Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Day Three Hundred Ninety-Five

April 12, 2021 at 9:47 am by Claudia

Lilac buds.

Periwinkle in the woods.

Just beyond the lilac side of our front lawn are the remnants of two old stone foundations.

This one is near the road.

And this one is behind it.

They’re separate buildings. I can’t be sure what they were used for, but I suspect they were outbuildings of some kind. We wondered for a while whether they were actually on our property, but they are. We found the property markers last spring. The foundation that borders the road is just inside the property line. It’s rather wild in this area, lots of fallen trees and the rusty remains of barbed wire (on the edge of the property) and there’s also a very rusted enclosure where some sort of animal was kept – most likely, chickens. That’s a mess, and it would have to be removed by professionals. We’ve just left it as is. But it’s evidence of life lived long ago on this just-under-two-acres where we live. Our house was built in 1891, but these buildings seem older.

On to other things: For the past two Sundays, the email version of my post hasn’t gone out. Last Monday, it went out, attached to Monday’s post. Who knows why? When I realize that it hasn’t gone out, I usually do what they call a ‘ping’ to update the feed. Anyway, that’s all I can do. I really have no control over it and I’m not going to pay for another service. So, as always, if you don’t get the email, come directly to the blog.

It’s another rainy day today and I have to coach my friend again, so I’ll be zooming with Bombay. Rather exotic! When I coached him the other day, I realized it was the first time I had worked professionally in over a year. It was awfully nice to rediscover that I can be of service and I’m good at what I do. Awfully nice.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: blog, flowers 19 Comments

Day Three Hundred Ninety

April 7, 2021 at 9:53 am by Claudia

We’re at 390 days. Do I stop titling the blog post by number of days at four hundred? Do I keep on going? I’ve been thinking about that lately and I can’t decide what to do. I don’t know if I want this to go on endlessly. My question this morning…

We went to our local nursery yesterday. There’s very little there as it’s too early in the season to have plants outdoors that might not survive a frost. So far, it looks like we might skate through the next few weeks safely, but you never know. Of course, I knew that there wouldn’t be a lot of stock – I was there specifically for the pansies, which they had in abundance. I also got some more potting soil, a couple of beautiful Italian pots that I knew I had to snag while I had the chance. Don stocked up on some vegetables. Oh, and I bought my seed packets.

Still, there’s so much to be done outside! So much cleaning up. We came back and raked gravel that had been deposited on the lawn by the snowblower back onto the driveway. I cleared the culvert, which was clogged by wet leaves. That was really exhausting, as the opening to the pipe that runs under our driveway was completely blocked and I had to straddle the culvert. The county is supposed to do this – the culverts are their property. But they rarely do. We also started to prune the big burning bush in the garden. It takes both of us because some of the branches are too high for me to reach.

Today, I’m going to rake out one area of the garden bed – where the grasses grow. Better to get the dead grasses out now before the new growth gets too long. And I’m going to plant the pansies in the pots. I didn’t get to that yesterday.

We get tired out and stop. I’m determined to not push myself like I have in years past. I can take my time and I’m going to. I think, counting the trip to the nursery/farmstand, we were doing something outside for just about two and a half hours. Not all that long.

We came inside, took showers, checked each other for ticks, and took it easy for the rest of the day.

I’m thinking it will be soon be time to put the cushions on the glider and move the Adirondack chairs out of the shed and onto the porch. I’ve already moved the chairs and bench back onto the Funky Patio and today I’ll move two more chairs and a little table out to the Secret Garden.

It feels good to be getting some exercise and to be outdoors again.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 49 Comments

Day Three Hundred Eighty-Nine

April 6, 2021 at 9:40 am by Claudia

Hello, beautiful daffodil! There will be more blooms opening today. I love the fluffy petals of this particular daffodil – I take no credit for it as it has been on the property for years, well before our time here.

Today, we’re headed to the nursery to get a few things. I’m feeling the need to plant some pansies in my urns. I do that every year. Since they like cold weather, I can plant them early.  We’re also going to get some grass seed. There are a lot of bare patches in the back forty from all the truck action when we had the trees taken down.

Then, it will be work outside. I’m not sure what yet, but I’ve got a whole list of chores to do, so there’s plenty of options.

I am so happy that spring has finally come to our property.

I finished the puzzle yesterday afternoon. This one was rather difficult, but quite satisfying.

I started another one yesterday, though I briefly considered not doing another one as I’ll be outside more. However, I think I have one more in me and so it’s begun.

I’m really enjoying The Shell Seekers. Pilcher is such a delicious writer. Her descriptions of interiors and gardens alone are worth it, but there’s so much more.

Okay. I know this is brief, but we’re going to get going early.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden, jigsaw puzzles 24 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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