Life has been very busy lately. And it’s only going to ramp up once filming starts. Yes, everyone is worried about a strike, but I’m choosing to put that out of my mind as much as possible. In the meantime, I’m coaching Ben every day lately, there’s a read-through on Saturday, I’ve had to invoice the parent company for my coaching so far and had a great chat with one of the accountants who is wildly funny, I’ve had COVID protocol information sent to me from NBC/Universal, I had to schedule a PCR test for 2 days before I have to be on the set…lots of communications coming my way. Ben said the same thing yesterday.
In times of stress, what do I do?
Play dolls.
Mid-morning yesterday found me dressing the girls in dresses from Rose and Cacao. The woman behind these imaginative clothes lives in England. I just love her style. The red shoes came from England as well; from a seller who sent a pair to me a couple of months back that never arrived. She was so responsive when I said that I never got them and immediately dispatched a replacement, which arrived the other day.
As soon as they were dressed, I ran to the stairway, posed them, took a picture or two, then ran upstairs to coach Ben. There’s this one place on the lower landing that gets some light from the skylight. Really helps on a cloudy day.
When I take a moment to play with ‘the girls’ my stress level goes down. As soon as I try a new outfit on one or both of them, I show Don, who – God bless him – gets it and responds appropriately.
I have to take a minute to say how supportive he has been through this very busy time, how often he stops to tell me how proud of me he is, how willing he is to listen to me when I need to talk, and what a great sounding board he is. I lucked out with this guy.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
Happy anniversary week…
Just read the new Clinton Penny thriller…a gift sent to me from a friend…amazing book…I have a problem when reading a book written by two…trying to discern whose voice…remember I am retired teacher and VOICE is so important….as you know…however, this one is a keeper…went to Amazon to do a short review…I have read almost 400 books last year and this year for Netgalley which necessitates short ones…I was astonished at how the political ones were on there…I quit reading…this is a book of fiction…I am sure you will get the slight and not so slight nuances also…enjoy when you read it…have a good time working in NYC…my eldest grand working for a NY publisher is eager to move there…for now working from home because of Pandemic…when I get stressed, I read, do puzzles on the table or in books…color…lol…walk…teach the grands…Bible and tons of prayers of course…journal daily…I also do tons of correspondence…yes snail mail…I have a cadre of fantastic old friends…have one group called my Fabulous Fove…we text prayers and info…they don’t know each other exc two of them, yet they all know me…they now send cards to each other…funny Covid world…one in Ohio…one in Iowa…one Southern WV…two another area of Wv…yours truly in paradise in Florida…fantastic people here…take care…eager to hear your thoughts on books again…
Thank you, Brenda!
I’m afraid you won’t hear those thoughts for a while! I’m far too busy right now.
Stay safe!
I just had to mention how much I love Sophie and Imogen! I grew up in the 50’s and loved to play dolls. I had never seen these dolls before and they are delightful. The outfits are wonderful. I’m so glad you are enjoying them.
Thanks, Judy! Same here. I loved playing with dolls.
Stay safe.
Fun with Imogene & Sophie! ❤️ Had noticed before that Imogene has a dimple in the chin – cute detail.
Many groups in Bay Area are hosting events to get people out and enjoying the Arts and other things of Nature again. A big group sing this weekend and ACT-SF hosting a 3-day read of Cymbeline! Not sure that I’m quite ready, but fun to contemplate.
Loving your doll-play.
Yes, it’s nice to know that things are happening, even if we’re not ready to be a part of them.
Stay safe, Martha!
Sophie and Imogen are looking very mischievous in your photo. Love their dresses and tiny shoes. Ben’s new detective series was advertised last night, it looks good, Ann Cleeves’ crime novels are very popular.
Speaking of books as I remembered you liked her, I am currently reading Hayley Mill’s newly published autobiography in which she talks of her childhood and young adulthood ending in the early 1970s. She had no idea of some events until she had access in 2016 to the Walt Disney archives. It’s hugely enjoyable to read about behind the scenes of some of my favourite films such as The Parent Trap and Whistle Down the Wind.
Happy Thursday
Is that the one in which he plays a gay detective? He was talking to me about that.
Oh, thanks for the heads up about Hayley Mills’ book! I will definitely get it and read it. I absolutely adored her when I was a kid!
Stay safe, Dee Dee!
Yes, Ben’s series is entitled The Long Call and Hayley’s book is Forever Young.
Ben’s career is really taking off, Dee Dee!
Hope it is ok to reply on Claudia’s site.
I met Haley Mills in the early 1960’s when my family went on vacation in Santa Rosa, Calif. and Walt Disney was filming Pollyanna. We were all staying in the same hotel and played with Haley Mills as we were the same age and also met Walt Disney, he was very accessible and gave me an autograph! Haley was so cute and friendly. Good memories.
What an amazing story! Hayley Mills was famous as was Walt Disney. Gosh, as kids, we just devoured her films; are STILL favorites which have withstood the test of time. Indeed brings back the best memories, but you had this very personal experience. I’m from Calif and I didn’t realize/know that Pollyanna was filmed in Santa Rosa. (I’ve been to Santa Rosa in the northerly part of our state; the weather was really HOT but I recall, even as a teen, liking the area. Lots of shady trees.) As a fellow reader of Claudia’s blog, thanks for sharing this!
How wonderful, Linda!
many of us admire Don for being such a good husband. There should be more like him! Too bad he can’t give lessons in how to be a good husband.
He’d laugh if he heard that one, Jane! Nevertheless, he is a wonderful husband.
Stay safe!
I cannot imagine how those teeny tiny shoes are made! Are they made of clay or a similar material?
No, they’re made of the real thing – leather!
Stay safe, Carolyn Marie!
Oh, those red shoes. I can remember as a kid when I just HAD to have a pair of candy-apple-red, patent-leather Mary Janes. It was hard for my parents to afford anything special like that, but they did it for me, probably because I wouldn’t stop harping about it! Or maybe because they just respected the fact that I didn’t ask/demand a lot, and it was really important to me, for whatever reason I can’t remember, to have those shoes.
I still love red shoes. I have at least 3 pairs!
Stay safe, Vicki.
I love the dolls dresses, they’re are very pretty.
Thank you, Jan! They’re such fun.
Stay safe!
I love your dolls, their clothes and shoes! I’m enjoying following them on Instagram. I am now seriously thinking about buying a Blythe doll for myself. Is Etsy the place to look for one?
I think so. That’s where I’ve found both of my girls. There are lots of great customizers there and you can get a sense of their different styles by doing a search for ‘Blythe dolls’ or ‘custom Blythe dolls.’ Have fun seeing what’s out there, Lily. Some are very highly priced, but there are plenty of lower and moderately priced Blythes, as well. It’s just neat to conduct a scouting session to see what you like, what you respond to.
Keep me posted!
Stay safe.
Oh, and if you see something priced at several thousand dollars, it’s just the customer’s way of keeping the photo up on the page, even though the doll has been sold. A way of showing their style of work.
Thank you so much, Claudia. I will enjoy the search for my own doll. I am just captivated by these dolls!
xo