Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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The Gardens and the Readalong

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White violets in the garden bed on the other side of the house.  They’re quite beautiful this year.

I wandered around with my camera yesterday afternoon so I could have a record of this particular moment in time. It’s good for me. I feel my shoulders drop. Instead of a quick glance, I really see  what has emerged from the ground.

I caught the bridal veil spirea a bit late in its bloom, but better late than never. I love the frothy look of what is usually a random green bush.

We’re laying low this weekend. My back needs a rest, Don’s had a difficult week. I’m working on my puzzle (Klimt) while Don plays his guitar and ukelele. I’m reading a lot as well. Both of us are stunned by Tolstoy’s writing. I’d put him right up there with Shakespeare – truly one of the greatest writers ever. What a gift this readalong is! I’m reading War and Peace – a tome I would normally avoid because of the commitment it requires. But with a chapter a day? No big deal. I love it.

The same man who started this is planning on a readalong next year of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy by Hilary Mantel. In this case, these are books I have avoided because I’m not a big fan of historical fiction. Yet I’ve heard so much praise for her writing, especially in the articles that were written at the time of her untimely death. So I’ll probably do that as well. Next year.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Lilac Buds and What are you Reading?

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We’re getting close! There are lots of flowers on the lilac bush this year. That seems to vary from year to year, depending on what happened weather-wise during the winter. I look forward to them opening and inhaling that glorious scent.

I snuck in a little bit more work outside, but not much. Trimmed some old hydrangea blossoms, trimmed a bit of one of the ‘pricker bushes’ – darn, I always prick myself. “Pricker bush” is what we called them when I was a kid and it’s stuck after all these years. We have two of them. I also trimmed a few of the wild roses. And I cleaned the bathroom.

It was a bit too warm yesterday, but as of Monday, the temps will be back in the sixties. We may mow the lawn today. I also have to get Don to do a few things today that he won’t be able to do after his surgery. Wish me luck! He’s been noodling away on his ukulele, since he can play that by strumming with one of his fingers – that will serve him well during the post-surgery healing process.

Mabel insisted on trying on the new hat. I also chose to post this so you can see the GREEN in the background! Huzzah!

I’m reading Colson Whitehead’s mystery, Harlem Shuffle. That man writes beautifully (I guess we already knew that as he’s won two Pulitzer Prizes.) Don has read two of his books and loved them. He bought Harlem Shuffle  and then never got around to it, so I grabbed it. I’m really enjoying it.

And War and Peace – ongoing. I think we’re about a third of the way through it. Tolstoy was a genius. Don and I are continually astounded by the beauty of his writing; his knowledge of human frailties, the descriptions that are almost cinematic – brilliant. It is a true pleasure indulging in this slow read. I don’t think I would have done it otherwise.

So here’s a question I haven’t asked for quite a while: What are you reading?

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Signs of Spring and Reading

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The forsythia is gorgeous this year. At times during the day, it is such a vivid yellow.

It’s ridiculously hot here. Yesterday it hit 89, today it will hit 90 degrees. As I walked around the property, taking photos, moving some chairs off the porch and into the Secret Garden and Funky Patio, and picking up branches that fell during the winter, I didn’t think that this unseasonably warm weather would wreak havoc with my allergies. Well, actually, I did, but I didn’t think I was out there long enough for it to impact me. I was wrong. I started coughing late yesterday afternoon and into the evening and my night’s sleep was ruined by yet more coughing. It’s so frustrating! My cough was all but gone. Don felt crappy, too, and he went outside to clean out the culvert. Idiots throw their beer cans and trash into it as they drive by.

Anyway, today we are staying inside, especially because there is an air quality advisory having to do with ozone levels.

It was nice to be outside, though, and I felt twinges of excitement at the thought of cleaning out the garden beds, planting some pots – all the things I do in the early spring. Usually, I’ve planted pansies by now. But everything has been thrown off by being sick and working on the show.

Tomorrow, the temperature drops and we’ll have rain for the next few days.

The beginnings of the lilacs.

Except for War and Peace (and we just passed our 100th day of this read-along) I’m reading nonfiction at the moment, which is not like me. I can’t seem to find any fiction in my voluminous To Be Read pile that excites me at the moment (don’t worry, that will change.) So, I take it as a sign that I’m meant to be reading nonfiction. I’m close to finishing Underland  by Robert MacFarlane. It’s simply extraordinary. I’m also reading a bio of Rodgers and Hammerstein called Something Wonderful  by Todd Purdom. I’ve read several bios about them in the past, but this one is newer and it’s very well written and researched. Decades ago, I sang the song ‘Something Wonderful’ when I was in a production of the The King and I.

I also have a book called London Fog  that I’m anxious to start.

This morning, I started reading as soon as I sat down and didn’t turn on my phone until I had to retrieve these photos for the post. I used to do that every day in the days before iPads and phones and laptops. I would make a cup of coffee and read for hours. I need to do that more. Actually, I didn’t want to stop, but it was my turn to make our second cup of coffee and I had to write this post.

But today will be a reading day. Don is actually reading a book by James Michener as well as War and Peace. He usually reads nonfiction. What the??? We’re topsy-turvy.

Adrian got out of bed yesterday and sat in a chair for a short period of time. Such welcome news!

And for the first time ever, two huge crows stopped at the birdbath for a drink of water.

Note: Sometimes when I send comment replies, I get a message back from the email provider of the addressee saying that they can’t authenticate my email, or that it’s suspicious, or bulk. This has to do with your email providers. Today I got one for Chris K, but it happens with others, as well. Nothing you can do about it, I suppose. I’m just letting you know that 98% of the time, I respond to comments, so if you don’t get an email saying I’ve replied, check back here anyway. xo

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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