• Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments you left on yesterday’s post. As Don said that very first time he walked in the house, “It’s a happy place.” So many of the houses we saw had baggage of some sort, you could feel it when you walked in. This one didn’t. Many years later, a cable repairman walked in the door, stopped, and said: “This is a happy home. I can feel it. I’m in a lot of houses and I see a lot, but this is a happy place.”
That’s all we want.
• Oh, yes. It was top priority yesterday. I was on my way to the bookstore in the morning. There it was, on display right near the front of the store. I looked through the copies, making sure to find one that was in pristine condition – after all, this one is special! – and then I grabbed it.
I also grabbed Elizabeth George’s newest, just out in paperback. I’m behind on Ms. George’s books, though I love them. They tend to be very long and I often find myself ready to grab one from my shelves, only to realize that I have too many review commitments to fit in first. Nevertheless, I keep accumulating them for my TBR pile.
The Susan Branch came in the mail yesterday – from Amazon. I’ve been meaning to read it since it first came out, but I never got around to buying a copy. Since this one is about her trip to England and her explorations of the English countryside, I think it’s the perfect time to read it. We’re planning a trip to England and Paris next year and, though I’ve been to England three times, there are so many wonderful places yet to explore. And Don has never been there.
I started it yesterday afternoon and I’m about 2/3 of the way through it. It reads just like her blog: chatty, friendly, charming, and informative, with beautiful illustrations throughout.
• Spotted late in the day at the birdbath – this lovely pair of mourning doves.
This would be a prettier picture if my car wasn’t in the shot.
I saw Henry the other morning. I’ve seen an older bunny dining on the grass. And when I was mowing on Monday, the mower scared off a very tiny baby bunny. Twice. He was adorable.
• The great Gene Wilder will be missed. He was brilliant, wasn’t he? In 2001, when we first moved out East, Don discovered that Wilder was performing onstage at the Westport Country Playhouse (in CT) and managed to get tickets for a performance. Wilder started out as a stage actor, but after his success on film, was rarely seen onstage. So we knew this was an incredible opportunity. We got to see him onstage in a series of one-acts. He was absolutely wonderful, as you would expect.
I wrote a little thing on Facebook because I kept reading posts saying that he would be ‘reunited with Gilda.’ Certainly, her death was tragic and she was much too young, but these statements ignore the fact that he leaves behind his widow, Karen. They were married for 25 years and she was with him through his bout with cancer and the Alzheimer’s disease that took him from us. Wilder’s marriage to Gilda Radner was brief and somewhat troubled, as he writes in his autobiography. They didn’t get along well, though they loved each other. I just kept thinking that if I were his widow, I wouldn’t want to constantly be reading, “He’s now reunited with Gilda.”
• Speaking of my car, I spent at least three minutes yesterday trying to unlock it via the button on my key fob. I was in a parking lot. Frustrated, I kept hitting the button, but it wouldn’t unlock. I finally looked up and saw that this particular silver car wasn’t my car. My car was three spaces down. While this was going on, a woman emerged from her car just to my left. She kept looking at me. She must have thought “The poor thing is senile! She shouldn’t be driving.”
Oy.
Happy Wednesday.
Thank you for the story of your car, made me giggle! Enjoy your day.
I’m losing it, Doris! xo
I know you have been counting days until the new Louise Penny book! I’m still seeing some birds at the feeder and a few deer but not much else. I’m so glad you wrote that about Gene Wilder and his wife of 25 years. I wondered why everyone was saying that about Gilda. It was sad yes, but he had many years after that and a long love in his life. aw well. I am so excited to hear you are planning a trip to England and Paris. You know how much I love Paris and can’t wait to enjoy your trip through the blog! Happy Wednesday.
hugs,
Linda
We are hoping to go next May or June. I’m working fairly steadily from December until sometime in May. Starting to gather information!
Love those doves and their little red feet.
Aren’t those feet incredible. I loved seeing the reflection in the water.
Funny your story about the car, i did the SAME thing yesterday!!! Oy vay!!!!
I felt like an idiot! Ah well! Good to know I’m not the only one! xo
I cracked up over your car story….nothing I haven’t done! Oy is right! So happy you are planning a trip to England and Paris….should be fun! I’ll have to find Louise Penney’s latest too…it’ll go to the top of the TBR pile! Enjoy your day! ;)
Working on deductions – yuck. But thank you, Donnamae!
