Mockingbird Hill Cottage

An ode to our oak tree that is near the road. In the 21 years we’ve lived here, it’s really grown. No acorns yet. Does it take some years before an oak develops acorns?

We have other oak trees, some up in the woods and a couple of baby oak trees just next to the secret garden. But this is the oak I can see from the house. I’ve been talking to it lately.

The oak leaves turn color later than the rest of the trees, so they get their solo time on the stage.

The burning bush full of lots of red berries.

Gilly and Dexter urge you to VOTE if you haven’t already. We like to vote on election day and can’t wait to cast our votes tomorrow. There are no excuses for not voting. I can’t remember a more important election in my lifetime.

I found a Glencroft dollhouse in New Jersey. I got tired of trying to figure out what the heck the other seller was thinking. So I reached out to the seller of the NJ Glencroft and we’re going to drive down there tomorrow, right after we vote. It’s a couple of hours each way, but that’s better than the 3 1/2 hours it would have taken to reach the other destination. And this house is less expensive! I’m very excited. It’s a great way to fill up our time as we wait for the evening election results.

This morning, we are going to talk to someone about our health insurance. We keep putting it off but we really need to get on it at this point. I hate stuff like this. My eyes glaze over. Health Insurance shouldn’t get more complicated as one gets older.

We’ll figure it out.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

The burning bush is so gorgeous right now! I love that it doesn’t reach full color until after most of the fall color in the surrounding trees has faded. It’s like Mother Nature says, “Wait! I have one more surprise for you!” And she does. I never tire of looking at it.

An interesting update: I was scanning Facebook Marketplace yesterday and there was the dollhouse I wanted. It had been missing from the listings for about 6 days. So I have no idea what is going on. If it’s still listed, why isn’t the seller answering my messages? Of course there could be something going on in her personal life that’s keeping her from Facebook. I don’t know. I was encouraged to see the photo, but now I’m even more confused.

Yes, we have a Medicare Advantage policy that I now realize was perfect for us. (Don uses it more than I do.) Anyway, whatever option we choose, we will be losing some of the benefits we had. We really don’t want to pay more – things are so tight – so we’re talking to an advisor this morning. My theory is that changes to Medicare Part D are fueling these cancellations, but of course, I don’t know that for sure. I am sure hearing that a lot of people are getting cancellation notices.

I spent yesterday afternoon making a Christmas tree for the Beacon Hill.  I forgot how unbelievably messy this process is. Glue all over my fingers, bits of lycopodium (preserved pine) all over the place. I’ve had the pine for years and it’s been used for 4 trees, so it was a pretty good deal. I have to trim it on the sides so it’s a bit narrower. And, of course, I have to re-glue some pieces that weren’t fully attached. It’s a pain in the tush, but worth it.  And now I’ve finished off the lycopodium (preserved pine) and I have no more in my stash. It looks like it’s increasingly harder to find; both miniature shops that used to carry it no longer do.

Okay. I’m off to make our second cup of coffee. I finished the puzzle and I’ll get a photo of it later today.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.