Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Bees, Flowers & Books

June 5, 2023 at 8:46 am by Claudia

This beautiful bumblebee obligingly stopped to take a rest. Thankfully, I had my phone with me.

I did a lot of work outside yesterday, which involved trying to prune some of the bushes in the big garden bed because I could no longer get around them to tend to the garden. There’s still more to go. While I reacquainted myself with that overgrown part of the garden, I noticed that a deer had chomped on all the David phlox, which I rely on for late summer color. I’m hoping the phlox makes new shoots. I was not a happy camper. Deer tend to come around in the very early morning or at dusk. I’m going to be more vigilant about showing them the exit. We’re usually up by 5:30 am, but I suppose 5 am would be even better.

We also put some netting over Don’s experimental vegetable garden. I’ve seen our curious bunny friend in that stretch of garden. We’ll see. Don has alway said that he’s doing it for fun and he’s not invested in it, but that changed on Saturday when he discovered lots of green things emerging from the soil. I hope he can at least harvest some  of it.

There’s still a lot more to be done out there, but today, I rest my back. I’ve noticed certain sections of the front lawn are turning brown. No rain will do that. I do see a chance for showers tomorrow and later in the week, but I’ve become cynical about rain forecasts. I admit it.

Gosh, I’m really enjoying The Locked Room  by Elly Griffiths. I read a big chunk of it this morning and I might finish it today. War and Peace  is also riveting at the moment; there are many discussions about the plot on a daily basis.

The clematis blooming in the midst of the unkempt boxwoods. Another job on my list of chores.

I had a long talk with my sister on Saturday. It’s not my place to share anything, but her life has been hellish for several years and it continues to be, as the divorce is not yet finalized. I despise my brother-in-law. What I would like to ask of you: your prayers, good thoughts, and positive wishes for my sister. She is such a truly good person, always helping others, always giving. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I believe in the power of positive energy and prayer. She needs that.  Thanks so much, my friends.

And I hope karma has some payback headed my BIL’s way.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, reading 42 Comments

Sunday Morning

June 4, 2023 at 8:21 am by Claudia

I took it easy yesterday as the extreme change in the weather left me feeling not-so-good. Today, as I knew it would be, is better. It’s also quite cool out there this morning. I’m going to do some work outside today – there is much to be done.

So I’m going to keep this brief – just a few views of the property.

The transformation of my nemesis, prickly brambles, into wild roses. This is on the edge of the woods. There are mounds of pretty little roses everywhere and since they climb, they’re also up high in the trees.

My yarrow has started to bloom. The gift that keeps on giving – it has self-seeded in surprising places. I love that.

An early morning view of the secret garden.

Have a lovely day.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, secret garden 12 Comments

Wild Roses & Humidity

June 3, 2023 at 8:32 am by Claudia

We had exactly 2 minutes of light rain yesterday.

That’s it.

Storms all around us, Don drove through a whopper about 20 miles north of us. Here? Not enough to make a difference. But the temperature has dropped and I’m very grateful. It’s a rather cloudy day today. I may take advantage of the cooler temperatures and do some much needed garden clean up.

Two beauties.

I spend a couple of hours (much longer than usual) changing out Nina’s body. She was on a taller body, which I didn’t mind. Her neck joint, however, stabilized her but didn’t allow for head tilts, etc. I tried to remove that neck joint so I could keep using the body but it was glued on. For some reason, the process was harder than usual and I made little errors and had to start over again. I do have the excuse of incredible heat and humidity and you know I don’t function well in that kind of weather. After I got her reassembled, the head still seemed too loose. After taking it apart about 4 times, I finally hit on the idea of removing the neck joint and swapping it out with the only other neck joint I had on hand. It worked. The other neck joint was, I don’t know – a bit wider? Not sure.

Then we went out on the porch while we waited for the thunderstorms to roll in – they didn’t – but it was nice and breezy.

The wild roses are in bloom all over the property. These are up in the woods.

Don had to emcee a concert last night – it’s part of a free summer series in a town north of us. He booked the musicians, etc. It had to move to a church, rather than its normal outdoor venue, because of the threat of thunderstorms.

I didn’t know what to do with myself! Couldn’t watch anything that we are watching together. Most of Jeopardy was preempted by Biden’s speech. It was hot and humid, so I just sat here with the fan trained on me. And then I took a bath, something I normally don’t do because we go to bed early. It was lovely.

When I was going to grad school in Philadelphia, which is notoriously hot and humid in the summer, I shared an apartment with a fellow classmate during my second year. She went home for the summer and I stayed in town doing my usual temp work to help pay the bills. We had no air conditioning, and after work I walked the 20+ blocks back to my apartment, took a cool shower since I was dripping from the humidity, and sat on my bed in my underwear with three fans set on high speed. One at my right, one at my left, and one facing me. It was the only relief available. I can still see myself on that bed – in fact I mentioned it to Don again last night (he’s heard this story more than a few times.) A very strong memory from long ago,

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday,

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, flowers 14 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.

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