Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Storms, Routers & Flowers

June 23, 2021 at 8:10 am by Claudia

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.

 

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, life 31 Comments

Flowers in Bloom

June 21, 2021 at 8:59 am by Claudia

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.

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, reading 55 Comments

Painting, Masks, & The Letter T

May 19, 2021 at 9:36 am by Claudia

The gorgeous weather continues. It’s going to get warmer, into the eighties, which is a bit too warm for my taste. We’ll be putting in the bedroom window a/c unit later today because that upstairs bedroom gets warm at night.

In case you ever see a missing letter “t” on this blog it’s because my keyboard T is hardly working, which means I’ll have to visit the Apple store soon. It’s annoying, to put it mildly. It gets a bit better as the computer warms up, but I almost always have to hit it 3 times before it works. (Now, after typing this post, it’s working well. Go figure.)

A frustrating painting session yesterday. Nothing seemed to be working, I couldn’t mix the colors I wanted, I didn’t like the way it looked. So, my second attempt was not a happy experience. Don, as always, brought me back to reality and reminded me that I’ve barely started this journey. It’s all about learning. I do watch some teaching videos and they help me with the basics. I just have to go for it and experiment and see what works and what doesn’t. I was feeling sorry for myself, but thankfully, that is over. I’m going to do a couple of small studies today on paper. Start small.

I watered everything yesterday; grass seed, morning glory and zinnia seeds, all the potted plants on and off the porch. I have gently urged Don to water the grass seed today…we’ll see if he remembers.

I’m really enjoying my reread of Nine Coaches Waiting  by Mary Stewart. I haven’t read it in many years. Such a wonderful sophisticated romantic mystery by the Queen of that genre. I read a chunk of it every night before I go to sleep. What would I have done without Mary Stewart in my teens? I specifically remember a car trip with my parents to visit old friends who lived in New Jersey. I fell asleep while reading The Ivy Tree  and my mom removed the open book from my hands when she came in to check on me.

Gov. Cuomo has gone along with the recommendations of the CDC as of today, although individual stores can set their own policies. Oblong Books, for example, is requiring masks until sometime in June, partly to ensure the safety of staff members who haven’t been fully vaccinated yet, as well as for children and the immunocompromised. Don’s going to the grocery store this morning, so we’ll see if they still require them. No masks for those who are fully vaccinated, but you know that those who refuse to be vaccinated will also not wear masks, and there’s no way to check on that unless you require those who are fully vaccinated to show their card upon entering the store. Anyway, both Don and I have decided we will continue to wear masks indoors (in a public setting.) I was talking to our next-door neighbor the other day and they are also continuing to wear masks indoors – and each of them had COVID early, in February/March of 2020.

I don’t love it, but I surely don’t mind wearing a mask if it keeps myself and others safe. No big deal.

Okay. Another attempt at painting in oils on the docket for today.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: books, oil painting, painting, reading 32 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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