Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Cold Friday

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I finished “The World of Frankenstein” yesterday. This one was quite a challenge and you know that I love that. I do not want my jigsaw puzzles to be too easy, just like crossword puzzles. The illustration and the color palette are fabulous. I’ve never read Frankenstein  and I think I’m going to read it next year.

Next up: “The World of King Arthur.”

But in the meantime, I have an oil change scheduled at noon. And I’m gathering things together for my trip to Wonderland of Play on Sunday. Then I’ll start the newest puzzle.

It’s very, very cold this morning, as it was yesterday morning, so the plants are still inside. It’s going to warm up today, so I’ll put them back out on the porch. I haven’t gone out there yet, but I’m sure the impatiens are gone. They were already on their last legs so I didn’t try to bring them inside. I think we’ll have a week of above freezing temperatures, then another two days when I have to bring them in, then warmer temperatures again. So I should be able to keep them going through at least half of November.

My two Dragonfly Blythe girls. I thought I should give them a chance to talk about their life with Ola in Israel. I asked Nina to get Pru up to speed on life in the cottage.

Don’s almost finished with War and Peace. Hurrah! Both of us will have finished way ahead of the end of the year deadline.

Okay. More coffee to be made.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday,

Flowers, Monarchs & A Puzzle

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I’m not sure they could look any prettier and it’s going to be 78 degrees today (too hot) but next week it will be much, much colder and I thought I’d take a moment to salute this year’s limelight hydrangeas while they’re still here.

Gorgeous.

This bush is much younger than my Annabelle hydrangeas, but you’d never know it. It is huge!

And one of the many reasons, but perhaps the most important, for growing zinnias from seed – they bloom late in the summer into the fall and a newly emerged monarch butterfly flying southward can stop and dine for a couple of hours. They provide much needed sustenance for the trip and are one of the few flowers available at this time of year.

This beauty was hanging around the zinnias for a few hours and didn’t seem to mind my presence. When you’re really hungry, things like that don’t matter. Hydrangeas don’t do it for monarchs. The coneflowers are gone. There are a few stray roses, but giant zinnias provide lots of surface on which to dine and I will make sure to sow those seeds again next year.

Things like this make my week. Having some food on hand for a hungry monarch makes me very happy.

I finished the puzzle.

The World of Virginia Woolf.

It’s quite lovely. Next up, something a bit more intense: The World of Frankenstein. Perfect for this time of year, don’t you think?

I’m currently retreating from the world and news of the world.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Flowers, Books & Puzzles

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This is one of the giant zinnias that just opened. I’ve purchased these seeds in the past, but I’ve never seen them get this tall. I haven’t measured, but they’re over 4 feet tall, maybe even 5 feet. I thank them for providing some color and interest in the garden at this late date – I looked them over the other day and there are more buds getting ready to open. As we’re not going down to freezing this week, I expect I’ll get to see more flowers. It was so windy when I took this that I had to hold the stem in place.

Rain yesterday, rain today. Sigh. 2023 will be called The Year of Rain. Over, over, over, OVER it. But so far, it’s a gentle rain, not a big storm, so that’s a plus.

I’m going to gather some books together this morning and take them to the library. On Saturday afternoons you can drop off books to donate to the Annual Book Sale, so I’m going to start taking advantage of that. I have to be ruthless, of course, and they should be in good to excellent condition. Then I’ll pick up my copy of the newest Thursday Night Murder Club series – The Last Devil to Die – which arrived at the library yesterday. I’m more than halfway through The Running Grave, so I’m determined to finish it in the next couple of days because I have to get going on the other two short term loans I have here, as well. But The Running Grave  is such a pleasure to read! I want to linger but I can’t.

Well, maybe just a little,

This is the puzzle I’m working on. It’s from a favorite manufacturer; Lawrence King. I’ve done several of these puzzles. They’re always beautifully designed and full of clues, as well as places, characters, and people associated with the author. Excellent quality. I love the matte finish on the pieces, rather than something too glossy.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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