Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

On Sunday

June 17, 2012 at 9:39 am by Claudia

Yesterday morning, I woke up way too early. But the upside was that I could spend some quiet time on the porch.

Unfortunately, I spied a busy wasp or two building a nest way up on the porch ceiling. This happens every year – wasps love our wooden porch. So far, they’ve been too busy building to be concerned with me. As much as I love nature, I think the nest will have to go.

Can you find my lens cap in the picture? I swear, that lens cap ends up in too many pictures. Or I misplace it. Later in the day, Don found it on the driveway as he was getting ready to go to work.

Let’s see. What else is new? I’ve planted two pots with Purple Hyacinth Bean vine. They are on either side of the little gate we use to get to the kitchen door. As you know, the dog corral, as we call it, is made out of chicken wire fencing. Practical, but not too pretty. So I’m hoping I can grow a vine that will eventually cover up some of the fence. I’ve also added a wee, narrow bed in front of another section of the corral fence in which I’ve planted seeds for zinnias and sunflowers. They’re just now emerging from the ground.

The main garden bed is lush and green. I shot this looking down on the bed from the patio area. There are the two pieces of the birdbath that was broken last year during Hurricane Irene.

What else? Oh yes, it’s Fathers Day. The father in this household is still sleeping and I have to sneak out and buy him some donuts. (He loves donuts.) Scout and Riley will give him a card. I took this picture of Scout about a week ago and entitled it “Is that Daddy?” This is the look she has on her face in the morning when she thinks Don is about to come downstairs.

Looking toward stairs.

Then, when she hears him, it becomes this:

Happy Fathers Day to my dad and to my doggies’ dad!

Happy Sunday.

Linking to my pal Elaine’s Sunny Simple Sunday.

Filed Under: garden, porch, Scout 24 Comments

Potpourri: Garden, PicMonkey, Etsy & Parsons

June 16, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

Okay. The time for frolicking is over, Claudia. Your friends have departed. Back to work.

You know what’s pathetic? After the four of us spent our first day together on Wednesday, I couldn’t get to sleep. I was just like a kid that has been overstimulated. That gives you an idea of how exciting my life is on a daily basis. Two friends come to visit and I get overexcited.

Yikes.

Have you noticed that my Etsy widget isn’t up? Meredith and I are taking a break for the summer. There’s not much happening at the moment and we figure the break will give us some time to make new inventory. And rest our aching wrists and hands. And in my case, feet. But that’s from too much mowing with not enough arch support. I have to do something about that, pronto.

By the way, I took the above photo at our local nursery with my iPhone. This gorgeous butterfly was hovering over a hanging plant and I had to get a picture. What a beauty! And do you see the way it’s framed? I noticed that PicMonkey has a new frame available and I had some fun with it. It’s called Craft Scissors. There are a lot of different options. Here’s one:

That’s our shed, framed with one of the Craft Scissors options. The window boxes are planted with impatiens and vinca. The climbing plant is a Climbing Hydrangea. I’ve had it in that bed for over 4 years – maybe five – and while it grows like the dickens, it has never bloomed. I read somewhere that it takes 3 or 4 years to bloom, but I suspect it simply doesn’t get enough sun. I added some baby hostas this year in the bed on the right. Clearly, the shed needs a new paint job, but it’s not on my priority list.  I sort of like the weathered look.

Every year some of that vinca that’s growing in the window box on the left gets so long that it seeds itself in the ground.

This year it bloomed. Thank you vinca! This photo has been given another Craft Scissors frame.

And this yarrow that has started to self-seed all over the property (this one is between the big planting bed and the funky patio) is framed in another Craft Scissors cutie-pie frame.

Go check it out. PicMonkey is adding new options fairly frequently.

We’ve had some beautiful weather the past 3 days and it looks as if (crossing fingers) it’s not going to rain for several days. I know many of you would give anything for some rain and I wish I could send some your way. Nonetheless, we’ve had quite a bit of it lately and a wee break is welcome.

By the way, next week Don and I are going to see my former student and good friend Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory) perform on Broadway in Harvey. Jim and I have been chatting back and forth via email and I can’t wait to see him again. I have an enormous soft spot for Jim. Okay, I’ll be honest: I adore him. It should be fun!

Filed Under: blogging tips, etsy, garden, Jim Parsons, theater 26 Comments

Between the Cracks

June 14, 2012 at 8:53 am by Claudia

My little volunteer impatiens are blooming! Yes, right there between the pavers on the funky patio where the usual volunteer is a dandelion, I get to see this delightful surprise. Don’t you love it when something unexpected bursts into bloom? Maybe it’s in a secret place in your garden or on your patio that only you can see. It makes the experience all the more special.

We’re having such a wonderful time with our visiting friends – old friends of many years standing, both in the theater – who now live in Toronto. They know us so well. We can just be ourselves with them, warts and all. The rainy weather broke into sun just as they arrived in town yesterday and today is equally beautiful. Scout and Riley are in heaven as our friends are true animal lovers and have been doting on both of them.

Meanwhile, the spirea and hydrangeas are blooming like crazy. I snuck outside yesterday and took some pictures of the garden.

It’s so nice to see the sun. Hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: friends, garden, Riley, Scout 18 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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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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