Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

Dare I Call It A Potting Shed?

April 21, 2022 at 8:37 am by Claudia

A few weeks back, Don came home with something in the back of his car. He found it on the side of the road and thought that it might be something I could use for potting my plants. Since it is fairly lightweight, I quickly realized it was a no-go for the porch. We get a lot of wind.

But, we were about to wash the walls and the floor in the shed and once we rearranged things, I was pretty sure I knew where it would go. And yesterday, it all started to take shape.

His discovery alongside the road? The utility tub.

You know, Don amazes me sometimes. That he would see this and immediately think of me, gardening, and potting plants just boggles my mind! I was surprised when I first saw it, but I must admit, my mind immediately started thinking about what I could do with it.

For now, this is the way this potting area looks. What I would love to find eventually is an old workbench of some kind to place on the right of the tub. But this will definitely do in the meantime. The garden tools, snow shovels, rakes, etc., are on the opposite side of the shed.

We’re doing a little ‘decoration’ as well. Some antique locks and hinges are on display on the back wall. I’ll take a picture of that area soon. It’s still a shed, but dang if isn’t a lot more spacious than I thought it was.

I’ve had the shelf for a long time. It used to be on the wall in my studio when it was under the skylight. It’s not the strongest piece, but it could definitely hold packs of seeds and a few tools. I’d also love to find some really cheap framed prints of flowers and botanicals. Nothing too precious, of course, because it is, after all, a shed.

Before we rented the dumpster this shed was so full of stuff that we could barely get in there. I would have to crawl over things to find my pots.

You have no idea.

That’s why I keep marveling at how spacious it is in there!

By the way, we have no water access in the shed, but Don urged me to put the faucet on the sink ‘for the look of the thing.’

Isn’t it neat? I have my own little potting shed!

I’m going move the trash can that holds my potting soil to the shed. It’s currently on the porch. But first, I have to buy some fresh potting soil and some plants – I haven’t done any of that yet because it’s been too cold. But, as of today, freezing nighttime temperatures are a thing of the past, so I can finally get going.

Today, I’m going to start clearing out the garden beds – my first pass.

We worked outside for about 2 – 3 hours yesterday and we were tired. So we’re being very careful to pace ourselves. But, boy, is it wonderful to be outside again.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, gardening 28 Comments

Upstairs in the Cottage

April 20, 2022 at 9:29 am by Claudia

I happened to look up at just the right time. This is the schefflera that is across the room on the sideboard.

I added a Wallace Nutting to this wall in the den.

And here’s a view of the hall upstairs, where I used to have my studio. It’s changed a great deal since then.

These days, Don’s dresser is in the niche under the skylight. We added the framed posters that we rediscovered when we had the big shed clean out. On the left near the dresser is a reprint of a London Underground poster – The Playgoer Travels Underground. It’s very Twenties/ArtDeco – a period I’ve always been drawn to. I bought it in London in 1991. On the right, a poster I’ve had even longer – since the late Seventies. It’s from a production of The Mikado that was done at the Stratford Festival in Canada. As I played Katisha in a production of The Mikado  many years ago, I wanted to see Stratford’s production and it was brilliant. It’s faded a bit over the years, but the graphic design remains incredibly striking. I distinctly remember getting both of these framed during the first year I lived in San Diego, when I could finally afford it.

That bookshelf is a vintage and handmade find. I bought it about 4 or 5 years ago at a local antique shop. It holds all my vintage children books, some of which were my mom’s, and my vintage Nancy Drew collection. My dad’s lead Model-T car is there, as well as a train car he made many years later.

I’ve obviously never seen a shelf like this one – it’s truly one-of-a-kind. This young girl – Martha Jane – seems to be dressed up in a nurse’s uniform.

The pine piece functions as our linen closet since we have none. You can’t see the stacks of books that are piled on top of it – all of them read by Don or me. My dress form is to the right of that, as well as a couple of tripods and my vintage wire laundry basket.

Today we’re going to do some initial work outside. Since it’s going down to 32 degrees tonight, I’m not going to start uncovering the garden beds until tomorrow when the danger of a freeze is gone for good.

Such a late spring this year!

But I’m really ready to get the glider and chair cushions out of the closet under the stairs (currently hidden by the egg cup cubby,) do some more sorting in the shed, move the vintage wrought iron chairs back to the Secret Garden – that kind of thing.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: cottage, garden 28 Comments

Idling Until I Can Actually Do Some Gardening

April 18, 2022 at 8:44 am by Claudia

The crabapple blossoms opened a couple of days ago. We have several crabapple trees on the property and the look of the blossoms vary from tree to tree. But this is always the first one to bloom.

It’s sunny today but we’re to get a little snow tonight – about an inch at most and it will be gone quickly. I can count on about 3 fingers the number of times we’ve had snow during the first week in April. We’ve been living in New York for 20 years, so that tells you it’s rare. But mid-April? I can’t swear to it, but I think that’s never happened. Anyway, it’s went down to 29 degrees last night. From the looks of the forecast for the week ahead, it won’t go below freezing again.

Between babying my back and the bizarre weather we’ve had this month, I really can’t begin to clear the garden beds until mid-week. I don’t think I’ve ever waited this long.

We had a low-key day yesterday. Since it’s only the two of us, we don’t do anything special. We don’t eat meat, so it was the usual vegetarian dinner for us. (I try not to write about my feelings on this subject here. Suffice to say, I’ve been a vegetarian for 35 years.)

Don did make a sugar-free apple pie, so we had a nice warm piece for dessert. Delicious!

I did a little tour of the office/studio on IG the other day. Would you be interested in seeing those photos here on the blog? Let me know. I’d be happy to share them with you. What can I say, I was bored and restless so I started taking pictures!

I am in the middle of The Sea of Tranquility  and I love it. I am a big fan of Emily St. John Mandel. Station Eleven  was my introduction to her writing and it was excellent. I remember I borrowed it from the library and immediately after finishing it, I wanted to buy a copy so I could have it in my library. Note to self: You still haven’t done that. Get on it.

A couple of you asked what book I bought the other day. This is it. It came out in hardback when we were in the early days of lockdown and everyone raved about it. It’s supposed to be very funny. I held off on purchasing it for some reason and then, over time, forgot about it. But there it was, on the fiction shelves at Barnes & Noble, so I grabbed it.

Most of my TBR pile is now on top of my bookshelf in the bedroom, but I do keep 3 or 4 books in the den – a little pile on the floor in front of the dollhouse. That’s where Fleishman is in Trouble  lives.

Alright my friends. I have to help Don tape an audition, so I have to get going.

Oh, I forgot! Don posted a song that he wrote about me on YouTube. If you want to hear it, here’s the link.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, vegetarianism 32 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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