Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Garden Surprises

September 13, 2023 at 7:58 am by Claudia

Garden surprises:

I thought this endless summer hydrangea was not going to bloom at all this year, There was absolutely nothing but leaves all summer long. But a week or so ago, I noticed two blooms developing. And here we are.

Never give up, I guess!

And yesterday, as I was walking by the memorial garden, I thought I spotted something. I quickly went back and way up in the garden behind another plant was a tiny rose. I had a little bush up there that had died. In fact, I removed most of it – all of it, I thought. But there, in its place, was a tiny plant with some leaves and this:

An unexpected delight!

It’s been such a strange summer for the gardens and the trees. As I write this, it’s raining again. We had to snatch the opportunity to mow yesterday because a dry day is rare around here. Once again, the grass had grown way too long because it rains every day so we can’t mow. Mowing was exhausting, as we had to constantly stop to remove the grass that was clogging the chute. We might resort to cutting that section of the front lawn more frequently so we don’t have deal with so much tall grass. Of course, you can only do that if it doesn’t rain.

The good news: after today, we have over a week of dry weather in the forecast.

Woke up at 4:30 am this morning. So did Don. The a/c had shut off because I forgot to put it on the correct setting, It was too warm for me. Don says it wasn’t too warm for him, he just happened to wake up too early. Needless to say, we’re tired and a wee bit cranky this morning.

The enormity of the losses in Morocco and Libya is heartbreaking, I can’t stop thinking about these horrific tragedies within days of each other. Those poor people. We are seeing the evidence of climate change in hurricanes, fires, floods, drought, excessive temperatures (I’m sure I’m leaving something out of this list.) What kind of world are we leaving behind? And what are we doing about it? Not enough, and whatever we do now may be too late.

I’m in such a dark mood this morning that I could go on and on about the state of the world and our country. But I’ll stop there. Older and, hopefully, wiser.

Sometimes.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: climate change, flowers, garden 29 Comments

Friday Potpourri

August 25, 2023 at 9:08 am by Claudia

Late summer garden.

♦ It rained yesterday and it’s raining as I write this. So, it’s been rather gray the past couple of days. But tomorrow should be somewhat sunny. I don’t mind the rain so much since we’ve had a respite from endless rain lately. Maybe we can make it through the weekend without having to mow! Wouldn’t that be nice?

♦ I’m very into War and Peace  lately, so I am way ahead of the normal chapter a day. If I keep this up, I’ll finish way before the end of the year. Normally, I read it first thing in the morning when my brain is calm and the most receptive. This morning, I slept in a little, so I didn’t have time. However, right after I write this post, I’m pulling it out. I’m so grateful for the Readalong. I absolutely know I wouldn’t have attempted to read it otherwise.

♦ Did anything happen in the news yesterday??? Any interesting photographs?

♦ I lazed around all day yesterday. At one point, I mentioned to Don that I had a list of things to do written in my planner and I hadn’t done any of them. Late in the afternoon, I went on overdrive and crossed them all off my list. Very satisfying! I also sorted through lots of magazines that were gathering dust and put them in the recycling bin. More today. I’m also donating two big bags full of fat quarters to our town’s Craft, Fabric & Yarn sale which is run by my friend Susan. We used to work together at Heidi’s shop. I’ve been carrying those bags around in the trunk of my car for a while now. At one point I had arranged to donate them to a local quilting group and had been communicating back and forth with someone about a place to meet to facilitate the transfer. Then, I never heard from her again. I have no idea why. Anyway, I was in the library the other day and there was a sign about the sale, so I messaged Susan on IG, and today I’ll drop everything off at the library.

Hurrah!

♦ I keep reading more and more about the new strain of Covid. My friend Noble has it now and he’s older than I am. His wife, Tina, said he got it the one time he didn’t wear a mask – on the train. Several of you have mentioned friends and family who came down with it after successfully keeping it at bay for 3 years. Don and I had stopped wearing masks when going to the store, but I’m planning on wearing one again. I’ve seen an uptick in local people wearing masks and I’m going to join them.

Hey, a mask covers my sagging neck, so why not? I look younger!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden 46 Comments

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

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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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