Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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On Wednesday

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First. I don’t know what to say – there are so many tragedies playing out right now. The earthquake in Mexico which is gut-wrenching in its devastation, another hurricane barreling down on the Caribbean with Puerto Rico in its sights, and name-calling and taunting on the floor of the United Nations that is taking us to the brink of nuclear war. And once again, they’re trying to take health care away from millions and millions of Americans, including the Medicaid that my nephew depends on.

My heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones and homes in Mexico – a country that has generously offered us aid again and again in the face of our tragedies. My heart breaks for everyone, everywhere. We are living with such uncertainty, such constant stress, and it is taking a toll.

I have no wisdom to share. I just wanted to take a moment, a quiet moment, in the midst of pretty pictures.

Prayers.

Moving on.

I mowed yesterday. I raked piles of leaves. And it’s really hot and humid around here for September. It’s going to be 86 degrees tomorrow! Anyway, I was drenched. But I did do something I haven’t had time to do lately. I walked around the property and took some pictures.

Yesterday’s morning glory.

This mushroom/fungi is about the size of two baseballs. It’s on the edge of the lawn near the woods. This shows you how wet it’s been here. I’m letting it stay because I want to see how big it gets!

In the butterfly bush, this beauty.

Around here, autumn brings the most beautiful wildflowers, like this New England Aster.

And these: queen anne’s lace, goldenrod, and more asters. These are surrounding our mailbox at the moment. Nature’s color palette is more beautiful than anything I could come up with.

Today, the repairman is coming to put a new timer in our washer/dryer. Tomorrow, I head into Manhattan for a quick bit of coaching. Saturday? I think I’m going to go to a Miniature Show.

Happy Wednesday.

New York, Flowers, Leaves & Henry

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I snapped this very quickly yesterday morning as I made my way to my car and a trip to the city. Two beauties! Today, as I look out my kitchen window, I see another bloom. They started blooming very late, but I must say that lateness has turned into a blessing. Beautiful new flowers every day as I see everything else slowly fading. And falling. I can’t tell you how many leaves there are on the ground. Leaves that I have to rake today.

I had a very good day yesterday coaching dialects on a production of Shadowlands, which is a play based on the unexpected meeting and marriage of C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham. It’s a lovely play and the cast is terrific. I’ll probably go in again later in the week to finish some work with the actress playing Joy. My rehearsal was only a few city blocks from Don’s. Don is rehearsing in the same studios where Anastasia  rehearsed and where I’ve worked more times than I can count on various productions – it’s perfect for musical theater because of the large rehearsal rooms.

I had no idea when he was going to be released and as I walked out of the rehearsal studio at around 4 pm, heading toward the bus terminal, I texted him. Turns out he was finished and just about to leave, so we met up on 42nd Street and had a quick bite to eat together. After all these years, when we see each other in the course of a work day, in a place other than our home, we’re surprised and delighted. Then I headed for the bus (managed to catch one just about to leave) and Don headed for his bus.

And there we are.

Today I plan on raking and mowing and running to the grocery store. Exciting, right?

Oh. The other day I looked out the living room window and who did I see?

Mister Henry, dining on some of the grass near the Funky Patio. I’m always delighted to see our friend, so I grabbed my iPhone. One of the windows was open and as I snapped the picture, from several feet away and inside the house, Henry heard it and ran for cover. That boy can hear everything. I cursed myself for not muting the phone before I took the picture because I don’t like disturbing him when he’s brave enough to get that close to the house. I’ve been known to delay something for a half hour or more when I see him out there.

Anyway, I’m always comforted that he’s alive and kicking and happy in his home under the shed.

Happy Tuesday.

Rushed

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These beauties are still going strong.

This will be a quick post. Yesterday ended up being a very busy day with gutter cleaning, buying a new lawn mower, trying to put it together, and lots of other must-dos on the agenda. Poor Don. His one day off wasn’t at all restful.

He’s leaving soon to go back to the city. I am not traveling with him – in order to go with him, I would have had to drive my car to our neighboring town this morning to park it near the bus terminal and he would have had to pick me up. Otherwise I would have come back from the city via the bus with no way to get back to the cottage. It seemed like an extra hassle, so he’s driving and I’m taking the bus and we might meet up there or not. We’re rehearsing only a few blocks apart.

Anyway, I have to get moving and I’m still a bit sleep deprived, so more coffee is on the agenda. I haven’t even had time to reply to yesterday’s comments, but I’ll get there. Apologies!

Hopefully, next week will be a more laid back day off for Don. Fingers crossed.

I’ll be back with more tomorrow, my friends.

Happy Monday.

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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