Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for houseplants

Just Hanging Out

December 14, 2017 at 9:03 am by Claudia

We got up this morning and were putzing around for an hour and a half before we realized it had snowed overnight. I suppose this is what happens when you get up around 6 am and it’s still dark so you don’t open the blinds or the shades and you sit around and drink coffee and look at Instagram so that when you finally get up to open the blinds, you gasp and say “There’s snow on the ground!”

Not all that much fell, but it’s enough for a shovel, and more than in the photo at the top of the post, which was taken a few days ago. By the way, I’m not one who fusses with hiding the cord for the christmas lights. It would be hard to do with this particular tree, but really, I care not one whit if it shows. We all know it’s there, right?

This was a pre-lit tree for a number of years until the lights stopped working. Then I spent the better part of a day prying them off the branches and cursing while I was doing it because it was so hard to remove them. All because I didn’t want to shell out for another tree.

We watched Wonder Woman  last night while eating molasses cookies. I know we’re rather late to this movie, but it was fabulous! Amazingly well done.

The current garden-in-the-kitchen. Actually, there’s more than this. And I moved the dieffenbachia to the sideboard in the living room because the edges of the leaves are getting brown and that is either because I’m not keeping the soil most enough (a possibility) or because of the cold air that blasts into the kitchen when we open the door (a distinct possibility.) So I moved it yesterday.

The flowers-to-be on the sansevieria are growing taller.

On the window sill, the fascinating string of pearls. I love this little succulent.

Since we’re both not working at the moment and Don is finally back home after several months of being on the road in 2017, we are basking in the opportunity to just be. It’s awfully nice and very welcome after a hectic and busy year.

What are you up to? Getting ready for the holidays?

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: Christmas, houseplants, snow 38 Comments

Potpourri on Wednesday

December 13, 2017 at 9:14 am by Claudia

• First of all, bravo Alabama, especially voters of color, who turned out to vote in yesterday’s election! Roy Moore is abhorrent in every way and Doug Jones is an exemplary human being. You done good, Alabama.

• Though houseplants are supposed to be going dormant right now, there seems to be a lot happening here at the cottage.

The grocery-store-rescue maranta has a new leaf emerging.

The monstera deliciosa has a new leaf emerging, which makes me very happy as this plant was extremely rootbound when I rescued it from Terrain.

And new leaves are emerging on the Zz plant. Also seen: new leaves on the pothos that lives on top of the kitchen china cabinet and new leaves on the dieffenbachia.

Oh, it makes this plant mom happy!

• Stella got a little Christmas cheer yesterday:

I was wondering what Don would think, he of the “no plants or flowers on Stella’s shelf” brand of thinking. Much to my surprise, he loves it. Go figure.

• As I did with the tree in the living room, I used a tree skirt made of a piece of barkcloth for this little tree in the den. I’m a lover of barkcloth and I really like the quirkiness of using it instead of something more traditional.

• One of my favorite ornaments.

• It is really cold here today. It was windy all night long and it’s still windy now. The temperature ‘felt’ like 5° this morning when we got out of bed.

But it’s sunny.

• Do you remember Ashley and Pliers, the two horses that we used to visit on our trail walks? They were in extreme peril and the Catskill Animal Sanctuary rescued them last year, which prompted us to join that incredible organization. I just renewed our membership yesterday and came upon this update in the Fall newsletter, Sanctuary Scene:

You may know the story of ancient horse Ashley and her grown son, Pliers. They were neglected and rescued from being shot. Ashley was blind, and Pliers was her fierce protector, frantically circling her and threatening to kick anyone who came close. It was a dangerous situation.  But poor Ashley didn’t have much time left on this earth and was spending her remaining days terrified, walking in frantic circles, and repeatedly falling into holes. Their main source of food was hikers on a nearby trail who would take pity and feed them.

And here’s the miracle. A terrified and neurotic blind horse and her dangerously  unpredictable boy are happy, well-adjusted horses who now approach us, seeking affection. We groom them, we kiss them, they bury their heads into our chests. The extent of their recovery is an enormous and unexpected victory. A true testament to both the healing power of love and the miracles your generosity allows. All hearts yearn to sing: theirs are…for the first time ever.

As I read this to Don yesterday, tears welled up in our eyes. Such a miracle! It came about because a neighbor called the authorities and contacted the Sanctuary, because people cared about Ashley and Pliers and wanted them to be saved. I remember that we weren’t at all sure the Sanctuary would take them on, but they did. Bless them for the work they do, for the lives they save.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: animal rescue, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Christmas, decorating, houseplants, politics, Stella 61 Comments

Shakers of Salt and Zz Plants

December 5, 2017 at 9:38 am by Claudia

I’m still feeling under the weather as all of this crap has gone into my chest. Yuck. It’s just the natural progression, nonetheless, I want it gone.

Poor Don. He comes home, is shocked at the bleakness of the landscape, then we end up having all-day-long-fog yesterday (that never happens) and today it’s raining.

Welcome home, Don!

In Escape to Margaritaville  (musical and  song) Don is the one who sings the line “Searching for my lost shaker of salt” to which the audience responds, “Salt! Salt! Salt!” One of the guys who is part of the musical direction for the show (the same one who helped me get a ticket to Hamilton) gave him a hand painted salt shaker on a piece of wood. It’s really cool looking and we decided we would hang it in the kitchen when Don got home.

We hung it above Stella. We have now come to the conclusion that nothing else should hang there. We had been thinking of a vintage sign, but it would take up too much real estate. The kitchen has lots of windows and those, along with the cupboards and china cabinet, make for not a lot of wall space. This sunny patch of yellow needs to stay relatively unencumbered by ‘stuff.’ Plus, as Don says, then the emphasis is on Stella.

As it should be, right?

By the way, for those of you who claim to have a black thumb, I’ve got just the plant for you. It’s the Zamioculcas zamiifolia  or ZZ plant. (My pal Suzan first recommended it to me in a comment on this blog.) It can take all sorts of neglect and it will keep on ticking. I’m not kidding. It’s got dark green glossy/waxy leaves and it’s very attractive. It even thrives in low light. I have two of them right in front of the big picture window in the den, which, since it gets less light because of the porch roof and is west-facing, stays darkish most of the day.

They’re thriving here. You’d never know there’s a lack of light. I water them once every two weeks or so.

This was taken this morning. Two new shoots are emerging from the soil. It’s really quite amazing. Zz needs even less care than a pothos. And it has a lovely sculptural quality that makes a nice statement.

Anyway, you can get them in big box stores now. I got this one at Lowes. I got the other at a local chain. They’re readily available.

Think about it!

Edited to add: The wildfires in Ventura and Santa Paula are horrific and our friend Vicki’s house is in danger. It sounds dire. Please pray for Vicki and for everyone else in the path of this devastating fire.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: Don, Escape to Margaritaville, houseplants 51 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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