Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Blooming and Reading

September 27, 2017 at 9:00 am by Claudia

In the early evening, I sometimes stand just inside the kitchen door and look at the buds on the morning glory, trying to figure out how many are far enough along to bloom the next morning. Last night, I think I came up with twelve.

There are fifteen flowers this morning.

It’s a foggy morning, so this is the best I can do. All that loveliness!

And the other planting, in the chicken wire fence garden, has a bloom.

And a lot of buds.

Then there’s the other batch of morning glories, the petite version, that have been blooming all summer and continue to do so.

And the ever wonderful zinnias, late summer/early fall beauties.

As all of these flowers happen to be planted in the memorial garden and chicken wire fence garden – right outside the kitchen window – I am blessed with their beauty throughout the day.

I’ve been so scattered lately, what with working in Hartford and driving home on my days off, going into NYC here and there to coach, along with Don being away and coming home on his days off. It’s been hard to concentrate on any one thing, including the latest Louise Penny, which I’ve been reading in bits and pieces.

This morning, I said, “Enough!”

This is one of my very favorite authors, as you well know. She deserves more of my time. So I’ve been reading since 6:30 am. I finally took a break to write this post, only because I don’t want to be getting close to the ending only to have to stop to take care of business.

She’s a stunningly talented writer, which is an understatement. More on that later. I’m going to close now and get back to the book and the rest of my coffee.

Don is going to finally get to see the Broadway version of Anastasia  tonight. Yay!

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Filed Under: Anastasia, flowers, garden, Louise Penny, morning glory 27 Comments

Feeling Edgy, Max & Morning Glories

September 26, 2017 at 9:42 am by Claudia

I just sneezed eight times in a row. I don’t know about you, but that leaves me feeling exhausted!

Do you ever wake up feeling edgy? Even though I slept a lot last night, thankfully, I feel uneasy, tense, and on edge. I would say that I don’t know the cause, but I’m absolutely sure it has to do with the state of our world right now. Threatening nuclear war should put everyone on edge. Having two madmen in charge of nuclear arsenals doesn’t make for a feeling of peace and tranquility. There’s much more, of course. We are bombarded daily with terrible news, with ever more outrageous assaults, we go through yet another attempt to take health care away from millions…you know the drill. It can’t help but take a toll on our peace of mind. Even though I think I handle it pretty well, I realize on a day like today that it’s always there, just below the surface. We resist, but constantly having to mobilize and resist is draining. Nevertheless, we do. And will.

Praying for peace. Praying for a change. Soon.

Thinking of my dogs.

And our beloved Max.

Oh, you darling boy. I can’t believe you’re gone. What joy you brought to everyone who was lucky enough to meet you.

Rest in peace. Run and play with your cousins, Riley and Winston and Scout. Your Grandpa is waiting to take you for a walk and scratch your head.

This abandoned robin’s nest fell out of one of our trees. I finally rescued it and it’s now on the table on the porch.

And we have eight morning glories this morning! The other batch that I planted and had given up on is suddenly full of buds, so we have more and more coming. That makes me happy on this edgy day.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: dogs, flowers, life, morning glory 37 Comments

On Monday

September 25, 2017 at 9:14 am by Claudia

I just spent some time on the porch with my husband, drinking our second cup of coffee. He leaves in about an hour for the city. We had a lovely day yesterday. Too short, but we’re grateful, nonetheless. I baked him some more cookies and biscuits, so he’s set for the week.

The gift that keeps on giving. I thought this morning glory would never bloom, now there are buds everywhere. What a blessing as we move into Autumn!

And the hollyhock just keeps blooming. It’s rather amazing! I hope it comes back next year.

It’s still unbelievably hot around here and it looks like it won’t ease up until the end of the week. I’m over it. Yes, I’m finally officially ready for fall and cool, crisp weather. Don mowed a bit yesterday and he couldn’t get over how hot it was – it was 90 degrees in the late afternoon. Enough, already!

I’m contemplating starting to paint another wall in the kitchen this week. I’m going to take it slow; it will be an ongoing project, with the cupboards being the biggest challenge. Walls first. Cupboards later.

This was my view the other evening when I went outside to deposit some trash in the trash can. So lovely.

I see that Don has just finished cleaning the gutters, bless him. I have to go so I can say goodbye for another week. And then I’ll start raking up those leaves!

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: autumn, Don, flowers 42 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.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

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