Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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What Are You Reading?

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This morning in the secret garden. That golden light is one of the best parts of autumn.

There’s more mowing to do, but I’m not sure whether I’ll tackle that today or tomorrow. I’ll wait to see if my perpetual state of congestion clears up. As I look out the window in the den, I see leaves gently falling from the maple. It’s quite lovely. As Don said the other day, “We really do live in a beautiful part of the country.”

Don went to a specialist about his hand. There’s a swelling on the tendon and it’s making it hard for him to straighten his thumb. It’s called trigger finger. Contrary to what he was told before, this doctor wants  him to use his hand, to work the thumb back and forth, and to go ahead with all of his activities including playing the guitar. He got a shot of cortisone and will go back to see the doctor in three weeks.

I learned that there are a lot more preview performances for the show than I previously thought there were, including next Sunday at 2 pm. So, I put in a request for two tickets and, if they’re available, we’ll go to next Sunday’s performance, where I’ll take notes. Don knows Jim, of course, and he wants to see the show, so this would be perfect. Fingers crossed!

I finished reading the Simenon this morning and I’ll start Maggie O’Farrell’s newest later today. I also have a New Yorker puzzle ready and waiting.

Since I’m back in reading mode, it’s time to ask a question I haven’t asked for too long.

What are you reading?

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

A Big Seasonal Change and Harper

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Yesterday was very cool and cloudy. A seasonal change had clearly settled in. Today is much the same. The leaves are turning, the limelight hydrangea is turning pink, the skies are gray and we have to turn the heat on in the morning. It was a rather melancholy day for both of us. Suddenly, we found ourselves looking ahead and talking about buying a snowblower that is more modest in size. Our current machine is very, very heavy and I can’t even push it. Don has trouble with it and with his hand problems, I think we need something either of us can navigate.

I always hope that my small paycheck can go into our savings account, but it looks like some of it will go towards a new snow blower. A good investment, for sure, but isn’t it always something?

I took it easy yesterday. I sent out notes to the actors, read a bit, took a short nap.

And I decided it was time to change Harper’s clothes. I came up with this:

Having mint green hair does have an impact on color choices. I put the outfit on her and then started going through my hats. This one was perfect.

She’s really, really gorgeous. I wish you could see her in person. Ferro Dolls are – to me – exquisite. The hand painting that she does is so detailed. Tiny little red veins in the cheeks, shadowing around the eyes, beautifully drawn eyebrows. I could study her face for hours.

I never thought I’d go for mint green hair and planned on finding a scalp replacement for her, but now I love it. Her previous owner told me she tried various other colors but none of them worked as well as the mint green. I get it. And Ferro Dolls clearly painted the face with the hair color in mind.

Still fully immersed in The Ink Black Heart.

Netflix magically came back. I had been checking on it every few days and suddenly, there it was. I signed back in and now we’re finishing the series we had been watching.

I suppose it’s time to mow again, but I really don’t feel like it today. Maybe tomorrow.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

A Dramatic First Day of Autumn

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Usually, the first day of Autumn is not much different than the day before. But yesterday was rather dramatic; big storms in the morning, lots of rain. Later in the day came high winds that brought a dramatic drop in temperature. And now, today, we’ll only reach 59 or 60 degrees.

Mother Nature is letting us know fall is here.

I’m going to try to do some mowing this morning. Don mowed the largest part of the front lawn last week – it already needs another pass. But the rest of the property really, really needs it. Hopefully, I can get some of it done. It’s my turn to do it and my back is better. I’ll make sure I’m slow and methodical and careful about the whole thing.

Yesterday was my father-in-law’s birthday. He would have been 103. Next week will bring my dad’s birthday. He would have been 99. September is always a little bittersweet for Don and me. We miss our fathers.

Next up: this Agatha Christie puzzle by the same company that created The World of Shakespeare, etc. These puzzles are beautifully and imaginatively designed and it’s always lots of fun identifying places and characters.

I’ll probably start in on this one today.

It’s a cool morning. I’m wearing a sweater over my pajamas. I welcome the change after such a strange and difficult summer.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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