Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Sleepy Monday

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I’m going on about 4 hours of sleep today. Not a happy camper. But I don’t have to be anywhere, have no commitments, and can – hopefully – catch a nap this afternoon. I’ve had far too many work days in the past where I had to try to get through the day on very little sleep. Today is sunny and lovely and looks to be the only sunny day we’ll get this week, so I’m going to do my best to take it all in.

Every year, I aim my camera out the upstairs window and record the peepers. Then I post it on Instagram. For those of you who have never heard their sound, head over to my main IG account and give it a listen.

Don just headed off to the grocery store as we’re out of food. Whoops! Bless him.

We’re due for three days of rain this week and I welcome it. Why? Well, the obvious reason is that it will help to bring back our green grass. The other reason: I don’t have to worry about rain leaking inside the screen door anymore or inside the shed. For the first time in a long time, I can relax. It’s such a good feeling.

I found Livvy in this outfit yesterday. She heard it was the first day of spring and thought this romper would be the perfect thing to wear. I gently explained to her that though it was indeed the first day of spring, temperatures here in the Hudson Valley would only reach the low fifties and that she would need more layers of clothing.

But she looked adorable, I’ll give you that.

By the way, Olivia is my only girl with a licca body, which has skinny legs and arms. At first I was going to change it out, but I find it suits her, so it’s staying. Some collectors only collect Blythes with licca bodies. (Blythe World can be quite fascinating.)

That romper is one of the first pieces of Blythe clothing I purchased last fall. It’s from House of Blythe on Instagram.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

It’s Spring

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Early morning kitchen.

We had a thunderstorm yesterday. I like a good thunderstorm. This one was perfect. Lots of rumbles, some wind – but not too much – heavy rain, and then it was over. This morning is foggy.

We sure do lose track of the days around here. One morphs into another. There’s not a day that goes by where one of us doesn’t ask, “Is it Saturday or Sunday?” Or “I just realized it’s Saturday but it feels like a Friday.”

I can hear birdsong right now and it’s lovely. The peepers were amazing last night. I always stop at the window at the top of the stairs, open it wide, and say hello to them.

I’m reading The Lincoln Highway  and I love it. I’m not at all surprised because I was eagerly awaiting this new novel by Amor Towles, whose A Gentleman in Moscow  remains one of my favorite books of all time. I got the new book when it was first published last fall and took it to Brooklyn with me, but as you know, I barely had the time to read anything while I was there.

I’m on a mission to read the books in my TBR pile and this was next up. What a pleasure! You know that feeling when you sink into a new book by a favorite author and your shoulders drop because you know you’re in good hands? That’s how I feel about The Lincoln Highway.

I’m itching to start oil painting again but my back is still an issue, though it’s getting better. Today, I’m wondering if I can use the smaller easel and put it on my lap here in the den. That way I wouldn’t have to lean forward at the kitchen table. (I’m doing everything very carefully nowadays.) I want to paint some small studies of some of my egg cups and I could easily set them up in here.

We’ll see.

Happy first day of Spring!

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Peepers, Birds, Books, and Stickers

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Out the window: brown grass and no leaves on the trees – but the birds are singing and we heard the peepers for the first time last night! That means – no matter what the date is on the calendar – that SPRING is here! I was sitting in the den last night and thought I heard a peep, so Don and I went up the stairs to the window, opened it wide, and we heard one peep followed by a chorus of peeps. I cannot tell you how happy this makes us. We responded with a hearty “Welcome!” I have yet to hear the bullfrog. I hope he’s still there.

I read a lot yesterday: Orfeo  by Richard Powers. His writing is beautiful, his intellect unmatched. It’s been a bit of a slow go, only because there’s so much to take in, and Powers’ build to the climax is always slow and steady. I refuse to be a speed reader because, to me, the beauty is in digging in and savoring every word. I should finish it today.

I don’t know if you’re into stickers. As a rule, I’m not. But, I saw this book of stickers on Amazon and was attracted to the subject matter; vintage and bibliophilia. I think it was about $20. I love the illustrations and the book is truly jam-packed with vintage beauty. I use a planner religiously, as you know, so I sometimes add a sticker to that day’s page.

Don’t get too excited by the Country Living feature coming up. They only used two of my egg cups and frankly, they’re fairly mundane. No enchanting figurals at all – just a jadite egg cup and a small Delft egg cup from Holland. I’m happy, though, that they’re using the Delft, as it was a present from my mother and it’s precious to me. But that’s the world of art direction and stylists. Clearly, they had a certain look in mind.

Still, it’s flattering to have even two of my cups featured!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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