Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Green Things

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Before I forget, two things I’ve been forgetting to mention:

Don chopped off almost 4 inches of my hair the other day. (He had my permission, of course.) It looks so much better.

And my monstera plant, which had been in a darkish corner for quite a while until I switched out the table with Don’s studio on it with the monstera so that it could be in front of the window, has given me two new leaves and they are notched! When a monstera doesn’t get enough light, the leaves tend to just be regular old leaves with no notches.

See? The leaf in the lower right hand corner is one that developed when it wasn’t getting enough light. The big leaf is new and beautifully notched. I don’t know what the official term for that is, I just say ‘notched.’ Monsteras are also called ‘Swiss Cheese Plants’ because of those cut-out areas of the leaf.

Anyway, I can’t tell you how excited I am to see it come back strong. Two new leaves have just appeared but they haven’t unfurled yet, so whatever happens will be a surprise. I’m sure there will be a notch or two.

I got this Monstera at a shop where it had been ignored and was dying. It needed to be repotted and given some TLC. It’s beautiful now.

I weed whacked yesterday and helped mow part of the front lawn, but Don did most of the mowing because my muscles were sore from carrying around the whacker.

I had to trim the weeds that come up between the rocks in the rock garden, as well as around the path to the upper level of the yard. The stepping stones had become hidden and covered with slippery moss because of all the rain we’ve had, so I cleared the moss as well.

Also trimmed around the path to The Dude and cleaned off the stepping stones there.

I always say that we are on the ‘edge of wild’ and this picture is a perfect illustration of that.

I read four chapters of War and Peace  yesterday. I was playing catchup but now I’m ahead. A big battle – the Battle of Borodino – is happening and I’m totally into it. I will say once more that Tolstoy is second only to Shakespeare in my estimation. My heavens, he was a brilliant writer.

I’m also reading The Thursday Night Murder Club  by Richard Osman, which is making me laugh out loud. I’m completely charmed by the cast of characters and the dry wit of Osman – who/whom (I’m never sure and don’t bother explaining it to me because I’ll never retain it) I’ve seen a few times on the Graham Norton show from England. I can see why everyone loves this series.

Don is making an apple pie today. Huzzah!

The lilac side of the front lawn will be mowed today – by me. Don’s knees are bothering him a bit and that side of the lawn is fairly easy to deal with. We have rain and storms coming tomorrow, so I want to get that done today.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Some Light for my Monstera and Reading

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As requested, a photo of the new set-up in the living room. It’s very simple, really. We moved the table over to the somewhat dark corner, and the monstera, which had previously been in that same dark corner, is now directly under the window. A couple of the leaves are ready to be removed, but I never like to remove them before it’s time. If I think they’re still living, they stay. I’ve also found a way to hike up the leaves that are nearly touching the coffee table. So, it looks better than this photo indicates. I know the light will make a huge difference. The monstera stopped producing split leaves because it wasn’t getting enough light. I also trimmed the aerial roots, which were longer than I knew. They had even found their way to the cracks between floor boards! Since the plant was back in the corner next to Don’s chair, I never saw the roots going crazy. The rubber plant is getting about the same amount of light that it did when the table was under the window, so it will do just fine.

I’m getting close to finishing the latest Louise Penny, which is excellent. I expect nothing less. The plot is fascinating and Penny writes with a combination of compassion and an unflinching awareness of the brutality in the world. It is precisely this blend that makes every one of her novels so powerful.

What next? I’m not sure. I have lots of TBR books upstairs (and downstairs, for that matter) that I’ve been thinking of. I also want to reread one of my favorite authors: Canadian author,Robertson Davies. I read all of his books, especially his trilogies, well over 30 years ago and I’ve been craving the chance to read them again at my ‘advanced’ age. If I keep thinking of some book, it’s definitely a sign that I need to read it. Also want to read Underland  by Robert Macfarlane. It’s a work of non-fiction about our planet and I’ve had it on my pile upstairs since last year. Time to read it. I’m in the queue at the library for the new Deborah Crombie, but I expect I won’t be seeing a copy of the book for a few weeks.

Don just made pancakes, which I love, but usually immediately regret eating because I get sleepy afterwards.

Still – I ate them.

He also made an apple pie yesterday which we will partake of this afternoon.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

A Very Cold Saturday

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My parents’ 45+ year old sansevieria is blooming again. There’s another stalk in the back that already bloomed. The scent is heavenly but it is most powerful at night. One year there were three separate stalks, but usually there are two. I like to think of them as Mom and Dad paying a visit.

It is extremely cold here today. It took a long time for the house to warm up. It’s going to stay that way through Tuesday, so we’re in for some Wintery temps.

But it’s sunny today. Tomorrow, rain, sleet, some snow, and ice. Oh, goody.

Other than that, which goes with the territory in the Hudson Valley, Don is going to brave the cold and recycle this morning and I’m going to work on a few little projects. We’re trying to keep busy while we try to come to terms with the precarious health of Don’s best friend, who is also my very good friend. We love him dearly and, try as we might to distract ourselves, our thoughts are with him. As they should be.

So here’s something cute and distracting:

Livvy and Pip, my two girls customized by VegaDolls. I love looking at these two cuties. Natalia, of VegaDolls, lives in Spain and she is such a lovely person! Her dolls are unlike any others out there and I am very, very taken by them. You can feel Natalia’s sweetness in them.

Rest in Peace, Sidney Poitier. A giant of a man in every way.

Don met him years ago. I’ll let him tell you (from Facebook):

Decades ago I was in a drugstore in Beverly Hills and found myself standing next to him. Against my own judgement, I gingerly approached and introduced myself. I told him I was so very sorry to bother him, but he was a true inspiration. He smiled. Yes, that smile. He shook my hand and said, “I’m Sidney, Don, thank you.”

Okay my friends. I’m running a little late this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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