Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Civil Disobedience, Flowers & A Dove

at by

In this house, more often than not, these words are spoken: “There’s nothing  on TV!”

Last night, however, we were glued to the television as House Democrats, led by one of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement, John Lewis, took over the House floor, staging a sit-in. Paul Ryan gaveled the session and ordered the cameras that C-Span uses shut off.

Ah, but this is the age of social media and tech-savvy Representatives used Facebook and Periscope to broadcast what was going on and C-Span tapped into it. It was real, it was raw and it was incredibly powerful.

I just checked. They’re still there and they’re still broadcasting.  They’ve been at it since 11:30 am yesterday morning. I tweeted my support to them last night and tweeted my disgust to Paul Ryan (more than once). It’s a simple request: a vote on two relatively mild measures, one to close a loophole in background checks and one to prohibit the selling of guns to anyone on the No-Fly List. I mean, really, what could possibly be problem here? It’s a no-brainer.

Watching this civil disobedience in action is inspiring. There are times I feel that no one in Washington DC is listening to us. These brave Representatives are. And John Lewis has more moral fiber in his little finger than Paul Ryan and all those who pander to the NRA combined.

They’re taking a stand.  #HoldTheFloor #NoBillNoBreak

See? I’m using hashtags.

Moving on.

6-23 aroundtheporch

The spirea, hydrangea, roses and clematis are in full bloom.

6-23 beebalm

The bee balm is just about to pop.

6-23 elsiemay

Pretty roses.

6-23 newdawn

And just-about-to-open roses.

6-23 yarrow

Yarrow self-seeds and plants itself right in front of the chicken-wire-fence-garden, tall and strong and beautiful.

We are desperate for rain here. The rivers are low, the grass is getting brown, and we didn’t have much snow pack this winter. Everyone around here has a well that needs to be replenished.

It was supposed to rain today, but the forecast changed overnight. No rain. Maybe some on Monday. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday, I saw two mourning doves on the driveway. A pair. I wondered if my ‘lonesome dove’ had found a mate or if this was an already established pair. Later on in the day, I saw the dove on the edge of the birdbath:

6-23 lonesomedove

Such a gentle beauty.

Tomorrow is the big day. Will you stop by and leave a birthday wish for my sweetheart? I promise to shoot a little video of his reaction when he sees the Top Secret Project and I’ll probably share it with you on Saturday. I’m also putting together some photos of the whole project and I’ll write a separate post with all the sources and other pertinent information.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Tuesday (That’s All I Could Come Up With)

at by

When 71% of Americans favor some sort of gun restriction, even if it is simply background checks, and over 90% of Americans supported the measures being voted on yesterday, yet our representatives continue to vote down any legislation that would make that possible, well, I sit here once again, disillusioned, disheartened, and becoming more and more cynical by the minute. Shameful.

And that’s all I’ll say about that.

To maintain my sanity, I’m going to concentrate on my garden (as of yesterday.)

6-22 rosesandspirea

6-22 hollyhock

6-22 LEMrose

6-22 ALrose

6-22 spiderconeflower

It was so hot yesterday that photograph taking was kept to a minimum! But watering? That was ongoing. It should be a bit cooler today – not much – but a bit.

I made a little something for the TSP:

6-22 TSPdonotenter

I thought mini Don would like a little something to warn those well-intentioned friends who might open the sliding door without thinking, thereby ruining a recording.

6-22 TSPwelcome

The other side. The sign is hanging on a white knob, which is the head of a quilting pin that’s been cut down to about a quarter of an inch.

Some dusting and minor tweaking and we’re good to go for the big day.

Cross your fingers that Don likes it. I’m worried I’ve overhyped the whole thing and when he sees it, he’ll think, “That’s it?” 

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Around the Garden And A Little Gift

at by

What’s up in the gardens on this first day of summer?

6-20 beebalm

The bee balm will be in bloom very soon. I can’t wait for those splashes of vivid red in the big garden bed.

6-20 beeonleaf

Bees are everywhere. This one was working very hard at something  on the end of that leaf. I was fascinated but I could never quite figure it out.

6-20 atlastrose

Roses keep blooming.

6-20 pinkspirea

The pink spirea is fully in bloom. Clouds of pink everywhere.

6-20 webonclematis

Post petals, this is what remains of the clematis bloom – along with a bug and a gossamer web.

6-20 damesrocketbug

Dame’s Rocket with little bug.

6-20 rosebuds

New Dawn Rose buds.

6-20 spiderweb

A spider web, stretching from boxwood to boxwood.

The camera becomes my third eye and I’m always surprised and delighted by what it discovers. It truly is my favorite time of year, despite being sleep deprived.

We’re on the countdown, my friends: T minus 4 days and counting. A big birthday on Friday for Don and Little Z. Oh that little boy, we love him so much. We talk to him most every evening, conversations where word games are played, giggles erupt, and a besotted aunt and uncle sigh with happiness. He’s going to be five years old, you know. Don is going to be, ahem, sixty-five.

This was waiting for Don on Father’s Day, along with a card from Winston, Riley and Scout.

6-20 scoutieinframe

I matted and framed Shanna’s sketch of Scout. Don was very pleased. Shanna managed to capture the twinkle in Scout’s eye, that look that said, “I’m game for anything!” If I had to describe Scout with just one word, it would be JOY. In caps.

We miss my dad. We miss Don’s dad. And we miss my brother, dad to three wonderful children – now adults – and the seven grandchildren he never got to know. Father’s Day is bittersweet, indeed.

Anastasia  closed its run in Hartford yesterday. Next year: Broadway. I know at least two of the readers of this blog saw it and loved it, which makes me very happy.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives