Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Some Flowers & a Birthday

July 31, 2011 at 8:49 am by Claudia

Despite an erratic sleep schedule and some mental fuzziness (only a little), I am feeling much better. I really hit a turning point a couple of days ago. Thank goodness! I can sleep in any position, do some moderate housework and take a walk in the garden, as I did this morning.

Queen Anne’s Lace just about ready to unfurl.
More Queen Anne’s Lace
David Phlox – luckily, I had two plants and the deer left this one alone.
Purple Coneflower

One of you asked why I wasn’t taking pain meds. Of course I was taking pain meds! They were a great help but didn’t take all the pain away and I didn’t want to be on them 24 hours a day. The good news is that I was able to stop taking them on Thursday and everything is much better. I think that because the surgery is laparoscopic, it seems like it will be a piece of cake. And it might well be, save for the pumping of  gas into the abdomen. It’s a necessary evil but the side effects can be quite painful. I heard from several bloggers who had this surgery or some other abdominal laparoscopic surgery and suffered the same kind of pain.

Enough about that. I want to try and focus on the good stuff. Don is going to take me for a drive today because I am definitely suffering from cabin fever. And today is my mom’s 84th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Filed Under: garden, mom 30 Comments

We’re Having a Heat Wave….

July 21, 2011 at 5:01 pm by Claudia

It’s 97 degrees right now. Weather.com says it feels like 104. These plants are in the shade. I hope they’re holding up in this onslaught of heat. I watered at 6:30 this morning and I just got in from dunking my impatiens in lots of water.

We’re staying inside.

I did venture out this morning, along with my husband, to meet the surgeon. I really like him. He’s straight forward, honest and funny. He started off by telling me he no longer has a gall bladder.  I told him that was comforting – not that I wished him ill – but because he’s dealt with the same problem. Plus, he was wearing the coolest shoes. So cool that I had to comment on them. He’s got style. Which is more than I had in my khaki shorts and t-shirt.

We chatted about my earlier stay in the hospital and then he completely surprised me by saying, “Let’s take it out on Monday.” This Monday? Yep. Gulp. Alrighty… let’s go for it. So tomorrow I go back to the hospital for blood work. And then I call them tomorrow night to find out at what ungodly hour they want me there on Monday morning. Hopefully, if all goes smoothly, I’ll be home the same day.

I’m more than a tad nervous. As I said before, I haven’t had any surgery since I had my tonsils removed when I was 8. And then I had a reaction to the ether. Yes, ether. That’s what they used in those days. By the way, when I was under anesthesia for my procedure 3 weeks ago, I apparently shouted out to my husband, “Pray for me!” and then I stuck my arm up in the air with the index finger pointing upward and shouted “Our adventure continues!”

I have no memory of that. God knows what else I said in front of the hospital staff. I told Don to get ready for more Claudia quotables.

I’m sure I’ll spend the weekend being nervous. Good thing I have another thriller to read in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. I am telling you – you cannot put these books down. I’m addicted. I’m on my 4th and I think he’s written 14. Whoopee – what fun it will be to read them all!

Stay cool, everyone.

Filed Under: dogs, flowers, garden, summer 49 Comments

Around and About the House

July 13, 2011 at 12:04 am by Claudia

Around the house:

Scout, with her heart-shaped spot, happy happy on the porch.

For some reason, white impatiens have been hard for me to photograph in any detail. Aha! Got one.

The wrought iron thingy has moved outside for the summer. I like it out here on the porch.

Our hostas are bigger than ever this year because of all the rain. Especially the one on the right which was long established when we bought the house. I love hostas.

At the last minute, I decided to join up with Where Bloggers Create this Friday. I wasn’t going to, but then I realized that the space had changed a lot since last year. So I ran around the house, snapping photos.

Somehow I got this shot – sort of looks like a lightning bolt of inspiration, doesn’t it? Too bad I’m not in the chair to benefit from it!

Any ideas for a caption? If you do have one, please share it with us.

I have my doctor’s appointment this afternoon. We’ll talk gall bladders and possible surgery and I’ll have a lot of questions. I’m off to bed now with a new book to read. I’ve just finished two Lee Child mysteries. Wow. These books are real page turners. I have to look for more in the library.

Filed Under: flowers, garden, Scout, studio 23 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.

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