Ha-ha-ha…I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve done the same thing with my car (sometimes it is a different make…but at least I always go for the same colour…so far…). I’ll have to get on the library waiting list for the Louise Penny book – so glad it is finally out. Love the cable guy’s comment!
Yes, at least, in this case the car was the same color as mine!
Funny car story, I now own a Buick it automatically unlocks when I am near. Glad you mentioned Karen Wilder, I felt how awful to say he ( Gene) would be with the love of his life now. Get the facts, 25 year together means something especially with the “Hollywood” people. I hear he lived in a 18th century home in CT. Half way through Penny book.
I just started the Penny book. Then I got diverted into Susan Branch’s book. I like to take my time with Louise Penny’s books – they are so well written that I just want to stay there as long as I can!
I like to take my time, that is why I stopped reading at 1am. Had to get to the most interesting part before I stopped. That is when I begin to get anxious and can’t wait to start reading again in the morning! Of course after I finish reading I enjoy the audiobook while doing cross stitch.
xo
All the “now he’s with Gilda” stuff has bothered me, too. Very insensitive, and I guess a good example of how fame affects both the famed and the fans who want to write their version of your life. I’m with Emily Dickinson: How dreary – to be – Somebody! How public- like a frog …
I agree. I’m perfectly happy being slightly under the radar!
Still laughing about the car…I’ve actually started getting into the wrong car before, so I get it.
Loved the post about your lovely home…reading your posts about it always make me feel cozy and happy…
Thank you so much, Linda! And it’s good to know I’m not the only one who does the wrong car thing!
Wow, a trip to Europe next year? That’s a little happy bomb you just threw out there! How wonderful; lucky you! What a nice thing to look forward to…and, because I think I may remember you follow her blog, I guess you know the Susan Branch book you’re reading is part of a trilogy and that she’s about to be leaving for England/Scotland by ship, if she hasn’t already, and it’ll be a couple of months of traveling for her and her partner, Joe, from like Labor Day to Thanksgiving Day, or something like that (and I’m hoping she’ll do a 4th book about it all).
I’ve mentioned it a few times before – that’s one of the reasons we are waiting before we adopt a new dog. We want to take this trip first. And yes, I do know about all Susan Branch’s books! This one I’m reading is especially pertinent at the moment.
Claudia, I think we’ve all done the same thing with our cars and keys. There is a particular place in San Francisco where the electronic car locks opener doesn’t work, as there is interference from Sutro Tower. I didn’t know that and spent some frustrating minutes trying to get my door opened, until some one came by and told me. Then there was the time my battery had run down; I didn’t even think it was controlled by a battery!
I didn’t realize Susan Branch wrote books. I like her artwork. I’m sad that the mourning doves have not returned to my garden since I re-landscaped. I hope they found a lovely spot in which to hang out, and I hope another pair discovers my yard. My daughter’s birthday soon, so I bought a mourning dove sculpture and a mourning dove pendant on Etsy for her.
I know your daughter will love those presents, Wendy.
Susan Branch has written a lot of books over the years – some cookbooks, some holiday books, and now she’s writing books about her personal life and the journey’s she’s been taking.
A Banquet…is on my to-read stack as well, Inspector Morse is calling me instead….when I stub my toe these days “sod” is my favorite curse…..I think I’ve escaped!
We were just watching Morse last night. Only two more episodes! I’m dreading the last one. I’ve never read the books by Colin Dexter, I think I’ll have to remedy that very soon!
I know what you mean about feeling the baggage of other houses. We looked at about 30 – yes 30 – houses before we walked into this one. We both knew this was the one. It felt right. I also have received compliments from strangers (repairmen, some of Tim’s friends) about our house in general. It warms my heart because our house isn’t anything “fancy” and it’s rather small, but yet I think it’s just the vibe. There’s a lot of love here.
I’ve had that Susan Branch book on my amazon wish list for awhile. Had no idea you were planning on a trip to England and Paris next year! How awesome. We have friends that live in Bristol, England and also have a house in Brittany, France. They keep inviting us out there (I was at their house in England in 2000), but circumstances (especially money) haven’t been there yet. Perhaps someday!
Small but welcoming, right?
The only way we can afford this trip is (gratefully) through an inheritance.
