Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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They’re Here

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My favorite time of year at Trader Joe’s is here.


The peonies have arrived! I made a quick stop there today, hoping they would be there. I love, love peonies. If I can’t be home to see our two peony bushes in bloom, this surely is the next best thing.


Aren’t they the most gorgeous, lush flowers? And the scent! This is a necessary indulgence for me – and photographing them is such fun.

Those of us on the creative staff for a production always get a rose on opening night. Three of these beauties are in a vase here in the apartment. Two of the designers had to leave before opening, so I got their roses.


There were so many great name suggestions for the koala:

Dundee, Kolby, Martin, Diego, Toby, Dennis, Sydney, Blinky Bill, Romeo, Clip, Darcy, Sleepy, Ichabod Crane, Mate, Sheila, Brisbane, Kiki, Sweet Pea……

I love them all. My sister insists on Darcy (we both love Pride and Prejudice.) So Darcy it is, but Darcy’s nickname will be Sweet Pea. I see him/her most every day. He sits on a metal bar and hugs the fence. His eyes scrunch shut and he is absolutely adorable. Norma from Australia tells me that they sleep a great deal of the time because their diet of eucalyptus has almost no calories. I would be happy to supply a nice soft sofa for Darcy to sleep on – really!

I’ll post photos from the Urban Barn sale in my next post.

Meeting Dogs & Naming the Koala

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You know how much I miss my two babies:


I even miss their demanding ways. They called me on Mother’s Day, you know. Riley barked and Scout howled and Don assured me they were saying “Happy Mother’s Day.”

San Diego has always been dog happy. There are dogs everywhere. There are dog beaches, dog parks, dog washes….you name it. We partook of it all when we lived here. I’ve always been the type to stop and talk to dogs and their owners. Can’t help it. Now that I am seriously dog-deprived, I have to stop and chat with every dog I see. I’ve met two Boston Terriers named Dot and Dash, a little dog that had just been adopted 2 hours earlier and was giving her new owner a run for her money, a sweet, elderly dog with 3 legs who travels in a stroller, and many more.

These little encounters help me in this prolonged period away from my babies. I get my ‘fix’ and meet some wonderful dogs and their owners. I always leave each meeting with a smile on my face and a lighter heart.


I saw my little Koala twice today. On the way home, I saw him/her stand and stretch but I couldn’t get my camera out quickly enough to snap a photo. Instead: sleeping. I think we should think of a name for this little one. I can’t think of one (I think I have too many Shakespearean words in my head) so will you leave your suggestions? I’ll post all your ideas and then I’ll pick one. Thanks in advance, my friends!

Ta Dah!

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My first bunny sighting – shot through the kitchen window screen. This is a little guy! I love, love seeing the bunnies on the property – they have a home in our woods. I also saw one of the groundhogs/woodchucks who live under our shed. He was dining on our grass – they are vegetarians, did you know? Just like me.

I finished the last 3 squares last night:


Left to right: an egg cup with an egg, McCoy pottery with yellow roses and forsythia, and my initials and the year.

Here’s the whole 39 (really 40) Squares project:


I’m going to try and get a better photo but this will do for now. What fun this was – I’m already thinking of stitching one with Don in mind. I’m also doing Teresa McFayden’s Freestyle Embroidery EZine, but I will hold off working on that until I am in San Diego. Yes, embroidery floss and sewing basket will be packed up and shipped to San Diego. I have to have something to work on and I think these little embroidery projects are the perfect creative outlet.

I think I will take my 39 Squares project with me. It reminds me of home and everything I love. Perhaps I can find a frame at one of my favorite shops.

Some of you have asked why I will be away so long and why San Diego. I will be the Voice/Speech/Dialect coach for the Shakespeare Summer Repertory at the Old Globe for the third year in a row. I will be out in San Diego for 10 weeks. A long time – but not as long as last year, when I also taught for a semester – that involved a six month stay. Don and I used to live in San Diego – I worked at the Globe for eight years. I have many friends there, as well as Don’s family. Nevertheless, I still don’t want to leave Don, Scout, Riley and MHC.

I will be blogging from what I call MHC West – sharing some of my favorite antique stores and barn sales. Oh, there is so much eye candy out there!

I’m off to pack some boxes for shipping to San Diego.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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