Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Take a look at the beauty of the burning bush, while I mourn the loss of my zinnias and and leaves on the catalpa due to a low temp of 29° on Saturday. We have reached the point in October where we get these sudden frosts. There’s only so much I can do to save things. The porch plants are currently in the shed, so they’re okay for now. This, as you know, is my yearly battle: not wanting to give up on my potted plants because I know it will warm up again. I covered some of zinnias last night and the night before – they’re right by the kitchen door. Several buds were just about to open so maybe they’ll get a chance to do that during the week.

But of course, toward the end of this week, the same thing is going to happen – a low of 29 and a low of 30. I may just throw in the towel at that point.

I watched hundreds of catalpa leaves slowly drift to the ground yesterday. Major raking needs to happen. I need to mow the front lawn one more time. Don has to take the car in for an oil change this morning. It may be time to have the front brakes replaced. And we get our first delivery of heating oil this week and heaven knows what that will cost. The thermostat is being set at a lower temperature this year, that’s for sure.

Thought I’d share a better photo of the mini art studio. That table arrived on Friday. It’s from a favorite Etsy shop run by the same woman who made the tramp art pieces I have on the walls. I was so taken with the green and the stained wood top. In fact, I briefly wondered if it should go in the kitchen but I stayed with my initial impulse because that green looks great in the studio. I had the tubes of paint from Dove Cottage and I made some paint brushes. The piece on the wall is from a photo series that ran in the New York Times several years ago. I was so taken with the gorgeous photos that I found a way to miniaturize them. (There’s another one in the Folk Art dollhouse.) I backed the photos with a wood frame. “Borrowing” one from the other dollhouse seemed to be the perfect thing to do as it looks so great in the studio.

To make it even more complicated, both photos were originally made for the modern dollhouse.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

We went to get our Covid and Flu vaccinations on Wednesday. I was going to wait to get the pneumonia. I didn’t want to get all three of them at once. But both of us ended up getting the pneumonia, too. That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. I was sore and achy and felt wired. I napped for two hours yesterday, but that barely made a dent. Don also felt achy and sick yesterday. Today, we’re feeling better, though our arms are still quite sore. I won’t get all three of them at once again! I think I’d much rather wait and stretch them out.

So I’m sitting here trying to wake up because I had that kind of sleep you get after you’ve been sleep deprived – almost a drugged sleep. But I’m grateful!

It’s raining today. Tomorrow night it is supposed to go down to 29, so that will be the end of the zinnias, etc. Since it is going to be warmer after Sunday, I’ll transport all my plants to the shed, which worked out nicely last time.

On Tuesday, I painted and cut baseboards for most of the rooms in the Beacon Hill.

I still have to add baseboards to the den and also some ceiling trim in some of the rooms.

And, decide on the paint color for the exterior.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.