Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

Daffs

May 4, 2024 at 8:33 am by Claudia

A cooler Saturday, which is welcome. Some rain coming on Sunday. Don mowed the large section of the front lawn yesterday. I did some weed pulling and clean up work.

At the end of the day, we were both very tired. I didn’t do all that much, so I am putting it down to pollen and allergies. Because EVERYTHING is bursting forth at the moment. Even the catalpa leaves have emerged – a very tiny version of them, but they’re there.

In the big garden bed. I couldn’t see any buds for the longest time. Finally, one bud emerged. And then, seemingly overnight, flowers everywhere. There’s another patch of these in the woods behind the shed. They’re so lovely.

I’m reading The English Spy  by Daniel Silva. And when I’m finished, I think I will be caught up with this series. I’m not absolutely sure, though. I thought I might have already read The English Spy, but I now realize that wasn’t the case. I also picked up Amor Towles’ newest book, Table for Two, a collection of short stories. I’m not a big short story fan, but I love his writing so much that I’m eager to dive in.

Don was supposed to play a gig today, but the venue accidentally double-booked it, so – no gig. Instead, he will mow the corral and the lilac side of the front lawn. Lucky Don!

Okay. Have to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, reading 12 Comments

Lilacs

May 3, 2024 at 7:50 am by Claudia

It’s been unusually warm this week, but it’s going back to normal today. This morning is sunny, the grass is too long (Don has to mow since my hand is still troublesome,) I’ve planted all my pots except for the ones in the secret garden. The warm temps supercharged all the perennials and they’re growing by leaps and bounds. Every day I see the trees leaf out more and more.

My favorite time of year.

Speaking of favorites:

They’re especially lush this year. And the scent!!!

Don loved filming the other day. It went well and he got home at a decent hour, which is a plus. He’s missed working so much. He says it’s like being home again. It’s a world he knows very well. In fact, this year is the 50 year anniversary of his first SAG job.

There is supposed to be one more episode in June. Fingers crossed!

I found out on Wednesday that my mother’s cousin, Jane, died. Jane was one of my favorite people. She was so kind and warm and generous. We often chatted on Facebook. Jane and my mom were both only children, so they thought of each other as sisters. Jane lived a long and full life. She was 90. But it does feel like the connection to my mother’s family is now gone. Rest in Peace, dear Jane,

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, flowers, garden 12 Comments

Flowers, Working in the Garden, Remembering Mom

April 24, 2024 at 8:49 am by Claudia

Some flowering quince for you today. That particular bush has more flowers on it this year than I’ve ever seen. It’s quite beautiful (but thorny.) I took photos of the lilac buds and a robin’s egg I found on the driveway, but it was so breezy yesterday that everything was moving, so nothing was in focus.

I found the robin’s egg in the middle of the driveway. It had been dropped and you could see the yoke inside. I suppose some bird stole it. It made me sad.

Also found in the course of raking out the area where the weeping willow used to be: the long missing cap to the gas tank on our lawnmower. We looked and looked for it at the time it went missing and couldn’t find it.  So now we have a replacement should we ever lose the current cap that we had to buy two years ago.

We’ve been working a lot outside, I started cleaning out the area where the weeping willow once stood and, much to my surprise, Don jumped in and really did a great job of getting rid of much of the stump and digging out brambles. I got distracted by our neighbor across the street who came over to say hello after the long winter. Right before that, our next door neighbor drove down his driveway and we said hello to him. It’s always this way – everyone sort of retreats for the winter and then we reemerge in the spring. It was great catching up with Laura. We are so lucky to have them for neighbors.

I’ve been raking out more of the garden beds, trimming brambles/wild roses (which grow alarmingly quickly,) yanking little intruders in the big garden bed. I do a little every day. On Monday, we did too much, and then I did even more yesterday, so today is for rest.

We had below freezing temperatures overnight and will tonight, as well. Then, it looks like we’ll stay on the warmer side. I have yet to do anything on the porch – the only summery thing I’ve done is to add the cushion to the glider. No potted flowers or hanging plants yet and I’m thankful there aren’t or I would have been hauling them inside last night.

Today is the 10th anniversary of my mom’s passing. Ten years. How can that be? I miss her so much.

Love you, Mom.

Stay safe.

Filed Under: garden, mom 18 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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