Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Friday Thoughts

March 29, 2019 at 10:03 am by Claudia

Can you tell I’m enamored of this combination of yellow Fiesta and yellow/orange tulips?

They were made for each other.

I pulled out my big girl camera yesterday and started shooting closeups of the flowers that are scattered around the house. A sure sign that it’s spring. I’ve been using my iPhone almost exclusively during the winter months because it was easier to grab on the fly. But now that things are blooming and/or starting to grow outside, the big girl camera will be used much more often.

It’s rainy today. Not a lot of rain, more like a very light rain. I’ve been watching all the birds gather in our back yard. Robins, at least three blue jays, little sparrows…everyone taking advantage of damp earth and more readily available food.

I saw Henry yesterday! He made it through another winter. I can always tell it’s Henry because he’s large and overweight and moves more slowly than the other groundhogs. And he was eating on the grass where he always dines. I snapped some pictures but I was using the iPhone and he was far away, so they’re too grainy. But it was our old friend Henry. I’m glad.

That Sleepy egg cup? I’m not sure where the seller is getting his information, but the price seems to be based on the prices some of the egg cups went for pre-eBay. We’re talking at least 20 years ago. In those days, they were very hard to find, so they were more desirable, and priced accordingly. I have a friend who has a vast egg cup collection and he has the entire set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He bought them long ago and paid a lot of money for them. He has no regrets – it’s always about the thrill of the hunt. But he never paid that much. Almost four hundred dollars? Not hardly. I’m going to send him a screenshot of the auction to get his reaction.

I’m not sure what’s on the docket for today. We did take our first trail walk yesterday and it felt really good. We stopped by the paddock where Ashley and Pliers used to live and said a few words in their memory.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Ashley & Pliers, egg cups, Fiesta, flowers, groundhogs, Henry 20 Comments

Tulips and Jadeite

March 27, 2019 at 10:41 am by Claudia

Tulips are so darned beautiful. I’m enjoying watching the flowers scattered around our house slowly open and reveal themselves. I’m one who thinks flowers are beautiful in all their stages, even when they’re withering and drying out. This little show they’re putting on for us is standing ovation worthy.

Still battling insomnia. I can’t keep my eyes open when I’m sitting downstairs on the sofa with Don. Then I get in bed and am wide awake for hours. It’s very frustrating. But I did sleep and I feel fairly good this morning. I am pulling away from all news (I can’t help thinking that is a major contributor to my erratic sleep) and I’m going to concentrate on all that’s beautiful and good and positive. I have to.

I stopped at another Michaels on my way home from TJs and found something miniature. I’d seen a few pictures on IG, but hadn’t been able find them at my local Michaels.

Miniature jadeite.

They’re hanging in the fairy garden section, and as are all things fairy garden, they’re not quite to scale. The plate and bowls are pretty close to scale but the glasses are huge – big, big, big gulp size. They’re made of lightweight plastic, so picture my frustration as I tried to get them to stand up in this cabinet without being knocked down again as I tried to maneuver another plate into position. Many swear words were heard in the office. I finally resorted to the tacky wax I use for other items in my dollhouses and that did the trick.

I love jadeite, though for some reason I don’t own any. The manufacturer did a great job with the color.

Anyway, if you’re interested, go to Michaels and make sure you visit the section where they have the fairy garden stuff.

Have I told you how much I love this hutch? One of my best miniature investments.

And have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do. Thank you for your support and the wonderful community we have created here.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: flowers, miniatures 52 Comments

I Must Have Flowers

March 26, 2019 at 10:23 am by Claudia

           “I must have flowers, always, and always.”

Claude Monet

Expect lots of flowers this week.

I made that trip to Trader Joe’s and came back with four bunches of flowers, which, on reflection, I worried might be too many. We have only so much surface space around here and I have a beloved husband who is a big guy and sometimes knocks things over. So that meant that the kitchen counters – where he concocts our dinners – were out of the running.

I did manage to find homes for each bouquet; on the bistro table in the living room, on the coffee table in the den, in a McCoy vase (see above), and on the wee kitchen island.

I can’t tell you what a difference it makes around here! And how my mood lightens when I see them. I love photography and my favorite subject is flowers. Truth be told, it doesn’t take much skill to capture the beauty of a flower. The flower does all the work.

So right now, as I write this, I’m looking at a beautiful bouquet of just-about-to-open alstroemeria on the coffee table and a big, bright splash of yellow daffodils in amongst the turquoise McCoy.

This bunch of alstroemeria has yet to open. That’s why I chose them. Alstroemeria always lasts a long time; getting them this early is a bonus.

I just remarked to Don that I should make this trip once a month. TJs has such great flowers and they’re so affordable. It’s worth the drive, especially when it’s too soon for any blooms in the garden.

And you know what? Four bouquets are not too many. In fact, I’m going to do five next time, so I can have some on my desk, as well.

It’s a beautifully sunny day and my one request of Don is that he move the snowblower from the porch back to the shed. I want access to the porch, because it’s time to start sorting and cleaning. I can put a couple of the chairs back on the funky patio. I’m not sure yet whether I can put the chairs and table in the secret garden. It may be too soggy back there. But I can do something, right? At the very least, I can remove the blue tarp that is covering the sideboard, aka former kitchen island.

We starting watching The Power of Myth  last night after seeing it listed on Netflix. We saw it when it first aired on PBS, but we’re getting so much more from it this time around. Joseph Campbell was brilliant.

I’m reading a spy thriller that I will be reviewing in April. In fact, I was so into it last night that I read a bit too long and had trouble getting to sleep. But all is well.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: flowers 40 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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