Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

A Moth & Embroidery as Meditation

August 12, 2011 at 2:13 pm by Claudia

A wee little moth was resting on one of my Brown-Eyed Susans the other day. And why not? Every creature needs to rest. I took this on the Macro setting. He was so tiny that I wasn’t even sure he was a moth at first.

I’m getting read to start on this sampler designed by Rebecca of Drop Cloth. I’ve had it for months and just never got around to it. It’s called the Cake Sampler and was inspired by a vintage cake decorating book. If you remember, I embroidered another of her samplers last year:

I really love her designs – she has another one coming out on Monday. I think I need some calming, meditative handwork to get me through these worrisome days. Dad spoke to both Meredith and me last night, in tears, about having to make some sort of decision about Mom’s care. He cannot be the primary caregiver any longer – it is simply too much for him. His heart is breaking. They’ve been together over 65 years and she is the love of his life. Our hearts are breaking, too.

I think some embroidery is in order.

I’ve enlarged the size of my photos. What do you think – are they too big? Let me know.

Have a good weekend.

Filed Under: Dad, embroidery, garden, mom 27 Comments

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

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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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