Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Wind, Wrens, Magazines, And Books

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You were going to get another photo, but after editing it, I realized our stair treads were all scuffed up and not at all attractive, so you get this one instead: Maggie Rabbit and Olivia on Easter Sunday.

Suddenly, Maggie – who previously seemed on the petite side to me – looks huge!

Well, yesterday was an extremely windy day and today looks like it will be, too. So I can’t do anything outside because of pollen/wind. The wind was so bad yesterday that Don even commented on it. And we’re going down to freezing tonight. We are now two days from the beginning of May but it feels like March.

I want to scream.

I’m trying to stay positive and I do, for the most part. But to be perfectly honest, there were some tough stretches yesterday. We also have a fire danger warning because of the combination of dry air and high winds.

I am enjoying the latest Michael Connelly – gosh, it’s so wonderful to know that you’re in good hands. As I’ve read everything he’s written over many years, I know that I will immediately be immersed in the plot and that the writing will be so uniformly excellent that I can just sit back and go with it. I read a big chunk this morning and, given the weather forecast, I’ll read another big chunk this afternoon. I got an email yesterday afternoon saying that the other books I reserved are in, so I’ll drive on over to the library later this morning and pick them up.

These writers – Michael Connelly, Louise Penny, Susan Hill, James Lee Burke, Deborah Crombie – are like old friends. I trust them and I’m never disappointed.

The Carolina wrens: I still think the wrens were scared off by that trailer bird house tipping forward. I don’t see any activity. But I have often heard another wren on the porch. This Carolina wren has a higher pitched song. Late last night, I started to wonder if he’s made a nest somewhere on the porch. The only place I could see that happening is in the pots that contain my now-dead lavender from last year, which are right outside the picture window in the den. I know the wrens will make a nest just about anywhere. I’m going to investigate – carefully and quietly – later today. Another sleuthing expedition!

No news yet on Country Living. I mean, really, it’s April 28th and the May issue isn’t on the stands? The newest issue is usually out at least two weeks before the start of the month. Given the state of magazines in general, could there be problems at CL? I hope not. Even though it’s not my favorite magazine, we need print. Digital just doesn’t cut it. Just as a three-dimensional book feels absolutely right in my hands, so does a three-dimensional magazine. Since this month marks the sudden end of Martha Stewart Living in print, things seem a bit ominous.

Added to original post: Verna wrote to relay this information: There’s an April/May issue and a May/June issue, which comes out on May 29th. I believe Dee Dee mentioned this, as well. The editor originally said “May issue” but perhaps she meant May/June. I will try contacting her again (though she never responded to my first request) to clarify that. If it’s May/June it will be another month until we see it.

Update on the update: Just heard from Sarah – “Hey Claudia! So sorry, I missed your first email. Our May issue ended up becoming our May/June issue. It will be out later in the month — 5/24. Please get in touch closer to then and I’ll mail you a few copies!” Okay. We have an answer!

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Reading and Not Reading

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We have a rainy day on tap for today. The Carolina wren was hanging out on the porch a lot yesterday, singing away. I saw him in front of the house at one point, but I don’t think he ever went in. So I have no idea if they’re just hanging out here or planning on nesting. I checked the blog posts that I wrote at this time last year and they didn’t start nesting until the end of April.

Fingers crossed

No sign of the bear today. Boy, was he magnificent!

Daydreaming Imogen. Doesn’t she have gorgeous lashes and eyelids?

For the second time in a week, I made the decision to stop reading a book. I do this very rarely, but in both cases, I had no choice. The first book just didn’t click with me and I knew it within about 20 pages. The second was a mystery about a book forger which had very good reviews. It was not well written – it was clunky, overwritten, with similes and metaphors that were labored. Frankly, it needed a strong editor.

This morning, I got up and was determined to read it first thing, when I’m most receptive to words on a page. I still found myself rolling my eyes repeatedly, putting it down, trying again, and then…even though I was 100 pages in, I couldn’t take it anymore.

Fini.

A lot of people have told me I should write a book. Let me tell you, writing well is much harder than most people realize. When you read something by Louise Penny, say, or Amor Towles or Pat Conroy (just pulling some names out of the hat) you are carried along by the words on the page, guided through the story by the author – effortlessly. But that does not come easily. Not at all. I so appreciate a good fiction writer, and I fully acknowledge that I do not have that skillset. I also appreciate the work of a good editor. Every author needs the eye of an editor and all of the good ones freely acknowledge that.

I’m not sure what I’ll start next. At the moment, I’m reading Otto Penzler’s short book about his rare book collection. Otto is the owner of The Mysterious Bookshop in NYC. He is lifelong collector of rare books, specializing in detective fiction and mysteries. His collection was so vast that he had to build a house to contain it. In 2018, he auctioned off much of the collection. A friend suggested that he highlight his favorite acquisitions and tell the stories behind those books. The book is Mysterious Obsession; Memoirs of a Compulsive Collector. I’d wanted it for quite a while and I finally purchased it when I was living in Brooklyn last autumn.

I’ve also reserved a few books from our local network of libraries and I’m sort of stalling today as I wait to see if one of them comes in.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

 

Gulp

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This morning: I woke up before Don, came downstairs, drank some water, started the coffee, and slowly opened up all the blinds in the den and the living room. Then I decided to open the cloth blind in the kitchen – something I don’t usually do that early in the morning.

There was a huge black bear walking in the corral. I gasped. Huge. I thought he/she might be headed for the trash can but, no, he was walking toward the parking area. I ran for my phone to take a picture. By the time I got back, he had passed Don’s car and was walking toward the lilac side of the lawn where he disappeared. I’m sure he headed into the woods.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Talk about being jolted awake!

And last night, after thinking the wrens weren’t nesting in the birdhouse, I heard them singing on the porch. I paused the program we were watching and looked out at the birdhouse and I saw two wrens – one in front of the house and one that flew behind it. This morning, I heard one of them again. He was on the porch and briefly flew up to the perch in front of the house. He didn’t go in.

So. Are they here nesting or are they just hanging out? I’m still not sure.

I dressed a few of the girls yesterday.

Pip. I like her in red.

Maeve, Pip, and Imogen.

All of the girls have been dressed in a fresh outfit. They’re ready for Spring.

Except for Wren. I’ll take care of that today.

You know, a lot of Blythe owners/collectors routinely sell one of their dolls in order to buy another one or to pay some bills. I get it; I’ve briefly considered selling one or two of these girls. But then, I pick up the doll in question and look at that beautiful face and I can’t do it. I’ve bonded with them. I’d be abandoning them.

Just now, Don brought me some coffee and as he left the room, he said “Hello, girls!”

Don has to go to the eye doctor this morning. I have to run to the store.

We’re still resting our muscles and will probably take it easy today. Well, Don has  to. He can’t do any heavy physical activity after getting the shot.

Has anyone seen the May issue of Country Living? I haven’t seen it on the stands yet. I’m curious to see how they styled my two egg cups.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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