Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

A Little Tour of the Porch

June 9, 2022 at 9:40 am by Claudia

I took a few pictures of the porch area yesterday, since some of you had mentioned wanting a little tour.

In no particular order, here we go!

Our weathered former kitchen island. I know some of you preferred it in its previous pristine white, but I really love the way the way the elements have had their way with it. I love chippy.

The Boston fern is barely hanging in there since it had an unfortunate encounter with an unexpected hard frost while I was away in Brooklyn. I’m hoping it will recover after a nice long summer outside.

Just to the right of the entrance. The purple coneflowers have spread even more this year. We’re going to have masses of them. That’s the entrance to our basement and beyond that, the picket fence we recently added.

We figured out that we’ve had this glider for over 25 years. Don found it by the curb when we were living in San Diego. He paid $25 for it, so that works out to $1/yr. A bargain. We love it so much!

The vintage and rusty wrought iron planter I will never regret buying. I love it.

I had to wait until the impatiens had grown a bit.

It’s not really that different from other years, although I usually buy 3 of the purple hanging plants. But they’re expensive, so I just purchased one this year. The other hanging plants are full of impatiens. I usually buy one flat and from that I plant all the pots and the hanging pots as well.

We were chatting about the porch the other day, remembering that the moment I saw it, I wanted the house. Don’s selling point was the high ceiling in the kitchen. Mine was the porch. I grew up with a porch, which seemed big to me at the time, but was much smaller than the one we have now. Our neighborhood was full of porches and I have fond memories of playing, reading, chatting, and conversing with our neighbors – all from that porch.

We also had a porch on the house we rented in San Diego – which is why Don bought the glider. It was lovely as well, though I was so busy in those days that I didn’t get to use it as much as I would have liked.

And now we have this beauty. An extra room from April until November.

We’re grateful.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden, porch 47 Comments

Slow Sunday

June 5, 2022 at 9:02 am by Claudia

The Farmer’s Market was slow yesterday. They’ve moved it from the charming little street it was on  – where there was a lot of foot traffic – to a parking lot. I suspect the decision had to do with Covid and space and 6 ft between people, etc., but it makes it hard for Don to find anything interesting for a background when he takes his pictures. He did okay, but here’s hoping the crowds increase.

I did some work outside yesterday in the area where the Annabelle hydrangea is and where the rose bush I removed was. I pulled weeds and added some mulch. Then I grabbed the lawnmower and mowed the back forty. It was quite breezy when I was mowing and I felt sort of exhausted and awful afterwards, so I think the pollen flying around hit me hard.

Consequently, I’m tired today and feel sort of foggy and it’s taking me a long time to wake up.

So I’m going to hang out at the cottage today and read. I might rouse myself to wash the sheets and do a little work on the puzzle. I definitely need another cup of coffee, which I’ll make right after I finish this post!

It will be an easy-going Sunday.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 22 Comments

Wildflowers and Egg Cups

May 27, 2022 at 9:56 am by Claudia

Running a little late today! I was awake for several hours in the middle of the night, but, thankfully, I went back to sleep. I slept until 8:30! Unheard of. So I’m inhaling my coffee in order to wake up enough to write a post.

It’s going to rain today – maybe some storms, as well

Boy, this time of the year is so lush and green and wildflowers are everywhere. I have more fleabane and wild phlox than ever before. I walked around the property yesterday and found wild phlox in little pockets where it has never been before. I love that. Mother Nature is establishing little gardens for me that are full of unexpected delights.

I love my home and gardens.

Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can’t Stop Talking   arrived in yesterday’s mail. I can’t wait to start it. Another jigsaw puzzle also arrived because I just can’t paint at the moment and after the news of the tragedy in Uvalde and, now, the inaction of the police, I am so full of rage and despair that I think a little puzzle action is needed. It calms me. This time, I am going to be very careful with my back.

Yesterday Don and I went on our monthly date for Five Guys french fries. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s such fun. We have great conversations while sitting in the car eating the fries, and we people-watch as well. But first, we visited Barnes & Noble where I found the new issue of Country Living.

A lovely group of egg cups; simply but beautifully staged. In the top row, second from the left, is my Jadeite egg cup. And in the bottom row, third from the left, is my Delft egg cup from Holland. I didn’t think much about it beforehand, but I’m so glad they included it. My mom gave it to me. When she heard I was starting a collection of egg cups, she started looking for them when she was out and about. This was one of her finds. So it is very dear to me.

It’s a full page in the magazine, so I’m pleased. Don wants me to frame it and I think I will.

Today? I’m taking it easy. I have lots of books to read: I’ve currently got three going, which is rare for me.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Don, egg cups, flowers, garden, wildflowers 28 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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