Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Flowers and Gene and Not Thinking in Years

August 21, 2023 at 9:12 am by Claudia

My smaller Rose of Sharon suddenly started budding late in the summer, though I didn’t think it would amount to anything. Well, lo and behold, it’s blooming! In fact, yesterday I had to chase away a Japanese Beetle who was attempting to dine on a bloom We haven’t had many Japanese Beetles this summer, but I guess I’d better keep a watch on that bush. Excuse the weeds! Too much rain equals lots of weeds and I usually give up on weeding in August.

There are a lot of bees buzzing around the blooms.

I mowed on Sunday – the lilac side of the front lawn – and Don and I mowed the main part of the lawn yesterday. We’re hoping to mow with the unrepaired lawnmower through the end of the season. It makes it twice as tiring, but we have to have a small tree that fell taken away by our tree guy – it also fell on partway on our neighbor’s property. So whatever extra money we have will have to go to that. That tree was already dead and it lives in a soggy part of the property. I think all of the rain hastened its demise. It’s been a summer to remember – and not very fondly.

Today, I’m taking a break, though more mowing has to happen tomorrow. And weed whacking.

In reference to my post about aging, after yesterday’s mowing without a self-propelled lawnmower, Don and I reminded ourselves that we are still pretty darned vigorous. We have made a vow to stop all talk of aging. Period. We are able to take care of our property. We are not retired and are entirely capable of working many hours a day at our respective professions. We want work and we welcome work. Our minds are sharp. And we look pretty darned good.

So that’s it. It will be a challenge because so many negative thoughts about aging creep in our heads throughout the day but we’re going to retrain our thoughts and spoken words. We are not going to think in years except in a positive way.

Just wanted to share this little outfit that I ordered on eBay.

This is called “Mandarin Mood” and the story behind it is that Gene loves to entertain at home when she’s not on the set – this time she’s having a party with a Chinese theme and this is the hostess ensemble she is wearing. It came with the earrings and the black chopsticks (?) for her hair. There’s actually a doll that comes in this outfit, but I put it on Simply Gene (the one who wears the bathing suit.) In addition to the dolls, most of the outfits were sold separately as well.

I always wanted red hair in this shade. Or black hair, like my dad’s. Ah well. I live vicariously through my dolls.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Filed Under: aging, flowers, garden, Gene Marshall dolls 58 Comments

Aging, Bees, Flowers, and Reading

August 19, 2023 at 8:49 am by Claudia

A pollen-covered bee inside a Rose of Sharon bloom. Taken this morning.

This Rose of Sharon is the gift that keeps on giving. I suppose it’s finally reached maturity because the blooms have been non-stop for a month and a half. I suppose all the rain we’ve had has helped as well. The smaller Rose of Sharon, just a couple of feet away from this one, has some buds that I think might open. Fingers crossed!

More rain yesterday morning – pounding rain – and then later in the day it got cooler outside, with quite a strong breeze. This morning it is sunny and much cooler, with a gentle breeze. It feels like a front has moved out and cooler air has moved in. We just might not have rain for the next five days, which seems impossible given the constant rain we’ve had this summer. But, I’ll take it. A lot of weeding and cleaning up needs to be done .

Speaking of rain, I’m thinking of everyone in Southern and maybe Northern California, as Hurricane Hilary heads your way. I know you need rain, but I imagine you don’t need rain, winds, and potential flooding. You’re in my thoughts.

Don took some photos of me while I was painting yesterday. I had no makeup on, I hadn’t really brushed my hair. He was so excited about the way they turned out and showed them to me.

I saw an old woman.

Really, it was shocking. He kept saying, ‘but you look beautiful!’ Trust me, I didn’t. But he looks at me through the eyes of love, a love of 29 years. I see him the same way.

But I was very depressed and wanted to cry. (Truth be told, I did cry a little.)

I was going back through about 5 years of IG posts the other day because I was trying to find some information that I thought I had posted. It’s always fun to be reminded about what happened on any given day, but what became increasingly clear to me was how much I’ve aged in the past 5 years. At this age, I suppose that’s to be expected.

Nevertheless, it made me sad. My hair is almost fully gray now – if you lift up the hair at the back, there is still a bunch of brown showing, but it’s hidden by the gray. I wrote several posts a few years back about embracing gray hair and I’ve never attempted to color it, or disguise what was happening naturally. That doesn’t mean it isn’t shocking on any given day, it is. I’ve gained weight. It’s harder to lose weight these days – for Don, as well. And he used to be able to cut back on food and lose 20 pounds just like that.

I’m trying, believe me, but I don’t like the way I look now. Of course, wearing a bit of makeup would help, even if I only do my eyebrows. I hate wearing makeup these days and I know Don doesn’t care about that sort of thing at all. But maybe I should…

Anyway, I am blessed to be with someone who loves me and tells me I’m beautiful every day.

I just need to see that, as well.

Mowing today.

I read a chunk of War and Peace  this morning. And The Bullet That Missed, the third book in the Thursday Night Murder Club series, arrived at my library yesterday and I immediately drove over there to get it.

I started a new painting and I’m not at all sure about it, but I was sleep deprived yesterday so I didn’t have things in perspective. Hopefully, I’ll get back to it later today.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: aging, bees, books, flowers, reading 56 Comments

Flowers

August 14, 2023 at 9:04 am by Claudia

We’re almost halfway through August. My goodness, time seems to move so quickly. The long awaited summer turned into something not-so-wonderful in terms of the weather. However, I work hard to find little pockets of wonder and gratitude no matter the weather woes.

It’s turned humid again and the temps have been in the low to mid eighties. When I was growing up in Michigan, August was the humid month. Philadelphia was unbearably humid for a big chunk of the summer. Boston? More like Michigan. San Diego was rarely, if ever, humid. We didn’t need an air conditioner. Now it can be humid for several weeks. I’m lucky to have lived in San Diego when it had that perfectly moderate weather that people raved about. My husband grew up in that climate – lucky him!

Today is a mowing day. The front lawn has grown way too much and we have more rain coming this week so we have to get on it.

Finished.

I’m not happy with the leaves, but I’ll work on leaves another day. This painting was mainly about the rose and I like the way it turned out. It’s my first time painting a flower in detail and as the main subject matter and I feel pretty good about the result.

I’m still contemplating what to choose for my next painting. Since today will be about mowing, I won’t start a new painting. But ideas are percolating!

Don had a gig on Saturday and has at least three more slated for September. I’m so happy he’s doing this again. He needs to perform and share his music with others. He’s a born entertainer and I know he’s been missing that. It’s been a very tough 4 years with no acting work at all and it breaks my heart. He’s such a wonderful actor. I hope, once the strike ends, that things turn around for him.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Don, flowers, oil painting 30 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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