Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Giveaway: “Bedrooms” – A Coloring Book by Amanda Atkins

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When I first started blogging over eight years ago, I had no idea if anyone would ever find me on the internet, let alone leave a comment. I really did feel like I was a speck in a vast wilderness. I did what was recommended; visit other blogs, leave a comment, and hope against hope that blogger would return the visit.

One of those bloggers did stop by. In fact, she was my very first blogging friend: Donna, of An Enchanted Cottage. Donna, a fellow Northeasterner, and I share many of the same loves, including nature, gardening, decorating and, above all, animals. We have stayed friends for over eight years and she has been steadfast and true. When Riley died, Donna made a beautiful framed piece based on a photo I had posted of Riley and Scout (my favorite photo) and moved both Don and me to tears. It hangs on my wall just outside my office.

Donna is very talented and is a working artist as well as a the owner of a successful Etsy shop. She has two daughters, both adults now (how did that happen so quickly?) and one of them, Amanda, is also an artist.

Which brings me to today’s post. Amanda has just had her first Coloring Book published by Pomegranate Press! Huzzah!

Bedroom Book cover

Bedrooms – A Coloring Book by Amanda Laurel Atkins.

Amanda and Donna graciously sent me a copy of Bedrooms. You know I love coloring books! I was floored when I first held it in my hands. First of all, it has a hard cover that opens flat. (I don’t see that out there in the coloring book world.) So much easier to color! Each page has a blank page as its back, so no worries about coloring on both sides of the sheet of paper. The quality and heft of the paper is perfect for coloring. And each page is laid out horizontally, rather than vertically, just as the cover indicates. The binding runs right alongside the edge above the title. It is beautifully done.

Amanda Laurel Atkins BEDROOM coloring book sample page 2

A sample page.

Amanda Laurel Atkins BEDROOM coloring book sample page 11

These photos don’t really show the crispness of the lines, but trust me, they are crisp and clear. They’re also not too thick. Personally, I have passed on purchasing certain coloring books out there because the lines are too thick, almost like you’d see in a child’s coloring book. This one is perfect.

Donna and Amanda shared some pages that they colored themselves:

Bedroom Book 1a

Bedroom Book 2

bedroom coloring book ocean view

The illustrations are full of books, paintings, animals, and nature, things that Amanda loves.

I often think about my childhood bedroom, which for a girl who needed a good chunk of alone time, was a refuge that was all mine. I could shut the door and be in a world that was entirely my own. That same feeling is evoked in these illustrations.

Amanda: Bravo! Such beautiful work!

By the way, here’s a bit of information about Amanda:

Amanda Purple shirt summer 2016 Backyard

Amanda Laurel Atkins is an artist and illustrator living and working in Boston, MA. Her work is inspired by the 1950s, architecture, fashion, color, animals, and literature. While her paintings focus on portraits of fictional women, her illustrations span a vast array of subject matter, including the many rooms in Bedrooms. Amanda loves walking and exploring her city and spending time with her family, friends, and all the animals in her life. You can explore her work at AmandaAtkins.com.

You can purchase this delightful book in Amanda’s Etsy shop and at Pomegranate Press as well as on Amazon.

Exciting news! Amanda would like to share one copy of Bedrooms with one of my readers. Isn’t that wonderful?

Here are the rules: Leave a comment on this post before 8 pm on Monday August 8th and I will use Random (dot) org to pick a winner.

In your comment: Tell me what it is about your bedroom that you love.

Good luck! And thank you, Amanda and Donna.

Happy Monday.

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Rain Drops

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And the rain continues. And continues. And continues.

The temps have dropped, it’s much cooler. I miss the sun, but I am fully aware that the rain that I am tired of is the rain that many of you desperately need. So I won’t complain.

One of the perks of rain is getting the chance to photograph rain-drop-covered flowers.

6-2 rain peony 4

The other peony bush is about to pop.

6-2 rain peony 2

6-2 rain peony 3

6-2 day lilies

And look what decided to bloom yesterday… the first of the day lilies. Hello.

