Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Leaves, Rocks, Moss, Acorns and an Anniversary

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Yesterday, we visited a favorite spot. The car climbed up the mountain ridge to this view (The Hudson River is way off on the horizon):

In about a week, the colors should be at their peak. There’s a trail up there, where we gathered acorns and pods and heart-shaped rocks.

Don found a puzzle rock.

Oh, by the way, see that wedding ring?

It’s our 14th wedding anniversary today. (Look at that pocket bulging with acorns and rocks!)

Anyway, back to the anniversary. I’m off to spend the day with my beloved husband.

I’ll be back at 8:00 pm EST for A Favorite Thing.

Happy Friday.

P.S. The winner of  a copy of Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You to Know is Jennifer. Congratulations!

P.P.S. Just listed another scarf on Etsy:

Leaf Love

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This little leaf somehow recognized another ‘leaf’ and thought it would stay awhile. Do you see Scout?

At this time of year, the theme around here seems to be: Leaves. Whether they are on the ground (and they are – everywhere) or in the gutters or in the birdbath, we are surrounded by leaves.

Here’s Don on the roof, clearing out the gutters. We have to do this a lot in the fall, especially when rain is in the forecast.

Our maple has suddenly lost almost all of its uppermost leaves.

How did that happen?

You notice that Don is on the roof, not me. That’s as it should be. I hold the ladder. I hand up tools, like brooms and rakes.  I’m a wee bit afraid of heights. If I had to, I’d do it, but Don is willing, so I happily let him go up there.

So much raking ahead. Every time we start in on it, it begins to rain and we have to stop. Or my arms get tired. That happens frequently.

This is my favorite. No amount of tweaking or styling could arrange these leaves more spectacularly than my friend, Mother Nature, has done. For free.

Happy Sunday.

Linking to my friend, Elaine’s Sunny Simple Sunday.

MHC now has a Facebook Page. If you’d like to, drop by and say hello! Maybe you could click on ‘like?’

An Early, Early Birthday Present

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First of all, Don’s been playing with Picnik. Yesterday, I checked my email to find this:

Could he be any more adorable? Gosh darn it, what a cutie he is.

In that same vein (Don = cutie) we needed to get out of the house yesterday, so we traveled up the road to a favorite antique shop. I found some fabulous vintage fabric, a little dollhouse chair – I’ll share them with you another day – and something else. I hit the brakes when I spied this something in a booth on the floor. Shall I give you some clues?

  • I’ve written about my love of this ‘invention’ many times on this blog.
  • I’ve been honest about my jealousy of others who own one of these.
  • I’m even more jealous when these bloggers own more than one.
  • I used one for a period of 6 months a few years back. (A friend let me borrow hers while I was working in San Diego.)
  • That experience made me an even bigger fan than I already was.

If you’re a long-time reader, you might have guessed. I’m going to delay the reveal just a moment longer.

Interestingly, I had actually planned to write a post for today with 3 potential presents I would like to receive for my big birthday (in November.) The 3 things were: a cordless drill, this item or a new DSLR, all of which I want and, yes, need. I was going to say that I would be happy with any one of these items and that, given our finances, I would probably get the cordless drill. Totally fine with me.

But when I saw this, and went on and on about it, Don and I decided it would be the perfect birthday present. I’m just getting it early. Okay, no more delays, here it is:

Eek! A Singer Featherweight! Be still my heart. Isn’t she gorgeous? She’s in great shape.

I mean, look at her….

All of the gold decals are intact. The paint looks pretty pristine. There are the usual faint scratches from pins, etc.

She was made in New Jersey in May of 1953. We’re awfully close in age. Now you have an even bigger hint as to what particular birthday is coming up.

She has that Art Deco looking face plate. And she came with a lot of the original attachments.

That motor lubricant has no cap and looks a bit nasty. I’ll keep it, anyway; it should be on display.

And she came with a case.

Of course, she smells musty, as does her case. Every Featherweight I’ve ever encountered smells musty. I guess when all those new-fangled sewing machines came out, the trusty Featherweights were stored in attics. Any tips for getting rid of that smell?

Gee whiz, I love her.

She needs a name. And I need your suggestions. Would you leave a comment with a suggestion or two?

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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