Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Flowers, Books, Laptop

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I’ve never seen so many flowers on this particular day lily open at the same time. I happened to walk around the side of the house to this garden bed and what a sight to behold! If only day lilies weren’t day lilies, if you know what I mean. Shouldn’t these beauties be allowed to bloom for a week? Or longer?

Today promises to be sunny and hot, but where will I be? Driving over an hour to the Apple Store to finally take my laptop in. Reminder: the ‘t’ key isn’t working. All this time, I’ve been delaying appointments, either because of the weather or because of my shoulder/neck problems which made me uncomfortable driving. Or because I just wasn’t in the mood. I downloaded photos for the blog via my laptop and then wrote the posts on Don’s laptop. This morning, I downloaded several photos to the blog so I’ll have some available for future posts should I have to leave the laptop for repair – which seems likely. I forget how much I rely on my little computer.

Anyway, this will take up much of the day.

What else is new? I’ve been reading a book on Monet, which I’m enjoying. I’m reading an Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway mystery. We are watching the Swedish version of Wallander and, let me tell you, it is stunningly good. Far better, in my opinion, than the Branagh version. I really like Kenneth Branagh, but Krister Henriksson, who plays Wallander in the Swedish version is brilliant, beyond brilliant – as is the rest of the cast. Henriksson is Wallander. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

We’ve been watching so much Nordic Noir that I now want to visit Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. If only…

I’m not hearing quite as much birdsong in the morning, which always makes me sad. I know it happens every year, but oh, how I miss it. There’s still birdsong, but not nearly enough. I did hear a wren this morning, but it’s now clear that our ‘tenants’ aren’t going to have another brood in our little birdhouse. Mama robin, on the other hand, is still on the nest. I watched her yesterday and I think she was feeding at least one baby, but I can’t swear to it.

Okay. Have to go and start getting ready for the trek.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Storms, Routers & Flowers

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The sun is finally shining this morning after big storms on Monday and rain all day yesterday. Monday night’s thunderstorms seemed to go on forever with lightning lighting up the sky constantly. It was stunning, a light show flashing all over the sky.

It’s much cooler this morning and the humidity has left.

Now I have to figure out why one of the ‘nodes’ to my router isn’t working. The node is the extension we use in the kitchen to get better coverage. I’m not in the mood for that, but I’m the one who follows through with most of the tech stuff around here and Don is recycling this morning. So right after I hit ‘publish’ I’ll give them a call.

I’m also running a few birthday errands today, as the big day is tomorrow. I have the presents, I just need some wrapping paper and candles and a card. I think I may venture into Target for the first time in over a year!

Back to the storm. Like clockwork, the minute the hydrangeas are in full bloom, rain pummels them down. The same thing usually happens with peonies.  I hope they can lift themselves up again, but I find I’m at the point where my reaction is, “Whatever.”  I can’t control everything around here, not by a long shot, so I’m slowly learning to let go. Slowly. I do like to be in control, or at least, think  I’m in control.

I’m reading Maigret and the Informer  by Georges Simenon. I love the Maigret books and they’re fairly quick reads, only about 150 pages or so. I needed something to read while I was waiting for the next Elly Griffiths to arrive and, happily, I discovered it in my TBR pile. I think I purchased it at Oblong Books on that first day we went out after being fully vaccinated.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Flowers in Bloom

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Currently in the garden:

Bee balm has started to bloom.

Milkweed.

Coneflowers, most of which are still green.

Roses.

It sure is pretty out there.

We’re due for another hot and humid day, with a heat advisory in effect and rain and thunderstorms today and tomorrow. It will be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow.

I’m going on two days in a row with not enough sleep. Looks like a nap is on the docket for this afternoon. I painted yesterday and added more detail, but I still haven’t been able to mix the right color for the vase, darn it! I’ll give it one more try today. Mixing is tricky. You think you have it just right and then the light changes and it looks completely different.

I have so much to learn!

I’m reading the first book in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. I know several of you have read her books. It took me a while to get into it, mostly due to my being easily distracted lately, but now I’m really enjoying this mystery. I read a big chunk this morning – always a satisfying way to start the day.

What are you reading? Please share!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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