It looks to be the kind of day where a good book and a mug of hot chocolate is in order. I have to send off the tickets to the winners of the Country Living Fair giveaway. Congratulations Betsy and Damara! Don is going with me this year (hurrah!) but since he has a wardrobe fitting on Friday for the next episode he is filming of Mr. Robot, we’ll go early Saturday morning.

I’m leaving in less than two weeks for Chautauqua. I’m looking forward to three weeks working and playing in that beautiful community. But I’ll miss my family and the cottage. That’s a given.

The winner of a copy of The Daughter by Jane Shemilt is Kim Stewart. I’ve sent you an email, Kim. Congratulations!

And the third congrats goes to my former student, Chris Nee, who is the creator and Executive Producer of Doc McStuffins. That show just won the prestigious Peabody Award. Bravo!

Happy Tuesday.

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Wild Roses, Bees, Flowers & A Gift

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5-30 wild roses

Please take note: we are celebrating the one time of the year when the thorny plants that live all over the place on this property, which I call ‘brambles’ for lack of a better term, become what they actually are: wild roses. The view from my kitchen window is gorgeous. Fragrant white roses are everywhere.

I think I need to start calling them wild roses, period, no matter what time of year. Because that’s what they are.

5-30 depetaled poppy

I told you that the poppies are short-lived. I walked out to the garden late in the day yesterday and most of the flowers had shed their petals. But isn’t this de-flowered poppy beautiful as well?

5-30 bee and catmint

The catmint is blooming, as well. I have lots of catmint in the big garden bed and also in the side garden. It’s so dependable. I planted myself, camera in hand, snapping countless pictures until I got one of this bumble bee. Those bees are loving the garden.

How are you all on this Saturday morning? It’s beautiful here; sunny, less humid. The lawn has been mowed. The peonies are about to bloom in the next few days. Scout is in the ‘tunnel.’ Don is humming to himself in the living room. I’m drinking my coffee, which tastes especially good this morning.

You know, I am blessed by the lovely people who read and comment on this blog. I almost never get a comment that is questionable or offensive or rude. But I do  get them. In the past week or so, there was a rude comment left on one post. Then, the other day, another one on a different post. Not the same commenter. If you’ve ever read the footer of my blog, you’ve seen my commenting policy: I reserve the right to delete any comment I find offensive, in poor taste, or is bordering on spam. (My spam plugin takes care of all the actual spam.)

In the case of these two separate comments, my first impulse was to respond to the comment, as I do to all comments. And in each case, I came up with a response. Initial response: a sarcastic comeback. Not good, Claudia. Sinking to their level. Edit. Next response: try to be kind. But why am I even taking the time for this nonsense? Finally: I just said “Screw it” and deleted them, along with my responses. I refuse to engage. When someone is deliberately rude or offensive, the right to any sort of debate is forfeited. Gone. Bye bye.

Thank goodness, 99.9% of the comments here on the blog are lovely, intelligent, wise, kind, funny and helpful, to boot. The debate can be lively, but it is always from the heart and respectful.

So, my friends, a big thank you for contributing so much that is good to this blog.

One of my readers sent me a package. Kathy is from Iowa and the contents were Iowa proud:

5-30 kathy's present

From the heart of Iowa: roasted corn, apple butter, candy coated soy nuts, along with a CD and some treats for Scout. What a lovely gift! Don was popping those candy coated soy nuts yesterday. We’ve had the apple butter on some toast (yummy!) and Scout has found her new favorite treat. Kathy thoughtfully chose soft, easily chewable treats and Scout is very grateful.

Thank you so much, Kathy. I love Iowa. I’ve been there more than a few times and it is a beautiful state.

And one more note: I realize that most of you live far away from NY and Rhinebeck, where the Country Living Fair is going to take place next weekend. But if you know of someone who might be interested in attending, please let them know about my giveaway. I’m giving away two pairs of tickets – a really great value – and the deadline for leaving a comment is tomorrow night at 9 pm. Thanks so much! Here’s the link.

Happy Saturday.

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Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

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