Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Lilac Buds

April 15, 2024 at 9:02 am by Claudia

Lilac buds! But there are not nearly as many as last year. Lilacs need lots of winter cold and, though we had a stretch of very cold weather in January, it was warmer than usual this year. It was nice to have the warmer temperatures, but there’s a price to pay. The crabapple by the catalpa is in full bloom. The daffodils are lovely. The forsythia is very full this year and very yellow, as well.

Yesterday was a bizarre day. I worked outside in the morning. I was digging up an invasive plant – I swear this entire spring will be spent doing this, it’s endless – and then I came in because my back was aching. Then, in the afternoon, we had a little rain, with thunder rumbling constantly throughout the afternoon. It seemed to come from everywhere. I don’t remember hearing that much thunder over several hours. I liked it.

Today, finally, is sunny. I think I’ll dig up some more of that hawkweed and start to clean up the garden beds. But, I cannot do that work for as many hours as I used to.  I find I have to ‘call it a day’ sooner rather than later. It’s frustrating.

As is my jigsaw puzzle, where I find myself fairly close to finishing. However, I’m caught in the hellscape of the trees and it’s so hard to figure out what goes where. I refuse to give up, though I briefly thought of doing just that yesterday. Cue my scream.

Both Don and I had dreams right before we woke up this morning. They were the fear of/performance type dreams that we often have. Don was in a show where he was wearing a tuxedo but had no pants or underwear on. He was onstage with everything hanging out, if you get my drift. In mine, I was in a musical and was supposed to substitute for the lead actress in an upcoming performance. I knew the song (I think it was “Anything Goes”) but when I was shown a video of the actress performing it, the interpretation and choreography was unlike anything I could ever imagine or think was appropriate, with the actress performing bodily contortions that I knew I would never be able to do. Both of us woke up at about the same time and had a good laugh.

I know that all of us have that kind of dream. Mine are most often theater-based, though I also have university dreams where, for some reason, I have either stopped going to class or never did the assignments/reading and I’m suddenly facing the fact that I’m going to flunk out. The theater dreams are either about not knowing the lines and my attempts to memorized them while I’m standing in the wings, ready to make my entrance, or being late for rehearsal and trying to find my way there through a maze of buildings and roads and obstacles.

I’d love to hear your versions of those dreams.

Time to get ready to do some work outside.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: flowers 24 Comments

Crabapple Blossoms

April 12, 2024 at 8:20 am by Claudia

In the midst of endless rain, the crabapple blossoms have opened. We have a several crabapple trees around here, most of them younger than this one and all with slightly different blooms. This is always the first tree to flower and it’s right under the catalpa.

It’s so dreary out there, but the forsythia is a vivid yellow and the crabapple is in bloom, and boy, does that help. Both Don and I were lethargic yesterday and so tired of the rain. We want to be doing things outside and there’s much to be done. We’ll get a one day break tomorrow and then more rain on Sunday. HELP!

Also: Don had to take his car to his mechanic – again. We noticed it riding strangely the other day when we were driving back from the grocery store. He was afraid it might be tied to the most recent repair. So he drove it to the mechanic yesterday morning. It’s another thing entirely – the rotor for the right front brakes. It will be costly to repair and, between bills for heating oil, the bill for the last car repair, and the high cost of living, Don decided to hold off on the repair until we have the money. In the meantime, he can use my car. I have to admit, I had a good cry yesterday.

It’s always something. We have had to deal with so many repairs in the past year. I named 2023 The Year of Rain. I might add ‘Repairs’ to that.

Anyway, we both feel a bit down about all of this stuff and we’re working hard to stay positive.

In the meantime, I’m immersed in another Daniel Silva. I think I have 3 more to read until I catch up to where I left off several years ago. Boy, that man can write a spy thriller. His books are routinely 400+ pages and I positively cannot put them down. As I picked up two more at my local library the other day, I felt the need to explain why I’m reading so many Daniel Silva books!

I’m trying to finish the jigsaw puzzle. But I’m at the difficult part – the trees. So, if I manage to fill in 5 pieces a day, I’m doing good.

What else? Some critter is chomping on my garden. No emerging plant is safe. My lone tulip suddenly disappeared from sight. This drives me mad. The daffodils have been left alone, but that’s about it. The culprit is either a deer, a rabbit, or a groundhog.

Cue my frustrated scream.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, rain 23 Comments

Buds and Blooms

April 1, 2024 at 8:53 am by Claudia

Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so I took a few pictures. Unfortunately, both Don and I were under the weather, so we basically did nothing all day long. We’re due for lots of rain over the next four days – that’s depressing – and a bit of snow on Wednesday night. It will be gone the next morning. But I did get outside on Saturday to do some much needed pruning of some of the bushes. There’s more to be done, but frankly, I was tuckered out. I have to get back in my ‘working outdoors’ shape!

Robins visited the birdbath, some critter has been chomping on my day lilies (grrr!) and there’s lots of bird song every day. And my beloved peepers are especially vocal in the evenings, as well as all night long.

The daffodils on the edge of the woods.

Drat! Both of these photos are a bit blurry.

Anyway, these are crab apple buds. There are also buds on the lilac and the hydrangeas. We lost a few trees up in the woods over the winter – we had such high winds! Lots of branches down as well. I suspect the trees were ash trees – they’ve been weakened by the emerald ash borer. Plus, we’ve had an excess of rain over the course of several months which doesn’t help. Some of the fallen trees we can move ourselves, but at least one or two will need a chainsaw. I also had to move three saplings that fell near the secret garden. Losing trees always makes me sad.

I also had to cut back the limelight hydrangea where it was covering one of the boxwoods. That limelight is huge, so a little cutting back is a good thing. I’m anxious to do more, but the rain will delay any more work until next weekend.

I hope you had a lovely Easter, if you celebrate.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 11 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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