Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Day Ninety-Four

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Another beautiful morning here in the Hudson Valley. No rain on the horizon until Friday. I sprayed some deer repellent on the hostas late yesterday afternoon. So far, so good. But I’ll be doing it again after it rains. Every year, I forget about the deer until I see some damage. Then it’s, “Oh, right! I have to spray some stuff on the plants!” Duh. My brain seems to be a sieve lately anyway. Anyone else experiencing foggy brain during lockdown?

C’est fini!

I worked on this a lot yesterday and then, as the end came in sight, I kept going even though I was tired. As always seems to happen, the final pieces – which looked like nothing specific and were therefore maddening – made absolute sense when I figured out where they belonged. But I could only do that when it came down to just a few missing pieces.

This is Don’s favorite so far. He actually suggested framing it and hanging it at the bottom of the stairs. Hmmmm….I guess I’d better slide it onto some foam board while we ponder this. Terri, thank you again for the puzzle; it was a real challenge and so satisfying at the same time.

We just put in a grocery order and will pick it up at 3:30 today. It used to be impossible to pick up the same day. We’re happy campers.

Governor Cuomo has threatened to add restrictions again in NYC due to thousands of complaints about people drinking and congregating on the street sans masks. See? It’s happening here as well. What fools. I hope he comes down hard on them. He said that local governments need to enforce the rules. Mayor de Blasio (not a fan) got defensive. And so it goes.

A new puzzle on the horizon. I’m not sure which one. I received two this past week but I’m also looking at some of the other puzzles Terri sent. A happy quandary.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Day Ninety-Three

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This morning. A gorgeous coolish day.

Also this morning:

The discovery that deer have chomped on our oldest – and biggest – hosta. Darn it! Time for my deer spray. Maybe I can save the rest of it. That big gap of dirt should not be showing.

I suppose it could be the groundhog but my money is on the deer.

We mowed like crazy yesterday, so we are tired today. But it looks lovely out there.

A scene from the porch:

The daisies that Don picked for me? Let’s just say…they stunk. Don first noticed that they smelled like manure. Every time we passed them in the kitchen, that aroma wafted our way. So I put them in a sturdy vase and found this place for them on the porch, where they’re still thriving several days later.

It’s a “take it easy” day today, though I have to wash the sheets and vacuum. By take it easy, I mean no mowing, no major work in the garden. I’ll make up a batch of deer deterrent and spray it on all the hostas. Hopefully, that will keep our little friends from dining on my plants. It’s not as if we don’t have all sorts of other green things for them to eat on this property!

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Day Ninety-One

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One of only two peonies this year. I usually see five or six times as many blooms. The peonies, along with the lilac and the bridal veil spirea all suffered from that late frost we had in MAY, of all things. The other plants seem to be fine. But it really impacted these hard workers.

All that being said, this flower is beautiful and the scent – as always – is heavenly. Don leans down to sniff them when he returns from his morning walk.

Yesterday was crazy – torrential rain and high humidity. I stayed inside except to water the porch plants and take some pictures.

The hollyhock that I planted last year in this galvanized tub came back this year. It’s right by the kitchen door and throughout the winter it stayed there, exposed to all the elements. But some of the leaves never died and I kept seeing new leaves – even in the midst of late winter. Hollyhocks are biennials; they take two years to complete their life cycle. As the weather got warmer, this plant shot up and has three stems.

I don’t mind saying that I’m thrilled, especially since it was in a pot and ignored throughout the winter.

The same thing happened with my lavender, which looked, after being left on the porch throughout the winter, like it was a goner. Closer examination this spring showed a tiny hint of green, so I put it back on the bench on the funky patio. I cut back the part of the plant that had died and waited. Now it’s green and beautiful and growing tall.

You never know, do you?

I saw the groundhog this morning but he had run away by the time I came back with my camera. Also saw a catbird bathing in the birdbath.

A good way to start the day!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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