Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Photo Ops

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We took a little afternoon drive yesterday, purely for the purpose of working on our photography skills. This was taken at one of our local farm stands. Don had his Holga (our little plastic Japanese cameras) and his iPhone and I had my Holga, my iPhone and my big girl camera. And I was carrying all three! This picture is from the big girl camera. The iPhone photos are on Instagram. The Holga photos are an unknown quantity right now because they use film. Yes, film. We’re headed into the city tomorrow (Don’s going to get his ‘new’ vintage camera (he’s going to start studying with Louis Mendes.) I’m going to upgrade my big girl camera, and we’ll be dropping off our film at B & H. Plus, we’re going to sneak in a little visit to the Community Garden. It’s “All Photography, All the Time!!” in the Hill-Sparks household.

I find photography fascinating. And it’s great for Don to have something new to focus on. He’s really missing his cast mates and everyone involved in Margaritaville. It’s been over a week since he’s seen them and the fact that the show is over is really hitting him.

Also from the local farm stand, with our mountains in the background. This hollyhock is gorgeous. Mine are rather disappointing this year. But this? Amazing.

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Design Sponge, an excellent design website that has been around for years and was created by Grace Bonney. I’m a follower and have been for several years. Grace and her wife, Julia, moved up to this area from Brooklyn a few years ago. We walked into our bank lobby yesterday and there was Grace! I introduced myself to her and we chatted for a while. She’s a warm and lovely person, as I expected she would be.

Off to make another cup of coffee.

Happy Saturday.

Friday Thoughts

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There’s always something to observe in the gardens. Bees are everywhere.

The hostas are starting to bloom. The flowers are so delicate, so pale.

We took another trail walk yesterday. We bought some groceries and then proceeded to forget one of the bags in the car and the food spoiled. We sat outside in the Secret Garden. And that’s about it. It’s slow going this week at the cottage. We’re both exhausted. So we’re taking time to just be.

I’m still working on all my feelings about the closing of Margaritaville. The Broadway community was less than supportive (that’s putting it mildly) and that has left me feeling very disillusioned. Yet there’s a new musical opening based on the Go-Go’s music, there’s one about Donna Summer, there’s another coming based on Cher’s life…but somehow they didn’t think Jimmy Buffett had any business bringing his happy music to Broadway? I’m thinking of a word that starts with F followed by a word that is ‘them.’

I detest snobs.

Together, Don and I have a combined 80+ years in the theater. I’ve managed to make my living in the theater. But I find less and less joy in it. Maybe the Universe is telling me it’s time to wind down.  This next year will be Darko’s last year at Hartford Stage. He’s moving on, as he should. He’s been there 7 years and he’s done what he wanted to do there. With a new artistic director, the focus will change and I’m sure I won’t be working there anymore, certainly not in the way I did with Darko. It’s been a wonderful ride and I’m extremely grateful to Darko. I’ll miss working with him. He’s been a loyal and inspiring and brilliant colleague.

Anyway, I’ve known he was going to leave for a long time now, I just haven’t mentioned it here. Change is never easy for me, but I know from experience that it’s the anticipation of change which is more troublesome than the actual change itself. I’m sort of ready for this one.

It’s a strange time here at the cottage and in our life. But we’re hanging in there.

Oh, I saw this guy on one of the hostas yesterday. He blends in perfectly.

Happy Friday.

 

Two Slugs

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We’ve been rather slug-like around here. I’ve been exhausted. Don is tired, as well. So, we’ve been hanging around the house, sitting in the Secret Garden, watching movies, sitting on the porch – that sort of thing.

We did rouse ourselves enough to take a trail walk yesterday. We stopped and said hello to our favorite horses and met a couple of new residents on the farm – two mini horses. So sweet!

I got a bit more sleep last night, so I’m feeling less ragged. In fact, I’m feeling groggy. I don’t know about you, but when I’ve been sleep deprived and I finally start to catch up, I feel groggy and out of it for a day. It’s slow going this morning!

The balloon flowers have been budding and blooming. This is what a balloon flower looks like before it opens.

And this is what it looks like after it opens. Amazing, right?

We need rain, which seems to be our mantra this summer. After an incredibly wet spring, we’re now rain-deprived. A day or so ago, we were supposed to get thundershowers and the radar showed storms headed our way. Unfortunately…nothing. Sigh.

More day lilies in The Far Side garden.

We won’t talk about the buds that ended up being dinner for a deer. Probably the same young deer who was standing in the corral the other day staring right at me and chomping on yarrow. He’s beautiful, but…

Happy Thursday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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