What a day it was yesterday! It rained a lot – all day long. At times, the rain was very heavy. I kept going out on the porch to check on the catbird babies. Let’s stop right here and give Mama a round of applause. She protected those babies. She was vigilant! And the rain went on through the night, as well. This morning, mom and dad are feeding the babies – I got a warning from one of them, short, sharp, and to the point – Get out of here!
The babies are really big now. I’m not sure how many there are but I can’t help but think they’ll fledge soon.
I’m hoping I can get out and do some garden cleanup.
I have some good news. Darko contacted me about two weeks ago concerning a play he began writing during lockdown. It’s an adaptation of an Agatha Christie story. It’s being done at a theater in Red Bank, NJ. He sent me the script, which I loved, and asked if I would coach the French and British dialects in the show. I’m just about to officially sign on – I’m just waiting for the contract. I’ll work on it during the first week of rehearsal and then I’ll be back for a run-through and notes and then again for a dress rehearsal and first preview. It starts rehearsal on August 20.
Bless Darko. As you know, I thought I was ‘retired’ and I didn’t want to be. We also need the income. What I earn is very modest – very – but it will help with the cost of heating oil and add a bit to our modest savings account. Who knows what the future holds after this show, but I love that it’s with Darko.
And no zoom sessions, thank goodness. I actually get to work with the actors in person. Very grateful.
For a brief moment yesterday, the sun emerged and hit these coneflowers.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Oh…what fantastic news for you! And you get to work with Darko again….i am thrilled for you.
I’m also happy to hear your heat wave has broken…,bout time. We are currently being blessed with cooler weather, and it’s wonderful to have the windows open again. We do have the smoke from the forest fires though…but we don’t seem to be bothered by it, so the windows are open.
Enjoy your bird viewing while you can! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
what wonderful news! i am so happy that you and darko get to work together again, and for the actors and audiences that will benefit from your talents, experience and help! too bad new jersey is so far … i’d love to see an agatha christie/adaptation on stage … but i am very, very happy for you! :)
glad you received some rain, too, saw the sweet catbird family and have those beautiful flowers.
things are obviously quite full of green leaves right now so haven’t seen the nest itself, but on walks my sister and i have determined a pretty close location for one of the nearby catbird homes (might help to bring the binoculars). and three evenings in a row now we’ve seen a rabbit laying on the grass (and sometimes eating it) by a bush about ten feet from the front door. love to watch it (quietly, through the little side window) rest and relax. :)
hope you, don and everyone else have a restful, relaxing day and weekend ahead.
stay safe.
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe.
That’s great news about the play! Congratulations! And it sounds really interesting with Agatha Christie. Very exciting. Amazing to see how protective both parents are of their young birds! Fun to watch them. Happy Friday!
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe.
I’m so happy for you! Maybe it will be the first breeze of the winds of change I hope will sweep across the country.
Brenda
Thank you, Brenda.
Stay safe.
So happy to hear you have some work soon. I know you miss it so much. We had a bad storm here last night, rain and winds. We lost power and when it came back on my A/C wasn’t working. The maintenance man is here right now checking it. Too hot for me without air. I was ok last night with just fans but the heat is already creeping up this morning. Take care!!
Hope all has been resolved, Linda.
Stay safe.
So pleased for you, Claudia. I know vocal coaching is one of your happy places.
Thank you, Wendy.
Stay safe.
That’s marvellous news! I am so pleased for you. I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and have most of her novels and plays plus I have read lots of biographies about her.
She was such an interesting woman. I love the part of Devon where she was born.
I am intrigued to know which story Darko has adapted. Perhaps you can let us know when the play has opened.
Happy Friday
Thank you, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
Congrats on your upcoming job! Your wildflowers look none the worse for all of your heat and rain. Our AC and Instacart are the only things keeping us breathing right now!
Thank you, Shanna.
Stay safe.
Claudia,It has been awhile since responding to your posts.I do look forward to them,as I feel we are old friends. Today’s news is wonderful! Thanks for keeping us up to date with your beautiful garden photos .xo
Thank you, Annette.
Stay safe.
Work with Darko! Such good news! I have been enjoying your photos of flowers around your yard! Thank you
Thank you, Judy.
Stay safe.
Wonderful news about the coaching!!! I hope it all goes really well and maybe contributes to a reawakening of theater life in the “burbs”! We can only hope.
As for the catbird babies, it is amazing what Nature puts us all through! Humans have worked out so many ways to “shelter” from it… but all the wild things still have to just bear it!
Happy August…. summer is flying by.
And the echinacea is gorgeous!
Thank you, Betsy.
Stay safe.
Congratulations, Claudia. That’s a nice way to head into fall. Enjoy every minute of it. Hugs, Elaine
Thank you, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Lovely news about work coming your way, and about the rain. We had some too – badly needed, .1 inches, better than nothing but the garden soil is like talc it’s so dry. I wonder if your cat birds would like some meal worms – I keep some in the fridge for Carolina wrens, originally, and now the catbirds come for them as well.
ceci
Thank you, Ceci.
Stay safe.
Such GREAT news about some future work! I love “going with you” on your coaching jobs … I can’t wait😊
Thank you, Debbie.
Stay safe.
Wonderful news Claudia, I’m so very pleased for you. I’ve been reading/listening to quite a few Agatha Christie books over the last year in particular and am a big fan. Her stories can be quite dark at times.
I hope you manage to get out and do some gardening this weekend. Fingers crossed, the weather is kind to you.
Thank you, Fiona.
Stay safe.