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
    • 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 bees

Insect Life in the Garden

June 13, 2019 at 10:54 am by Claudia

On yarrow.

On the clematis.

On catmint.

On Solomon’s Seal.

You know that I love to take photos of insect life in the garden. Sometimes I deliberately focus on the bug. Sometimes, as in the case of the clematis, I have no idea there is a bug there until I look at the photo on my computer. I love surprises like that.

I spent some time walking around the gardens taking pictures yesterday, in between yanking weeds, watering plants, and repotting the monstera plant in the living room (with Don’s help, that baby is big!)

It’s raining here today, an all-day-long steady rain. Looks like we’ll be indoors for the day. I’m debating cleaning the bathroom – well, not debating that one, it needs it – and cleaning out my dresser drawers, which are so stuffed with clothing that I can’t fit everything in there. We have one dresser each (Don’s suffers from the same malady) and one small closet that we share. That hearkens back to yesterday’s topic and walk-in closets. Never had one. And yes, I’d like a bigger closet. But it ain’t gonna happen.

Heck, we were just happy to have a half-bath upstairs right outside the door to our bedroom when we bought this cottage. In the rental we lived in for our first four years out east, having to go to the bathroom during the night required walking down the stairs, then through the living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry room until we reached the tiny bathroom at the back of the house. Try staying sleepy during that trek. It was bad enough 18 years ago, but now that we’re – ahem – older, the amount of travel that we would have to undertake during the night would be a giant pain in the tush.

I love tiny houses, but the thought of sitting up in bed, crawling backwards to the ladder-like steps, climbing down – visiting the bathroom – then climbing up again, and crawling (literally) back into bed is too much for this girl. That’s a young person’s game.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: bees, flowers, garden, insects 26 Comments

Restless

August 4, 2018 at 10:12 am by Claudia

I had to search for some recent photos for you; we’re on our 4th or 5th day of rain, so it’s been almost impossible to find any pockets in the day where I could take my camera outside. Don and I let out a big old primal scream this morning. We’re sick of rain.

(I hope I don’t have to say that of course we know there are many of you who long for rain. Just as we long for a bit of dry weather. We feel for everyone but we can only react to our current reality.)

Anyway. Yesterday was rather a blue day. I’m not sure exactly why, but rain and gray skies and being stuck in the house and feeling not at all able to concentrate on anything played a part. Restless and blue. There are days I really feel the absence of Escape to Margaritaville  and all it meant to us, emotionally, spiritually and financially. Yesterday was one of those days and today is, as well. There’s nothing we can do about it and we’re doing our best to move forward but it is a huge loss and there’s no other way to put it.

Let’s look at some bees.

I’m heartened to know there are so many bees around here. We need them. I try to plant flowers that attract pollinators. When the big blue morning glories start to bloom, the bees will be hanging out over there, crawling inside, spending the night, getting drunk on pollen.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: bees, Escape to Margaritaville, flowers 36 Comments

Friday Thoughts

July 13, 2018 at 8:23 am by Claudia

There’s always something to observe in the gardens. Bees are everywhere.

The hostas are starting to bloom. The flowers are so delicate, so pale.

We took another trail walk yesterday. We bought some groceries and then proceeded to forget one of the bags in the car and the food spoiled. We sat outside in the Secret Garden. And that’s about it. It’s slow going this week at the cottage. We’re both exhausted. So we’re taking time to just be.

I’m still working on all my feelings about the closing of Margaritaville. The Broadway community was less than supportive (that’s putting it mildly) and that has left me feeling very disillusioned. Yet there’s a new musical opening based on the Go-Go’s music, there’s one about Donna Summer, there’s another coming based on Cher’s life…but somehow they didn’t think Jimmy Buffett had any business bringing his happy music to Broadway? I’m thinking of a word that starts with F followed by a word that is ‘them.’

I detest snobs.

Together, Don and I have a combined 80+ years in the theater. I’ve managed to make my living in the theater. But I find less and less joy in it. Maybe the Universe is telling me it’s time to wind down.  This next year will be Darko’s last year at Hartford Stage. He’s moving on, as he should. He’s been there 7 years and he’s done what he wanted to do there. With a new artistic director, the focus will change and I’m sure I won’t be working there anymore, certainly not in the way I did with Darko. It’s been a wonderful ride and I’m extremely grateful to Darko. I’ll miss working with him. He’s been a loyal and inspiring and brilliant colleague.

Anyway, I’ve known he was going to leave for a long time now, I just haven’t mentioned it here. Change is never easy for me, but I know from experience that it’s the anticipation of change which is more troublesome than the actual change itself. I’m sort of ready for this one.

It’s a strange time here at the cottage and in our life. But we’re hanging in there.

Oh, I saw this guy on one of the hostas yesterday. He blends in perfectly.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: bees, flowers, garden, theater 36 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • …
  • 12
  • 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 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT