Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Bit of Everything

June 5, 2013 at 9:47 am by Claudia

wildrose

Wild roses are everywhere on this property. Normally, they are a pain in the tush because they grow with abandon and have thorns. Normally, I curse them. But for a week or two in the spring, they bloom and everywhere I look there are billowy tufts of tiny white flowers. And for that week or two, I bless them.

Delicate. Beautiful.

Yesterday was simply gorgeous with temperatures in the seventies and a gentle breeze. I was a bit down, still am, so I comforted myself with time on the porch and the funky patio. I listened to the sound of the birds – I so wish I could identify all the different chirps and calls – and watched them flit and fly all over the property. I heard a woodpecker up in the catalpa. In fact, I hear him now. But every time I tiptoed to the tree, that little bugger took off. He knew I wanted a photo of him.

I heard the cicadas, but only for about 30 seconds here and there. Cicadas have to compete with the noise of traffic on our busy country road. I am still finding some newly emerged cicadas here and there on the property.

housefrombackforty

A view of the house from the back forty.

backforty

Part of the back forty.

I sat on the porch glider and looked at my gardening journal. I don’t keep it up like I did when I first established this garden seven years ago, but reading it helps me to realize how far the gardens have come. I am reminded about the plants that thrived here and the plants that mysteriously failed or simply disappeared. More on that in another post. I read my current Deborah Crombie mystery. And this girl kept me company:

scoutexploring

She spends an awful lot of time sniffing here and there. Her nose reminds me that other critters pass through this porch: cats, chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies, mice.

prettygirl

That face. I absolutely adore that face.

By now I think you know that I am more than a bit uncomfortable with the whole idea of tooting my own horn. Fortunately, I don’t suffer from that little malady when it comes to my husband. I briefly mentioned yesterday that his new album is available for download on his website. Don has a website that covers both his acting career and his music. I have a website for my professional work. (And you thought you knew everything about me!) Anyway. His new album, Out Beyond the Breakers, was recorded in our friend Rob’s incredible studio while Don was working in San Diego earlier this year. It consists of 14 new songs. If you’re interested, you can download them individually or as an album.

Some of my favorites?

  • Don’t Tell Me Heart
  • I’ve Got a Love (makes me cry)
  • Adios New York
  • Say It Twice
  • Guess I Still Get Crazy
  • She Saves Me

No pressure. Since many of you have told me how much you like his music, I thought I’d share this with you. If you’re interested, click on the link and then click on Music/Shop on his homepage. While you’re there you can see some photos of him in various acting roles and read a bit more about him. He’s an interesting guy, that husband of mine.

This is shaping up to be a long post! Since they are here for such a short time, more peony photos:

peonymania

antonpeony

pinkbeauty

Love to you all on this Wednesday.

signature2

Filed Under: cottage, Don, flowers, garden, Peonies, porch, Scout 32 Comments

Scenes from Home

May 1, 2013 at 7:27 am by Claudia

scenesmapletree

scenesjacks

scenesshed

sceneseggcups

sceneslawn

scenesscout

scenesguitars

scenesmorninglight

sceneskitchen

The trouble with going home is that you don’t want to leave.

I awoke quite early this morning and that’s when I snapped these photos. The weather is beautiful, but still hovering slightly between winter and spring. Last night the temp went down to the thirties and today it will rise to the mid-seventies. Don and I worked outside most of the day yesterday. He mowed the back forty and I weeded the garden, hauled some things out of the shed and used the two bags of mulch I had that were leftover from last year to mulch a few of my garden beds. The day started out cloudy but turned very sunny and warm and, though my back and hip ache, oh, how glorious it was to be outside, working and tending to my garden.

I feel a bit as if I have come out of hibernation.

The stresses of our life seem to be holding steady; trying to pay the bills while freelancing and living paycheck to paycheck, wondering where and when the next job will come while trying to remain positive and open to miracles. Somehow, working outside helps me to forget all of that and just be for a few hours. Sometimes, even for a day. It’s the best kind of therapy and is certainly a lesson in gratitude.

Now I have to pack up my things and get ready to hit the road for Hartford. And not think about leaving my little girl again.

Happy Wednesday.

signature2

Filed Under: cottage, Don, garden, On The Road, Scout 41 Comments

What I’ve Been Up To

February 6, 2013 at 8:57 am by Claudia

What I’ve been doing, gazing upon and generally up to the last few days:

Wearrings

Sorting, listing, keeping track of, packing, sending: our heart shaped earrings. On Monday, I spent a couple of hours wrapping, writing shipping labels, and packing all the earring orders. On Tuesday, I took them all to the Post Office and they are now winging their way to you. We have a few more in the shop if you’re interested.

I love them.

Wquilt

Quilting in the evenings. I’m more than half way through. Maybe almost 3/4 of the way through!

Wdishgarden

Tending Riley’s Dish Garden. I’m trying not to over water these succulents. I’ve been missing my boy so much lately. I’ve always sung a lot to my dogs and sometimes I find myself singing a lyric that includes “Riley and Scout” and I stop short, with a jolt to my heart of missing my boy and the realization once again that he isn’t here for me to pet and love and take care of.

Wdollhousebath

Putting down the bathroom floor in the dollhouse. Lots more to do in that room. I don’t know why, but every toilet, bathtub or sink that I find looks silly. There are so many miniatures for other rooms that are completely realistic, but bathroom pieces? No. This is a problem.

wnest

Thinking about spring and birds and nests. We had a little dusting of snow overnight. More snow is due on Friday. Spring cannot come soon enough.

wpencils

Thinking of ‘freshly sharpened pencils.’ I will be working on the script for Twelfth Night soon – that means a batch of pencils needs to be ready and waiting. And maybe it’s time to watch You’ve Got Mail again?

Wheartrocks

Hearts. It’s the season. Earrings. Rocks. They’re everywhere.

And painting. The jury is still out on Chalk Paint.

An update on my parents: Dad called 911 yesterday morning because of chest pain. They discovered a blood clot in his lung, so he’s been admitted to the hospital where they are working to dissolve the clot. Mom had some sort of episode over the weekend – we think it might have been another Transient Ischemic Attack. She’s had at least one in the past. She’s better now, but we were rather worried for a while there.

Aging parents = worries.

Happy Wednesday.

signature2

Filed Under: bird nest, cottage, Dad, decorating, etsy, Meredith, mom, quilting 47 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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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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