Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

You are here: Home / Archives for office

Counting Down

at by

Countdown until departure for NYC. Since Rick is also due to go into the city tomorrow, we’re taking the bus late tomorrow morning. Of course, there is snow expected tonight and overnight (I’m so sick of it!) but it’s only going to be 1 – 3 inches, so it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle unless the buses are delayed.

There’s always something. However, neither of us has to be there at a certain time, so I’m going to try to let go of my need to control things and just enjoy. Wednesday will be a day of shopping for opening night togs. Wish me luck. Don went out yesterday and found a lovely sports jacket, slacks, shoes and shirt. He’s all set. Now I have to catch up!

I’m sitting here while I write this post and one thing on my agenda when I return is to do some decluttering in this room. As is always the case in this small cottage, a lot of ‘things’ are in each room. Some of them I’m more than ready to shed, but the reality is that I’m not a minimalist and never will be. Most everything that surrounds us falls into the “loved and treasured” category. Nevertheless, there are some things in this space that need to be organized and/or let go of.

But that will be next week. This week is for New York City and Opening Night.

The spider plant has three babies. They haven’t sprouted their leaves yet, but that’s coming. I check on them every day. Speaking of which, this morning was spent watering all the plants before I depart for 5 days. It’s almost a zen-like ritual. I find it very calming.

I watched one of my favorite movies last night – Pillow Talk. It makes me happy. Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter – what more could you ask for? A plot involving a party line, split screens, a cad and a virginal heroine – such fun! Doris Day is undisputed master of the eye roll. No one does it better. I’ve seen it dozens of times and every time I see it’s going to be on…I’m there. Sigh of happiness.

Okay. I have errands to run, laundry to do, and a project to finish.

Happy Monday.

 

To the Rescue

at by

Those branches on the right were so weighted down by snow, they were touching the porch roof as well as the roof over our bedroom. By the time I took this picture they had revived. In fact, you can see the snow falling off the branches in this photo. That was a constant yesterday – no matter where I stood, I got smacked by heavy, falling snow.

Rescue arrived yesterday in the form of Doug and Rick. Rick checked in on me yesterday morning, saying that Doug had just purchased a battery operated chain saw that he was dying to use. In turn, I texted a picture of the huge limb, as I was skeptical that his chain saw could handle it. Undaunted, they came over and Doug immediately started in on the limb and darned if he didn’t do it! Rick and I carried wood to the wood pile, which is now the size of the Great Wall of China, full as it is of various limbs that have fallen off our trees during the 12+ years we’ve lived here.

My heart breaks every time it happens.

Rick even brought me a homemade muffin, that sweetie. Anyway, in no time it was all gone. Now I have to shovel that area this morning to make room for Don’s car. I was too tuckered out to do it yesterday.

Sinuses and/or allergies are crazy right now. I sneezed at least 30 times last night – and no, I’m not exaggerating. It was the strangest thing!

One of you – I’m sorry, I can’t remember who since this whole week has been overwhelming – asked where I keep the shelves that house my miniature pottery.

This little area is to my left as I sit here at the desk.

The embroidered picture of Scout is from Shanna. The Claudia program is from the original 1940s Broadway production  and was a gift from a friend who runs an antique shop. I found the shelves at Heidi’s shop when I worked there and I brought them home and painted them, covering the glass behind the shelves with toile scrapbook paper. The Michigan license plate (in honor of my home state) is from Don.

Thanks for all your kind words yesterday. It’s been a helluva week. Shoveling, recycling and a trip to the grocery store are on the docket for today.

Happy Friday.

A Slow Saturday

at by

We’re due for a yucky day today: rain which will turn into ice and a bit of snow. There are winter weather advisories up.

Can I just go back to bed?

The snow on the ground that you can see through the window is gone now, due to higher temperatures and a heck of a lot of rain yesterday. Fear not, we’re due for more mid-week. Note to self: take price tag off pot.

This is what happens when you bring your big old porch plant inside for the winter. I’ve forgotten what this is – a dracaena? an unknown grass? – but I’ve had it in this pot for several years and I bring it inside every winter. It’s become so big that I can no longer just stash it on the floor in the office. So it’s in the hallway. There are self-seeded impatiens surrounding it at the base. Hopefully, they’ll bloom at some point this winter.

The contents of the cupboard in the office. There’s some Roseville, some McCoy, an old candy box which holds letters sent to my grandmother by her adored little sister, who died in the flu epidemic of 1918. (She lost another sister as well.) Let’s see, what else? Some glove boxes, some little pieces of pottery, a mug given to me by Christy, aka Anastasia, a putz sheep and two spun cotton bunnies made by Vintage by Crystal. Oh, and some crystal bunnies and a puff made by a former blogger who does beautiful work.

I took this yesterday as I sat at the desk for a spell, due to a desire to change it up a bit. The den seems to be my home lately, but too much familiarity can breed contempt, you know? Anyway, I hung the newest Nutting up in the office – I’ll take a picture of it today – and I putzed around that space, listening to the Kenny Rankin channel on Pandora.

Happy Saturday.

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