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You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

Pansies, Bunnies & Cold Weather

May 8, 2017 at 9:24 am by Claudia

A pox on this cold and rainy weather! February was like May. May is like March. My frustration grew yesterday, so I put all the cushions back on the porch furniture…if it rains, it rains, they’re indoor/outdoor anyway!

Then I got in my car while light rain was spritzing my windshield and I drove to our local nursery. I was craving flowers. Surprisingly, there were quite a few people there, despite the weather. I find that everyone is as antsy as I am. We want to plant. We want warmer weather (coming next week, apparently.)

If it was going to stay unseasonably cold, I had just the solution:

Pansies! Confession: I’ve never planted pansies before, though I love them. Due to my frugal gardening nature, I usually plant all my pots once a season and that’s it. So I would normally plant these urns with something that would last through the summer.

But I threw caution to the winds yesterday and went with the pansies. And they cheered me up!

I have other plants-in-waiting. They’re currently waiting on the kitchen table.

And that doesn’t include impatiens, hanging plants, plants for the galvanized bucket, etc.

And mulch, which I will buy today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, it’s cold.

As happens at least once every spring, I looked outside to see a bunny inside the corral, running around in a panic because he/she couldn’t get out. After going outside and to open the gate, I went back inside and watched for a while, hoping he’d figure it out.

Nope. There was another bunny on the other side of the fence waiting for him. So I finally went outside, walking around the outside of the corral, hoping to nudge him toward the open gate. Didn’t work. Knowing he would be even more scared, but also knowing it was the only way to ‘rescue’ him from the corral, I stepped over the fence into the corral – staying far away – whereupon he panicked, running up against the fence a couple of times before he saw the gate and ran out.

Poor baby. But better that than an entire day stuck in the corral, getting more and more upset. I’m not sure why these guys can’t see the opening in the big corral that leads down to the house and the open gate. Let’s hope that’s the last time that happens. I saw him run around the house to the area just outside the kitchen window, where he stopped, collected himself, and proceeded to clean his paws. He’s okay.

Mowing? Mulching? I’m not sure.

Try not to get too excited.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: bunnies, flowers, garden 34 Comments

Beatrice and Barnaby

May 7, 2017 at 9:23 am by Claudia

A rainy day view of the large garden bed from our bedroom upstairs. As you can see, none of the barrels or pots have been planted. That is partly due to the endless rain, but also because for the next three nights, it’s going down to the thirties, so I don’t want to shock any new plants. As it is, I’ll have to bring in the porch plants (only a few – the ones I overwintered) each night.

What a strange spring it has been. Last night we had a big thunderstorm with pounding rain. This morning, when I woke up, it was still raining. But I think it’s stopped now.  I so want to visit a nursery, but if I buy anything, I’d have to keep it inside. We don’t have a garage where we can stash the plants. But I might visit the nursery closest to us today.

Just to look.

Cough.

There’s a new member of the family at Mockingbird Hill Cottage:

Say hello to Barnaby. Yes, I know that I named the other bunny egg cozy Barnaby but when you see the two of them together, you will understand, as I did, that the other bunny is female.

Beatrice and Barnaby. Mother and son.

You will now get different views because, like all little magical animals, their expressions seem to change depending on the angle. A case in point: Monty the Cow.

Barnaby likes to hold his mother’s hand.

Will I make another? As of last night…no. As of this morning…maybe. I made little mistakes in the sewing up that I’d like to correct, though I’m getting better at it. We’ll see.

A good way to occupy my time while it rained and rained and rained.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: bunnies, knitting 34 Comments

Birds, Bunnies & Little Z

May 6, 2017 at 9:00 am by Claudia

I’m doing my best not to be daunted by a weather forecast that shows no sunny days until May 16th. Ahem. That’s ten days from now. And our temps look to be in the fifties, which is cooler than normal at this time of year.

Ah well. What can you do? Absolutely nothing.

Rain all day yesterday and more headed our way today. I’m hoping I can find a pocket of dry weather because I have to load up the car to recycle today.

I know. My life is very exciting.

This morning:

Right outside the living room window.

When he turned in this direction and proceeded to head into the big garden bed, the front door was opened and a voice said “Ummm….No.” And he obligingly took off. I don’t kid myself, though. Someone, who shall be nameless as he could be any one of a number of bunnies, ate my hyacinth flowers and chomped on a day lily.

There are plenty of weeds, my friend. Please limit your dining to them.

Outside the kitchen window:

A tiny sparrow.

A tiny female goldfinch.

And her flashier partner, the male.

All three of them were dining on dandelions.

Be my guest!

Don has had to grow his hair long for this role he’s playing. He sent me a selfie the other day and I nearly gasped. Wow. It’s long. In fact, when he face-timed with Little Z the other day, Z said, “What happened to your hair?”

Yep, Little Z, it’s a bit too long for my taste, but the actor’s life involves sacrifices. (I think Don is actually enjoying it.) I had a long conversation with my little nephew last night. He was unusually chatty and made me laugh out loud several times. I love that boy.

Well, off to tackle exciting things like recycling (aka going to the former dump which is now called the Transfer Station) and running to the grocery store.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: birds, bunnies, Little Z 33 Comments

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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.

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