Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A River, A Book & A Movie

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From our morning walk, which, even though early, was pretty humid.

Literally just down the road from us. The same river that is also just across the street from us.

We live in a beautiful place.

88 degrees and humid today. And tomorrow. And Saturday. Yikes. I do my best to refrain from turning on the air conditioner until it becomes unbearable. It’s nice to get some fresh air in the house before we have to close it up.

I guess we went right from rainy spring to hot and humid.

We watched a foreign movie last night on Netflix: Todos lo saben – or Everyone Knows. It stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, two extremely talented actors who happen to be married to each other in real life. I won’t give away the plot. It’s terrific – beautifully filmed and a gripping story line. It was so powerful for us that we talked about it for an hour this morning over our second cup of coffee and we’re going to watch it again tonight. The cast, most of whom I’m unfamiliar with, is uniformly excellent. There’s something about watching a foreign film, where most of the actors are unknown to you, that allows you to sink into the plot. Not that American actors aren’t talented, they are, but there’s so much ‘image’ and ‘celebrity’ larger-than-life stuff that you already know about them and you can’t help but be aware that it’s Julia Roberts, say, or George Clooney, playing a role. It’s not fair to them, of course. It’s just the way it is.

Anyway, it’s quite well done. Excellent.

I’m about midway through The Diary of a Bookseller  and I’m really enjoying it. The author is slightly irascible in a wonderful way and his observations about the book trade, customers and the looming threat of Amazon are edifying. I find myself chuckling out loud frequently.

Happy Thursday.

 

Wednesday

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You can see some of the yarrow that is growing in the corral. It’s taller than this now, as this picture was taken last week. Interestingly, it has self-seeded on either side of the path that the dogs created. And that we use, as well. The path isn’t marked. It just is, and it’s as if the yarrow knew that.

Very hot and humid here in the Hudson Valley. We had very heavy rains yesterday morning (of course we did, the hydrangeas had just bloomed – another unwritten rule) but we managed to escape the thunderstorms predicted for the afternoon. I stayed indoors reading. As with the day after all ‘big events’ a slight feeling of letdown permeated the day. I was slightly irritable, my allergies were a pain in the tush, I didn’t know what to do with myself. And, most importantly, I couldn’t get those children being held in detention, aka concentration, camps at the border out of my mind. I can’t write about it. I’ll cry. It’s all I’m thinking about right now. And trying not to think about.

I was stationed on the sofa in the living room, reading The Diary of a Bookseller, which I’m really enjoying.

We installed the air conditioner in the office this morning. We’d held off on that one but it’s been really, really warm in there and I have lots of plants scattered around the room. Plus, Don keeps his guitars there. Too much heat isn’t good for them.

We’re going to take a little walk as soon as I finish this. We keep forgetting to do that and I want us to get back on track. Books, blogs, guitars, gardens – we’re quite easily distracted and, before we know it, the day has passed without a walk.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Glorious Saturday

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It is such a gloriously beautiful day out there that I’m going to make this post short and sweet. We just came in from sitting on the porch with our second cup of coffee and, after the constant gray skies and rain, this weather is like manna from heaven. I know that many of you understand because you’ve been dealing with the same thing. Rain almost every day since April. Three months of it. And, of course, we’re getting more later this week. But in the meantime, I’m feeling a slight breeze, the sun is shining, there’s no humidity, the birds are singing, two little rabbits were eating outside the kitchen this morning, the wind chimes I inherited from my mom and dad are tinkling softly, the gardens are lush and beautiful (and need weeding, but we won’t go there) and I plan to mow, which I love.

All good on this Saturday. And all desperately needed. I do feel that it restores my soul.

I looked down at the doves – they’re right next to my seat on the porch – and it looked like they were munching on the geraniums. Had to take a picture.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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