Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Glimpses of the Garden

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We had a nice gentle rain the other day. Yesterday, the sky got all dark and thundery and we sat on the porch eagerly awaiting a big old rainstorm. We got a few drops. The weather report assures us that there are thunderstorms on the way over the next several days. Please?

Today: 90 degrees. Don’t like.

How about some garden photos? I’ve been walking around the garden the last few days, snapping away.


While I was away, my husband kept telling me about this plant that was taking over the garden. I suspected it was my Jacobs Ladder and I was right. Yikes! When I got home and investigated, I found it everywhere. My first go at the garden was mainly yanking out some of the over-eager Jacobs Ladder. It is a fabulous plant for under my maple tree because it works so well in the shade. It just needs some firm discipline from Mama Gardener – me.


This hosta was already established when we bought the cottage. I’ve added several more since we moved in. The area right by the porch entrance is shaded by the maple and hostas work very well there.

Coneflowers
Bee Balm and Catmint
Evening Primrose
Lady Elsie May rose

Day Lilies
The first bloom on my David Phlox


My ever-faithful companions on porch patrol. They’re on top of things, so don’t try any high jinks on their watch!

Did you have a good weekend? Mine is always good if there is some time with my garden and my loved ones.

Rain

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What happens when your ‘studio’ is in an upstairs hallway with a skylight and no air conditioning and it is over 100 degrees? You only see it as you move as quickly as you can to the air conditioned bedroom. Things get piled up and you can’t even contemplate dealing with them. Any creative ideas remain stuck somewhere in the recesses of your brain.

Your brain turns to mush.

Today, thank goodness, we have rain. Rain, blessed rain. I’ve been worried about the state of the garden, our lawn, and most importantly, our weeping willow. The willow has been dropping leaves at an alarming rate. Willows need a lot of water. I resorted to watering it by hand, although I don’t know if it made any difference. Then I quickly stopped the watering when I remembered that we have a well and that the well could run dry. A quick shift into water conservation mode. We’ve been very careful about our water use the last several days. Though it is just a start, I feel a bit more positive about everything today. I’ve never been happier to see rain.

And you will notice in the photo above that the sky is cloudy. Yes, gorgeously cloudy. We are supposed to have a chance of thunderstorms off and on for the next few days. Bring ’em on!

A Doll Story

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One day, about 5 months ago, I saw her. While exploring an Antique Center across the Hudson River from my home, I turned a corner and there she was. She was beautiful. I examined her more closely. Ah, some crazing, some damage to the legs….but her face was perfect. She was wearing her original pink dress, bonnet, shoes and socks.



I looked at the price. Reasonable…but I was on a budget and I couldn’t justify the expense. I looked at her again. Now you see, some people would look at the crazing and the missing composition on the legs and say, “Not for me.”

Those things just made her sweeter. They added to her beauty.

But no, I couldn’t buy her. I walked away.

I came back to the shop at least 2 more times over the course of the next 3 months. She was still there. No one wanted her. It broke my heart. Eventually, the price was lowered a bit. But this was just before I was headed to California. I was on a budget and I didn’t see any way I could come home with another doll.

I’ve mentioned before that I am not a doll collector. I have my Shirley Temple doll (formerly my Mom’s) and Tressa. This little girl reminded me of my Tiny Tears doll. – the one that became my last baby doll, with a wardrobe made by my Grandmother – and that somehow along the way was lost forever. I mourn her to this day. I can still see the pink corduroy coat and bonnet that Gram made for her.

I left for California.

She entered my thoughts from time to time and I wondered if she was still there – sitting in a child sized chair. Lonely. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Am I crazy?

Finally, one day I looked up the web site for the store and sent an email to the manager. “I saw this doll – if you turn to the right when you walk in the front door, she is in the first booth. She’s wearing a pink dress and a bonnet and she looks sort of like Tiny Tears. Is she still there?”

I got an answer the next day. Yes, she was. He knew exactly what doll I was talking about. The price had been lowered again. “Hold onto her for me.” I called the next day, purchased her over the phone and said I’d be by in a little over 6 weeks to pick her up.

Today, we went to get her.


She’s tiny – petite. Her eyes close and are in perfect condition.


Such sweet details on her dress and bonnet.


Say hello to Emma. What can I say? Another rescue. Scout and Riley are rescues. Heidi and I rescued Tressa. And now little Emma has been rescued and brought to her new home. It only took 5 months.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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