Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Chirp

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After two days of shoveling 6 inches of snow with a half inch of ice on top (because even though the driveway was plowed, there are a lot of areas the plow can’t get to that have to be shoveled) and then unearthing our cars, I went to bed last night wanting nothing but a good night’s sleep. However, at 3:30 am I was awoken by the chirp of a smoke detector. We have a lot of them here because the person who flipped the house installed them and then the previous owner added more that are wired into the security system. There are too many of them.

I couldn’t figure out which one was chirping. After ten minutes, it stopped. I remained awake for another two hours and finally got back to sleep when, at 6:30 am, it started again. This time I waited it out and fell asleep again only to be awakened at 8:10, when it started again.

I’m on my second cup of coffee and I have a lot to do today but you can be sure that I’m going figure out which one of these frigging smoke detectors needs a new battery.

Meanwhile, it’s like Ice Station Zebra out there. Chicago and Michigan, I’m thinking of you. You’re supposed to betting up to 20 inches of snow! Hang in there.

The FedEx guy just came and I opened the door to tell him to be careful – some areas are icy despite my best efforts – and he said he’s seen much worse. Basically when he’s not driving, he’s walking on ice all day long. These guys are heroes. I saw the UPS truck delivering in the midst of the heaviest snow during Wednesday’s snowstorm.

This is all I’ve got for you. The monstera is having yet another baby! My plants have been fairly prolific this winter.

Thank you for all your loving comments yesterday. It was a much tougher day than I thought it would be and I cried off and on all day long. Don had a hard time, too. But your support helped a great deal. Love you all.

Happy Friday.

Shortcomings

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He didn’t need to overcompensate for ‘shortcomings’ by ordering a military parade.

Moving on.

The snow started to fall around 8 am and it’s falling quite heavily at the moment. We’re supposed to get 3 – 5 inches with it all changing to sleet and freezing rain later in the day. That makes for a yucky combination. The good news is that Don (who didn’t want me shoveling heavy wet stuff) found a guy who is used to plowing uphill gravel driveways. He came by yesterday and I talked with him and then moved Don’s car next to mine so he can plow and dump the snow next to the part of the fence that is closer to the shed.

And now, there’s nothing I can do but sit back and watch it happen. I’ll have to do some shoveling by the porch and around and between the cars, but that’s a heck of a lot easier than doing it all.

On the agenda for today: cleaning the bathroom, making some cloud biscuits, starting a project that I should have started ages ago, reading, and a dash of hot cocoa. And Schitt’s Creek  on the tube tonight.

The first preview for Escape to Margaritaville  will be on February 16th, which is the same day the Original Broadway Cast Recording comes out. Nine days!

Don has Sunday and Monday off and he’s very homesick, so I think (weather permitting) he’s going to come home to the cottage for a couple of days.

Happy Wednesday.

Finding Another Way

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I’m back home again. When the taxi driver pulled into my driveway and I emerged, I noticed that there had been a small amount of snow mixed with ice – a true ‘wintry mix’ – which was going to have to be dealt with. So, I dropped my stuff inside the house and went outside to salt everything. My back was sore already from a combination of hauling things up the endless stairs in the apartment building and adjusting to another bed, and carrying the salt bucket around was the final straw.

So, when I could land in my chair, I took it easy the rest of the day. Much better this morning.

It’s very cold here and will be for the next week.

Sigh. I miss my husband. Speaking of which,

This was taken yesterday at rehearsal. It was World Play Your Ukulele Day. I snagged this from his Instagram account. Isn’t he adorable? Heart is melting.

I now have books stacked up and holding everywhere in the den – all of them classified as “To Be Read.” But the truth is that it’s been hard for me to read anything other than a newspaper or magazine lately. It’s been a while since I read a novel. I go through these periods every once in a while. I want to read, but I can’t do it.

Don and I had a long talk about the world and the stress of watching and reading the news every day, especially with this hideous and corrupt administration. He has been urging me to cut back on my news consumption.

I know we’ve talked about this before on the blog, but it’s really hitting me that I am constantly living at a high stress level and that cannot continue. It shows in my moods, emotional ups and downs, the fear that is always there, and it also shows physically – in too much comfort food, i.e., sweets, and weight gain.

I have to find a better way of coping with this. I think it’s harder when I’m not with Don because, as most couples do, we balance each other. When I’m alone, I tend to be too glued to Twitter and the latest headlines and suddenly, I’m enraged again.

So, this weekend, I am going to force myself to start a book. You know me, if I’m not reading a novel, something is off. I’m going to take it easy today, with only a trip to the grocery store, if that. I’m going to set a time limit as to ‘news reading.’ I want to stay informed, but obsessing is another story. And I’m going to start cutting way back on sweets, which is a challenge in the depths of winter.

Wish me luck!

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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