Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for nature

A Cricket Named Jiminy

August 19, 2012 at 8:20 am by Claudia

There’s a cricket in the house.

We’ve named him Jiminy.

I saw him scurry under the living room sofa last week. I tried to capture him to put him back outside, where he must surely prefer to be, but he was far too elusive.

I rather like the sound of crickets and I find I don’t mind the sound of one in the house. It’s a comforting sound. At this moment, as I write this, I don’t hear him. Where are you, Jiminy? I miss your music.

Riley is amazing. Yesterday, I lost count at how many times he got up on his own and walked around the living room, kitchen and den. Twenty? More? He’s certainly improved a great deal in the last two days. This morning? Already up and down several times: checking for crumbs on the kitchen floor, going to the water dish, heading toward the kitchen door so that I know he has to go outside, walking over to my chair so he can settle down beside me. He’s a fighter, my Riley. So, we’ll continue to fight right along with him. What a teacher he continues to be.

I’m leaning toward Saturday for our “A Favorite Thing” party, simply because there aren’t a lot of parties/memes on Saturday. Any more thoughts on that one?

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: nature, Riley 23 Comments

Accompanied by a Butterfly

August 15, 2012 at 8:07 am by Claudia

One of my favorite movies is ‘You’ve Got Mail.” I never tire of watching it (especially for Kathleen Kelley’s apartment – be still my heart!) One of my favorite moments is when Kathleen talks about seeing a butterfly on the subway. I find it so magical and wonderful.

The other day, I was doing some chores outside. I mowed a bit, pulled some weeds, did some gardening, the usual summertime chores.

A monarch butterfly followed me everywhere.

I’d be mowing and there she would be.

Later on, while mowing another section of the yard….hello butterfly!

Pulling weeds? Ms. Monarch followed me.

All throughout the afternoon, she accompanied me, flitting, flying, landing oh-so-briefly, here, there and everywhere.

I briefly thought of trying photograph her. But she was too quick for me.

And something told me that our journey together was too magical, too special to do that. I wouldn’t be in the moment. I wanted to simply feel the delight and wonder of her presence.

So I did just that.

Have you ever had an experience like that? Whether it was with a butterfly or some other creature? if you have, please share it! I find that those special connections with nature restore my soul.

(The photo is of an Eastern Swallowtail butterfly. I don’t have one of a Monarch. That makes the whole thing even more magical!)

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: butterfly, nature 24 Comments

A Different Kind of “Reveal”

August 13, 2012 at 8:54 am by Claudia

Yesterday. Late afternoon. I’m sitting in my usual chair in the living room which is directly across from the front door, giving me a view of the front porch and one of my hanging plants.

I gaze upon this same view every day.

But this particular late afternoon, the sunlight was shining in just such a fashion as to reveal something previously hidden.

 

Beautiful, large, intricate spiderwebs.

Three of them, actually. One on either side of this post.

 

And one above the hanging plant.

I sat there, amazed. I made Don get up and look at this ‘reveal.’

Because that’s what it is, isn’t it? A reveal?

 

Something I looked at every day, something I assumed was one thing…was actually another thing entirely.

What appeared to be the total picture…simply wasn’t.

 

That’s a lesson, my friends, that I have to keep re-learning.

Back in my performing days,  I did a lot of Gilbert & Sullivan. One song title immediately comes to mind: “Things are Seldom What they Seem.” I can’t remember all the lyrics, but the next line was, “Skim milk masquerades as cream.”

I find this enormously comforting, especially now. There’s always something more to see. There’s always something more to be revealed – something that was always there, but remained hidden until just the right time. Until the “Reveal.”

Oh and, yes, I see that my porch posts need a good scrubbing. But you know what? It’s way, way down on my list of things I want to do. They look plenty white from a distance. I guess they have their own sort of reveal!

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: life, nature 14 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • …
  • 27
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT