Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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It’s A Monday For Sure

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I’m running late this morning. I’m going to have to start this day over. So far, I’ve spilled coffee in the bathroom, dumped water on my foot, and I’m rapidly becoming out-of-sorts.

So a reset is in order.

And maybe a primal scream.

Life is a bit tough lately. I’m working through some things, worrying about other things, but at the same time, it’s beautiful outside and I’m grateful.

Note to self: meditate after you finish this post.

Yesterday, I did what I sometimes do to lighten my mood. I dressed a couple of the girls.

My international girls.

Madeleine who is from Spain in a beautiful flowery dress made by LenaLittleDress who lives in Russia. The shoes are from Cora Huang, who lives just one state away in Connecticut.

Also out on the porch with Madeleine – Wren.

Wren, who is from China, is determined to explore the porch and the surrounding property.

Her hat, and overalls are from its.soquiethere, who lives in France. Her top is from moshimoshistudio in England. Olivia (from Spain) was wearing those sneakers when she first arrived at my door. They look pretty cute on Wren.

I do love them all. There’s something almost meditative about choosing clothes for them. And I love to photograph them. They can’t take a bad picture, of course – how I wish the same held true for me!

Okay. I’m going to have some of the coffee my dear husband made for me to replace the cup I spilled.

And I’m going to hit ‘reset.’

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Flowers, Imogen & Dove Cottage

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More clematis this morning. They sure do add a jolt of color to the green of the boxwood.

Hot, hot, hot here today. Tomorrow should be much cooler.

Yesterday morning found me pulling most of the forget-me-nots out of the ground. They were going to seed. I also wanted to clean the edges of the garden beds, so I fetched the lawn mower and mowed in front of the beds so that I could see the rocks that define the beds. Then I pulled anything that interfered with that border. And then, in true Claudia fashion, I also mowed the lilac side of the front lawn.

And then…I was tired. But it felt good to be out there after feeling under the weather for a few days.

Meanwhile, Imogen was on the porch enjoying the flowers.

(I love the cleft in her chin.)

Slowly finishing the front of the dollhouse. There are one or two elements to add, but here is where we are as of today:

I want to age that big pot on the left. The chair arrived in the mail the other day, all the way from Milan. I love the look of these bistro chairs; they remind me very much of the chairs in the Luxembourg gardens. I searched high and low until I found one.

I may make some stepping stones leading to the door. This area was to be a porch on the original house. Most of the porch elements were missing when I found it at the dump and I wasn’t inclined to replace them as I had a different idea of what I wanted it to be. So I’m left with this raised area. I’m going with terraced levels. I’ll probably add some of the ballast that I’ve used on the area just outside the front door on the lower terrace as well. Though, it’s messy and a bit of a pain in the tush.

And then we’ll move on to the Beacon Hill.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

It’s Those Decade Markers

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I have never seen so much fleabane on the property as I have this year. This photo was taken in the secret garden. The flowers cover the both sides of the stepping stones and the entire area bordering the back of the house that faces the garden. It’s amazing. I have to do some hop-scotch type moves to navigate the stepping stones. (That’s the rain barrel in the distance.) The petals are a combination of lavender and white. If I observed them more, I might notice if they start out as lavender and then change to white. I’ll try to figure that out.

It’s time to mow again. I’m not sure when we’ll do it, but it looks like we haven’t mowed in weeks when, in fact, we mowed less than a week ago. That’s the way of the world in the spring.

I’m starting to work on the finishing touches on Dove Cottage. I’ve been playing with the same mini pea gravel that I used in the rooftop garden on Hummingbird Cottage. I like it, but as much as I try to glue it down, it’s sort of impossible. And now I’m thinking that I need some stepping stones leading up to the door, with pea gravel around them. This pot of mums arrived yesterday. I have a few other things ordered as well. I need to finish this up and move it elsewhere so I can start in on the Beacon Hill while I’m still “young” enough to do all the work.

A glimpse into my mind right now: I’m headed toward my 70th birthday in November, and like all decade markers for me, it’s a time full of introspection. My posts about being an introvert come from that. I wake up some mornings panicked about how little time I might have left. Or panicked about how much stuff I have and realizing I need to make lists, provide information about all the things I collect (prices, provenance, etc.) in some big notebook. At the same time, I want to keep growing and learning and playing and creating – I don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking that possibilities are disappearing or fading. And all of that is up to me.

Thanks. I needed to share that so I could get some perspective.

Livvy: all set for summer.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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