A quick shot of the house as I walked back up the driveway after retrieving the mail.
Yesterday was a low-key day here at the cottage. I had plans to go outside and do a lot of minor chores on the property. But then…I realized that I was tired, my eyes stung, and allergies were making me feel congested and drowsy. So, I didn’t do any of that. I stayed indoors, read, and did laundry – well, actually, Don did the laundry. I helped on the folding end. He was tired from mowing the day before. We just hung out and it was very peaceful.
I’m just about a hundred pages away from the end of Something to Hide by Elizabeth George. I forgot what a great storyteller she is. Not only that, but she weaves an intricate plot beautifully, always character driven and underscored with great empathy and humanity. I may have to pull one of her previous books out of my TBR pile because I’m definitely in an Elizabeth George mood. I’ve read many, many of her books over the years, but drifted away from them recently. I’m back.
I decided I needed a companion yesterday.
Little Maeve stuck by my side.
Sometimes I just have to muss up her hair:
I love her tiny little freckles.
Okay. I’m running a bit late today.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
As always, thanks for the tip about Elizabeth George. I hadn’t known of her Inspector Linley series. I’ve been reading some older Michael Connelly/Mickey Haller ones I hadn’t read previously and was looking for a new (to me) series.
Mister Wizard is starting a new cancer treatment that requires a hospital stay (in the dreaded city of Orlando!) They found a bed for him late last night , so he ubered over and was in his room by midnight. Hoping for no bad reactions so he can come home in a few days. Fingers crossed.
Oh, I’m thinking of Fred as he goes through this treatment. And of you, waiting for him back home. Sending love to you both and prayers for complete healing.
Much love,
Claudia
xo
All good thoughts from WI are coming your way. You both should be feeling them shortly. Take care of yourself too, Shanna
prayers said and will continue for your fred and you. i hope he gets home soon and that you both feel better soon! remember to take care of yourself, too.
hugs (if okay),
kathy
I’ve put Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series on my list. Is this a series that has to be read in Chronological order?
I took a day off from gardening yesterday….it rained in the morning. But today I need to finish planting my perennial shade garden. This is the garden I’m expanding.
It sounds like you need allergy relief. Perhaps another day off is in order? ;)
It does help to read them in order. Just like Louise Penny, there is a group of recurring characters who grow and change over time. I would advise starting with the first and working your way through.
Today is rainy, so I have to take the day off!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Love the house photo…..mind if I sketch it? Today is rainy but yesterday was glorious. To avoid the pollen we took a ride to Hampton Bays and had lunch overlooking the Peconic. It was breezy but wonderful and the place we picked had nobody eating on the outside deck so we had the place to ourselves. Still limping and in pain but in a much happier frame of mind. Sometimes a change of scenery is needed to get inspired. Claudia when you lose motivation think of all your faithful readers who are cheering you on. Have a good day.
Not at all! Sketch away! Sometimes, just getting out of the house – even if it’s just for a drive down the road – changes how we feel. Glad to hear you are in a much happier frame of mind, Maria!
Stay safe.
hope you and don feel better soon and enjoy well-earned rest.
thanks for the book/author suggestions.
sunny now, but we might get some rain overnight. will gladly take it, but also wish it would rain when i’m awake to enjoy it.
still sorting through papers and re-organizing files. while this is one of those projects that isn’t fun and looks worse before it gets better, especially in my small space, i am glad for making progress and to soon have this done!
happy thursday!
stay safe!
kathy
I always avoid doing that kind of project until I can’t avoid it any longer!
Stay safe, Kathy.
dear Claudia/Don — love pix of your home and garden, beautiful !! Maeve is a mini me — would love to have those eyelashes !!! stay safe/healthy
I think we’d all love those eyelashes!
Stay safe, Linda.
Glad the rain is giving you another recovery day. We are getting a slight bit of rain, but not enough. My best friend, who lives outside of Denver, is dragging plants into her sun porch & garage to prepare for…snow.
Enjoy the remainder of your day. Take care.
Oh no! Not SNOW! It’s been an insane spring, that’s for sure.
Stay safe, Chris.
What a lovely picture of your house and front yard. Have had good weather in Calif. so slowly getting the yard in shape. The older I get, I find I have to take it slower but am getting stronger physically which is a happy plus.
Can I say, I envy you with your Blyth dolls. They are so cute!
I feel the same way. I take it slower, but I’m in better shape than I was which is good!
Stay safe, Linda.
Maeve is such a pretty little girl.
House photo today; my goodness, Claudia, what a beautiful property you and Don have; it’s just perfect.
