Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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The Gardens and the Readalong

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White violets in the garden bed on the other side of the house.  They’re quite beautiful this year.

I wandered around with my camera yesterday afternoon so I could have a record of this particular moment in time. It’s good for me. I feel my shoulders drop. Instead of a quick glance, I really see  what has emerged from the ground.

I caught the bridal veil spirea a bit late in its bloom, but better late than never. I love the frothy look of what is usually a random green bush.

We’re laying low this weekend. My back needs a rest, Don’s had a difficult week. I’m working on my puzzle (Klimt) while Don plays his guitar and ukelele. I’m reading a lot as well. Both of us are stunned by Tolstoy’s writing. I’d put him right up there with Shakespeare – truly one of the greatest writers ever. What a gift this readalong is! I’m reading War and Peace – a tome I would normally avoid because of the commitment it requires. But with a chapter a day? No big deal. I love it.

The same man who started this is planning on a readalong next year of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy by Hilary Mantel. In this case, these are books I have avoided because I’m not a big fan of historical fiction. Yet I’ve heard so much praise for her writing, especially in the articles that were written at the time of her untimely death. So I’ll probably do that as well. Next year.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Thursday

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Well, we carted all the plant pots inside for the night – I think there were 19 of them. Don carried the heavy pots from the secret garden. Anyway, it did go down to 31 degrees last night – or rather, this morning at 6 am. I’m glad we did it. That should be it until October. After I finish this post, I’ll start moving them back outside.

Some mowing today, I think. Certainly for the secret garden and the lilac side of the lawn. We are getting rain all day Saturday, which is very welcome, as there is a fire watch because it’s so dry. It amazes me how quickly things can change. It was only a few weeks ago that I was worried about trying to get all the grass mowed between endless rainfall. Don couldn’t do it because of his hand. The rivers were raging, there was flooding. And now, we’re too dry.

I miss my robins.

We finally got the ladder out and grabbed the trailer birdhouse for some cleaning. I dumped all of the old nest material and cleaned the inside. Don placed it back in its little niche in the big maple tree. Something is keeping the carolina wrens from moving back in, so maybe a clean house will help.

I gave Maeve a neck joint last year, but her head has always been a little loose, so I took it apart and tried to figure out the problem. Lo and behold, I think I did. It’s much better now. That called for a fresh outfit and some boots and late afternoon photo session on the porch.

Gosh, she’s photogenic.

That’s it, my friends. It’s cold right now, but it’s sunny.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Lilacs

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They’re slowly starting to open. I managed to inhale a bit of the scent, but once they’re all open – it will be heaven.

Saw a little bunny this morning, which made me happy. But then I saw him/her going toward my garden beds on the side of the house, so I had to make an appearance. Note to self, put up some temporary fencing on that side of the house.

But we’re really happy to see bunnies again – there was a time when Don was a bit overenthusiastic clearing some of the woods because he was into making paths (the joys of lockdown,) and he eliminated some of their habitat. Thankfully, once he saw the light, he let it all grow back and the bunnies reappeared.

Today, I’m going to mow a bit. Don helped me with the front lawn, but I know that doing it makes his hand hurt, so I’m going to tackle the lilac side of the lawn and the corral. I spent some time yesterday watching a robin who was dining near Don’s car. I wanted to see if the robin would fly up to that nest. After a long, long time, the robin did fly to the nest so I know they’re going to use it. That means I’ll have to deal with their angry calls when I mow or go in and out of the shed – all of which I have to do quite a bit during for the next couple of weeks. I work at being very efficient with my time in the shed, doing my best not to stress them too much.

It’s been quite cold the last few nights. Spring is having a hard time deciding what to be. A week or so ago, it was 90 degrees. Last night, it hit 32 degrees. Crazy!

I need to move the egg cup cubby, so I can get the porch cushions out of storage. They’re in a cupboard behind the cubby. And I need to buy more porch plants but I am holding off until the nighttime temps settle down.

And, of course, we’re preparing for Don’s surgery on Friday.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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