Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Lavender

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Yesterday was rather a lazy day. I’m not sure exactly why, but several of the items I had on my ‘to do’ list for the day have yet to be done. I felt relaxed and did some reading, listened to music, watched an artist working via YouTube, found a piece of MDF that will support smaller pieces of art to set on the easel. You never known what you’ll find up in the studio – that MDF came from the miniature studio I built for Don. It was meant to be the roof, but I decided not to include it in the project. Happily, it’s the perfect size for the easel!

I’ll take a picture of the easel today. It’s still pristine and untouched, but I do plan on painting today so the breaking in process will begin.

Another gorgeous day out there! Despite my lazy day yesterday, I did prune some bushes and wild roses. They grow so quickly. As you can see, the lavender is starting to bloom. So is the milkweed and the scent is heavenly! Oh my goodness.

I’m making Don get on the ladder to remove some greenery that is currently blocking the entrance to the birdhouse/trailer. I noticed it yesterday. Just in case my pals decide to come back for another round of babies, I don’t want them put off by the changes to the exterior of the residence.

Can you tell I miss them? I really do. The robins not so much…

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Flowers and Painting Flowers

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One more rose for you. This one bloomed this morning. Thank goodness I happened to go outside early this morning and happened to see it, allowing me to snap a picture of its perfection. In a few hours it will look very different. These babies are beautiful, but fleeting.

The hydrangeas are getting bigger and fatter and the spirea that I had to cut back is blooming. I also had to prune some of the hydrangeas. Some heavy snow or ice clearly had its way with them. But they’re coming back rather nicely.

I did some weed whacking yesterday, but only a little; my charged battery had been unused for so long because of the crappy weather conditions that it had lost its charge. How frustrating! But now, it’s fully charged and I’ll finish that chore this morning. Don went on a tear and mowed the entire property. He took breaks, of course, but when I cautioned him about it, his response was that he felt good and was in the mood to mow. Since I’ve given that same response to him many times in the past, I understand.

It’s beautiful today and much cooler.

I started an oil of another piece of Roseville. The subject matter is challenging and I’m enjoying the process. For me, Roseville is the perfect choice for a painting because it’s so lush. Big, blowsy flowers, texture everywhere, and wonderful colors. The vases themselves are works of art.

We’re looking forward to a few days of creative hanging out here at the cottage. Don is writing and recording some music, I’ll be tending the gardens and painting. I still have some more work to do on the latest painting, then I’ll share it with you. I want to do a few more mini paintings, as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Yarrow, Friends, & Chickens

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Let’s face it. Mother Nature is a far better decorator than most of us. Would I have thought of filling this part of the yard with masses of yarrow? No. I merely planted some yarrow years ago which faded away after a couple of summers. Then it turned up on the edge of the chickenwire fence garden. Then in  it. Then one plant cropped up in the Memorial Garden. And all the while, especially after we no longer had the dogs, it started to self seed all over the corral.

Now I have a little meadow of yarrow. It makes me quite happy.

We had a lovely time with Rick and Doug yesterday (and Sam!) The enormity of greeting each other sans mask and with a hug was not lost on us. It’s been a year and a half since we’ve hugged each other – since I’ve hugged anyone but Don. It was truly wonderful. And after acknowledging the moment, we picked up just as true friends do, as if we were continuing a conversation that we’d had the day before. Sam was so happy to see us! Lots of kisses and cuddles.

A big day for us. We are so grateful.

We’re still taking it slow in terms of our reentry, but Rick and Doug were fully vaccinated even before us, so it’s safe. We didn’t feel one qualm about getting together yesterday.

And we sure needed it.

Thank goodness, the humidity has gone away. It was truly horrible yesterday. Just awful. We had some thunder and some rain late in the afternoon. When I went outside this morning there wasn’t a speck of humidity in the air.

I want to get back to painting at some point today. But first, a bit of weed whacking this morning – everything  is overgrown.

I know a lot of us have been dealing with oppressive heat and I hope it has lessened in your neck of the woods.

By the way, our neighbors put up a chicken wire fence along the property line because the chickens kept coming over here, plus it’s difficult for their owner to watch them all the time and she gets concerned about predators. I’ve had to go outside a couple times a day and shoo them away. As they left our property, the rooster would sass me! Anyway, one of the most comical sights lately was the day after they installed the chicken wire and I saw them on the other side of the fence, staring at me, especially Mr. Pickens, the rooster. It’s as if they were saying, “What the ???!?”  They looked like they were in jail.

I could hear Don laughing out loud in the kitchen. They are funny little creatures

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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