PS – forgot to comment about the car incident (which made me laugh). If it makes you feel any better, I have done the same thing with my husband’s car. (Mine is older – a 2001 Honda Accord coupe, which you don’t really see anymore, so it kind of “stands out”.) He has a 2008 silver Corolla which is a common car. There’s been several times while driving this car that I come back to the parking lot and head to the wrong car. ;-)
I guess we are thinking of other things at the time!
I knew there was a trip on the horizon. Fun!! Love Susan Branch’s books. Her artwork makes me smile every time.
I just started the 2nd Louise Penny book (Fatal Grace) and am really liking it….better than the first. Maybe because I am more familiar with the town and the people this time. I have #3 ordered from the library. I am happy knowing there are quite a few more to read. Love to find an author and a series!! Hope you are having a wonderful day!! (humidity broke here!!!! 70’s & sun the rest of the week. perfect after that heat!!)
You’ll really enjoy the series, Chris. It’s cloudy and cool here today. Huzzah!
The pictures are so good Claudia! I imagine all the animals who visit you feel safe in your yard, instinct. Can’t wait to hear about your travel adventures next year. I laughed about you trying to unlock the door on the wrong car. That has happened to us a few times.
They feel safe when I don’t inadvertently scare them, Janie. I always feel badly when that happens!
If you’re coming to my neck of the woods you mustn’t miss Norwich. It has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world (although it doesn’t feel like a city) I live in the middle of nowhere (about 15 miles from Norwich) and it’s the only city I would evenly remotely consider living. I used to work there, as a newspaper editor, but at the end of the day I was glad to leave it behind. PS I lived in Mass for 5 years, and Boston is a fine city too, although not in the same way.!
Thanks for the tip, Lesley. Any tips you can provide will be greatly appreciated!
I’ve never read anything by Louise Penny. Do you have a favorite? Or should I just start at the beginning? I’ll probably read them all in the end anyway. I’ve spent the whole summer reading and rereading mysteries. I think I already have you to blame for for introducing me to Charlie Parker and Simon Serrailler and there goes another shelf’s worth of space in the bookcase. :)
I’m not much for commenting, but I do so enjoy reading your lovely blog.
You need to read them in order, Judy. There really is a through line. Thanks so much for commenting, my friend!
I didn’t know Gene Wilder had passed away….a brilliant man in many ways..I’ve always remembered one quote of his from Willy Wonka.. “So shines a good deed in a weary world.”..I think of it often when I see someone doing good things…I have also tried to take other peoples cars so you are definitely not alone Claudia! lol
I love that quote, Nancy.
Thanks for the information about Gene Wilder. The news media spoke of his marriage to Gilda repeatedly, no mention of a current wife or even her name. Loved the picture of the doves, do you use bird feeders? Jen
It amazes me that the news media is so off-base on this one.
While I would love to use bird feeders, my neighbor’s cats routinely appear on our property. I don’t want innocent birds eating seed that falls on the ground to get attacked. So I refrain from using bird feeders.
Loving your car story today! Hilarious. I have to say, I’ve got one of those key-fob locking jobbies too. Good to know it really WILL unlock only your own car. Could have been an even-funnier story otherwise.
I agree about all the Gene Wilder/Gilda Radner comments too, though I’m fairly sure his widow probably wasn’t too awfully surprised by them. And even less hurt, hopefully. It reminded me about something my mother said once – talking about all of Elizabeth Taylor’s husbands – and saying how she just KNEW Liz would have been married to Mike Todd [#3] forever, if he hadn’t been killed in that plane crash. I must have been about 18 or so at the time, and said with cold teenage cynicism “All evidence to the contrary, Mom. Besides, isn’t that what they always say about the spouse that died too?” And Liz had HOW MANY marriages after Mike Todd?
Well, the story about Mike Todd was that he was the love of Taylor’s life. So he was frozen in time as the love of her life who was tragically killed too young. And that stuck, didn’t it?
Love your remote story. I have one. My friend has a friend whose husband had collapsed on the floor. She was kneeling by his side and trying to call 911 on her cell. She was just starting to panic when she realized she was trying to call 911 on the TV remote. Her husband had had a small heart attack and will be fine. Because it turned out ok, its funny. I think.
Thank goodness it was a minor attack for so many reasons. And, you’re right – now that story is funny!
loved gene wilder, read online that he was listening to Somewhere Over the Rainbow when he died, the only reason I know that is because I looked up Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Youtube as I had a need to listen to it.
Oh, how touching! What a wonderful actor he was, as well as a gentle and kind man.