I’m wiped out. We’ve been very busy this week and we’re tired. The furnace/oil burner had to be repaired yesterday. Can’t wait to see that bill. We had been waiting since Monday for them to come and look at the problems. One was water leaking from a – I would say release valve, but it’s really a copper pipe. So I had to put a largish pan underneath the pipe to catch water, then go downstairs at least twice a day to dump the water. On Sunday, I noticed oil leaking as well. We now have a big oil spot on the cement. Anyway, that turned out to be a loose connection, and the water leak required a new part. We’ve had so many repairs in the last year. It’s disheartening. And expensive.
With the heavy rains following the foot of snow we had, we also have a wet basement. Since our home is so old, we have always had a wet basement but this was a lot of water! So it was rather like a deluge. The dehumidifier is working overtime.
Also, I’m supposed to drive to Rochester next Tuesday, but now it looks like we’re getting snow here (and in Rochester) so I might have to leave a day earlier than planned.
I watched and noted a run-through of Dial M for Murder – through a link on Vimeo. Also disheartening. I’ve had exactly one hour to work with each actor. That’s it. I can no longer do my work at the level I have in the past. And it’s not just me; the length of rehearsal time is less, which means the director and actors have to work way too quickly. If I didn’t need the meager amount of money I earn, I would retire. But I can’t turn down work.
Anyway, this has been a tough week for me, physically and emotionally.
Enough of that. Just needed to vent a bit.
Pretty Chloe in a hat and sweater made by Natalia in Ukraine. I don’t know how she does it! I can knit, but not at this level. The artists who make clothes for any doll, but especially Blythe, are so talented.
Reader Vicki requested a picture of this girl. She spotted her in a photo of the studio.
She’s a 16 inch fashion doll by Robert Tonner. She’s from his Ellowyne Wilde line. If you’re unfamiliar with Robert Tonner, just google him. He has been designing dolls of every kind for years and years. He sold his business a few years back, but has entered into a partnership with Rachel Hoffman (who owns a doll shop in Denver, CO) and every year they hold a Virtual Doll Convention where he debuts about 4 new dolls. I happened to discover this world of dolls last year and managed to snag this beauty at the last minute (several months ago.) She’s so gorgeous. Her name is “Bright Ideas.” The discovery of these dolls is what led me to Gene Marshall dolls.
My favorite line of his is Ellowyne Wilde and eBay is full of examples of those whimsical and magical dolls. They had amazing clothing and hair styles and beautiful faces. They are highly collectible. I’d love – someday – to obtain a few of those older dolls, but if I can’t, I’m plenty happy to have my Bright Ideas.
I met Robert at Wonderland of Play. What a nice man! He told me that Bright Ideas was his personal favorite in his latest line. He also lives just about 30 minutes away from me to the north – so he’s a neighbor.
Okay.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
It sounds like quite the week for you both. The weather has been a bit unbelievable where you live and all over. Couple that with an uncooperative furnace, and what sounds like a less than ideal coaching experience…no wonder you are wiped out.
Thank goodness you have Chloe and the other girls to distract you. That hat and sweater look like they were custom made for Chloe.
We are in the midst of a snow event…8-12+, high winds, drifting….they’ve come short of calling it the B word…blizzard. If you look outside though, that’s what it looks like. Supposed to last til tomorrow afternoon, and this is on top of two snows earlier in week.
I hope next week’s trip to Rochester goes well for you. Enjoy your day! ;)
Oh no! Sorry about the blizzard, Donnamae. Please take care!
Stay safe.
Bright Ideas is especially beautiful. Have you come up with a Claudia name for her yet? I see her as a Gina or a Sophia or something with an Italian feel with her beautiful dark hair. Very glamorous. And Chloe is a darling in that sweater. Exquisite workmanship.
