. Very heart-wrenching. I usually watch it every time I see it’s on. And trivia for today – did you know that Betsy Blair married to Gene Kelly? Wife #1, I think.
Have a wonderful Sunday! ☕️
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Yes, and then she married famous film director Karel Reisz and was married to him until his death.
sounds and looks like a perfectly lovely day. hope today includes more of the same for you and don!
kathy in iowa
Thanks, Kathy!
ps … i appreciate your movie/book/ other suggestions, but i will probably not watch “marty”. i love ernest borgnine, but there’s something about him that breaks my heart.
kathy in iowa
Well, you’re missing out on a lovely, sweet film. This is a young Borgnine, as it was made in the mid-fifties. He’s sweet and kind and lovely in it.
no guarantee … maybe i’ll check it out. :)
It looks charming and the plants are beautiful, Claudia It’s sunny here today and I hope it will come your way. I might be off to the nursery myself. My brain tells me it’s too early to plant anything in Michigan. The desire is overwhelming, though!
We could use some sun. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry but it will still be cloudy. Sun doesn’t appear in our ten day forecast!
Claudia, wonderful pots of color that will explode for you! I love the sideboard that you had in your kitchen and now have on your porch. Do you do anything special to protect it during harsh weather?
I watched The Sting last night with my daughter. I’ve never watched it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. We are also huge fans of the TV show Leverage and we compared the movie with Timothy Hutton’s pseudo-homage to it in one of the Leverage episodes. We were highly entertained as we found similar bits, including the same name for the antagonist, Doyle.
I put a tarp over it, but the fact is, the rain and weather even in the summer will eventually destroy it. I only paid $60 for it and I’m getting lots of use out of it!
I’m wondering if putting some sort of marine coating (varnish) will be worth it to you to extend its life? It’s such a pretty piece. I’m trying to become more mindful about what I buy…selecting something in a material, like wood or glass, rather than plastic. If I could, I’d replace some of the IKEA bookcases I bought when I was a much younger me with vintage wood bookcases.
That’s a good idea. First, I think, I might paint it later in the summer and then put a coating on. It’s already aging quite a bit so it might be a long-term bandaid.
Your vintage pot-holders are wonderful! I especially like the one with the Impatiens in the top.
Do you put anything in the bottom? And your porch is very inviting and it’s only going to get prettier. I keep thinking every year that I am going to do less containers because of having to tote water for them but, then I go out to the garden center with my list in hand and dang, I see something that would really enhance the whatever and I have an extra plant or 2 and each container gets brought out and filled again. This year was a fern and I am going to enjoy it on the back porch. I am going to enjoy yours too!
No, I leave the bottom as is because I like the pattern showing.
I understand about toting water. That has already begun here!
Your planters are lovely. It’s just the last couple of years that I have come to appreciate impatians. I will be filling pots soon, but with rain mixed with snow I am hesitant. And mornings there is ice on the puddles.
We went to a flea market yesterday. Claudia, may I send you an email with photos of a dollnhouse? I’d like to know if you think there is any hope for it.
Sure! Just send it to the email address that’s on the top of the sidebar. Click on the envelope symbol.
It’s looking good around the cottage Claudia! I think you get a lot of bang for the bucks with impatiens and coleus. You’ve give them good starts. It’s Monday morning and we have sun for the first time in…well, you know. I’m in a hide-in-the-house mood, but feel the need to get out while the green is new and the temps mellow. Most of the spring plants are up now and the tulips are especially colorful around here this year. Hoping your week is a good one and we have some successively sunny days.
I know! The sun is appearing and disappearing, but I see that it’s sunny right now so I’m going to go out and take advantage of it.
Your plants look so good. Can’t wait til I can do mine. You know how it is here in Michigan. One day it is winter and the next is the dead of summer :o I watched Marty on Saturday also. Beautiful. I watch TCM every chance I get. I have always especially loved the old movies. Always have since I have been young. I used to watch Bill Kennedy every week end when I was growing up. He had the oldies and always had the background and behind the scenes of the movies. You always make a comment after you watch and I am thinking the same thoughts also Have a good day Claudia :)
I watched Bill Kennedy all of the time when I was growing up. My mom loved it, too. What a great memory! Thanks for reminding me of him, Bobbie.