Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for groundhogs

Birds, Groundhogs & Hydrangeas

October 4, 2023 at 8:21 am by Claudia

Early morning in the back forty.

We have another foggy morning today. It’s been that way for the past couple of days. I love it. It’s also been quite warm lately – perhaps a bit too warm! But I’m appreciating it while it’s here, this last little stretch of Indian summer.

We mowed the front lawn on Monday – rather exhausting, as usual. We caught it before it became impossibly long, so that’s a good thing. Still have to mow the corral and the back forty and I have to remember to do another round of weed whacking, but today, later this morning, we head out to get our Covid vaccinations. We’ll be happy to have that done! I expect to conk out later in the afternoon – that has been the only reaction I’ve had with the shots.

I’ve been seeing the groundhog who lives under the shed a lot. He’s eating lots of grass and green things because it will soon be time for him to hibernate and he needs lots of body fat to get him through the winter. I often wonder where all the now grown up babies are. Initially, there were six, but one died. So five babies hung out here for a few months, routinely getting into mischief and driving me more than a little bit crazy, but mostly being adorable and fascinating to watch. Buddy stayed around the longest, but even he eventually took off for parts unknown. I miss them a bit. Where are they? I know they went off to build their own underground homes, but did they go far? Are they in the woods? Or in the field beyond the back forty? Sigh. There always remains the ‘wondering.’

I miss the birdsong, though there are still some birds chirping and calling. I haven’t seen a robin in ages, so I assume they already headed south. I still see goldfinches and sparrows and carolina wrens. The crows seem to be around a lot. And the blue jays.

Lots of squirrel activity as well; gathering and storing nuts for the winter.

The limelight hydrangea, which is now that lovely shade of pink. That bush has grown by leaps and bounds and it’s now huge, Do you see that little white blossom at the bottom? It’s the only one that hasn’t turned pink yet.

I read all your comments about autumn memories. I was just so busy that I didn’t have time to reply. But I loved all the memories you shared. Thank you!

Okay. I have to make the second cup of coffee before we head to the pharmacy for our vaccinations.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: birds, flowers, groundhogs 20 Comments

Critters

August 1, 2023 at 9:29 am by Claudia

A gorgeous eastern swallowtail dining on the zinnias. The sun was shining directly in my eyes, so I couldn’t see much. I just followed the butterfly from flower to flower, hoping something would turn out.

Oh boy. I really worked my butt off yesterday. I pulled weeds, weed whacked, carted buckets of weeds to our debris pile, I pruned and trimmed. And then I mowed the top of the front lawn, which is up the hill and leads to the secret garden. The secret garden was still too wet to mow.

Needless to say, my back is complaining a bit today, but it was so satisfying to finally  get a chance to clean things up out there! Still more weed whacking to do, but the battery died, so I had to charge it. Just as well, as the weed whacker is a bit heavy and I was feeling it. Don mowed the corral and the trails in the woods.

My mom’s birthday was yesterday and the day was filled with memories of her. I miss her.

Today, we’ll take it easy and then tomorrow…back at it.

Groundhog appearance on the porch yesterday. What is the attraction, I wonder? Also, a couple of times lately, I have gone out on the porch around 8:30 pm to put something in the recycling bin and I’ve startled a bird that is resting/sleeping on top of the porch light. I’m going to try to go out there an hour or so earlier. Same thing with the hanging plant. I normally water it earlier in the day but one day I didn’t get to it until late and I startled another bird settling down there for the night. I wonder if there are other pots that provide a bed for the night? There’s probably a whole world of activity I know nothing about.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: birds, butterfly, groundhogs 20 Comments

Random Thoughts on Wednesday

July 26, 2023 at 9:08 am by Claudia

Taken not long after we mowed the entire front lawn yesterday morning.

I pushed for it because I knew we had to get it done before we had more rain and 4 days of very hot weather, starting today. I was right. We had a huge thunderstorm yesterday afternoon – another bout of torrential rain and endless thunder and lightning.

In all my years, and as you know there are a lot of them, I’ve never witnessed so many thunderstorms in the course of one summer. Honestly, we’ve averaged 2 or 3 a week, every week. Sometimes more. Most summers, we get them, yes, but every once in while, not a parade of storms like we’ve had this summer. I’ve never seen anything like it.

I love a good storm, but it’s safe to say that I’m over it. Enough already.

I swear that I can smell smoke out there, but the weather app says nothing about it. No air quality warning. But my sense of smell is pretty darned exceptional, so I won’t be surprised if we get some kind of warning tomorrow. Anyway, we plan on staying inside for the next four days as the heat index will reach the high nineties and the humidity will be off the charts.

Yuck.

I saw Buddy yesterday. He was out and about and at one point,  I had to make an appearance to get him out of the garden. That scamp! I think he might have taken over as the main tenant under the maple tree. I can’t be absolutely sure of course, but he is the only one of the siblings who regularly pops out of that hole.

We finished up the deductions and I sent them off to our accountant out in California. Yay! Done.

I took a minute to take a picture of two of the girls:

Mabel is wearing a new dress from our friend Woolly Rockers who lives in England. This is a ‘hula girl’ dress (check out the pattern) and I love it.

I’m not sure what they’re looking at – the hydrangea? A bird? Our neighbor’s house? Who knows?

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, cottage, groundhogs 16 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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