I’m sorry the play is going so horribly. It’s a pity because it’s a wonderful show and they deserve to have the “all of you” (meaning more time) to really make the characters sing. I hope you don’t have to face grim weather in the drive to Rochester. We have predictions for 8-10 inches of snow over the next 36 hours and EL (just across the border from me has 10-12 predicted. Go figure. I’m not a fan and was rather enjoying our relatively snowless winter. I think I’m set to be snowed in — birds fed amply, food in the freezer, plenty of reading and puzzle material. But power is always a concern. In the big storm of 2013 Rick was out 11 days. Since then they have mutilated the neighborhood trees to account for possible power line issues but you never know. There is one dead tree in the house behind/to the side of mine and I always worry about it falling. (So do the neighbors right next door — they’re in the same boat!)
No one needs problems with water or oil at any time of year — always expensive. But at this time of year particularly challenging. I’m having my own expense issues this month with the insulation (last month) and the mold testing (today) and I suspect follow-up on that. Part of me would like to just forget it (I’ve lived with that water issue in the basement for years so I feel your pain) and yet with my breathing it makes better sense to just bite the bullet and do it now. Then I can get Christmas down and start putting the basement back in order. With luck, they’ll find nothing but a whole lot of dirt!
I hope the rest of the week goes better.
Funny, but I don’t name the fashion dolls, only the Blythes.
Sorry that you are also dealing with unexpected expenses, Jeanie. I know how tough that can be.
And snow, lots of it, it seems. I feel for you. Stay snug and safe inside your house and wait it out, my friend.
Stay safe.
sorry you have those troubles. any troubles. glad there are repairs for at least most of them.
wish there was more money available for you to have more time to work with the actors, to help them and help the production more than you already do in one hour per person. i understand about budgets and other limits and needing to start with the basics (for people and organizations), but all of society loses when the arts are not supported.
hope you can take it easy today and this weekend ahead of the travel/work days coming up and that the weather will cooperate for your ease and safety.
we are dealing with lots of snow again. we received 11.2 inches of wet, icy snow this past monday-into-tuesday, another 1.8 on wednesday and overnight another ten-plus inches of snow has fallen … and it is still snowing! thankfully this latest snow is very light and fluffy; made it much easier to (twice) shovel the deck and feed earl and the birds today. getting over two feet of snow in just five days this week is a lot, but it’s beautiful and very much needed. we’ve been in “severe drought” for a long time … and this week’s snowfall has easily, by at least five inches, been more than all the snow (which wasn’t much, obviously) we received in december 2022 and january and february 2023 combined. glad and grateful for that and to be stocked up, too.
my phone (how i get here to mhc) is acting up … keyboard is working only sporadically; ugh … so i am using my parents’ computer. nice to have that option and to stay with family whenever i want. :) also to not have my car outside in all this snow (it’s in the garage at my apartment … never had a garage until i was 59, so am glad and grateful for that garage, too).
hope you, don and everyone else are well and stay safe in every way.
xo,
kathy
I fear the future of regional theater. It looks rather bleak to me at the moment.
Boy, you definitely are getting a lot of snow, Kathy! It’s a lot, but it will help your previous drought status. Glad you’re safe with family.
We don’t have a garage, sadly. My battery died last year because of cold winds. Hopefully, not this year!
Stay safe.
Pretty Chloe! And thank you so much for giving us a close-up shot of the Tonner doll! That face, the elaborate hairdo; those boots; wow; so glad to learn of these dolls and you’ve got a beauty, Claudia. Great photo!
I’m glad to know he’s still creating a few dolls because, after I discovered this line of dolls through you, it had seemed to me that he was NOT in the doll business anymore. What would you guess is his age (I’m just curious!)?
Claudia, I’m so sorry you’ve got the headaches of work and home repairs. It mirrors some of my own life. My husband’s job search continues. He says we have to have the hours of full-time work, not part-time. It’s hard to be financially stretched in one’s 70s. Not the way I was brought up (or influenced), to think this was how things would turn out. It’s a lot of stress.
We’ve contemplated a relocation since 2015 and especially (again) over the past five months, but it’s proving to be a case instead of aging in place, trying to hold our house and life together for as long as we can, right where we are, as a cross-country move is very expensive, and we have things here which are beneficial despite other concerns of the area in which we live (wildfire, floods, earthquake, etc.). Must do what is wise and feasible, also considering our age. All life has risk.
Please know that I feel for you and Don. We’ve all just gotta somehow hang in there (and you two will!).
