Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Current Painting Project & Easel

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This is the tabletop easel I purchased. In my research, most of the tabletop easels looked a tad flimsy. I wanted something solid that would not move (as did my previous easel) when I painted. It’s made of oak and it’s made in America (so rare nowadays) and it will grow with me when I graduate to larger canvases.  As you know, right now I’m staying with smaller sized paintings as I explore this new passion. Eventually, fingers crossed, I’ll be brave enough to tackle something larger. By the way, the easel had nothing but great reviews.

Kitchen photo is as is: real life, with coffee cups and a bag of popcorn on the counter. If memory serves, I think Don had just returned from the store.

It’s a hot one this weekend and we’re limiting our outdoor time. Plus, I had an allergy attack last night. with watery, itchy eyes, along with a sneezing fit. This has been one of the worst years for my allergies. I’m so, so over it.

Don is currently mowing the paths up in the woods. Truth be told, he’s been neglecting them a bit because he’s so into his music right now. But he’ll catch up. We also cleaned up the growth in front of the trailer bird house in case our friends want to rent it out again.

I’m working on this right now:

I need to fix one or both of the handles. I know they’re off, but I have to look at the vase to see which one is more accurate. That’s on the docket for today. The blue will eventually be darker to match the color on the vase. I have a lot more detail to add, as well. This pattern is Snowberry.

Don wants to frame each of the paintings in the Roseville series. He has some ideas as to where we should hang them. I have to say that it’s wonderful to have his support and enthusiasm.

Father’s Day. As with Mother’s Day, it can be both positive and negative. For those who have lost their fathers or had complex issues with a father or didn’t have a father growing up, I wish you peace. We honor our fathers on this day but allow for complex emotions as well.

I miss you Dad.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Discoveries in the Garden

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My favorite discovery yesterday: this odd little plant. It’s here and there throughout the property, but this group is right at the top of the big garden bed. I suppose it’s been here in the past – just never noticed it before.

I looked at a site that listed New York state wildflowers and couldn’t find it. So I put the photo on IG stories and asked if anyone knew what it was. Yep. Someone knew. She said it was wild garlic. When I googled it, I found out it’s also called hairy allium, which makes sense given the green tendrils that most intrigued me. Garden suppliers sell the bulbs.

I don’t know how they sprung up here, but I really am fond of them, so I’m glad they’re here.

I love discovering new-to-me plants on the property.

It’s going to be a very hot few days – today through Monday. Don and I had coffee in the Secret Garden this morning and I could already feel the humidity in the air at 8 am.

I started a new painting yesterday and boy, was it frustrating! It was one of those days when nothing goes quite right and I had to paint over the whole thing because I made it too wide. I made myself stick with it and I eventually got the shape nearly right. I need to tweak it a bit today and then I can add all of the details.

I’m going on too little sleep, so I’m going to keep this short. I have to grab some time at the easel before it gets too hot!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Roseville #3 – Clematis

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Clematis, Oil on paper. 6″ x 9″

I finished this one yesterday afternoon. It was tricky because it’s clear to me that the original colors on the vase have faded. Painting it as it looks now is tricky – the changes of colors on the flower are so subtle as to be virtually indistinguishable. I could see a bit more of a difference on the other side. The only section where I intensified the color was the center of the flower. We’ll call it ‘artistic interpretation.’

These pieces are challenging to paint – at least for Beginner Me. I’ve chosen my next subject. Time to study it and do a sketch – I’ve found that helps me to memorize the shape and really get to know the vase. My new easel should arrive later today. I’m looking forward to putting it to use.

I ended up putting my current easel on a suitcase turned on its side. But then it was too high. So I grabbed a big cushion and  sat on it while I painted. That did the trick.

It’s a gorgeous day today. We’re going to take a little drive this morning – Don wants to drive his car and we need to escape for a short time.

I woke up this morning to see the fence between our property and our neighbor’s had been extended a bit in an effort to discourage the chickens from coming over here. It’s nothing but a pain in the tush for my neighbors as it takes a lot of time to wrangle the gang back onto their property. Hopefully, this will do the trick and everyone can relax.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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