Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

Rain, Rain, Go Away – Please

June 18, 2019 at 9:38 am by Claudia

Just add lots of rain to this picture and that’s our current situation. It’s raining very hard and as I sit here, I can see catalpa blossom after catalpa blossom float to the ground. The rain will be their undoing.

And the rain will force the finale of these:

I know all good things must come to the end, but darn it, the catalpa just bloomed! Ask me how sick of the rain I am. Go ahead. Although maybe you shouldn’t as you’re bound to hear some curse words. We have rain today through Friday. Rain, thunderstorms, blah, blah, blah. I am so, so, SO sick of it.

As I was drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, I checked my email and there was a notice from my security company that came around midnight saying my site was down. I looked at the clock and figured that since it was 7 am, it was probably back up by now. Nope. So I called my hosting company and they verified that there was a big problem with the server and my blog was one of those affected. Drat. In that kind of situation, there’s nothing I can do but wait it out. So I made our second cup of coffee, sat on the sofa with Don and chatted. I’m glad to say it’s back up now – obviously – or I wouldn’t be writing this!

I’m trying to change my reaction to these technical mishaps that are beyond my control. They tend to push my “worry” button, but in the end, all I can do is talk to my host, or in the case of other problems, talk to my security company. That’s why I have them.

Anyway, all is well, for the time being.

Edited to add: If you tried to visit the blog during that time and found a message saying it couldn’t be contacted or something like that – the exact wording depends on the browser – it doesn’t mean you were blocked. It just means the server was down and my blog was also down. If the server is down, my blog can’t be located on the web. I say this because I got an email from a reader thinking she had been blocked. If you had been blocked – which I rarely do and only if I’ve been harassed or threatened repeatedly – the message on your browser would be a different one, specific to no longer having access.

I saw Lonesome Dove perched on an electrical wire this morning. I’ve only seen him at the birdbath one time this spring and I miss him. I opened the window in the den and, sure enough, I could hear his haunting call.

What to do with all this rain this week? I tend to get stir crazy. Yes, of course, I’ll read. Maybe I’ll finally clear out and sort through the items in my dresser drawers – one of my least favorite things to do. I have to buy a birthday present for a certain someone whose birthday is next Monday. (Hint: he’s in the next room playing his guitar at the moment.)

I’m on my 11th or 12th day without sugar. I have a major sweet tooth and, even though I wasn’t eating all that much sugar, I was having some every day, and one day I just said, “Enough.”

I’ve done this before and it was time to do it again. I’m not having any major withdrawal symptoms, but I do feel more energetic and that’s good. Hopefully, I’ll lose a bit of weight in the bargain.

Okay. I’m off to figure out what I’m doing today.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: birds, blog, blogging, rain 23 Comments

Ode to the Catalpa

June 17, 2019 at 10:15 am by Claudia

I managed to get a shot of the catalpa tree as it looks from the street. It’s covered in blossoms. And it’s very, very tall. We were just sitting on the porch this morning, drinking our second cup of coffee, and we were hit with a wave of scent from its blossoms. Heavenly.

They fall to the ground pretty quickly, so today will probably be one of the last days to see it in its glory. Rain is forecast for the rest of the week. (Don’t get me started.) And as it rains, more and more blossoms will fall.

The catalpa has huge heart-shaped leaves. After the blossoms fall, they’ll be replaced by long bean pods, which is why many people know it as the ‘bean tree.’

Simply gorgeous.

If this is indeed the only day in which we aren’t dealing with rain (though rain is due this evening), I have a lot of weeding to do. They’re out of control because excessive rain = excessive weeds. I’m over it.

Sigh – and another sigh.

The farmer’s market was cancelled yesterday, but Don didn’t find out that bit of information until he got there. It rained pretty much all afternoon.

And there you have it. It’s Monday. I have to weed. The rest of the week looks like a wash, but I’m hoping there will be pockets of sun in there. Fingers crossed!

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: flowers, trees 28 Comments

In Bloom

June 16, 2019 at 10:12 am by Claudia

Up close and personal with a gorgeous catalpa blossom. Like peonies, these blossoms aren’t around for long. Maybe a week or less. The other day, Don said that the scent is right up there with lilacs and peonies. And it is.

I’m going to try and get out there before it rains and take a photo of the tree in bloom. Wish me luck!

The clematis has been blooming like crazy – I’m sure it’s due to all the rain we’ve had.

The spirea is in full bloom, the Annabelle hydrangea flowers are getting bigger, and you can see some of the milkweed just to the right of the hydrangea.

I took these photos in the afternoon, when the sun was a bit too bright. I’d just finished mowing and I’d mowed a lot. Then Don came home and mowed the rest, which was also a lot. So, between the two of us, we did the entire property in one day! But we knew rain was coming and, if the forecasts proves true, we’re going to see rain for much of this week, so it was now or never.

We were tuckered out and fell asleep while watching a movie.

Don is at the farmer’s market today, so cross your fingers that it doesn’t rain too much. He really likes taking pictures there and will be disappointed if it’s a wash-out.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, trees 16 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 672
  • 673
  • 674
  • 675
  • 676
  • …
  • 1846
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in