Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Surprise Bloom

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Well, look what I saw from the bedroom window yesterday morning! I thought I was seeing things so I went outside to investigate. One lone beautiful bloom – about two months after they normally bloom. The same thing happened last year. I did see another bud but I don’t think I’m going to see a lot of flowers at this time of the year. It’s been fairly warm for October so far, but we can get snow and hard frosts and have.

A nice little anniversary present!

Speaking of our anniversary, thank you for all the lovely comments. We had planned to go to a restaurant in Woodstock that has a beautiful outdoor dining area, but I ended up having to work. So,  Don got Chinese food take-out from a place in a neighboring town which we just learned about. This little area we live in suffers from a lack of good Chinese restaurants, so it’s been ages since we’ve had any – in fact, I think it was several years ago in NYC. Oh, it was good! And we have leftovers, which is always nice.

It was a busy day but we kicked back in the evening with good food and a Nordic Noir series.

Today, tomorrow, and Friday, I coach Ben. The director called me the other day with some things he wanted adjusted – all good ideas – so we’re doing that. I’m in a different world now and I’m aware that in this world, people can get fired at the drop of a hat – unlike theater. There are a lot of people with input; production companies, money people, directors. It’s a bit overwhelming, honestly. And we’ve basically been working in a vacuum up until now, so it’s good to have feedback.

And then there’s the possibility of a strike.

I have to fight the urge to just toss it all and  stay here in my little nest.

New things can be hard.

So, I coach, then I help Don self-tape an audition. That’s our day today.

By the way, yesterday and the day before, there was a sweet Carolina wren singing on our porch, flitting from chair to chair. Right next to the picture window! Maybe one of our wrens was visiting the old home site? It made me very happy.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Fledged

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Well, they fledged.

At some point between seeing mama feeding them at 6 am and later in the morning, they left.

And we didn’t see it. Sigh.

Late in the morning, I ran some errands, but Don was back at the house and he said he walked around in the secret garden and stood under the nest. Nothing. No mama immediately chirping. Then, after several minutes, mama appeared and gave some warning cheeps but looked off in a different direction, presumably where the babies were. Then I came home and did the same thing. Very quiet out there until Mama appeared again, giving me a mild warning. I didn’t see the babies, but this area that she chose is perfect for them, lots of undergrowth and trees with low branches. They have cover during the next few days when they generally hang out near the nest. Later in the day, when I went out there a few more times, no appearance by mama.

Boy, do we miss them! We were both feeling blue all afternoon. I’m so used to walking into the kitchen and going directly to the window to watch them. So is Don. We are most definitely suffering from empty nest syndrome.

Bravo to Mama robin, who did it all on her own. All of it. And as Don says, she doesn’t expect any praise or acknowledgement. She just does it. She has been a terrific single parent and now she will teach the babies out in the world.

Sigh. And another sigh. And another, even bigger sigh.

We have been blessed by three different nesting experiences this summer; the Carolina wrens, the robins by the shed, and the robins outside the kitchen window. It’s been a rare and wonderful gift.

Today, I will hang around the cottage, waiting for the FedEx delivery of my laptop. I have to be here to sign for it. So I plan to take care of some chores inside and outside and do a little painting, as I didn’t get around to it yesterday.

Don’s off to get his hair cut and then he’s going to meet up with a friend; outdoors and masked.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Books, Paints, & Birds

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The early stages of the next painting. Since we went on our little excursion yesterday, I didn’t have a chance to get to it, but I’ll work on it today.

It was a lovely day yesterday, perfect for our drive to Rhinebeck. We walked around the town, wandered into a few shops – masked, of course. Our first stop was Oblong Books, where we ended up leaving with a bag full of books. They have such a great selection there. I’m on Oblong’s mailing list and this past week they said they are going to require masks for everyone. Wise choice. Rhinebeck was very busy yesterday as lots of people drive north for the weekend. Since it was so crowded on the sidewalks, we kept our masks on.

It felt good to get out and go somewhere else – in this case, on the other side of the Hudson River. The river was beautiful and sparkly, sailboats were out, the scenery was gorgeous. Not for the first time, we stopped to appreciate the beauty of the Hudson Valley and said a little thank you for being guided here when we were looking for a house.

I just finished another Elly Griffiths and will start on number six later today. I’m really enjoying this series.

The garden is at its peak. More phlox is blooming, the Rose of Sharon has blooms that are opening, the limelight hydrangea is in full bloom. It’s positively glorious out there! And our robin babies are getting bigger and bigger. For a moment this morning, I thought they might have fledged, even though I suspected they weren’t quite big enough yet. But finally, I saw Mama feeding them. They shoot up so high now to get their food. I see them moving around a lot in the nest, testing their wings, so I have to believe fledging will happen in the next couple of days. Fingers crossed that we see it, but I’m not counting on it. Somehow it always seems to happen when we look away for a few moments!

Speaking of moms, my mom’s birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you and miss you.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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