I went on a ‘house hunt’ today! This particular address got an award in my town for having an improved front yard/curb appeal. Gosh a lot of work went into it; SO many plantings of every kind of colorful flower; a bench and arbor; little pathways here and there among the beds; a couple of those gazing balls (yard globes; situated aesthetically and unobtrusively); all with the backdrop of a historical-landmark house from the 1880s which I’ve never taken the time to really LOOK at (even though I’ve lived here most of my life, so shame on me!).
A bit gingerbready-y, like cut-out details/designs in the wood siding above upper-story windows; what they call ‘Eastlake’ architectural style, with a corbelled chimney (I don’t know what any of that means; I need to look it up!); but with these cool gables; not some huge house at all but certainly with much character and charm. Curiously, in the 19th century when maybe too many women didn’t purchase a house on their own, the original owner was just that; a widow (rich one; bought the two lots adjacent, too, back in the day). I actually spent quite a lot of time staring at the yard and the front-face of this unique house.
I have so much more appreciation for any of this compared to my younger years. In the relatively-young west here (Southern Calif), at least in my town which wasn’t incorporated til 1910, you’re not going to find any house that’s built earlier than 1880; they simply don’t exist the way vintage homes do in the older/earlier-settled Eastern U.S.
For the past 55 years, this home has had one owner … and I’ve just learned it was the family of a classmate of mine; a girl I went to school with K-12; she’s an artist; so I can see now why her garden is so artistic, colorful and varied. I plan to send her a note to congratulate her on the yard; haven’t spoken to her or seen her since our teens at high school graduation, so this has been a somewhat serendipitous morning for me! It would seem her parents would have passed on, and she just stayed there since the 60s when she first lived there with them, as our newspaper did highlight her as owner of the home. I’d sure like to get a look inside; wondering if the interiors have been altered or if they reflect how the home looked in the late 1800s, like with trims and built-in cabinetry; high ceilings(?); etc. Maybe I can work out a looksee!
Sounds beautiful
That the style of landscape my husband and I love
Thank you for sharing
xoxo
Oh, thank you Vicki!
It’s a lot of work but boy does it look great in the spring!
Stay safe.
It’s always nice standing back and appreciating your accomplishments. We’ve lived on 2 acres for nearly 47 years and mowing, pruning, freezing, and maintaining the place is a way of life. At 70yo and hubs 78, I think it keeps us in good shape. Oh yes, there are aches and pains but we still enjoy maintaining this place. Thankfully we have a good well and the water table is high. Something that is a must in Southern Ca..
Same here. Having to maintain this property keeps us both in shape!
Stay safe, Patty.
(I picked up the book from the post office. Thank you so, so much!)
Your home is looking enchanting Claudia! And,Maeve looks like an understanding companion for the day. You have been on my mind in regards your painting. Some of your readers had some good ideas.Being off to such a great start probably has its pros and cons. On the one hand you saw the possibility and are encouraged and on the other hand may be unprepared for the ups and downs of the journey.
Also, sometimes life, one way or another can throw us unexpectedly into such a low frame of mind and i am sorry for yours. It’s part of the process it seems. We know very well how challenging this can be in all manner of aspects. (My experience as someone who is just hanging in there/here a lot of the time:)) You can give yourself the freedom from locking yourself in to any kind of labels. They just drag one down and i wish you find your way to feeling better howsoever you please. You are such a unique and beautiful being exploring creation in your way and that brilliance comes through lighting up the world in so many ways. May the brightest of blessings show you courage and joy as you carry on creating.
Thank you for your wise words, Grace. They are very much appreciated, my friend.
Bless you.
Stay safe.
And you♡
I just love your property and cottage. It’s so perfect!!! Hope your allergies are better today.
Love Maeve and her dress!!!! Wooley Rockers?
Hi Claudia, can I just say that your home is like a “dolls house”, it is soooo cute, I can picture myself sitting on that front porch reading a good book!
Ah, thank you, Christine! I love reading on that porch.
Stay safe!
Yes, Wooly Rockers. It’s one of my favorite pieces.
Stay safe, Stacy!
Trees and green!! Your cottage is absolutely adorable! I bet you do get a workout mowing that lawn. I guess it keeps us young. I went out today and did some pruning on our ficus trees. Every time I go to water or do anything by one tree, a mourning dove flies out. I have looked all over the tree to see if there is a nest in there but I can’t see anything. Usually our mourning doves make their nests in really strange places, not in the trees. They also like to drink out of our pond. It is just a small one. I always wanted one so we had a big kid come over and dig the hole for it. We bought 10 little goldfish and now they are big goldfish. I love that they all come up to me when it is time to eat. Still not feeling great so maybe we need to get out tomorrow. Take care and cherish that house!
And there’s a lot more lawn than you see in that photo!
How lovely that you have a pond, Deb!
We had mourning doves around here for years – they’re my favorite birds – but haven’t had any for the past two years. I miss them so much.
Stay safe!