Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Little Bird & Some Roseville Pottery

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This little guy was surveying the Beacon Hill scene from his perch on this hedge. Thankfully, he stayed still long enough for me to snap this photo.

It has finally stopped raining here at MHC. Maybe I’ll get some much-needed yard work done today. The sun is out…dare I hope that Spring may finally be here? Crossing fingers. Let’s just say that I learned my lesson a week or so ago. The snow shovels are still out.

I promised to show you the contents of the other package that was waiting for me when I got home from Boston. A while back, a reader of this blog named Sonja wrote me. She noticed that I had some Roseville pottery. She was getting rid of a piece or two…would I like them? Uh…yes!

Hello, beautiful Magnolia Cornucopia! This is made doubly precious because it was passed down from Sonja’s mother. It now has a place of honor alongside some of my other pieces.

There is a lush quality to the Roseville flower designs that I love. It’s the best word I can think of to describe their look. Years ago, I remember reading an article about the actress Teri Garr’s home. She has a great decorating style. Originally from Ohio where Roseville was manufactured, she had amassed a wonderful collection. I think that was when I fell for Roseville. I kept that article for years – wish I still had it.

Sonja sent me a second piece that she suspected was a knock-off. She said something just didn’t feel right about it. I did some research yesterday and I’ve come to the conclusion it is definitely a fake. The markings are wrong, the glaze is off and one of the numbers on the bottom is reversed. Nevertheless, I really love it – I am treating it like the real thing. It’s Don’s favorite. He has a good eye and suggested I place it here on the piano:

The pattern is Fuchsia. I like the way the wood tones of the Keyboard sign are picked up by the brown color of the vase. Good call, Don.

Once again, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of one of the readers of Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Thank you, Sonja, for these wonderful additions to my little collection. Sonja doesn’t have a blog yet, but she’s thinking of starting one. Let’s encourage her!

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Our Feathered Friends

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A few years ago, when we were still very new to Mockingbird Hill Cottage, my husband and I were sitting on the porch at dusk. At the edge of my awareness, I kept hearing a whinnying sound. It wasn’t coming from a horse. It was coming from the trees surrounding the front of MHC. We were fascinated by the sound – it was very distinctive – and it definitely involved more than one creature. I stood at the porch railing and noticed what I thought were rather large brown birds diving to the ground. They were calling back and forth to each other.

We stood out there a long time, silently, trying to see these birds in the increasing darkness. As we were about to go in the house, one of them landed on a branch of our Maple tree – a few feet away from the porch. I found myself staring into large, beautiful eyes. It was an owl. Not the large creature one usually thinks of, but a little owl no more than 8 or 9 inches in height. We stared at each other for a magical minute and then the owl flew off. I was completely entranced.

I ran inside to do some research and found out they are Eastern Screech Owls. What makes this all the more special is that while they live in many parts of the country, they are rarely seen. They have a whinnying call and they live and nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. We have at least 2 or more who live in our trees and fly back and forth, calling to each other.

Image from Wikipedia

When I returned home from San Diego, I asked my husband about the owls – had he heard them yet? No. A few nights ago, Don was upstairs doing some work and he came down and said “I think I heard our friends.” We quietly moved onto the porch, and spent about a half-hour listening to our friends call to each other, watched them swoop from tree to tree, whinnying, hooting, and silently flying, while all around us lightning bugs glowed in the dark.


Our Weeping Willow is huge and overgrown – it most likely needs trimming of some sort. We’ve had all sorts of opinions as to whether it should be trimmed at the top or whether that would be bad for the tree. But since I think the owls nest there, we will be leaving it alone. After all, the tree is their home.

Dining Out With Birds

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As I was walking down the back road to the theater the other day (that is the rear of the outdoor Festival Stage at the end of the road – see the stage lights?), I came upon this:


These hang outside the rear of the Art Museum. I’ve seen hummingbirds and other little birds dining there. Look closely. How many bird feeders do you count?

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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