Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Reading, a Bit of Coaching, and the Girls

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Not enough sleep last night and I have to do a short coaching session later this morning, so I’m writing this post earlier than usual. I have to do a bit of prep and clear some space upstairs for my laptop and the zoom session. Thankfully, I use the ‘blur’ feature on zoom so the current state of my workspace (very messy) will be softened!

I finished Land   yesterday morning and cried my eyes out. It’s exquisitely written – a story of land and family taking place in Ireland. Profound. Beautiful. At the end of the novel, I felt much like I did when I finished O’Farrell’s Hamnet. I wanted to hang on to the story. I didn’t want to let it go. I held it close to me all day long. What an extraordinary writer Maggie O’Farrell is.

I dropped it off at the library and picked up Michael Connelly’s newest mystery, which will be quite the change from Land. And I found of copy of Madeline Miller’s Circe, which I haven’t read, because all of the talk about The Odyssey  movie made me think of it.

The Dragonfly Blythe sisters.

This has been cropped because…

the original had Nina’s left foot turned backwards. I guess she’s double-jointed. Quite the trick, Nina!

Okay. I’m off to drink more coffee and get my head in gear.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

A Stormy and Smoky Saturday

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Coneflowers are blooming on all sides of the house, even the edge of the secret garden, where a volunteer popped up! I love these flowers, most of which have self-seeded from the originals I planted many, many years ago. To me, they are the quintessential cottage garden flower. I’m very, very happy when they finally appear.

More smoke warnings for today, along with lots of thunderstorms. The air quality will be pretty bad. The title for this summer should be: The Summer We Had to Stay Indoors. Heat waves, unhealthy air quality, huge storms –  it’s crazy.

I finished up the main entrance flooring yesterday. As I was heading for the finish line, I wanted to scream. Some pieces have to be cut down to fit and cutting them can be very frustrating. But, it’s done and I’m fairly happy with it.

The photo includes a cabinet I got online when Minatures (dot) com was closing down. It has a drawer that’s somewhere in this messy studio. It had a fleur de lis design which I am attempting to paint over. But I have no idea what color to paint it. Do I age it, or keep it new looking? And does it really fit in this part of the hallway? Should it be taller? I think I’ll go ahead and do something with it. If anything, it can function as a filler until I get just the right piece.

I like this view. Though I am now thinking I need more than this light stain on the Grandfather clock. What to do, what to do, what to do. Is it too tall? It’s sort of looking that way. Or do I need one of those Swedish clocks? I believe they’re called “Mora” clocks. All will eventually be revealed.

I’ll do something with the clock and the cabinet today, I think. A good indoors activity.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Smoke, Haze, and Floors

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High heat and humidity, plus a heavy layer of smoke from the wildfires in Canada is making the air quality around here quite harmful. So we’ve been staying inside. I run outside to water wearing goggles and a mask. My chronic respiratory issues are definitely impacted by this. One more day of smoke – I think – and it should get better. It’s very hard to deal with but nothing compared to what Canada is experiencing. I pray for everyone there, every living thing. I can’t bear to think about the animals who are trapped. And the First Nations members who have lost entire communities. Please, please, universe – let there be some relief today.

Rowan when she first arrived. I finally found room for her on one of the shelves, but it required some reassigned seating.

Late yesterday afternoon, I started laying the floor in the entrance hallway. Today, I’ll finish it. Messy, fussy work, which ends with glue and stain all over my fingers.

I have to read a lot over the next couple of days as Land  will be due at the library. It is an exquisite piece of writing. Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favorites.

That’s it for today.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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