I hope you can have a restful weekend for both brain and body. Take care. Thinking of you! Sending a virtual hug today.
Vicki I read your comment to my husband. It really touched me. I pray something works out and your husband can work part time. That is just too much in your seventies. Yes it is a lot with house repairs. Last year we had to buy a new oil tank. Very expansive. Yesterday we got our home insurance bill and it was 30 % higher. I just pray and believe God will take care of us.
Hang in there
Thank you, Linda; you are so kind. I’m very grateful that Claudia talks openly about joys and struggles because it then gives her readers space to mull it, too. To not feel so alone in the difficult times. The sharing, the communication, the exchange of woes but also ideas and solutions and inspirations; it’s important and less isolating.
You hang in there, too! (We’ll all ‘hang’ together here on Claudia’s MHC blog!)
I’d guess he’s around my age. But I don’t know for sure.
It seems like you’ve finally resolved the question of whether you should relocate. At least you can let that go and plan for the future in California.
As for having to work, both Don and I have to, but given what we do for a living, a job isn’t guaranteed. It’s sad and worrisome. That’s why Don is doing gigs – he loves singing for people – but the impulse to do it again came out of our need for extra income.
We are part of a huge group of seniors that need to work beyond retirement age. In our case, it’s a combination of being freelancers and buying our first home later in life – something you understand very well.
xoxo
Claudia
Oh, I pray for paying work for both of our husbands (and you, too, Claudia; maybe 2024 will be the year!).
Yes!
xo
Claudia, I’m sure it was a relief to have the furnace back in working order….paying the bills not so nice, however. Chloe is really cute in that sweater… would love to have that myself, it’s a beautiful color. Sorry the conditions for your work on the new play are not optimal. Have a warm weekend.
Yes, it’s good to have it repaired. But we’ve had a couple of issues with the burner this year. (I keep thinking it’s fairly new but we purchased it 11 years ago.)
Stay safe, Barrie.
Sorry for your bad week, Claudia. Hope the drive to Rochester turns out to be ok.
I had a bad beginning of the week when one of my tires blew out while driving my daughter home from work. It was not a totally safe area to pull over, but I had to. Found a red zone near the intersection. Fortunately, there was a lot of evening traffic and the towing service arrived within 20 minutes of my call. Replaced all 4 tires the next day, an unexpected expense. Don’t we all hate those…
Oh no! No one wants the extra expense, but the important thing is that you and your daughter are okay. Grateful to hear that you’re both safe.
Stay safe, Wendy.
Oh, Claudia. I feel for you. One thing after another and as they say, sometimes we just have to rise above reality. Stay safe on your trip to Rochester. Might be wise to go a day before to miss the bad weather. Chloe looks darling in her sweater. I, too, admire the skill and patience of those making the beautiful clothes for Blythe dolls. Bright Ideas is stunning in her gorgeous red outfit. I bet Robert would really enjoy a visit to your home. We’re expecting a storm to start this evening. It’s quite windy out there now but not snowing yet. Hugs, Elaine
Now it looks like we’ll get less than predicted, but we’re still getting several inches, so yes, I think I’ll go Monday.
Stay safe during your storm, Elaine.
We’re certainly in the midst of a sea change for the arts, particularly the theater. I’m sorry it’s impacting you so negatively. Sorry also to hear about your furnace troubles, never a good thing in January. Hope it’s fixed for the season.
We’ve been dealing with blizzard-like conditions all day. We’ve gotten about six inches of blowing drifting snow on top of the three already on the ground. It’s supposed to be full-on blizzard conditions tonight. Sure hope people use their heads and stay off the roads. Our power has gone off and on several times but it’s holding so far (crossed fingers). It’s such a wet, heavy snow. One of the huge arborvitae that line our northwest border is leaning way down almost on the ground so we do have one casualty.
Hope this all misses you as it plows east.
Take care,
Kay
Oh, I’m so sorry about the arborvitae! I’ve been hearing from so many people in the midwest about this snow. We’re getting lots of rain but I don’t know if it’s part of the same event.
Stay safe and warm, Kay.