Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Day Twenty

April 2, 2020 at 11:04 am by Claudia

A sure sign of early spring, these tiny little grape hyacinths that spring up out of the rocks. There are a couple more coming up from the gravel by the porch railing. Such a little miracle!

Another sunny day today, but rather windy. Nevertheless, I’m so grateful for sun. Right now, it’s shining on the roof of the folk art dollhouse, as if a spotlight had been turned on.

We got our groceries yesterday, though several items were not included as they weren’t in stock. The way this particular store set-up goes, there’s no altering the order once it has been placed and, even though I believe the ‘make substitutions’ box had been checked, that didn’t happen. So we didn’t get salad greens, or an alternative size of coffee, or another kind of whole wheat bread, or, we thought, potatoes. Disappointing, but I was able to see all of that online before the order arrived, so Don went to our local nursery/farmstand, after first calling them and finding out exactly how they are handling all of this. Only ten people in the store at the same time, social distancing – Don never had to get within 6 feet of anyone, including the cashier. He got some bread, some potatoes and sweet potatoes,  some bananas, etc. When he brought them home (which was before the grocery delivery) we washed all of the potatoes, and put them on the counter to dry.

The delivery itself was handled very professionally – they called us when they were about 10 minutes away from the house, Don told them where to put the groceries on the porch and we talked to the guy through the door. We also left a tip on the porch railing (held down by a rock). We wiped everything down before we brought it in the house and washed all the produce.

A lot of washing and hand washing and sanitizer, but we’re okay for now. We do need more items that we left off our original list and I can’t seem to get a delivery appointment. I think now that people know this will extend through the end of April, more and more requests for home delivery are being made. Don’t know what we’re going to do about that. It was so good to get some fresh vegetables again! We almost never eat canned veggies, though we are perfectly prepared to if necessary, and we have several cans on hand.

Thought you might like to see our pantry extension, which is in the office upstairs:

Boxes of canned goods – that green box is full of them even though it looks like it only contains potato chips – extra bags of potatoes, paper towels, oatmeal, etc. We have far more potatoes than we need because it looked like they were ‘unavailable’ on the original order, which is why Don went to our farm stand, and when the grocery order arrived, there were two bags we didn’t expect! From no potatoes to an overabundance of potatoes.

Every time Don has to go upstairs for something, he says he’s going to our corner store.

Crazy times we’re living in. We keep saying that to each other. Absolutely crazy and, a mere month ago, unthinkable.

I’m still reading Wildfire at Midnight, though I should finish today. I must mention this about Mary Stewart’s writing. She writes so beautifully and descriptively about place. This particular book takes place on the Isle of Skye amidst mountains and crags and waterfalls and her descriptions are so vivid, so evocative, that I am completely there in my imagination. I can see it.

This is something I didn’t appreciate as much when I was a teenage reader of her books, but boy, do I appreciate it now. She was an exquisitely gifted writer and it’s such a pleasure to read her books again – this time as a much  older reader.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: books, flowers, food, garden, reading, social distancing 83 Comments

Day Two

March 15, 2020 at 10:53 am by Claudia

I made sure to buy some tulips during our last trip to the grocery store. I’d prescribe a bouquet of flowers to everyone who is at home, waiting this out. In our area, the landscape is still dull and brown, with tiny bits of green emerging, though not enough to change the view. Flowers help a great deal.

More and more news emerging. Paris! No cafés open, Shakespeare and Company closed; it’s truly hard to imagine. Cafés are such a huge part of the everyday life of Paris; they’re everywhere, they’re open into the wee hours, I simply can’t imagine them empty.

Our library is closing for two weeks as of Monday. Thankfully, they gave us a heads up, allowing time for people to stop by and stock up on books.

Don got an email from his agents yesterday. The woman who heads the agency said that every working client, whether in television, film, or the theater, has been laid off. No one  is working. That means the agency is not making any money. So, to remain solvent, she’s had to lay off the other agents for a few weeks and she’ll man the office and also work from home. Every actor, writer, and director either lost their jobs or is being laid off indefinitely. It’s so hard to get a job as an actor. You finally get one and you’re laid off.

I know that we’re not special – this is happening to everyone on some level. But to those who are working and still being paid and can work from home, you’re very fortunate. Actors and dancers and musicians and singers cannot do that. Their work ultimately depends on a live audience. And live audiences are now a health risk.

It was interesting here yesterday. Even though I’m a homebody and can easily spend days at home without going anywhere, I discovered that staying here of my own free will is very different than knowing I have  to stay here. Suddenly, I was restless. I know that I’ll get used to it, but it was telling. I want staying home to be my choice. When it’s not, I get a wee bit edgy.

We’re reading, listening to music, Don is practicing his guitar, I’m cleaning and doing laundry and spending too much time online. But I’ve found that Instagram is rather comforting – I really get a sense of camaraderie there – we’re all in this together.

Anyway, my friends, hang in there.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: flowers, Paris, social distancing 65 Comments

Flowers, Dinner & A Father Memory

March 6, 2020 at 10:39 am by Claudia

A trip to the grocery story had an added benefit: more tulips. I bought two bunches because they were on sale. The other vase is in the living room on the stereo. Don has declared that we must always have flowers on the island. Happily, I always want to buy flowers, so now I don’t have to feel guilty.

We had dinner with Rick and Doug last night at a favorite restaurant. We haven’t been there in a long time. It’s a local German restaurant that is always packed. There isn’t a whole lot on a standard German restaurant menu that I can eat, as it’s usually meat, meat, and more meat. But this place is special; they always have at least two or three vegan/vegetarian options and those options are not boring. They’re like nothing I’ve ever eaten. So, so good! It’s a smart business decision because we’re near a college town, there are lots of young rock climbers that come up for the weekend throughout the year, and many of them are vegetarians. Last night we had Spaetzle Primavera: Homemade German egg noodles tossed with fresh vegetables, grana padano cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto & cream. Oh my heavens, it was delicious! And I brought my leftovers back home and will have them for lunch today.

One interesting thing that happened when I was reading Year of the Monkey  by Patti Smith this morning. I read this passage, written when she was in Lisbon:

“On a twilight walk a strain of music drifts through the old city, evoking the low, sonorous voice of my father. Yes, Lisbon Antigua, a favorite of his. I recall as a child asking him what the title meant. He smiled and said it was a secret.”

I have my own father-memory of that song. Years ago, when I was visiting my parent in their first retirement home in Rogers City, MI (way up at the top of the Lower Peninsula, on Lake Huron) the three of us were playing a game at the kitchen table. We often did that in the evening. Mom always had the radio on, tuned into an Easy Listening station. (That accounts for my vast knowledge of singers and song titles from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I grew up listening to that kind of music.) Anyway, a piece of music came on that I had heard before, many times. I didn’t know the title, so I asked my parents if they knew. Dad immediately responded: Lisbon Antigua. This particular, and most famous version of the popular Portuguese song, was by Nelson Riddle.

That has always been a strong sense memory for me; the room we were in which was a little nook off the kitchen, the sound of the radio, the fun we had together playing games, the happiness that my parents finally had living in a small town in Northern Michigan which had always been their dream, the luxury and, I realize now, great gift of being able to stay with them for a several weeks while I was off for the summer from my teaching duties at Boston University. I think about it often and have shared that memory with Don in the past. So coming upon this passage about Patti, her father, and Lisbon Antigua  was a marvelous sort of synchronicity. (Is that the right word for it?) Both Don and I have felt that synchronicity at times while reading her books.

It sort of made my day.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: books, Dad, Don, flowers 27 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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