Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for birds

Beauty and Birds

May 24, 2023 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Despite very little sleep, I pressed on yesterday. Did some yanking of poison ivy, which seems to be worse than ever this year. I wear an old flannel shirt for this, as well as special gloves, and I use a pruner that is only for poison ivy. It’s all kept in a box in the former kitchen island.

Then I mowed 2/3 of the front lawn. Don mowed the rest, as well as the secret garden.

It felt good to do something, rather than just sit here moaning about how tired I was. (Though I did a bit of that, too.)

Later in the day, we sat on the glider and listened to all of the birds singing. I love the amount of bird sound at this time of year. And, we looked at our property and gave thanks for it. Almost nothing makes me happier than sitting on the glider, holding my husband’s hand, and gazing at our pretty porch, the big maple, and the green grass and trees off in the distance.

I did sleep in a bit this morning, which is a rarity. So I’m feeling better today.

Today? A day of rest. Don’s lower back is sore. I’ve encouraged him to rest for the next couple of days.

I gave up on the science fiction book I was reading. It was a very interesting premise, but it was too long and science fiction really isn’t my thing. Plus, the writing was clumsy. Now, I’m reading Night Hawks  by Elly Griffith, which I started right before I moved to Brooklyn to work on the movie. I was so busy that I never got back to it and it’s been sitting here in the den on my TBR pile. Since I’d only read about 20 pages, I didn’t have to get reacquainted with the plot.

Speaking of hawks and birds of prey. I know there’s another robin couple on our property tending to their nest. I’m not sure where the nest is, but it’s definitely somewhere closer to our porch. Right before dinner last night, I heard the warning cheep that a robin makes when there is a threat. We’re quite familiar with it around here. I looked out at the big maple and there he was sitting on a branch, facing the road. A steady barrage of cheep and then a tut-tut-tut which involved the tail feathers. I was watching the robin rather than the road, but I suddenly sensed  the flight of a big bird with some white feathers as it took off over my neighbor’s house. Don assumes it was sitting on the wire across the street that stretched between phone poles. I only sensed it for a brief second, so I don’t know what kind of bird it was. That robin was relentless. It didn’t stop the warnings until the other bird left. Then our feisty little robin flew down to a lower branch to make sure the enemy had left.

Truly amazing.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: birds, garden 22 Comments

Life

May 17, 2023 at 8:59 am by Claudia

I just mowed this about 4 days ago. Now it looks like it’s been neglected. The grass grows so quickly! Lots of wildflowers are emerging on the property and in the secret garden specifically. I love this particular time of year in this little hideaway because there will be all sorts of flowers and color for the next few weeks.

Speaking of flowers, we have a freeze warning for tonight. Are you kidding me? What the heck? So Don and I will have to bring in all the pots for the night, including these heavy vintage pots. Coleus does not like cold and they’ll die if frost hits. Big old sigh.

It’s actually been a trying 24 hours or so. Don found out his high school friend died a week ago. They hung out a lot together with another guy, Don’s friend Joe – who is in his early seventies and battling Alzheimers. So, one friend has passed away and the other is slowly fading away and it is very upsetting for my husband.

Then we found out our mortgage payment is going up because of some escrow screw up. We need to find out more and I’ve asked Don to call them tomorrow. But I’m already panicked.

Then, Don remarked casually, “Well, the babies have obviously fledged.”

“What??? I just saw them yesterday!”

“I took a picture and they aren’t there.”

So I went outside to see for myself and the nest is empty.

I had been staying away from the nest, which is quite deep, so when I actually peeked at it the day before yesterday and saw the very top of their heads, I assumed they were little babies.

Obviously, they weren’t.

So now I feel sad that I didn’t have any idea they were about to leave the nest. It’s quiet around here. No mom and dad scolding us, no babies. I just wasn’t prepared for it.

And a freeze tonight.

Insert lots of sighs here.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: bird nest, birds, Don, secret garden 25 Comments

Birds and The Dude

May 16, 2023 at 8:44 am by Claudia

Daddy Robin, ever vigilant, constantly tracking our movements. Even when one of us is on the porch, he flies over to the big maple to keep an eye on us. Bless him.

And he needs to keep vigilant because there are babies! I mowed a bit yesterday and as I was unlocking the shed –  the nest is just to the left of the door – I quickly took a peek and I could see the top of little feathery heads, moving back and forth. There are at least two of them, maybe three. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!

(I took this photo from far away, with my telephoto lens.) He was in a tree near the shed. Watching me.

This morning we saw the groundhog, a chipmunk, and – of course – Daddy Robin.

I mowed as quickly as possible yesterday because I was mowing the corral and the area of grass to the left of the shed. I had just discovered the babies and I didn’t want to prolong any parental stress. So I tackled the area near the shed first and moved further and further away from them – until I had to wheel the lawnmower back into the shed, but I did that very quickly.

The Dude.

Ever laid back and zen, he just hangs out and enjoys the view. He is our role model.

Today is take it easy day. Mowing outside is always tiring, mostly because of my allergies. Pollen is crazy right now and I’m allergic to grass pollen. But I really like mowing and I’m not about to give it up. It’s so satisfying! It’s also great exercise.

It’s another beautiful day. I find myself longing for a little rain, but it looks like we won’t have any for a while. Ants have appeared in our kitchen, looking for water. This happens every spring, but if it’s especially dry, they become more of a problem.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: bird nest, birds 20 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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