Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Little of Everything on a Thursday

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Yesterday’s sky as I was about to set off on some present buying. I love a moody sky.

And so far, fingers crossed, it looks to be another sunny day. My mood likes that. My plants like that.

I bought the last present for Don yesterday, and it turns out, the most expensive. But it will make him very happy and I confess I was happy at the prospect of seeing him open it on Christmas morning. Up until that point I was sort of ‘meh’ about my choices for him. But now? I’m excited.

Today, I’m going to try out a vegan recipe for Linzer cookies. It’s from the Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s chef. I gathered up the ingredients when I stopped at Whole Foods the other day. We’ll see how they turn out! Then, after the holidays, we’re cutting way back on our sugar intake. We’ve sort of begun already, but as it’s the holiday season, we know we’ll indulge a bit.

The new leaf has opened on the maranta. I’m so tickled when I see new growth on my plants.

Just want to say again how much we love our little table in the kitchen, which was going to be a temporary solution for removing the sideboard-turned-kitchen-island. It turns out it’s not temporary at all! It doesn’t block Stella (a must) and that aging and weathered blue paint makes me smile.

Finally, I took a picture of a picture. This gem is on Mere’s Christmas card this year and we think it’s one of the best pictures of Little Z we’ve ever seen. (Meredith is the photographer.)

Sweet but full of sass and vinegar, I tell you. Our phone conversations with him are such fun! Oh, I love this little boy. Love, love, love.

Happy Thursday.

Better

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Since the den has been my ‘home’ for the past several days, I’m looking at it with fresh eyes. It’s cozy and quirky. I really love it in here.

I’m feeling better. By mid-afternoon yesterday, I felt a change coming on and, though I’m still coughing, it’s nothing like it was. I’m not one to run to the doctor for meds when I’m dealing with something that just needs to take its course. I think there’s too much overmedicating going on as it is. Luckily, I didn’t need to be anywhere, wasn’t working on a show, and had the luxury of time. And Don, of course.

All iPhone photos because I’m too lazy to get up and get my big girl camera.

My new ringtone on my phone is the theme from Sherlock. It makes me happy. It also makes me not want to answer the phone because I want to listen to the whole thing! I just wanted something different from the same sounds I hear coming from every phone, everywhere. Don’s is Sweet Home Alabama.

But not the Alabama of Roy Moore, let’s be clear on that.

In honor of Benedict Cumberbatch, we watched Dr. Strange  last night on Netflix. It’s based on one of the Marvel superhero characters and it was a lot of fun; special effects driven, because that’s what fuels all those movies. Benedict was sporting an American dialect and I missed his deep and dulcet British tones. Hey, I’m an American and I coach dialects for a living so I appreciate our sounds, but I will admit to being a sucker for a British accent. Especially when uttered by Benedict Cumberbatch.

That dracaena that sits on the floor next to the dollhouse is about 14 or 15 years old. I bought it in a grocery store when we first moved out East. I moved it downstairs because I kept forgetting to water it. The pot is Bauer pottery from California. I bought it many years ago when I lived there.

The other Zz plant, which sits on the table next to the sofa.

Don says he’s going to take me for a drive today. Doctor Don’s orders.

Happy Friday.

Shakers of Salt and Zz Plants

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I’m still feeling under the weather as all of this crap has gone into my chest. Yuck. It’s just the natural progression, nonetheless, I want it gone.

Poor Don. He comes home, is shocked at the bleakness of the landscape, then we end up having all-day-long-fog yesterday (that never happens) and today it’s raining.

Welcome home, Don!

In Escape to Margaritaville  (musical and  song) Don is the one who sings the line “Searching for my lost shaker of salt” to which the audience responds, “Salt! Salt! Salt!” One of the guys who is part of the musical direction for the show (the same one who helped me get a ticket to Hamilton) gave him a hand painted salt shaker on a piece of wood. It’s really cool looking and we decided we would hang it in the kitchen when Don got home.

We hung it above Stella. We have now come to the conclusion that nothing else should hang there. We had been thinking of a vintage sign, but it would take up too much real estate. The kitchen has lots of windows and those, along with the cupboards and china cabinet, make for not a lot of wall space. This sunny patch of yellow needs to stay relatively unencumbered by ‘stuff.’ Plus, as Don says, then the emphasis is on Stella.

As it should be, right?

By the way, for those of you who claim to have a black thumb, I’ve got just the plant for you. It’s the Zamioculcas zamiifolia  or ZZ plant. (My pal Suzan first recommended it to me in a comment on this blog.) It can take all sorts of neglect and it will keep on ticking. I’m not kidding. It’s got dark green glossy/waxy leaves and it’s very attractive. It even thrives in low light. I have two of them right in front of the big picture window in the den, which, since it gets less light because of the porch roof and is west-facing, stays darkish most of the day.

They’re thriving here. You’d never know there’s a lack of light. I water them once every two weeks or so.

This was taken this morning. Two new shoots are emerging from the soil. It’s really quite amazing. Zz needs even less care than a pothos. And it has a lovely sculptural quality that makes a nice statement.

Anyway, you can get them in big box stores now. I got this one at Lowes. I got the other at a local chain. They’re readily available.

Think about it!

Edited to add: The wildfires in Ventura and Santa Paula are horrific and our friend Vicki’s house is in danger. It sounds dire. Please pray for Vicki and for everyone else in the path of this devastating fire.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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