Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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The Kids & A Bed

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For most of the day yesterday, there was no sign of the little ones. But later in the day, one guy appeared, and then, a bit later, another.

They’re adorable. They’re finally eating the grass, just like their mom does. They starting to get it. And they’re much braver than they were; more willing to explore new territory.

I’m such a worrier. I worry that they’re okay. I worry when I see just one of them and wonder if this one got separated from the family.

I just plain worry. Ask Don, I’m constantly worried about the little critters around here.

We had a lot of rain last night. Hurrah! And we’re going to get more tomorrow, with thunderstorms. Our flowers and plants and grass and critters are grateful.

Something arrived in the mail yesterday – all the way from China.

This 1:6 scale bed for the girls. Very inexpensive and very well made – from a company called Aizul Homey. I was sure I would have to assemble it, but no, it arrived fully assembled. I’m thrilled with it! It also comes with a mattress and the pillow and cover/comforter. The linen piece under Pip is a napkin that my grandmother embroidered decades ago. I have a lot of her linens. I was thinking of painting the bed, but I actually like the way the gold looks here with the dollhouse wallpaper. I also need more wallpaper for the other wall.

When I realized that one shelf/cubby was going to be smaller than the others, I came up with idea of putting a bed there so we could have a little bedroom. I’m very pleased with the result.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

A Shelf and the Hangout

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A favorite shelf. This one is in the pink cabinet in my office. I especially love that blue and green paper.

If you’re interested, from the left:

Back row: the very old candy box that is the home to all the letters my grandmother and her little sister exchanged when Gram was in nursing school. Rhoda died from the Spanish flu when she was 15, as did the oldest sister, Maggie. Two sisters gone within days of each other.

Next to that is a framed motto about friendship, given to me by Lori, the owner of Vignettes in San Diego.

Next row:

Several pieces of cream-colored McCoy pottery. Sticking out of the piece on the right, a beautiful handmade powder puff by one of my earliest blogging friends. And now, to my embarrassment, I can’t remember the name – wait, it was Lori who had a blog that I loved. She no longer blogs, but I got the initial inspiration about putz sheep from her, as well.

Front row:

A piece of McCoy. Inside is a little plate given to me by my friend Donna. It’s the Claudia pattern. I’m pretty sure it’s Spode.

A Vintage by Crystal girl who reminds me of my mom as a little girl.

A cream-colored McCoy flower pot.

A deer – not sure who made it, but I love it.

Another McCoy flower pot.

A little vintage Christmas elf playing a horn.

Two pieces by Vintage by Crystal.

Another McCoy piece that looks like a gravy boat, but is a planter.

The Smurf was a gift from Michael Ausiello, the author of Spoiler Alert. Those of you who have seen the movie know that Smurfs are a key plot point.

Two Swarovski bunnies from Barbara.

I’ve done this before, but it’s been a while, so I may highlight some other shelves in the near future.

The kids have decided that even though they have a new home, this is their hangout in the afternoon. And sometimes even earlier. Yesterday, I did a lot of chores around the house because Don was out getting an oil change (I always get more done when he’s not here.) I was outside and there was no sign of them, so I thought: Maybe they’re established in their new home!

Nope. A little later, one appeared.

And even later, there were three,  just as there were the day before. I saw one go in the garden, but the other two were dining on the green things near the Funky Patio. I don’t mind that at all. That’s where the rabbit sometimes eats, as well.

Then they just sort of hung out, lazing away on the rocks.

The blue bin lids were my ‘wall’ which we foolishly took down right after mama moved the kids. I retrieved them and leaned them against things, but it was very windy yesterday afternoon and they fell over.

The kids appear unfazed.

By 5:30, they were gone, having headed back to their house. It’s funny to watch them leave, they walk along the side of the house, hugging the wall, hop on top of the door to the basement, go through the gate, then the secret garden, then up the stepping stones to the back forty.

I felt a bit more tolerant yesterday, because they’re so gosh darned cute.

In a month or two, they’ll leave home and establish their own residences. There are babies around here every year, but I’ve only seen them on the part of the property that is nearest to our house twice. The first time, they lived under the shed.

Anyway, all this is to say, that they’ve been here for decades and decades and usually we coexist with them rather nicely. This time, a bit too close for comfort, but we’re okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

Oh Boy.

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Well. Yesterday was quite interesting!

Remember our plan to stay outside in the area where the groundhogs had their den, etc.? We did go outside. After seeing the babies emerging from the tree trunk, we stood on the funky patio and looked at them. They looked at us and I talked to them because they were so adorable. Eventually, I sat on the funky patio, and Don sat on the porch playing his ukelele. Every once in a while, I had to warn the babies to get out of my big garden bed, but mostly, because I was sitting there, they just peeked out at me. By the way, earlier in the morning, they were playing with each other, just like baby puppies or kitties or lions. It was so darned sweet.

Mom was off feeding somewhere, but I couldn’t see her. However, at one point, she whistled sharply in warning. Clearly, she saw me there – not being aggressive of course, just sitting there – but I was near her babies and she didn’t like it. Eventually, I decided to mow the front lawn because it needed it. The grass was 6 or 7 inches long in places. I was trying to outrun some rain that was on the way. Don came out to help me and we stayed on the front lawn and away from the babies. When that was done, we went in the house to shower, etc. Mom had come back to the babies and a few times when I happened to go outside for something or other, I startled her.

A bit later, I happened to look outside and there she was, with four of the babies walking very close to her. She was on the move. I called out to Don and we watched her walk quickly one way and then another, all the time looking for predators. Was she moving the babies? Yes! She moved up through the corral and up into the back forty. There are some burrows up there between our property and my neighbors. That’s where she went. We couldn’t believe it had worked. We really didn’t do anything but stay outside and that – and maybe the noise of the lawnmower – was enough for her.

But what about the 5th baby? A hour or so later, I saw mama back in our yard. I said to Don, “She’s looking for the other baby.” And then I saw a little one coming from the direction of the secret garden. Did this one follow her from their new home or was it the missing baby? Mama went to the tree and the baby joined her there. She was looking into the big garden bed, which was where I was afraid the 5th baby might be. But then she looked elsewhere, several different directions, so I got the feeling she was looking for predators. She moved toward the corral with the baby by her side and then, suddenly, she grabbed the baby by the scruff of the neck (with her mouth) and carried it into the corral. I soon saw her tearing across the back forty, baby in mouth, and she disappeared.

We couldn’t believe it worked! We took down the barriers, put everything away. We were relieved. But we missed them. And we worried about them.,

Never fear. Around 6 pm, I looked outside and three of the babies were eating on our property. I couldn’t believe my eyes, though when I think about it, all of this activity, whether by the house or up on the edges of the back forty, is on our property. It’s not like they moved far away. And one of them was in the darned big garden bed. I had to quickly put some of the barriers back in place. Later, I was outside doing something and I saw two of the babies run through one of my beds to the little gate, then to the secret garden, and back up the hill to their new abode.

So they’re really not gone, just staying in another hotel. I’m still going to have to deal with them! I took a tour of my big garden bed and almost every phlox and coneflower has been chomped on by the deer. It’s very depressing. Between the deer and the groundhogs, I’m sort of giving up on the garden. But not totally. I’m going to spray the deer repellent again today.

Big sigh.

I have to say, both Don and I are in awe of the fierce protection from the mama groundhog. She didn’t like us so close to her babies and she managed to communicate to them that it was time to move. The look on her face was amazing. She was determined to protect her babies and she did that.

She is Mama of the Year.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday,.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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