Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Friday in the Garden

July 24, 2026 at 8:47 am by Claudia

I’ve worked a lot on the property and gardens during the past two days and I’m wiped out. So today is “take it easy” day (though I had yesterday marked as that and I didn’t follow my own instructions.) I’ve pruned and pulled weeds. I mowed the lilac side of the front lawn and all around the shed. Don mowed the corral and the back forty. We’ve been busy. Frankly, it’s been so nice to have somewhat normal weather for the past few days and we know we have to take advantage of it. A real rarity this summer.

From the rear of the big garden bed. I love it when this area fills in with flowers.

I’m realizing that August is around the corner. Once again, another summer is flying by. Time to drink in all this beauty while it’s still here.

Joe update: I texted him the other day. He is in a rehab facility. He said it’s like “boot camp.” They work him very hard and he’s exhausted – 3 to 4 hours a day. His right leg is not responding well. He has a “hematoma that is pressing on a nerve which fires a major muscle,” so the leg is not responding. A possible complication from the ECMO machine. There’s a chance he might go home on Sunday, but he will need outpatient care, and will have to be on a walker with limited movement, but as he said, at least he’ll be home. He has to remind himself how far he’s come. He’s a fighter, my Joe.

Finally, thistle plants spring up around here and one that is just outside the big garden bed is quite formidable.

As you can see, it’s over 7 feet tall. Don is 6’4″.

I like to keep a little wildness in the garden areas. Sometimes, I’ll just let a plant like this flourish because it’s fascinating to observe.

Time for the mundane: laundry.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 14 Comments

A Stormy and Smoky Saturday

July 18, 2026 at 8:09 am by Claudia

Coneflowers are blooming on all sides of the house, even the edge of the secret garden, where a volunteer popped up! I love these flowers, most of which have self-seeded from the originals I planted many, many years ago. To me, they are the quintessential cottage garden flower. I’m very, very happy when they finally appear.

More smoke warnings for today, along with lots of thunderstorms. The air quality will be pretty bad. The title for this summer should be: The Summer We Had to Stay Indoors. Heat waves, unhealthy air quality, huge storms –  it’s crazy.

I finished up the main entrance flooring yesterday. As I was heading for the finish line, I wanted to scream. Some pieces have to be cut down to fit and cutting them can be very frustrating. But, it’s done and I’m fairly happy with it.

The photo includes a cabinet I got online when Minatures (dot) com was closing down. It has a drawer that’s somewhere in this messy studio. It had a fleur de lis design which I am attempting to paint over. But I have no idea what color to paint it. Do I age it, or keep it new looking? And does it really fit in this part of the hallway? Should it be taller? I think I’ll go ahead and do something with it. If anything, it can function as a filler until I get just the right piece.

I like this view. Though I am now thinking I need more than this light stain on the Grandfather clock. What to do, what to do, what to do. Is it too tall? It’s sort of looking that way. Or do I need one of those Swedish clocks? I believe they’re called “Mora” clocks. All will eventually be revealed.

I’ll do something with the clock and the cabinet today, I think. A good indoors activity.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, flowers, garden 12 Comments

Flowers and the Birthday Present

June 26, 2026 at 8:41 am by Claudia

They’re coming! My beautiful coneflowers have buds, but this is the first bloom to show a hint of the color. I cannot wait to see them all in bloom. It will take a while for the coneflowers on the side of the house to bloom because some of them have been eaten by the deer. Grrrr! I sprayed everything with the deer concoction yesterday afternoon after spending a long time outside pruning, pulling poison ivy, and weed whacking.

Don had a wonderful birthday. He had a gig in the afternoon and the audience was wonderful and 6 of his friends showed up, so he was very happy. Singing and playing for an audience on his birthday? Perfect. I’d already given him one of his gifts – a desperately needed new pair of jeans – earlier in the month. After dinner, I put candles in a rich and dense chocolate cake (purchased at a local store) and sang Happy Birthday to him. He opened up a gift from a friend, then my card, then a new journal that he really needed, and then this:

As I explained on Instagram, I haven’t painted in oils for a few years, and – as you know – in the midst of this process I was sure I was going to have to throw in the towel. At first, I was going to paint the shed in winter, and I still want to, but snow is a tricky thing and so I stopped. (I’ll work on it again later.) Then I thought of the cottage. Don loves this place, especially in the spring and summer. Since I can’t paint a straight line to save my life, I decided that ‘impressionism’ was the way to go. And I sort of like painting this way. I wanted to show everything lush, and green, and in bloom. I used a photograph I took a while back as the inspiration, but I added lots of extras.

This is always my favorite view of the house, which looks very different from the front. I love our big old maple tree and the big garden bed, and the porch. So does Don. I was going for an almost magical feel.

Anyway, I was very nervous about it. Very insecure. But, he loves it! He went on and on about how much he loves it and he’s a real lover of Impressionism, so I think it was successful!

Until it totally dries, it’s on the piano, but eventually, Don wants to have it framed.

Hurrah, we had a lovely day.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Don, flowers, oil painting 30 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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