Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Flowers, Shells, Scout, and Don’s New CD

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When I feel a certain level of stress, I find myself gravitating to some chore that is so all consuming that it takes me away from the endless repetition of fear thoughts in my head. Yesterday was one of those days. I yanked tons of weeds. I weed whacked. I mowed the back forty.

I guess it’s the equivalent of a good workout – I felt much more centered after all of that. Tired, but centered.

8-29 hollyhock

The hollyhock is still blooming. I love the raspberry color of the flower.

8-29 shells

I rinsed a lot of sand off a lot of sea shells.

8-29 Scoutie galloping

Though Scoutie has her share of aches and pains and has a lot of trouble getting around, the one place where she can be her old self is here. As she heads on in from the corral and reaches the little hill, she begins to gallop. I managed to catch her in mid-stride yesterday.

Tonight, Don and his pals, Dan and Dewitt, are playing a gig just down the road from our house. You might remember that they played together a few months back and it was an incredible evening. I was determined to get back from Florida in time to be a part of the audience. Can’t wait!

Don and Dan stepped into the recording studio a few months back and recorded a live album in one day. Don’s words and music, his guitar, and Dan’s incredible work on multiple instruments came together for the perfect CD. They held a fund-raising campaign on IndieGoGo to raise the  money needed to master the songs and package the CD and by the day before yesterday, they had managed to raise all the money they needed. I’m so excited for them! Soon, Don will have the CD he’s always dreamed about; a truly professional (and beautifully recorded by Rick Gedney) CD of some of his favorite songs. Whoo hoo!

I’ll tell you more about it when it’s finally packaged and ready for release. I’m thrilled for Don. He’s worked very hard on this project and witnessing his joy when he heard the recordings was a beautiful thing indeed.

This may be a day for some Top Secret Project work…

Yesterday, I realized I hadn’t picked a winner for the book giveaway of The Reinvention of Albert Paugh. Yikes! I quickly changed that little scenario and the winner is Linda. I’ve contacted her and she’s excited. Congratulations, Linda!

Happy Saturday.

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Home Again

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8-26 morning glory 1

I’m home.

A day earlier than I had originally planned.

I got on the road about 8 am yesterday, crossed over into North Carolina, and by the time late afternoon rolled around, I knew I was close enough to keep going. It seemed foolish to spend more money on a motel if I could get home that day – even if it was late in the evening. I called Don and told him I was going to go for it and I rolled in around 9 pm.

Thoughts about the trip: Driving through the greater Washington DC area is a nightmare. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my trusty GPS and even with it’s help, I can’t tell you how many times I had to cross 3 lanes of traffic in order to exit at the very last minute. And sometimes the directions given by the GPS were unclear, so I had to take a chance and hope I was right. Somehow, I managed to get through that crazy spider web of roads and too many people driving too many cars.

Once you drive north of DC you start to hit toll roads. Most of the states had modest tolls, but Maryland? A state I was in and out of very quickly? $12. Come on, Maryland, that’s just plain ridiculous.

The car drove beautifully and I like it a whole bunch. I either listened to CDs or the radio. I’m not a book on tape sort of person because I like the narrator’s voice to be in my imagination. I want to set the pace, if you know what I mean. Meredith sent one along with me, just in case, but I went for the music and NPR instead.

Happy to be home. Scout is having a hard time of it – she’s falling a lot. So I’m glad I’m here to help with my girl.

8-26 zinnia

I’ll write more about Little Z on another day. He’s my hero, that boy. I miss him so much it hurts.

Grateful to be home safely. Grateful to my dad for his generous gift. Grateful to my sister and her family for a great visit. Grateful to Don for holding down the fort while I was gone.

Happy Thursday.

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After the Flowers Are Gone; What then?

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Hazy, hot and humid continues here in our neck of the woods. But that can’t stop me from grabbing the camera to take a few photos.

I wonder every year at this time: what will I do when the seasons change and flower pictures are no longer a possibility? Somehow I manage to find something else to talk about, but right now? I can’t imagine what that would be.

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With a lot of watering, the plants on the Funky Patio are hanging in there.

8-18 rose

Along with at least one of my rose bushes. I cut this one back rather severely and it’s blooming. The one next to it may have to be removed. The jury’s still out on that one.

8-18 teeny moth

Can you spot the teeny-tiny moth on the butterfly bush? So tiny, yet the markings are very complex and detailed. Nature is a wonder.

The Top Secret Project is on a brief hiatus during these very hot days. I can’t work upstairs in my little space because there’s no air conditioning there.

Soon.

Happy Tuesday.

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