Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Day of Rest

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My favorite time of the summer is when my coneflowers start opening. I have scads of them because they self-seed. Over the 16 or so years since I first planted them, they have popped up everywhere. The deer got some of them this year but now that I’m spraying, no more damage.

First monarch butterfly sighting the other day. I tried to get a picture but he/she flew away before I could get close enough.

I pulled a Claudia yesterday and did way too much, including mowing both sides of the front yard, cleaning, laundry, pulling weeds, pulling out the refrigerator to clean behind it, etc. By the time Don got home from the Farmer’s Market (which was a dud yesterday) I was fried. But hey, the front lawn looks nice! I was trying to get to it before it gets very hot on Monday, and when Don is away, I get much more done. But I’m very tired today, as is Don, so we’ve declared that Sunday will truly be a day of rest.

Here’s a picture of the puzzle I finished the other day – it’s not the greatest photo, but it’s very hard to capture the tiny detail in these city scenes. It’s called The World of Sherlock Holmes.

I just started an Alice in Wonderland puzzle by the same company.  After my flurry of activity yesterday, I sat at the kitchen table and started sorting through the edge pieces and that’s as far as I got.

It’s a quiet Sunday morning, though for most of the day yesterday I thought it was Sunday instead of Saturday. I was surprised to see the mail truck because I was sure it was Sunday!

Katie – my surprise doll – is settling in nicely. As you know, I purchased another doll from Ukraine. She’ll take a while to get here. But when she arrives, I’ll have ten  Blythes, which is two more than I’d planned on having. I think ten is enough. In fact, I know  it’s enough – I have no more room!

Today, I’m going to read, walk around the garden, and work on the puzzle. That’s it.

Oh, and finish my coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Seeking A Peaceful Weekend

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The bee balm is in bloom – Don’s favorite. That vivid red is never easy to photograph. You can see some milkweed off to the right. I’d say there are at least 12 milkweed plants scattered through the gardens. It used to pop up in the back forty, but it’s moved to the garden beds for the past 4 or 5 years. (And the front lawn, which is problematic.)

It was very hot and humid yesterday, so we mostly stayed indoors, suffering from allergy/humidity brain fog. Today will be stormy and I just heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. Don isn’t going to be at the Farmer’s Market today, because they are now in a parking lot out in the open and he can’t get that vintage camera wet.

The theme for this week seems to be redressing the girls. Yesterday was Imogen’s turn:

Later, I remembered that she has green eyes, too, which complement the stitching on the dress and the shoes.

We finished Borgen (the first series) last night. Excellent on every level! Tonight, we’ll start watching the new batch of episodes of Stranger Things. And I’m reading Spook Street  the next book in the Mick Herron Slough House series.

Above all, I’m trying to stay grounded and find some peace. I didn’t watch or read any news yesterday as I seriously needed a day off which I’m pretty sure will turn into a weekend off. I’d rather scroll my Blythe feed on IG. Or read my book. Or water my houseplants. Or listen to my husband play guitar and sing.

All of which will take place today.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Deer, Flowers & The Girls

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To add to the loss of the tree, the deer have been particularly voracious this year. They’ve eaten the buds on countless coneflowers, every bud on my favorite day lily, and several buds on the black-eyed susans. I tend to forget to spray them with the deer repellent recipe, thinking, for some reason, that I don’t need to do it yet. That’s on me. Anyway, I mixed a batch of it the other day and sprayed everything. We’re due for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, so I’ll make a new batch on Sunday.

It’s very depressing, but I didn’t notice it until Tuesday – the same day we lost the tree – and I was so upset about the tree that it didn’t hit me quite as hard as it would normally.

Then the Supreme Court crap. This week has – may I say it? – SUCKED.

So I’ve played with the girls every day, dressing one per day in a new outfit, trying to remain sane. It really does help! I’m almost 70 years old and I’m rediscovering dolls – who’d have thought? If I’ve learned anything over the past 5 years or so, it’s that we find peace and respite where we can.

Plus, these girls are displayed directly in front of me here in the den, so I get to see them every day. Pure pleasure.

First up on Wednesday was Madeleine (same dress but with the addition of a bow) –

Heavens, she’s lovely!

And yesterday, Pippa got a new look:

We took her hair out of the barrette.

Both girls have a little cleft in their chins. Adorable.

I think I’m going to dress Miss Imogen today.

It’s going to be very hot today – in the 90s.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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