Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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ReStore, Roses & Raking

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Despite our best intentions, yesterday was just too windy to rake leaves. Cold and windy. All day long. So we went on an exploratory mission to this place:

I’d been wanting to check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in a neighboring town.  It was much bigger than I expected – full of furniture, building supplies, old shutters, sinks, doors…you name it. We loved poking around in all the piles of old stuff. Don got some old metal pieces for a project he is planning. I got some vintage architectural pieces to use in some sort of yet-to-be-decided-upon project. We plan on going back weekly. You never know what might suddenly appear.

I had husband take a rather wind-blown picture of me in order to show the new flower pin on my jean jacket.

I love it. It makes me smile. Thanks, Debi! (Don’t like frown line between brows. Was I always frowning in my youth?)

Both of my rose bushes are flowering one more time. I cut some blooms yesterday and like the way they look next to the white pumpkins.

This is what some of us are up to this morning:

While others cannot use wind as an excuse any longer to avoid raking leaves. It’s sunny, beautiful and calm. Do you think I could train these dogs to hold a rake?

Mid-Week Snapshots

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What’s happening here at MHC?

Lots of painting. Two coats of primer and then at the end of the day yesterday, the first coat of Ivory White. A day spent in paint clothes, with paint in hair – no shower until the evening. Sore back (I have chronic lower back problems) from crouching and contorting my body into strange positions in order to paint the legs and base of the table. Today: another coat of paint (hopefully the last) and then onto a protective coat of something or other.

The fabric pumpkins have been brought out for the season. Hi Scout and Riley. Speaking of Riley:

This is the kind of thing we celebrate lately. Poor baby – as his hips get worse, so do his muscles and sometimes he just can’t make it outside. Practicing patience.

Loving one last surprise burst of blooms from my rose bush. Thank you, thank you.

Endless rain = soggy leaves. Everywhere.  I like crisp, pretty fallen leaves. I don’t like soggy ones. And we have a huge amount of them. Rain? Please stop. I know that sounds strange from someone who was worried about her well going dry just a couple of months ago. Nevertheless, I’m tired of you.

The sun has been teasing us a bit this morning. I’m hopeful.

The Last of the Roses

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Standing on the porch the other day, I spied these blooms, plus two as yet unopened buds. I think these are the last of my roses. I suppose this could be either good news or bad news. The bad news is saying goodbye to these beauties for another season. The good news is that I thought this particular bush was completely finished with its blooms and then I found these. Glass half-empty vs. glass half-full.

Today I am, unfortunately, feeling half empty. Or more than that – about 3/4 empty. The stress in my life seems overwhelming. Everything seems to be more difficult, scarier, impossible and heartbreaking. I feel like my shoulders and neck are holding enormous tension – that my head won’t stop thinking fearful thoughts. Do you ever have days like this? This year has been a very, very hard one for us and it seems to be continuing. While I often stop to count my blessings and I know there are many blessings, there has been loss, financial stress, loved ones in pain and suffering, fear.

Yes, I’m usually cheerful – especially on this blog. But sometimes it just seems impossibly hard to maintain my cheerfulness. Oh, I’ll get it back. Writing about it helps; and knowing my friends will be reading this and sending positive thoughts my way. This blog/journal is such a wonderful way to share things, usually exciting and good but occasionally sad or scary. I’ve just got to get back to the half-full mentality. Thank you for listening to me.

One positive thing: our own little Lazarus, Mr. Riley, is feeling better. He is almost back to his old self. I am deeply grateful I can leave for Florida with that resolved for the time being. I will try to post while I am in FL. I will also be sharing a book review with you on Thursday. I’ve started to work with TLC Book Tours. Oh, I’m not reimbursed in any way – I’m supplied with a book and encouraged to write an honest review. Since I love reading so much, this is a joy for me. So once a month or so, I’ll share a review with you. I’m reading a few books that I might not have found otherwise so my reading horizons expanding.

Thank you for being the listening eyes and ears that I’ve learned to count on. You are the best.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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