Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for Don

The B List: Birds, Bees, and Bunnies

July 5, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

I waxed rhapsodic about gardening the other day. But I’m wondering…the weather has been so extremely hot here for the past several days, have we already reached that part of the summer where we simply do all we can to keep the plants from wilting? I’m sure I’m not alone in my worry about the heat’s effect on my plants – especially the potted ones. I feel like I’m constantly filling and refilling the watering can in order to give those plants a good soaking. Have we gone into maintenance mode?

That pair of finches? I think they hang out in one of my hanging plants after dark. The other evening when it was almost, but not quite dark, I ran out to water the hanging plants. As I drew near, a bird flew out of the pot. Then as I lifted the can and started to water, another one startled me and flew right past my nose! I checked and there’s not a nest but they’re definitely camping out. No more watering at night. I’m sure I really startled them.

The birdbath continues to be the community pool. There’s almost constant activity there, especially during these oh-so-hot days. If left to my own devices, I could spend all day watching them. And the bunnies. I see one little one outside my kitchen window every day. And the bigger ones hang out in the back forty or near the shed. They freeze when they see the dogs. (I don’t blame them.)

You remember that Riley has been waking me up at 5:30 am because he’s thirsty and/or needs to pee? Well, he’s stopped doing that, but the irony is that I’m still waking up at 5:30. Like clockwork. Seriously sleep-deprived here.

Don and I have officially been together for 18 years – we met on the Fourth of July. And there were fireworks.

The winner of a copy of Darkness All Around is Missy Max. Send me an email with your address and I’ll forward it to the folks at TLC Book Tours. Congratulations!

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: birds, Don, garden 9 Comments

Sunday Snaps

June 24, 2012 at 9:17 am by Claudia

My grandmother used to call the pictures she took with her Brownie camera ‘snaps.’ I find myself using that word lately. Snaps. Here are some snaps on this Sunday of life around the Cottage.

No, it’s not Fathers Day – Don still has the card (from Riley and Scout) in a place of honor on the coffee table. But it is Don’s birthday! Happy Birthday, sweetheart! Let’s have a wonderful day celebrating all that is you.

Happy Sunday.

Linking to Elaine’s Sunny Simple Sundays.

Filed Under: birthday, Don, garden, Mockingbird Hill Cottage 26 Comments

Surprises, Birthdays, Scoutie & a Garland

June 23, 2012 at 9:09 am by Claudia

Good morning! I’m still on a bit of a high from seeing and spending time with my friend Jim on Thursday night. It’s sunny today and after a bit of rain last night, the oppressive heat and humidity have left, thank you very much. I’m not too happy when it’s so darn hot that I can’t do anything outside. The grass needs mowing, the weeds need whacking, the garden needs weeding.

In one of those little garden miracles that happen every day, a tall weed that I passed every day and ignored and which was nestled up against the chicken wire fence in the dog corral, turned out to be:

A purple coneflower! It’s just by sheer luck that I hadn’t yanked it. Thank you to who or whatever caused this flower to seed in this particular spot. Maybe a bird? Speaking of birds, there was a female cardinal in the birdbath yesterday, but I couldn’t snag my camera in time. So I simply enjoyed watching her.


The tiger lilies are blooming down by the road. I see them everywhere around here and they are one of my favorite summer sights.

Scout is getting better. Slowly. Her eyes have stopped darting back and forth. The problem has been getting her to eat. She obviously feels nauseous still and turns her nose up at most everything I offer her but peanut butter. But by the afternoon yesterday, I was worried enough to call the doctor who prescribed some medicine to jumpstart her appetite and a round of antibiotics as well. We also went back and bought some cans of A/D which I’ve used before when I’ve had a sick doggie.

We were so happy when she scarfed the A/D down. It’s hard to see my agile little girl stumble and feel fearful about jumping up on the sofa. But her balance is still off and will be for a while. Between Scout and Riley, my hands are full.

Don’s birthday is tomorrow. And on Monday he leaves for Connecticut where he will be part of a musical theater workshop that goes on over a 10 day period. (We have, between the two of us, worked in Connecticut 3 times this year.) Then he comes back for a couple of weeks and leaves again for the Berkshires, where he will be in another production. And in the fall, he’s booked a play down in Florida. His acting work is really taking off again and we are so grateful.

And finally, Sandra, a reader of MHC, bought one of my Crochet Flower Garlands and sent me this photo:

It looks great, Sandra! Don’t you love that shot of aqua? I love it. Thank you for sharing this with me.

(I am having the worst time with Blogger’s editor today. Wonky spacing, weird things in the html.)

Have a great Saturday.

Filed Under: birthday, crochet, Don, etsy, flowers, garden, Scout 13 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.

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