Mockingbird Hill Cottage

It’s been warm the last couple of days and it will be even warmer today and tomorrow.

Proof:

For the first time since early December, we have almost no snow on the ground. It’s hard to believe! Even the huge piles of snow left from shoveling and plowing are almost gone. There was so much snow that it seemed as if it would never melt. Could  never melt. Today and tomorrow ought to finish it off.

We don’t kid ourselves, there are a couple of days coming next week where the high reaches only 30 degrees. But we can put up with that, knowing that spring is on the way.

The back forty takes a bit longer, as it’s a higher elevation. But I’m sure the snow will be gone by today.

I’ve been reading Practical Magic  and loving it. The next book in the lineup is There are Rivers in the Sky  by Elif Shafak, which I’m hoping will be as beautiful as the description indicates. I’m crocheting and the afghan is slowly getting bigger. I’m not even letting myself dream of gardening yet. That won’t happen for a while. But I am wondering if our local nursery has reopened yet. I know it will open sometime this month.

I’m thinking of starting my morning glory seeds inside so they start growing earlier than usual. I would then transplant them around the end of April. If that doesn’t work and they still don’t bloom until October, I’ll officially give up.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

A cloudy morning view of a kitchen corner. The snake plant has to be supported, hence the twine and metal plant supports. It’s now – what – over 50 years old? It sat in our window seat in my childhood home and it was there for several years. My parents moved to northern Michigan when I was living in Philadelphia, so that was around 1986. If I assume that the plant was in my childhood home for at least 10 years – and both Mere and I think that was the case – it’s at least 50 years old. Maybe more. There’s an entire section of new growth, which is encouraging, as I’ve had to cut away some of the older growth. I’m watering it a bit more than I have been. They’re succulents, so they don’t need too much water, but our house is very dry, especially in the winter.

This morning, I was greeted by the song of a Carolina wren who stayed around the porch area singing away for at least an hour. Is it nest building time? It seems a bit early. The wrens are here throughout the winter and I do hear them occasionally. But this was a full-out and continuous song. More spring-like, if you will.

A good sign, I think.

I’m reading and crocheting and trying to get through the weekend with a modicum of peace. I hope you’re able to find some peace, as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Gilly and Ruby standing on the pew.

It’s so gray and rainy around here that trying to take any pictures is futile. But I just happened to have this one from a few days ago. I’m contemplating a change of clothing for them as they’ve been wearing these dresses for quite a while.

But then again, maybe not. The days when I was regularly redressing the dolls are over. If the current ensemble is working, it stays. You’ll notice I did not do the Christmas sweater thing that I’ve done in years past.

Are you as exhausted as I am with this daily insanity? Now we’re in a war that never needed to happen. What next? I had a meltdown the other night and Don patiently listened to me. I have to severely limit my exposure to the news. I’m trying my best to stay away from any news apps. But it’s tricky. I can’t go outside and lose myself in chores. Too early in the season. I can work around the house, but there’s only so much to do (or that I want to do.)

We only have so much time left on this planet and THIS is what is happening? This is what we have to look forward to? Imagine the expletives I am voicing on an hourly basis. Then add in Don’s. We’ve had it.

We need some peace and we do our best to find some peace every day. But, my god, it’s hard.

End of rant.

I tried reading the new book by Elly Griffiths, The Frozen People. This is book one in a new series. It just didn’t do it for me. The writing is clunky and although I’ve read plenty of books about time travel, it didn’t work for me here. Now, as always, that’s just my opinion. I zipped forward to the ending and read it. And then I picked up another book that I got a from our library, which I’ve never read for some reason – Practical Magic  by Alice Hoffman. What a relief! The prose moves beautifully. It’s so well written. I immediately relaxed, knowing I was in good hands. That’s how it has to be for me these days. I do not have the patience to cross my fingers and hope the writing and subject matter will improve. The book has to grab me from the beginning and Practical Magic  has done that.

I’ll return The Frozen People  to the library today. I have another book waiting there for me.

Stay safe, my friends.

Happy Friday.